The Golden Fool
2002 • 632 pages
Ratings96
Average rating4.3
15
Ratings96
Average rating4.3
The acclaimed Farseer and Liveship Traders trilogies established Robin Hobb as one of the most splendidly imaginative practitioners of world-class fantasy. Now, in Book 2 of her most stunning trilogy yet, Hobb continues the soul-shattering tale of FitzChivalry Farseer. With rich characters, breathtaking magic, and sweeping action, Golden Fool brings the reluctant adventurer further into the fray in an epic of sacrifice, salvation, and untold treachery.Golden FoolPrince Dutiful has been rescued from his Piebald kidnappers and the court has resumed its normal rhythms. But for FitzChivalry Farseer, a return to isolation is impossible. Though gutted by the loss of his wolf bondmate, Nighteyes, Fitz must take up residence at Buckkeep and resume his tasks as Chade's apprentice assassin. Posing as Tom Badgerlock, bodyguard to Lord Golden, FitzChivalry becomes the eyes and ears behind the walls. And with his old mentor failing visibly, Fitz is forced to take on more burdens as he attempts to guide a kingdom straying closer to civil strife each day.The problems are legion. Prince Dutiful's betrothal to the Narcheska Elliania of the Out Islands is fraught with tension, and the Narcheska herself appears to be hiding an array of secrets. Then, amid Piebald threats and the increasing persecution of the Witted, FitzChivalry must ensure that no one betrays the Prince's secret--a secret that could topple the Farseer throne: that he, like Fitz, possesses the dread "beast magic."Meanwhile, FitzChivalry must impart to the Prince his limited knowledge of the Skill: the hereditary and addictive magic of the Farseers. In the process, they discover within Buckkeep one who has a wild and powerful talent for it, and whose enmity for Fitz may have disastrous consequences for all.Only Fitz's enduring friendship with the Fool brings him any solace. But even that is shattered when unexpected visitors from Bingtown reveal devastating secrets from the Fool's past. Now, bereft of support and adrift in intrigue, Fitz's biggest challenge may be simply to survive the inescapable and violent path that fate has laid out for him.From the Hardcover edition.
Series
3 primary booksThe Tawny Man is a 3-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2001 with contributions by Robin Hobb.
Series
15 primary books20 released booksThe Realm of the Elderlings is a 19-book series with 15 primary works first released in 1995 with contributions by Garth Nix, Scott Lynch, and 18 others.
Series
3 primary booksDie zweiten Chroniken von Fitz dem Weitseher is a 3-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2001 with contributions by Robin Hobb.
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Full review at SFF Book Review.
While I consider this the weakest instalment of Robin Hobb's trilogy of trilogies, I can't deny that anything the woman writes is beautiful. The language is precise, yet gorgeous, the characters don't need introduction at this point.
But as the plot goes, it was pretty weak, and most of the book is spent setting up events that are probably going to happen in the next - and final - volume in the Tawny Man trilogy. There were some action-filled moments and even though I've never needed a lot of fast-paced action to be happy with a book, the conversations, intrigue, and introductions of new characters became tedious very fast.
So all of that said, instead of a fantastically great book, this is merely a very good one.
It's tiresome to read too much of Hobb's books in a row. The books are great, but it's taxing on the reader.
My recommendation: read them over a relatively long period, and maybe consider reading some lighter material in between.
4.5 out of 5 stars – see this review and others at The Speculative Shelf.
Golden Fool expands and improves upon every aspect of Fool's Errand, just as Royal Assassin did for Assassin's Apprentice. This story was firing on all cylinders – the pacing, the plotting, the action, and the intrigue; it was all on full display.
Fitz (as Tom Badgerlock) is firmly back in the game and he's juggling relationships with: his three children (one by blood, one adopted, and one...well, it's complicated), The Fool/Lord Golden, spymaster Chade, Queen Kettricken, Starling, Thick, and his past self. He's developed a keen insight into his own grief – something that is now fully realized after having so much practice at it. Even after five books in Fitz's story, the characters and relationships around him continue to evolve in fresh new ways – as does the overall plot of the Realms of the Elderlings narrative. This book marked the first major crossover between adjacent trilogies, as the events of the Liveship Traders series are reframed and what I understood about certain characters was cast in a new light.
This book fully rekindled my addiction to this world. I've been swept into the Skill stream and I'm happy to go wherever it takes me.
Executive Summary: I really enjoyed this book, and found myself staying up till 2 in the morning and rudely reading while visiting with family on Christmas Eve just to finish it.
Full Review
There isn't a lot for me to really say about this book without getting into spoilers. Robin Hobb seems to find a way make you really care about her characters and suck you into the story even when it's just day to day living. Of course Fitz's days are a tad bit more interesting than your average person.
It also re-enforces my belief that you're really missing out by skipping Liveship Traders and moving right to Tawny Man from Farseer. I don't see how you can really understand the depth of some of the events of this book a lot that happens in this book without the full back-story from the previous trilogy.
In this book Fitz learns more about the Fool, and it changes their relationship. I however don't feel like I learned anything that I didn't already suspect. It simply confirmed those suspicions while leaving me questions I hope will finally be answered in the last book.
This book does suffer a bit from middle book syndrome. A lot of it really sets up the final book in the trilogy. That doesn't mean I was bored along the way, simply that the ending didn't come to any satisfying conclusion.
Really it just leaves me hoping for a lot of things to be resolved in the final book. When I was done I wanted to jump right into the final book, but didn't have time due to the holidays.
