Brilliant
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It is without doubt a fantastic story; fast paced and enthralling. I would highly recommend it. Mind you the trilogy has stolen the last three days of my life- i've been unable to put it down!
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Readers-on-a-Dragon are swept away in body and spirit
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I must say I revelled in the beginning of this story the very first time I read it, carrying on as it does from the excruciating cliff-hanger that brought `Royal Assassin' to a stunningly climactic close. It's a measured, thoughtful and yet utterly engrossing entrance into the final chapter of the Farseer trilogy and sets the tone very well indeed for all that's to come in this revelatory, far-removed and yet exhilarating concluding story.
The first time I read this book I was so excited to learn how the events in the lives of FitzChivalry, the Fool, Verity and Kettricken would conclude that I realise now (having just read it for the second time) that I overlooked some lulls in the story, and there are some lulls in the middle particularly, albeit brief and still in the traditional, maddeningly-addictive Hobb style. These lulls are however necessary, for Fitz needs to come to terms with his own demons, delusions and short-falls before he can confront the powerful forces in Wit, Skill, brute force and cunning that will thwart him in the final series of battles at the end of this story. Therefore `Assassin's Quest' holds a special place in my heart, as the story that takes Fitz beyond the confining and defining walls of Buckeep, into the world and finally sees him become a part of it, aware of his failings, but accepting of his role as Catalyst, despite all the sacrifices from him it demands.
In retrospect (and since Hobb has published the Tawny Man trilogy, which continues on the events in the lives of these characters) it's easy to read this book and have the certain feeling that much is left undone and unfinished in `Assassin's Quest' for Fitz and his followers. Or perhaps that's simply due to Hobb's expert story-telling ability in how she was able to gather all the many minute loose threads of this tale and weave them together into another trilogy of books so credible, vibrant and worthy of being told as the tales in the Tawny Man trilogy. But I must admit `Assassin's Quest' still feels to me to be an incomplete tale, or rather only a stepping stone leading to an even greater tale of keen human insight and heart-wrenching adventures. Luckily for us all this immensely satisfying and yet bittersweet example of story-telling is continued in `Fool's Errand', which you might be able to guess is precisely the book I am currently re-reading as you finish this review...
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A brilliant conclusion to one of the greatest fantasy stories
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After the heartbreaking ending of Royal Assassin, things are about to get a lot worse for FitzChivalry Farseer. While the seemingly-relentless barrage of torments and angsts Fitz suffers can get almost funny at times, the effect is that as the book nears its end you realise you have no idea what is going to happen. And, while there are long sections where nothing much happens at all, Hobb's writing saves the day as Fitz explores the hidden past of his world, or uses magic to spy on the loved ones he wants so desperately to be with. Admittedly, this can seem a bit contrived, as if Hobb belatedly decided she'd rather not write from a first-person perspective. Nevertheless, they're enjoyable to read.
Fitz's continued development as a character is probably the series's masterstroke. He has realistic gripes, worries and hopes. He makes the wrong decisions with the best intentions. He wants nothing more than to go home and live in peace with his childhood sweetheart. But he does his duty instead. As is said in the series itself, sacrificing your life for your people means so much more than simply dying for them. Fitz learns about self control, and morals, and I learn with him.
Funnily enough, one of the gripes people have about this book- the abrupt ending- is one of my favourite elements. After over a thousand pages of tragedy and betrayal the happy ending (or the happiest ending Fitz could make for himself) is thrust on you all in one go, which adds to the emotional impact. Perhaps there would have been issues with this if the ending had resolved less or felt too cliched or sloppily done, but I think it's done wonderfully. Regal's fate, in particular, is one of the most satisfying things I've ever read. The ending in general wrapped everything up quite nicely, in just a few pages. The lesson is that a really good ending doesn'tr have to take up the last hundred pages of a book- a lesson I wish Hobb had remembered in Fool's Fate.
Most highly recommended. Memorable characters, very well-written, some great twists and an epic story with an original take on the dragon myth.
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Don't have a Fitz...
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I have a love / hate relationship with these books. On the one hand i think the characters are amazing, especially Fitz and The Fool. The story is wonderful and the books are very atmospheric, you really feel like you're there.
But, i think the same story could have been told in half the words. I found that the books dragged on terribly in parts, this book especially. And as for Fitz's torments, after a while i just started thinking 'not again - the only thing you haven't done to him is feed him through a food blender..." I speed read most of the beginning of the book because it moved along so slowly.
But having said all that i still loved it. I'm just slightly disappointed because i'm sure it could have been so much better if half of the unnecessary guff was edited out. I'd recommend you read these books despite their faults because i think their positives far outweigh the negatives. The characters and plot are amongst the best i've ever read.
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Awkward
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In comparison to the previous 2 books, the story and the pace of this book mixes uncomfortable lurches forward with large periods where the story stalls and variable quality of writing; from the sublime to the distinctly not-even-average.
The characters vary between the superb Fitz, as human a fantasy character as has ever been written, to Regal: a cartoonish two dimensional pantomime "baddie". Major plot lines are dealt with in excrutiating detail or half a page (Red ship raiders and forging - merit about that and sadly I'm not kidding) and the ending is just plain weak. You can understand other reviewers comments asking if the same person wrote the ending as the rest of the book. I don't know whether the author wanted to do this series as just 2 books or actually 4 or 5 but this one feels both stretched and rushed (what did the editor do?).
Overall, this series is one of the better ones in sci-fi fantasy, but it's frustrating that the rich promise of the farseer trology just doesn't make it off the pages.
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