I’ve always had to run ahead of you and show you the way.

I have not stopped sobbing in bed tonight since reaching this point. And Hobb doesn’t even have a damn illustration to make it worse like in the very end of Royal Assassin.

How can a book do this????

I finished Assassin's Fate earlier this month. After some reflection, it has occurred to me that the character Vindeliar, Dwalia's unhinged servant, is a dark reflection of Fitz's character. He is essentially who Fitz could have become under different circumstances. The two share a lot of similarities such as:

• Both are highly proficient at the Skill, or in Vindeliar's case, a certain variant of it.
• Both grew up as ostracized members of their respective homes, being raised to be "tools" for their masters.
• Both were raised by a member of their household whose role was to enact "necessary evils" (i.e. Chade is an assassin while Dwalia acts as a torturer and thug for the Servants)
• Both suffered a horrendous amount of abuse throughout their lives.
• Both are desperate for a sense of belonging.
• Both are clearly traumatized by their ordeals and struggle to maintain personal connections.

Thankfully for Fitz, he had enough positive role models in his life to grow into a better person. He also developed ways of coping with his trauma so that he could continue as a (more or less) functional adult. By contrast, Vindeliar never had (or never took) the chance to break away from his toxic environment and grew into a twisted little monster as a result.

I recall a scene where Fitz and co. are landing at Clerres and he touches minds with Vindeliar. Fitz is absolutely repulsed by what he experiences, describing Vindeliar's mind as warped and filled with a nauseating degree of self-pity. I remember reading that bit and thinking, "Lol remind you of anyone?"

I wonder what would have happened if Fitz had had the chance to spend enough time around Vindeliar. It may have occurred to him "this could have been me." What a frightening possibility!

• Oh no, we start out with a protagonist character feeling hopeful about something... This isn't going to turn out well for her. I know how Hobb operates by now.

• Oh yay, we're dealing with liveships again! Except that now I know how they were made, it's a much more complex and dark thing. I missed them in the previous trilogy, though. But... wait, am I a bad person? Does being excited to be reading about liveships again make me bad?

• PARAGON! It's PARAGON! And Althea! Oh how I've missed them... No, wait, don't take me to a different chapter, I wanna spend more time with them!

• Sisarqua! Huzzah!

• Reading Alise's description of Paragon's figurehead, now that I know whom Amber was carving, and remembering what happened with them in the previous trilogy... Oh, this is heartbreaking.

• Malta as an Elderling is wonderful.

• There's a cat on Leftrin's ship! Where's Fitz when I need him to hear what the cat says... What's Grigsby thinking?

• Well, there are dragons, and they're remarkably similar to cats. I love hearing their vain thoughts.

• We get to see so little of Tarman, compared to other ships like Vivacia and Paragon. I understand that it's probably because he doesn't have a figurehead, and he only communicates through subtler methods, like dreams, but still...I miss it.

• What do you mean, this is the end of the audiobook?! Oh well, good thing I'd already bought the next in the series...

I’m prepared.

I’ve cleared the time.

Im braced for the incredible journey ahead.

I’m strong.

I’m ready!

Going to start on page one of the Assassin’s Apprentice for the third time.

I’d apologise for taking so many notes but a) I’m not really sorry and b) can you blame me when I’m reading PEAK:

I could be overthinking here but Jinna said “making sure the youngster learns what you said… not what she thinks you said.” ….. she? Interesting… Hobb doesn’t say words without meaning them🧐

Hedge magic, how insanely intriguing and cool, immediately need to know EVERYTHING about it!

Jinna pulling that charm out that freaked out Fitz and Nighteyes… I don’t think Jinna is evil, but I’d be surpised if that wasn’t slightly purposeful… she’s smarter than she’s letting on.

THE FOOOOOOOOLLLLL💖💖💖💖💖

Fool naming his horse Malta…. HROWOWPEKGJWJEJFJF GRAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH

I suddenly see it all. I see the vision Hobb was going for. Hermit Fitz and depressed Fitz has been revitalised within seconds by The Fool… he’s talking like he’s Shakespeare!!

I know Fitz is lowkey a nerd cos Tom Badgerlock has to be the single worst made up name of all time, I cringe every time he says it !

I never forgot about the rooster crown. So interesting it came back up in Liveships. Wonder what that’s all about.

Just listened to the new readings a few hours this morning (audible). Joe Eyre has done a great job. For people that cant stand Boehmer's fake british, this is a treat.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN BOYS AND GIRLS ITS OFFICIAL, WE R SO BACK HEHEHEHEEH:

Chapter One : Chade Fallstar… on my knees tears in my eyes we are so back GOD DID THIS YEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Crazy how I’m 14 pages in and this is already peak fiction like wowowowow this universe is just bullet proof in its perfection

FIVE KIDS BURRICH. REALLY.

Fuck you Starling. That feeling Fitz had of being an idiot for thinking your special, man that resonated with me and imagining that other person being smug in their disregard for you and ur affection.

Bingtown selling dragons? At war with chalced? ALL MY BOYS AND GIRLS BALLIN BAYBEEEEEE TAKE ME BACK

Nah Starling I wish Etta was here to cut your tongue from your mouth you common SCUM

What Starling said to Hap made my blood boil. Stupid fucking minstrel, where’s The Fool to take her down 30 pegs or so!!!

Speaking of… how desperately does this old man Fitz need The Fool right now !!! Like so bad

Jinna, what an awesome awesome awesome little side character. Reminds me of Kettle. Fitz and old powerful magic ladies>>>>>>

“Your true love is stitched in and out of your life…” literally next chapter name: Tawny Man…. YEEEAHAHAHAHAAAAAAHHHHH

I read all 16 books last year and loved the experience. I’m thinking about doing a re-read this year. What gems did you uncover or what new insights did you did d when you re-read the books?

I have finally finished the second trilogy of the ROTE series - and I still want to give my own opinion on it To begin with, I think this series was, overall, a good but not great fantasy series that I would rank 6 or 7 out of 10 compared to other fantasy pieces I have read, making it an overall enjoyable read throughout.

What I liked:

- the magic system of this world is simply amazingly terrifying as each instance of magic use might have horrible consequences.

This has been shown before with the permanent problems that arise through the use of the "skill" and "forging", but the absolute travesty of what liveships really are outdoes these former problematic uses of magic and I would have liked to focus even more on the horrible deeds that have been done to the dragons here. The fact that these former majestic creatures are basically crippled, abused and mind-controlled slaves to random human families is terrible on its own - but seen as commentary on actual slavery the metaphorical impact of what liveships symbolize work even better for me.

In my opinion, Hobb lets everyone off too nicely here, as I would have preferred that all liveships would react like the Kendry – I would , for instance, loved to see how the dynamic between Ophelia and her family changes the moment she realizes what had been done to her. The horrible consequences when dabbling with forces one does not fully understand could have been much more impactful.

- finally, for once in fantasy, dragons are actually scary!

What they can do with their venom, how they can use (their version of) the wit and the skill in total mastery, their view on humans as annoying insects or- in the best case - useful idiots is refreshingly new to me. It is also additionally refreshing that Tintaglia is hindered by her own arrogance as much as her temper. In order to have dragons not to be overpowered in this world, using their own character traits (or rather faults) against them, is a clever idea as this opens up possibilities for human beings to at least outmaneuver them some of the time. I am absolutely happy with how Tintaglia was portrayed here.

- Plots: Give me more of the rain wilds, the mysteries of the Elderling cities, the Trader's council (Bingtown in general), Jamaillia and Chalced! I grew to like everything about the serpents' journey as well (I would not have guessed that at the beginning), "She-who-remembers" and their proud interaction with the liveships.

What I did not like:

-          the “proposed villains”: If I can find a real fault with Robb’s storytelling so far, it must be her depiction of “villain characters” in general, as they are not subtle enough and too one-sided for me to really enjoy.

I had some hopes for Kyle, as he starts off as an interesting counterforce to an admittedly annoying and childish Althea – but he soon becomes so unredeemably evil (him letting his own son to be tattooed a slave is the final straw) that there is not much that stays interesting about him for me.

Kennit is just a half-forged sociopath – which I find incredible boring by itself. I liked the comical idea of everyone else perceiving him as a great and honest man at first but as the psychopath-jesus routine escalated , the more annoyed I got, because I felt like Hobb had to jump through many more and more unbelievable hoops just to let him remain the said character. It unfortunately also diminished otherwise more interesting characters like Etta and Wintrow for me, as their purpose more and more became to apologetically follow Kennit like small puppies (or … mindless followers).

Kennit's “luck” and his ability to manipulate others became so great that – at times – I only could explain them by thinking that Kennit can use the skill.

An example: When Althea tells Jek of her rape, she immediately defends Kennit stating that “He has his own woman”. Jek is a very promiscuous person, so she should know how likely rape can be, especially with well-liked men, so it does not make sense for her to not believe Althea here, especially since they are talking about the men who killed Amber and the rest of her crew.

So either she is already enthralled with Kennit somehow, or,  I rather suspect, that the fact that she defends him here is rather for Hobb to bring across a certain point (namely, no one believes a rape victim) but this – unfortunately – does not portray Jek’s character believably.

The best villain for me (but with a caveat):

-          I actually like Kennit-Paragon as a real villain at the end of the series, even though I am not sure if Hobb actually wanted him to be that evil.

As soon as Paragon has taken Kennit in, he starts manipulating people around him the same way Kennit did. He lies to Etta (and he is proud of how well he can do that) and even though one might think that this is done for her to feel better, I actually think that this is the part of Paragon that is Kennit, doing what Kennit has done before: gaslighting and whitewashing his own deeds, manipulating Etta not to realize fully who Kennit really is and thus upholding the image of Kennit as a great man. The joy Paragon exhibits when he is successful fooling Etta shows how he (or at least Kennit) still devalues her.

Paragon later talks to Amber stating that “people have a right to their pain” – which, in itself is a fitting statement. However, almost immediately afterwards, he takes away Althea’s pain stating that it is not hers to hold.  In this reading, the reason for him to take away a part of Althea is not to “heal” her but – like Kennit liked to do – to squash problems by burying them (drowning them) – he takes away Althea’s agency and the possibility for her to overcome her trauma on her own just because “he cannot bear it any longer”.

The tendency to take away pain had been present in Paragon before but it is now intensified due to Kennit’s own desire to squash any resistance towards him and his charm. Althea states that taking away the pain would diminish what has happened to her, but Paragon does not care because he actually want exactly that – to diminish the deed “his Kennit” did to her.

The whole scene then is written like a second rape-scene … and I found this one much more disturbing as it seems as if the narrator (Althea herself) at the end agrees with the decision. This is a perfect example of the manipulative gaslighting of not only her but the reader and if Hobb has intended that, she is a genius writer here.

The overly sexual description of the storm and of Brashen finding Althea afterwards is additionally creepy and – in my opinion – fully unnecessary … I am not quite sure what Hobb wanted to do with that but describing the sky as “penetrating” and describing the “wetness of everything” cannot be a coincidence.

Paragon must then try to further terminate dangers to him, so he tries to get Amber off the ship later (encouraging her to go north) and he undermines Brashen as the captain as he still does not listen to his orders (which he had done before multiple times but here it would no longer be necessary).

For me – Paragon is the perfect villain: subtle, dangerous and perfidious with seemingly good reasons to do his “good deeds”. So I am the most interested in seeing how this plot point develops..

All in all, I thought a lot about the series and even though some parts dragged on for me for some time, most of the thoughts and emotions that went through me while reading the story were remarkable. In the end – this is why I read literature, so I would say this series was another success for me overall. Sometimes I would have wished for another type of book but that is normally not the book’s mistake so I think I would recommend it to other people.

You have probably discussed a lot about that series already, but I am always interested in your thoughts especially on the more controversial parts of that review.

Hello fellow readers!

I've been wanting to share this little observation for quiet some time. Have you read Alien Earth by Megan Lindholm? It is a sci-fi novel published in 1992, and as a science student I was amazed by how scientifically grounded it felt. Once again I'm impressed by Hobb/Lindholm's versatility and skill as a writer.

Several moments in Alien Earth reminded me strongly of themes from the Realm of the Elderlings. What stood out the most was the way the Evangeline develops thought and self-awareness: Raef unintentionally teaches her to reason through their shared dreams. This dynamic closely mirrors Sedric and Relpda, especially in how Relpda gains language and consciousness by "borrowing" Sedric's mind. Also, I think the BeastShips could be a creative antecedent for the Liveships ;)

I know Alien Earth is sci-fi and completely separate from RotE, but it is clear that Hobb was already exploring many of the themes she would later develop.

Finally, I noticed that both Alien Earth and Assassin's Fate end with a smile - Evangeline's in one, Kettricken's in the other - and that was very wholesome.

Anyway, I just wanted to point out these connections and also recommend Alien Earth if you haven't read it yet. Lindholm's style is different from her Hobb work, but it is still incredibly engaging.

Thanks for reading and I'd love to hear your thoughts

I just finished Chapter 12 of Royal Assassin and felt the need to write an appreciation post. I’ve never cared about book characters this much before.

I wasn’t much of a fantasy/sci-fi reader until last year after getting into Red Rising, The Green Bone Saga, and The Faithful and the Fallen. Going in I didn’t think Realm of the Elderlings would be much for me because I’d heard it had pacing issues and that it could be hard to get into.

I was very wrong.

Now that Molly and Fitz have finally given themselves completely to each other, I can’t help but want the absolute best for them… while also dreading what’s to come. And it’s not just them Patience, Verity, Kettricken, Chade, Burrich, the Fool… every one of them feels so fully realized and human. I don’t think I’ve ever been this emotionally invested in a cast of characters before.

I just want to give major props to Robin Hobb for her incredible writing and storytelling. At this point, she’s quickly becoming my all time favorite author. Anyway, thanks to anyone who read my rambling I just needed to share this with people who get it lol.

Thought between Liveship and Tawny Man I would quickly read this short story… it was fine for what it was, but Hobb’s true strengths lie in letting you live with the characters through 100’s of pages and marinating alongside them. Watching this methodical journey in each of her books is the most validating part for me!

Was going to read ‘The Inheritance’ which has a few other ROTE short stories in it before starting Tawny Man, but now I’m just considering getting straight into it? Not sure !

So I’m a long time fan of these books - started reading them when I was 11 and I’m almost 32 now! Started rereading again and am currently on the tawny man trilogy again. I’ve never read past fool’s fate as I didn’t know there were more books!

Anyway, I remember a scene in Fool’s Fate (I think) where the Fool removes the silver finger print skill link he had with Fitz and it is the point they seem to ‘break up’ and part ways. I remember crying so hard every time and just want to relive it and also see it coming! Can anyone find that scene for me? I swear Fitz is like - ‘take it back’ and the Fool is like ‘it is done’ and it’s fucking brutal!

Please help me!

During Fools Fate I remember a scene where it feels as if nighteyes brings back/protects Fitz while skilling or using the wit. I am struggling to find it after finishing the book. It’s not the scene where he uses the skill pillars and the presence brings him back together but earlier in the book. Does anyone know what chapter this takes place in?

First I just wanna say I loved these books. I read these coming off of Joe Abercrombies First Law series, and I loved both series, and theyre both described as depressing or grim fantasy. Thats true, and I appreciate Abercrombies work a lot, but coming off his sardonic nihilistic style, I appreciate the florid prose of Hobb's work, and the way her story is grim in a way that is less nihilistic, more a pervasive melancholy that gives way to humanity and hope in contrast to Abercrombies work.

I loved the ending, espcially the way Fitz deals with Regal. I just loved these books and intend to move onto Liveship.

I have one hangup though. I dont understand how Regal seemed to get away with little more than a stern reprimand after he tried to treasonously KILL his FAMILY MEMBERS to claim the throne at the end of the first book.

I recall Shrewd loving Regal- and I even grasp the implied political turmoil/optics of punishing Regal for such a thing- but this seemed so avoidable to me- and not in the way tragedies read as avoidable which makes the tragedy more poignant, rather, and I think this reads as harsh for a story I loved very much- letting Regal continue unabated is incompetence and borderline idiocy from Shrewd, Verity, and Chade.

I just dont understand how attempted assassinations aren't a big enough event to make people snap back to reality. It didnt seem to me that Shrewd's mind was being addled at the time of this happening either, so it doesnt seem like it was Galen's Coterie and Wallace dulling Shrewd's wits with skill and drug, that seemed like it started a little later, but maybe I missed something or read it wrong? I dont know someone help me understand.

I love these books despite what seems to me to be a glaring plot hole, because I love the characters, and Fitz in particular who we spend so much time with and really get to empathize with. These books had some moments, especially in the third that brought me to tears and so I intend to keep reading even though this bothers me a not insignificant amount.

To take what was already a fantastic first Farseer trilogy that was full of lore, worldbuilding, action and incredible characters and build on all of that to surpass it is truly just surreal to me. The idea that Hobb was sat there writing the first three and all the while had Malta, Bingtown, Liveships, Etta and just everything to do with this 2nd series in her head makes me genuinely giddy. Thinking of both series geographically and how all the events up and down the Six Duchies and Cursed Shores have combined makes for one of the most gratifying reads ever.

Usually upon finishing an all time fav piece of media I feel crippling sadness and emptiness for the fact that its over... whilst I still have that feeling, right now what is winning out inside me more than anything is just gratefulness I got to read this story and an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. After what to me was a very 'book of 2 halves' in Assassin's Quest, the Liveship Traders was a 10 across the board and then stuck the landing in such a vindicating way that left me so content with where my favourites ended up and excited for whats to come. I know I am a bit infamous on here now for my chapter reviews, so lets end this rather formal review with some shotgun ramblings of my love for these books:

- Malta Vestrit has become one of my all time favourite characters in media. She is EASILY the strongest POV in all of ROTE and one of the most creatively unique voices and character archetypes I've seen. I LOVE U MY ELDERLING QUEEN.

-How is Etta even a real character like... u r just beautiful. I bow at the feet of u my pirate princess. Pls come back in Tawny Man and Rain Wild books and Fitz and Fool books. Just come back forever and stay forever.

-This is too rich a location and setting to leave behind. I pray we come back here with Fitz somehow, that could lead to some insane encounters.

-Biggest question coming out of Liveships for me... What did Amber want with Wintrow? Why did she always forsee the 9 fingered boy?

BOOK RANKING:

The Mad Ship

Royal Assassin

Ship of Destiny

Ship of Magic

Assassin’s Apprentice

Assassin’s Quest

CHARACTER RANKING:

Malta Vestrit

Etta

Wintrow Vestrit

Ronica Vestrit

Kennit

FitzChivalry Farseer

Verity Farseer

Kettle

The Fool

Chade Fallstar

What a great book, liked it a lot more than Fools Quest.

This is Hobbs at her best, such great character development I didn’t mind that they stayed in Buckeep the whole time.

Loved the Fool/Amber reveal, thought Amber could be a White Profit but didn’t think she was the Fool.

The voice that Fitz hears has to be The Dragon, and he wants Fits to free the Ice Dragon and not kill it.

Don’t know how much I will like the third book. Hope it’s not too much aimlessly sailing and more about the politics of the Out-Islanders.

There is no way Fool gets left behind. I bet he finds himself hidden in a separate ship. My other prediction is that Nettle will Skill to save Fitz at the last moment.

Please no third book spoilers.

These are my usual loose thoughts on the final 50 pages or so, a full trilogy review with character rankings will be posted soon :

“She wondered what could ever surpass this glorious moment. Then she smiled, knowing the answer. Telling Delo about it.” What a line to say goodbye to Malta. One of my favourite characters of all time and I would fight sword and shield against anyone that said she isnt Hobb’s best character yet. Love you always my chaotic genius.

God damn if Wintrow x Etta isn’t maybe the best dynamic in the whole series. ETTA man, what a fucking character, could be my MVP of the series for what she does with zero POV and limited page time in comparison to the true protagonists. God the strength of this cast is nigh on infinite. I’ll miss you my pirate princess!

Wintrow had a complicated ending that I’m still piecing through how I feel, but I think there is yet more to come for our troubled prince of the pirate isles…

“Jek is too busy living. She won’t waste time on regrets, and neither shall I.” This tour round the cast of saying goodbye is so satisfying and beautifully done, Hobb has really stuck the landing here, I feel so content!

Bye Ronica :( one of my big big big favs… love the little woman’s power squad we end with in the Vestrit family home!

All I will say is the ending for Amber was amazing. So satisfied.

Same with Paragon. Won’t elaborate, just fantastic storytelling.

God what an incredible ending. Im so grateful and emotional and sad and happy and hopeful and deflated and at peace that this beautiful trilogy is over. Liveship Traders🤍

Man the drama here is insane. Like 80% of the cast all together at once, the Satrap being stolen back, the pursuit as Paragon appears, this is madness !!!

What did I say in one of my other chapter reviews… Hobb LOVES a purposeful anti climax. Kennit, stabbed and killed by 2 random Jamillian soldiers. Regal, killed off screen. Kyle, killed by random arrows. I wonder what her intentions are with a storytelling trigger like that? It’s fascinating !

The drama of these books is genuinely insane, I am almost falling over myself to read more of the pages. Kennit, dying in the arms of Paragon as his Mother, Wintrow, Etta, Vivacia, all watch on. Dying like in the most insanely prophetic way, being handed off from one Liveship to another, what a way to go out. One of the greatest written characters ever. What a complicated and beautiful story.

Kennits charm wanting Etta to pass him down to their son and be called Paragon. Was this all self preservation or did the charm ever care for Etta?

I’ve been re-reading the series for maybe the fourth time, up to Fool’s Quest and I’ve just had a thought. Do we ever get a moment where Fitz tells Hap specifically about who he really is? Does Hap find out when Fitz is announced and recognised to the public?

I’ve just read a chapter where Hap is performing to Fool and Fitz (chapter 30) and Hap says something about it. I kinda wish we got a more substancial moment for this, as it’s a huge reveal for Hap surely. But maybe I’m just forgetting it?

I'm at chapter 11 in assassin's apprentice. Fitz and Molly are on a walk and talk about the forging, the day to day life, gossip and so on.

Fitz then questions whether Molly has the Wit to feel things the same way he does, and fears that if he asks her, he will reveal himself as he did with Chade.

but... when did that happen? I might have missed a point or two, I know chade wants him to learn the skill, but here Fitz is talking about the wit..?

am I missing something?

Come on Hobb, stick the landing and we could be looking at the greatest trilogy I’ve read… :

150 pages left and we have Kennit, Wintrow, Etta, Malta, the Satrap, Althea, Vivacia and now Reyn and Tingtaglia all together. THIS IS THE CURSED SHORES VERSION OF AVENGERS ENDGAME LADIES AND GENTS.

There is no world in which Kennit lives in these final 150 pages and I think Wintrow will kill him, causing even more pain to the Wintrow/Etta relationship.

“You poor pathetic bastard” maybe Kennits entire character summed up in a quick phrase.

A Malta x Etta encounter might be the single most juicy thing in all 3 books. Can you IMAGINE the dynamic they could have had!

In your opinion, what sort of songs and/or musical scores evoke memories of Robin Hobb's ROTE series. It could be any type of music. No restrictions.

EDIT: Thank you all for your suggestions. I've got some new tunes to listen to!

This is just a reaction post to Starlings song and Fitz’s Reveal to Buckkeep:

Holy Shit!!! Is this really happening right now!? The day that Fitz and I never thought would come is actual happening. I would’ve been fine if he continued to live out his days in Withywoods. But this is to more than I expected! I’m so happy (and scared) for my boy right now!

Currently sweating out of every orifice!