Fool's Assassin: Book One of the Fitz and the Fool Trilogy Audible – Unabridged

This work certainly justifies Ms. Hobbs return to the world of the Six Duchies.* This novel is a delight from opening page to concluding chapter. Ms. Hobb very cleverly fills in the back story of the years the characters have spent without us while still moving the story gently forward. The first half of the book is quietly character driven and the last half picks up speed to leave the reader breathless in anticipation for the next novel. Very, very clever pacing. Fitz returns to us fully fleshed and is the primary POV character for the first half of the book, then, amazingly enough, we are introduced to a second POV character who carries about half of the rest of the book. And, they carry it onward quite well indeed. Bits of this novel will simply break your heart, about half way in I sat down and just sobbed and I am not a crier. This story is so touching on so many levels but also manages to be thoroughly enjoyable. I am not going to give any hints about the story within, just assure any fan of Ms. Hobbs work that this book stands up to the best of her previous efforts. I highly recommend reading her prior novels based in this sector of the world** before taking on this book, they add so much to the experience.

Bravo Ms. Hobb, it is so nice to see you back in such fine form!

Highly Recommended.

*For the record I was not a fan of her resuming the story of Fitz and the Fool. I wanted our beloved Fitz to be safe and sound and live the remainder of his life with Molly, Nettle and Burrich's boys. I was clearly wrong.

**Assassin's Apprentice begins the work and Fool's Fate ends it for all reasonable purposes - the Mad Ship series fits in the middle but is not required reading - and the Rains Wild Chronicles fit between this book and Fools Fate but are not up to the level of the prior works IMHO.

I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I was to see that Hobb was writing a new book about Fitz! As much as I have loved all of her books, the Farseer Trilogy and the Tawny Man Trilogy have always held a special place in my heart. I couldn't wait to see what Hobb had in store for Fitz (and the Fool!) next!

Let me start by saying that you really need to read both the Farseer Trilogy and the Tawny Man Trilogy before you tackle this book. Even though it's technically the start to a new series, it's definitely a continuation of those other two. In fact, I needed to go back and found recaps of the first six books to refresh my memory because it's been so many years since I read them. I actually think that I should go back and re-read both series, but I obviously haven't done it yet.

Fool's Assassin starts up about 10 years after Fitz and the Fool parted ways. Fitz is now living a peaceful life with Molly, having escaped all of the danger of his old existence as an assassin. The one thing missing from his life is the Fool - he hasn't heard from him at all since the Fool left him. Most of the book actually takes place in during this peaceful period in Fitz's life (part of what is described in the synopsis happens right away, but it really isn't picked up again till toward the end of the book). Still, fans of Hobb's previous series will love this new chapter in Fitz and the Fool's story!!

What I LOVED:

Fitz!
Fitz has always been one of my favorite characters ever. Even though he is often infuriatingly imperfect, there will always be a spot in my heart for this character. In the first six books, I ached with him over his loss of Molly, so I loved seeing him with her at last.Read more ›

I can't remember the last time I felt so torn about a book, and so conflicted about a review. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I really wanted to enjoy it. In fact, compared to my usual reading pace, I spent a great deal of time in the world that Robin Hobb created - and while I did enjoy aspects of it, I have to be honest in that most of my time was spent waiting for aspects to enjoy. It's a testament to Hobb's writing (and to Fitz's legacy) that I was able to exhibit such patience. Looking back, the closest analogy I can think of is watching a chess game between tournament masters - fascinating, challenging, and admirable, but hardly riveting.

Fool's Assassin may be labeled book one of the Fitz and the Fool Trilogy, but it's really an extended prologue of over 500 pages, followed by an opening chapter of about 80. That is to say there's a lot of talking, a lot of speculating, a lot of worrying, but not a lot of action. In fact, there are only a handful of scenes where anything of consequence takes place, and most of them are rushed together in those final 80 pages. It's hard to talk about them without getting into spoiler territory, but I will say the resolution of Molly's pregnancy is genuinely surprising, and those of you anxious for a reunion between the characters of the title will be waiting a very long time.

Hobb's writing is gorgeous, as always, and it's easy to fall into the cadence and rhythms of her story. Initially, it felt like no time at all had passed since the last trilogy, allowing me to become lost in the world of Fitz all over again. It was truly marvelous. However, around the halfway mark I really began to feel the lagging pace, with the story slow going, but somehow still compelling.Read more ›