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Scififan

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Scififan is Currently Reading

Scififan is currently reading

A Crack in Creation: Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution

by Jennifer A. Doudna

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Oct 18, 2017 05:05AM

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The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia

by Ursula K. Le Guin

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Feb 22, 2017 09:48AM

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Royal Assassin (Farseer Trilogy, #2)

by Robin Hobb (Goodreads Author)

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Scififan said: " Robin Hobb - darn you. You've drawn me into this series with fantastic writing and character development and a rich story. But my word, is this story a deep dive into depression.

I'm reading it because I enjoyed Assassin's Apprentice, overall, and I h Robin Hobb - darn you. You've drawn me into this series with fantastic writing and character development and a rich story. But my word, is this story a deep dive into depression.

I'm reading it because I enjoyed Assassin's Apprentice, overall, and I hoped for more adventure and to discover what would become of the Fitz. I'm nearly done reading this book now, and although there is certainly adventure to be had, I'm extremely disappointed with the Fitz, and with the story.

I rarely write reviews. And for me to be writing a review before being even finished with the book tells me that I feel quite strongly about it. You've drawn me in to this world. Your writing is intelligent, vivid, and effectively walks the line between describing what is necessary and leaving the rest to the imagination. The story is engaging. It really is a page turner. But I also find it emotionally draining, frustrating and stressful. Not a relaxing read. At all.

By my measure, 90% of it consists of a great and extremely slow and relentless building up of angst. I'm currently on the third-last chapter (Ch 31) and it is a real slog to get through. There are very few triumphs in the story so far, and each one comes at a greater price. There seems to be a significant disaster following every minor victory. Every time I feel like this is it - this is as low and depressing as it can get - something worse happens.

As for the Fitz: after the first book, I felt like he was on the verge of becoming a powerful hero. A capable assassin, with the potential to be more through the skill and the wit and his royal bloodline. I don't feel like he really progressed as a hero at all. If anything, it seems like he barely kept up. He was barely able to keep his enemies at bay, and he seems to do nothing decisive and effective unless backed into a corner. He makes me want to scream.

I think it will be a VERY long time before I try to take up the third book to complete the story. I have sincere hopes that it will not be so dark as this one, but judging by the reviews, it sounds like I'd be in for more of the same.

The reason I came searching for reviews was to see if there were others that shared my opinion. I'm relieved to see that I'm not the only one to find it unconventionally, drippingly DREARY and FRUSTRATING! Well-written and great characters. But damn, you really don't follow the Hollywood formula do you? In fact, I'm guessing you line the cat pan with it. ...more "

Jan 27, 2017 01:09PM · see review