You can get the first book here: amzn.to/38odU7K UA-cam has a new feature where I can break the video into parts! Check the description if you would like to jump around :)
Hi! I’ve noticed that you’ve been linking your “where you can get the book here” to an amazon link, and just wanted to let you know about bookshop.org so maybe you can link your books there? Bookshop.org is basically amazon for indie bookstores-in that if you buy a book from there part of the proceeds go to help fund indie bookstores (you can even specify which local bookstore you want it to go to!!). Plus bookshop.org is just a really cool online bookstore! They curate book lists and everything (which is super fun!). I just wanted to let you know if you weren’t aware!
It's such a beautiful concept, after a long life of love, hate and hardship, you reach the end and pour all your memories, all your emotions, your regrets and your satisfactions into something that will in some way carry them forward to the benefit of the next generations, to protect your descendants in their time of need.
@@Ubersicht i only have read the first trilogy currently so my view may be wrong but that was never impression i got. I understood the building of a dragon and pouring yourself werent there for power or a sweet way to die but more a hunger that the skill pushes you to if you let it lead you there. Like addiction that if it doesnt kill u leads u to somewhere to just feed yourself to
@@harley2166 It's hard to say, knowledge of the skill and it's practice were mostly lost (at least as far as we know) so the true nature of the attraction to that place is not clear and the effects of the practice could very well be due to lack of proper training and knowledge. It seems that at some point there was a whole society that used the skill for basically everything so it probably wasn't that bad. I might be looking at it through rose tinted glasses, it's been a while since I read it, but I think it's a fact that practitioners went there generally at the end of their lives, their consciousness somewhat persists in the dragons and they act to protect their home. I'd take that over dying and that being that.
Fitz is willing to make sacrifices, but he was conditioned to be that way since he was a child. Which is so tragic, but fitting. From the moment he arrives at Buckkeep, he's lead to believe that his very existence is an inconvenience and the only way he can justify it is by serving the crown no matter the cost to himself. Robin Hobb does trauma SO WELL- even better in the Liveship series
Spoilers!! ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** Doesn't king Shrewd skill touch Fitz when they first meet and pretty much force Fitz to honor the Farseer line and stay loyal?
Spoiler!!! She does trauma really well especially when a certain lady dies in her garden with her daughter watching and a certain someone wailing his lungs out. 😶
This scene broke me like no other😭😭😭. I was on a city bus heading home from work when I got to this part. I bawled my eyes out. Everyone on the bus heard and saw me lol
Farseer is one of the best series to execute the kingship (and queenship) theme, imo. I can truly understand how he could inspire such loyalty in Fitz. It was most brilliant.
my favorite one: "Three flames burn brighter than the sun, Their blaze engulfs an evil done, Their angry mourning purpose gives, They do not know their child still lives."
The Tawny Man trilogy stands out to me the most when I think back on the Realm of the Elderings. There's significant expansion on the world-building (naturally) but her character work and the way the relationships develop just catapulted the series to the top of my favourites list. it's just ... It's so Robin Hobb. Thoughtful, layered, never easy. It's such a rich reading experience, and so much more than I expected when I first started the series. And the Fool. The Fool, the Fool, the Fool. I have never loved another character like I love the Fool.
My library doest have ber ship trilogy books. Only tawny and then the fool series. Can I read tawny now after farseer? Or will i miss something? Also, yeah, but i heard everyone said they loved the fool in the 3rd book, i started loving him so much on the 2nd and i still it is still the place where i got to know him more and loved him more. We saw how loyal and strong he was while maintaining trying to make others laugh
Too bad - I bet she could have kept the title if it released after HBO's Game of Thrones made bastards sexy. Course, assassins have only gotten hotter, Assassin's Creed is still going strong.
There's a reason why the pacing feels slow. She's setting up an entire 16 book saga in the first trilogy! Robin Hobb is the queen of payoffs. Assassin's Quest was a mini-payoff for the first two books, but really, the ENTIRE first trilogy is the setup for the rest of Realm of the Elderlings. As a fantasy reader, you should know that the longer the setup...the better the payoff. :) World-building - she has one of the most detailed and internally consistent fantasy worlds I have ever read. Just give her time to flesh out her world. Magic system - yes, it's true, this is not high fantasy with spells blazing. But her magic system is extremely intertwined with her world in ways we cannot grasp in just the first three books. Dragons - You will change your mind, I guarantee it! Robin Hobb writes dragons like no other. Some people skip the Liveship Traders trilogy because they think it's unrelated to the rest of the series. Please don't. It's hard to appreciate Robin Hobb's genius without experiencing her slow, methodical trickle of information to the reader and all the mind-blowing implications which will dawn on attentive readers. Robin Hobb doesn't do filler. Everything is there for a reason.
Could not say it better myself, you are absolutely right :) It is important for the story that you do not skip anything and it is best to start with the short story Homecoming.
@@-Me-yl2ou Some trilogies are part of the same story (Fitz) while others are part of the same world (Realm of the Elderlings). However, they are ALL related because they work together to tell a beautiful story about love, loss, magic and dragons.
@@-Me-yl2ou they are all set in the same world, but I can't give too much away about how the Liveships series connects with the Farseer and Tawny Man series as it gives away a twist that is one of my favourite parts of the series, so just trust me, it will make sense, but enjoy the ride at the same time.
Have just finished the last of the entire series, I took the recommendation and also read the Liveship series before starting Assassins Fate. As a 61 year old man I have been entranced,enraged and enthralled with this series, was quite emotional towards the end , really recommend that you keep going , there are flat spots but it really is worth it !
Hello Fellow elder reader! I've been on "a dry spell" as reading goes for some years now, what would you recommend to me to get re- accounted with the genre? Not Robin Hobb, I already read them (almost all, as I stopped reading some years ago now). Some other suggestions?
That's actually one of the few book series were they changed the title in German to the better. The assassin titles just don't suit it 😅 In German it's titles are 1. The gift of kings 2. The brother of the wolf and 3. The Heritage of the Shadows
@@waynear6856 Ik lees meestal de Engelse edities als het goeie proza heeft. Vertaling lees ik alleen wanneer proza een zwakker element is van de schrijver. Of als de vertaling zeer sterk is gedaan, zoals bij de meeste werken van poëzie.
This series reads like a very intense drama, with the addition of magic and fantasy elements. It really feels like you're there with Fitz and living his life along with him. Rothfuss's writing feels like poetry, no doubt, but Hobb's writing just feels like life. No other author makes me transport myself to their world so effortlessly
@@lizclegg7556 Oh, don't say that. I know it's true, but I just wish she'd leave that sleeping wolf lie... I, for one, did not hugely enjoy Fitz and the Fool for many reasons. And the ending felt like a great ending... for another story. Oh it did punch me in the guts in the customary RH way, but the way it got there was... all kinds of unimpressive. I think the lore was getting too heavy, and that was only some of the baggage. I got so numb for the emotional baggage at points. Ugh. I just hope she's done with Fitz now. For real this time.
For me the saddest and most beautiful ending in the series was the death of Nighteyes when in his mind he goes out with Nighteyes in the early morning. That was beautifully written.
I just finished Liveship Traders yesterday. Imo, it was even better than Farseer! Hoooly shit, it was so god damn fantastic. One of my favorite series ever and Ship of Destiny is one of my favorite novels. Started Tawny Man today, very excited.
@@kieran7265 read the soldier son trilogy, a mix of 17th century and fantasy and is wholly different than what she even usualyl writes; its incredible.
@@gilbertozambrano6182 Molta's character journey is one of the best one's I've ever read. From someone you can barely stand into someone who can be genuinely admired.
My favorite thing about book three was Fitz realizing his name was Keppet when he was born, and then rushing to pick up my copy of book one to review the scene with the two women arguing/fighting in the marketplace early-on. And realizing that there are now Layers of Sadness.
The very final book though... the beautiful echo/framing structure had me spontaneously burst into tears for weeks after reading it (being ambigous on purpose here, in case you haven't read it).
And it was on the same day he used his ability to read to give molly her mom's recipes, her mom's memories of her birth, and learned that his father had been killed out on withywoods... why are my eyes wet?
Please continue on to Liveship Traders. I think it's Hobb's best work. The characters are some of the best I've ever seen in a fantasy series. The worldbuilding gets a huge expansion. Kennit is one of the greatest villains ever and is up there with Glokta in terms vile characters that you just can't look away from. Malta has one of the most genuinely heartwarming character arcs I've ever read. The whole thing is beautiful, infuriating, captivating, cruel, and I love every second of it.
Awesome review, I just finished assassin’s quest myself, and dove straight into the Liveship traders. Honestly, I didn’t WANT to do that. I wanted to pick up the tawny man trilogy and continue fitz’s journey, but reddit has convinced me to check out Liveship. Apparently it fills in the gap between Farseer and Tawny Man. I didn’t expect to dig into the book, but I’m on chapter 4 and honestly compelled to finish it already because it’s just Robin Hobb’s beautiful writing that really grabs me.
Oh enjoy. Such a FANTASTIC trilogy. I'm rereading Farseer trilogy right now and while I am enjoying myself immensely, I VERY much look forward to Liveship.
Oh, I agree with you, starting Liveship was really hard because I wanted to continue on with Fitz. But it says something that it will get you to appreciate it for itself instead of resenting it not being about Fitz. I do think that the connections to the Tawny Man aren't as important to understanding and enjoying it as some people make it out to be, there is a certain character in Liveship traders you should keep a lookout for, since she is the one that connects the two trilogies the most.
dude please, plesae, i need links to the reddit comunnity i have been enjoing this books since i was like 11 , and i never find any comunnnity, i just discover this video and im excited(sorry for the bad english)
Having read Robin Hobb years and year before reading Kingkiller, I can 100% say that the reason I responded so readily to Kingkiller was because of Hobb
Now imagine being so drawn in by the characterwork and the next three books will have no Fitz and STILL you will think the next 3 are even better than the first 3!!! Please read the Liveship Trader series!!! It's so good.
I'm happy you liked the ending. I'll recommend trying to read the Realm of the Elderlings books without putting too much time between the books. Because the lore and events you will learn about in the following books will put into context many of the weird things that you had to "just accept" in the Farseer Trilogy (you probably know what I'm talking about, stumbling into a random city and so on). The fresher the previous books are in your mind, the bigger the pay off will be when reading the rest of the series.
I finished the whole saga of the Farseer from the original trilogy to the last three that came out recently... And honestly, it's one of my all-time favorite fantasy series.
I wept for the entire hour that it took for the narrator to read the final outcome of FitzChivalry Farseer. I could not stop crying because it was so beautifully written and I was so invested in him as a character. His relationship with The Fool and Molly and his little daughter Bee. The Fitz and the Fool series is excellent.
The ending of this trilogy felt like it wounded my soul. I seethed at the ending thinking that was it, since the next book moved on from Fitz. However years later I found out about the Tawny Man trilogy, reading that was so satisfying. I'm currently in the middle of the Liveship Traders trilogy, while I like it, the fact that there's another Fitz trilogy out there is distracting me greatly.
It's a great story. The part where The Fool "betrays" Fitz is the only part that had me shaking my head cause that was just too obvious of a situation where Fitz had been thru enough and learned enough of the Skill where he should have known the Fool was being controlled by Regal.
Please, tell us you intend on continuing Fitz's story. I want you to go through all the feels I just went through when I finished his story. You wont regret it. The Tawny man Trilogy is good, its Fitz's next adventure, and it really starts to get into more world building and magic. Daniel asks for world building and magic? Tawny man will deliver.
!!!! SPOILERS FOR THE TAWNY MAN TRILOGY !!!! The death at the end of Fool's Errand (1st book of The Tawny Man) still haunts me 7 years after reading the book. It is, to me, the saddest death every fantasy books, series, etc combined. I can't wait to hear what Daniel thinks of it.
@@alexislaurin5299 You can't wait for Daniel to have his heart brutally ripped out of his chest? You monster! I know what death you're talking about, and it's even sadder how when reading it you know it's coming throughout the whole book, like you know a bomb is about to go off but you can't do anything to stop it. Then it happens and it's so unbelievably sad it crushes your soul.
@@coleton7048 Exactly and the way Robin Hobb wrote this passage ... just thinking about it brings tears to me eyes. "I'm so tired that rest won't ease me. Only the hunt."
I want to hear his thoughts about kennit and paragon, two of the best characters I have ever read. Kennit for sure, he is my favorite character of the series.
@@CaoCao_0707 not gonna disagree I really enjoyed Kennit's story, but I can't remember a series that was able to drastically change how I feel about a character like Robin Hobb did with Malta.
@@user-zb9jn8fl7v I understand, I really disliked malta in the first book, I started to empathize with her in the second book and I loved malta in the third. Great character. But I loved kennit so much, especially (spoiler)......................... his relationship with paragon and the way we discover his background story is amazing. His story is so tragic, and despite the fact that you shouldn't like a person like that, you can't deny you understand him. And the comparison with fitz that you understand only in the third book of the tawny man trilogy is fantastic. (I'm sorry for my English, I'm Italian)
I totally agree with the “Fitz goes through a lot but it’s easy to miss.” I actually think that’s part of why so many people dislike this book, bc I’ve seen lots of reviewers call Fitz “whiny” when he’s clearly suffering with PTSD. Robin Hobb’s subtle with it, but I find it super effective. Also -other thoughts - one of the things I love the most about Assassin’s Quest is how much every character changes in the year Fitz’s away. We see Fitz constantly, and we’re aware of how much he’s changed, but to come back and see how Chade coped, how the Fool and Kettricken grieved and changed.. idk it just makes it feel so *real* to me. Anyway - rant over. Loved your review!
Daniel, once you get to the end of all the World of the Elderlings books, you will realise just how clever Robin Hobb is; you say the dragon was a bit incidental, wait, oh just wait! So many threads get pulled together it makes you gasp! You didn't mention Nighteyes or Fool! Please, please continue reading; the next series (the Tawny Man trilogy) is just mega. You can skip the Liveship Traders trilogy, BUT, I would strongly recommend that you read them - they really are something else and add to the world building.
I havent read tawny man, and I just finished MadShip, and I can already tell that livdship traders MUST be read. There's info that Im seeing a lot of forshadowing it drops about dragons and elderlings Spoilers but not quite: All that happened with Malta, the dragon and bit her bf whose names in english idk). Now I can see there's lore in there that will be explored later on
Favorite series for realistic characters in a fantasy book. It couldn’t have ended in any other way and be believable or not feel cheap. Loved it. And she builds on it so well in the next six books that deal with Fitz. And with that context in mind the dragon at the end will not seem like convenience any more
Might pick it up, looks like something I'd like based off the review. I need some exciting things during quarantine. Thanks for the constant good content, Daniel!
Me, every video: Is he going to mention Fool? Daniel, every video: Nope! But, really, I've adored all your reviews and your measured and reasonable critiques. I really hope you explore more Realm of the Elderlings books in the future! I think especially with your desire for more world building from these books you'll just love where it goes. Also, if "unless you're N.K. Jemisin" isn't a whole ass mood, I don't know what is. I could say this about...a lot of things, but especially second person haha.
So incredibly happy you loved Farseer as much as you did. Liveship Traders is in my opinion her greatest masterpiece, and I think you're going to love it as well.
Keep going with it. Fitzs and the fool trilogy is even better. I'm not a fussed with the liveship books as much but it's essential reading for the later series so it's worth getting through.
The most amazing thing about the Realm of the Elderlings series is the way that the mini series throughout it weave together and at the end of it all so many questions about the world are answered. The whole series is my favourite series full stop because of the way she makes me care for the characters (is it perfect? No...but that doesn't matter).
I'm so happy you loved the Farseer trilogy! Hobb writes wonderfully and I was worried her style wouldn't gel with you but I'm chuffed that it did. :) "Fitz my sweet summer precious child stop what you're doing" when it comes to Fitz making decisions is a pretty universal thing across the Hobb fandom, as far as I believe (myself included hahahaha)! You've met my favourite character in any book ever: Nighteyes. Enjoy your journey into the rest of the Elderlings books. :')
I enjoyed the third book a lot, poor Fitz was so abused by the Farseers. I liked the conclusion of the relationship with Molly, the way they both realize that they loved their old selves was refreshing. Also I loved that Regal was killed by a ferret, a well deserved end.
I loved that ferret! 😭 It was so loyal and and followed its final orders to pass a message before going to carry out it's vengeance. A ferret on a mission to kill a prince!
I've never experienced a story where you follow a character almost their entire life, from childhood on. Fitz's nine book story is a masterpiece. I don't think there is anything else like it (and maybe never will be.) Yes, continue with Robin Hobb. Just don't pick up the Soldier Son Trilogy. That's only for Hobb completionists.
I'm really thrilled to see you are reading "The Realm of the Elderlings". But how can you talk so much about Fitz and not mention the Fool a single time? He is so essential to the plot, to Fitz and to the whole series. In regards to world building, just like you said, Robin Hobb is taking her time to build up her characters and explore them, and it is just the same with the worldbuilding. Read the rest of the books and don't skip the The Liveship Traders (I see that advice around the internet and it would be sacrilege to do so) and you will get all the world building you need! Don't judge the dragons too quickly either ;) The whole series is fantastic and left such a deep impact on me when I finished book number 16, rarely do I have to sit and reflect for a long time after such a series, but with this one I couldn't pick up anything else for a quite a while. I knew it just wouldn't have this world and especially Fitz and the Fool in it.
Glad you enjoyed the first trilogy, a lot more good stuff to follow still in this world! Robin Hobb can take some time to build up a story and her characters, but she does it so well that even when seemingly not much is happening, it never feels boring. That's how good her prose is and that - besides the great characterwork - makes her one of my favourite authors. And this 16 book series (if I remember correctly) one of the most enthralling - and often heart breaking, yes - reads ever :-)
I actually started the farseer triology on the wrong book. I started with volume two and was so impressed by the level of trust shown to me by the author in regards to picking up on an ongoing story. The way the backstory was referenced made me genuinely think it was just backstory. I thought it was so refreshing to have an author just skip the origin part of the story. I actually only figured it out when I had to find the next volume and realised it was volume three. But I didn't feel I missed anything, so I just continued. And 15 books later, having completed it all, I finally returned to the very first book. And man, was that a nostalgic experience. It was like watching the first Harry Potter movie, never having seen it before, but knowing all the plot. Oh, and I also mixed up Tawny man and Dragon keepers series, but that didn't really matter.
I would recommend that you go down the route of 'Liveship Traders' next, when I read her books I really enjoyed 'Farseer' and was tempted to jump straight into 'Tawny Man' but didn't, so glad I didn't or it would have spoilt the world building for me. These stories just get better and better, you will find out things as you go along the journey and I believe it is a journey with Robin Hobb, trust me. Any why never a mention of The Fool, one of the best characters from the Trilogy, mysterious, funny and lovable all in the one packet.
You're my favourite UA-camr, and the one who encouraged me to finally read WoT. I'm on Lord Of Chaos, nearly done with it, and I'm so far in love with the series. To see you finally pick up MY FAVOURITE SERIES EVER alongside my second, Tad Williams Memory Sorrow And Thorn, delights me so much! I think WoT joins them in my top three...
So much love for this series' and the world it's contained in. I agree with the love completely. I've re-read from Fitz' beginning several times, and the richness in re-reads is wonderful. What makes the series stand out for me, is that we see Fitz' understanding of his world genuinely evolve as he ages. Truths he based his actions on, become different truths as he gains understanding around the events he was oblivious to as a child, become different again, as he gains understanding of the influences that caused those events. The characters are all three dimensional, there is very much a sense that they exist in a world of other people, not that they are there to hang a plot around. There is a reality to 'smaller' characters that is lacking in many other works, in that they don't simply appear, say their lines, and go off page - they have reasons for their interactions, and the reader can fully believe they exist beyond those conversations. Huge fan.
And I gotta say that I felt the same as you in terms of world-building after finishing the first trilogy, but came to love how Hobb fleshes out the world through the rest of the series.
As a mostly plot driven reader, who got Fool's Errand as a gift from a friend and accidentally started my Hobb journey with Tawny man trilogy. I just couldn't stop reading the beginning of Fool's Errand. It's so restrictive on the amount of character interactions and that it's mostly talking and yet with excellent prose and well written characters i actually didn't know that much about I was still hooked. And this is where I think Hobb shines, she made something I usually would have had to work really hard to get through really enjoyable.
Daniel, you and I don’t have many books which cross over. Dune, WOT and GOT from what I know, soooooo when you started reviewing these I was really excited for ya! Now hearing your thoughts they echo my own upon finishing the first trilogy and I simply can’t wait for you read the rest of the books. The world building is huge and the characters ... omg, poor poor Fitz!
Thanks for this review! I just finished the Farseer Trilogy and like you, I really need to sit on it and think about it as, boy, it was an emotional ride!! Such prose, such character development! Hence I am here watching reviews so that I can reflect on it. I want to read the next trilogy in this world, but I need a break before I delve into it because I have a feeling my heart is going to break all over again for characters that are so well-written and rounded. So I am heading out of fantasy for a while to explore some other genres. When I come back to it, though, it will be with Robin Hobb :)
Yesssssssssssssss so glad you liked it Daniel. I was afraid the ending of this one would sour you on wanting to continue the series, but trust me when I say it only gets better from here.
I went straight from Kingkiller to Farseer. At first I thought I wasn't going to enjoy it as much or get as attached. Little did I know Robin Hobb would have me in tears at times. So amazing. I'm working my way through The Liveship Traders now.
So glad you enjoyed the trilogy, and I'd wholeheartedly recommend diving into the rest of the Realm of the Elderlings. I started reading it in 1995, and -- for me -- no one does characters better than Hobb. The whole series is now my comfort read (what that says about me, I hate to think!) but even now I find more layers each time I re-read. Liveships is next, and it's a far cry from Fitz's adventures but the threads do all connect, eventually... Have fun and thanks for the review. :)
I find her slow pace and prose to be soothing and I really like it. Her day to day description gives me the kind of worldbuilding detail I love to know
I commented once but need to again. Your review was very accurate. To solve your world building need, you have to branch into the other series in this world. (there are 5 sets total). By the time you get through more or them, the better it gets.
Night eyes is such a important "wolf" in all the series, i'm surprised he wasn't mentioned. In some ways he steals the show with his wisdom, and he's a one true friend. RIP my little friend. :)
I'm glad you liked it. I wasn't sure how you would take to the series as a lot of people see Assassin in the title and expect an action series and are disappointed when they find out it's not. I very interested in seeing your thoughts on the rest of Elderlings. The rest are usually considered better.
Was introduced to The Farseer Trilogy by John Howe through his artist forum many years back. Her writing style and storytelling is superb and I finished the last book in the series last winter. Highly recommend reading all trilogies, she blows my mind over and as you said has a unique style and also, as you will discover, completely her own ways of building this world. Don"t be fooled by what might seem as shallow world building...as with anything she writes she's building up to that too. I absolutely adore her stories and for me she's the best fantasy author since Tolkien. Oh and I like your channel s lot, keep on keeping on! 🙂
this is cool, I found your channel when I was looking for dresden reviews, found it pretty much when you started and now it's one of your bench marks, I read this at least 15 years ago and when I picked up dresden I was thinking ''oh, this is like Robyn Hobb''
I read Farseer in 2012, way before I even heard about The Kingkiller Chronicles, and I have to say you're spot on. I loved Kingkiller when I finally got to it in 2019. I don't think there are many characters that I have ever grown to care about as much as Fitz, and that carries the whole universe for me, but there are definitely elements about this book I'm not crazy about. My favourite book in the whole Realm of the Elderlings universe is probably the 1st book of the final trilogy, despite it literally being a type of slice-of-life drama with almost no action.
I just finished this trilogie too! I picked it up after watching your review for the first book. Thanks so much. I realy loved this world and am so happy I picked it up!
hey Daniel! so glad that you appreciated the Farseer Trilogy. the Liveship trilogy is a different focus; Fitz does not appear. Fitz and his world of characters reappear in the Tawny Man Trilogy, after some 15 years have passed. Then, Robin Hobb's final Fitz & co. storyline finishes with the Fitz & the Fool trilogy. The Liveship Traders and the Rain Wild Chronicles can be read after you find out what happens to Fitz. It is world building; but not crucial to Fitz's story.
Just wait till he gets to Thick's story about his red whistle. Don't think i've ever been more emotional while reading, and its a chapter i've read on its own dozens and dozens of times. Probably about to read it right now...
farseer was the first series i picked up after kingkiller and i loved it. totally agree about the pacing being off in books 1 and 3, but i found the pacing of book 2 to be relentless in an amazing way. hobb really makes you fall in love with fitz, and it continues into the next trilogy fitz is a part of (which, in some ways, i might like more)
But ofc, we needed to read Farseer (and liveship traders, to a lesser extent) to really get the full impact of the Tawny Man trilogy. Farseer is great on its own, but it really does set up Tawny Man to be amazing for what it does.
You left me wondering about your feelings on his bond with Nighteyes and that element of the magic system. We know your feels about animal characters and you get a whole new presentation on those kinds of relationships.
I was beyond excited when I saw that you had done this review! Please keep reading! The series gets better and better with each book. And don't skip The Liveship Traders whatever you do. There's character crossover that is important, and if you like a lot of action, and amazing characters you will love it.
I read the first one based on your recommendation and I'm about to start #2. I loved the first one and can't wait to read her entire bibliography Great video, Daniel!
Great review! Thank you, I've been really looking forward to it. I really liked the third book a lot. I thought the travelogue was a great relief after the first two books I enjoyed all the places we ended up visiting in the book. I really liked how the big climatic resolution thwarted expectations and both resolved the overarching conflict and revealed new mysteries. When I think of the over-all plot, I think a lot of Jack Vance's _Durdane_ trilogy which has the same basic conflict and thwarts expectations in it's own way (highly recommended). Anyway, thanks again!
Possibly my most favorite part of the wheel of time series is when Tallanvor was scene beating himself and crying because he took an oath betraying his queen. That is the Fitz in a nutshell. He cares so much for his family and Variety that his life doesnt matter, and that's what I love about this series. He would rather give up everything in his life then cause division in the kingdom. In my own opinion this is by far the greatest book series I have ever read.
Can't wait for your review of the liveship traders trilogy! 😁 It has to be my favourite trilogy of all time. If not Fitz and the Fool.. Really incredible journey you have ahead of you.
I read the entire series back to back and really loved it. It drags at times and lacks action, but that's fine. It's different from anything I've ever read before or since, and is high on my favourites list. Fitz is the only character I've spent so much time with, and not got bored or annoyed with them, or found them unbelievable. You feel like you really know all of Robin Hobbs characters after a couple of books, and I felt genuine sadness and joy at various parts, along with Fitz
In my book Robin Hobb is one of the best fantasy authors writing hands down. She really only gets better. And we come back to Fitz later in life a couple of times so things aren't all doom an gloom, but yeah he really goes through a lot.
You HAVE to read the rest of the series!!! Soooooo so good and the psychological aspect of the character development is amazing. The fact that you have to feel grief to enable you to work through it and develop into a better person
It's the Realm of the Elderlings and Farseer is just the beginning. You'll get much more world building. Especially with Liveship Traders. I'm glad that you like it so far! And I think it only gets better (with the exception of the Rainwild Chronicles I hear; I personally have read everything other than that and the last trilogy which I'm currently on)
The part of the magic system that revolves around the dragons really comes into its own later in the series (if you talk about all three trilogies as a the series as a whole) in a most fantastic way.
You can get the first book here: amzn.to/38odU7K
UA-cam has a new feature where I can break the video into parts! Check the description if you would like to jump around :)
Hi! I’ve noticed that you’ve been linking your “where you can get the book here” to an amazon link, and just wanted to let you know about bookshop.org so maybe you can link your books there? Bookshop.org is basically amazon for indie bookstores-in that if you buy a book from there part of the proceeds go to help fund indie bookstores (you can even specify which local bookstore you want it to go to!!). Plus bookshop.org is just a really cool online bookstore! They curate book lists and everything (which is super fun!). I just wanted to let you know if you weren’t aware!
@@jamiemurphysoika5745 but then he wouldn't get his affiliate kickback.
AshtheViking yeah I thought of that after I wrote my comment :/
Just wait til you meet Kennit 😆
Your videos and content are getting so good
"We dream of carving our dragon." - One of my favourite final sentences in all of fantasy
... if you enjoyed that, then definitely need to go thru all the books.
@@OvidiuHretcanu un roman de-ai mei pe aici :)
It's such a beautiful concept, after a long life of love, hate and hardship, you reach the end and pour all your memories, all your emotions, your regrets and your satisfactions into something that will in some way carry them forward to the benefit of the next generations, to protect your descendants in their time of need.
@@Ubersicht i only have read the first trilogy currently so my view may be wrong but that was never impression i got. I understood the building of a dragon and pouring yourself werent there for power or a sweet way to die but more a hunger that the skill pushes you to if you let it lead you there. Like addiction that if it doesnt kill u leads u to somewhere to just feed yourself to
@@harley2166 It's hard to say, knowledge of the skill and it's practice were mostly lost (at least as far as we know) so the true nature of the attraction to that place is not clear and the effects of the practice could very well be due to lack of proper training and knowledge. It seems that at some point there was a whole society that used the skill for basically everything so it probably wasn't that bad. I might be looking at it through rose tinted glasses, it's been a while since I read it, but I think it's a fact that practitioners went there generally at the end of their lives, their consciousness somewhat persists in the dragons and they act to protect their home. I'd take that over dying and that being that.
Fitz is willing to make sacrifices, but he was conditioned to be that way since he was a child. Which is so tragic, but fitting. From the moment he arrives at Buckkeep, he's lead to believe that his very existence is an inconvenience and the only way he can justify it is by serving the crown no matter the cost to himself. Robin Hobb does trauma SO WELL- even better in the Liveship series
Spoilers!!
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Doesn't king Shrewd skill touch Fitz when they first meet and pretty much force Fitz to honor the Farseer line and stay loyal?
Spoiler!!!
She does trauma really well especially when a certain lady dies in her garden with her daughter watching and a certain someone wailing his lungs out. 😶
This scene broke me like no other😭😭😭. I was on a city bus heading home from work when I got to this part. I bawled my eyes out. Everyone on the bus heard and saw me lol
Mychal West I feel like, “Fitz was skill messed with” should be a drinking game
😂😂
Daniel: I wanted more world building.
Liveship Traders: Allow us to introduce ourselves.
No but fr there was so much
One Wiseman came to Jhaampe-town.
He set aside both Queen and Crown
Did his task and fell asleep
Gave his bones to the stones to keep.
Poor Verity.
Farseer is one of the best series to execute the kingship (and queenship) theme, imo. I can truly understand how he could inspire such loyalty in Fitz. It was most brilliant.
my favorite one:
"Three flames burn brighter than the sun,
Their blaze engulfs an evil done,
Their angry mourning purpose gives,
They do not know their child still lives."
I think he was happy to give his bones. He wasn’t scared to give his queen his nephews bone 😂
Verity is my favorite
@@neriumsuitedher "I never doubted it. Never doubt that I loved you."
“But once they did go there, I was like.. Wow, I’m gonna sneeze”
~Daniel Greene 2020
I don't know why but the way it came out sounded so perfect
I may even adopt it as a saying when expressing how much I liked something.
5:54 "the magic system is about FORGING bonds" oh no nononono
The Tawny Man trilogy stands out to me the most when I think back on the Realm of the Elderings. There's significant expansion on the world-building (naturally) but her character work and the way the relationships develop just catapulted the series to the top of my favourites list. it's just ... It's so Robin Hobb. Thoughtful, layered, never easy. It's such a rich reading experience, and so much more than I expected when I first started the series.
And the Fool. The Fool, the Fool, the Fool. I have never loved another character like I love the Fool.
Agreed! The Fool is the best character I’ve ever known. Just glorious brilliant beautiful Fool
I looove the Fool so bad 😭♥️ just want to give him a hug 😢
Couldn't have said it better myself
My library doest have ber ship trilogy books. Only tawny and then the fool series. Can I read tawny now after farseer? Or will i miss something? Also, yeah, but i heard everyone said they loved the fool in the 3rd book, i started loving him so much on the 2nd and i still it is still the place where i got to know him more and loved him more. We saw how loyal and strong he was while maintaining trying to make others laugh
@@dianaayt Read liveship, its totally worth it in itself. There are references that will be related to livship.
First book was meant to have the title "Chivalry's Bastard". Publisher changed it to Assassin stuff.
Damn. The original title sounds so much better. A good contradiction, almost a question.
That sounds so much better and less generic than Assassin's Apprentice
That’s a way better name! They could have named the next two after Regal and Verity with the same sort of word play.
Ooh I wonder whether the others would’ve been “Bastard” something. But yeah that’s a way better title
Too bad - I bet she could have kept the title if it released after HBO's Game of Thrones made bastards sexy. Course, assassins have only gotten hotter, Assassin's Creed is still going strong.
There's a reason why the pacing feels slow. She's setting up an entire 16 book saga in the first trilogy! Robin Hobb is the queen of payoffs. Assassin's Quest was a mini-payoff for the first two books, but really, the ENTIRE first trilogy is the setup for the rest of Realm of the Elderlings. As a fantasy reader, you should know that the longer the setup...the better the payoff. :)
World-building - she has one of the most detailed and internally consistent fantasy worlds I have ever read. Just give her time to flesh out her world.
Magic system - yes, it's true, this is not high fantasy with spells blazing. But her magic system is extremely intertwined with her world in ways we cannot grasp in just the first three books.
Dragons - You will change your mind, I guarantee it! Robin Hobb writes dragons like no other.
Some people skip the Liveship Traders trilogy because they think it's unrelated to the rest of the series. Please don't. It's hard to appreciate Robin Hobb's genius without experiencing her slow, methodical trickle of information to the reader and all the mind-blowing implications which will dawn on attentive readers.
Robin Hobb doesn't do filler. Everything is there for a reason.
Could not say it better myself, you are absolutely right :)
It is important for the story that you do not skip anything and it is best to start with the short story Homecoming.
How others trilogy related to each other??? I have just started the first book
@@-Me-yl2ou Some trilogies are part of the same story (Fitz) while others are part of the same world (Realm of the Elderlings). However, they are ALL related because they work together to tell a beautiful story about love, loss, magic and dragons.
Yes, the Tawny Man series blew my mind when I realised who Amber was from Liveships. I was like WHAAAAAAAT!!!
@@-Me-yl2ou they are all set in the same world, but I can't give too much away about how the Liveships series connects with the Farseer and Tawny Man series as it gives away a twist that is one of my favourite parts of the series, so just trust me, it will make sense, but enjoy the ride at the same time.
yup yup yup loved it toooooo
06:00 "it's about FORGING bonds" Sure you wanna use that word?? I couldn't use that word randomly ever again after reading this series...
Noticed this too, sweated a little. 👀
@@becklebooks Same here, I think I gasped!
Oh god, sends shivers 😬
Have just finished the last of the entire series, I took the recommendation and also read the Liveship series before starting Assassins Fate. As a 61 year old man I have been entranced,enraged and enthralled with this series, was quite emotional towards the end , really recommend that you keep going , there are flat spots but it really is worth it !
Hello Fellow elder reader! I've been on "a dry spell" as reading goes for some years now, what would you recommend to me to get re- accounted with the genre?
Not Robin Hobb, I already read them (almost all, as I stopped reading some years ago now).
Some other suggestions?
That's actually one of the few book series were they changed the title in German to the better. The assassin titles just don't suit it 😅
In German it's titles are 1. The gift of kings 2. The brother of the wolf and 3. The Heritage of the Shadows
Definitely better!
Our dutch titles are: apprentice and master, royal assasin(same), skill and wisdom
@@writingwofl5836 dat wist ik niet heb de Engels versie gelezen maar dat is beter ja.
@@waynear6856 Ik lees meestal de Engelse edities als het goeie proza heeft. Vertaling lees ik alleen wanneer proza een zwakker element is van de schrijver. Of als de vertaling zeer sterk is gedaan, zoals bij de meeste werken van poëzie.
This series reads like a very intense drama, with the addition of magic and fantasy elements. It really feels like you're there with Fitz and living his life along with him. Rothfuss's writing feels like poetry, no doubt, but Hobb's writing just feels like life. No other author makes me transport myself to their world so effortlessly
The FItz & the Fool story arc ends in the most beautiful ending I've ever read in fantasy. I still get a lump in my throat just thinking about it.
I completely agree it's such a sad yet fitting end. Almost cried ngl.
Its possible that it hasn't actually ended.
@@lizclegg7556 Oh, don't say that. I know it's true, but I just wish she'd leave that sleeping wolf lie... I, for one, did not hugely enjoy Fitz and the Fool for many reasons. And the ending felt like a great ending... for another story. Oh it did punch me in the guts in the customary RH way, but the way it got there was... all kinds of unimpressive. I think the lore was getting too heavy, and that was only some of the baggage. I got so numb for the emotional baggage at points. Ugh.
I just hope she's done with Fitz now. For real this time.
For me the saddest and most beautiful ending in the series was the death of Nighteyes when in his mind he goes out with Nighteyes in the early morning. That was beautifully written.
@@lizclegg7556 It was beautiful.
I just finished Liveship Traders yesterday. Imo, it was even better than Farseer! Hoooly shit, it was so god damn fantastic. One of my favorite series ever and Ship of Destiny is one of my favorite novels. Started Tawny Man today, very excited.
you have about three more trilogies to go :P enjoy!
My man the next two trilogies are gonna be a treat, really savour it
@@kieran7265 read the soldier son trilogy, a mix of 17th century and fantasy and is wholly different than what she even usualyl writes; its incredible.
The Liveship traders trilogy is a masterpiece. The ending it's one of the most tragic and satisfiying things I've ever read.
@@gilbertozambrano6182 Molta's character journey is one of the best one's I've ever read. From someone you can barely stand into someone who can be genuinely admired.
The Farseet Trilogy is one of the best examples of how fantasy can transcend its own genre and tell a realistic emotional true story.
So glad you picked up Hobb! The Liveship Traders series is my all time favourite trilogy - I hope you get to it!
I second this, Liveship traders is fantastic. Probably pushed Hobb into being my favourite fantasy author
Not a Kingkiller fan who likes Farseer.
I'm a Hobb fan who likes Rothfuss.
Same
My favorite thing about book three was Fitz realizing his name was Keppet when he was born, and then rushing to pick up my copy of book one to review the scene with the two women arguing/fighting in the marketplace early-on. And realizing that there are now Layers of Sadness.
The very final book though... the beautiful echo/framing structure had me spontaneously burst into tears for weeks after reading it (being ambigous on purpose here, in case you haven't read it).
And it was on the same day he used his ability to read to give molly her mom's recipes, her mom's memories of her birth, and learned that his father had been killed out on withywoods... why are my eyes wet?
Please continue on to Liveship Traders. I think it's Hobb's best work. The characters are some of the best I've ever seen in a fantasy series. The worldbuilding gets a huge expansion. Kennit is one of the greatest villains ever and is up there with Glokta in terms vile characters that you just can't look away from. Malta has one of the most genuinely heartwarming character arcs I've ever read. The whole thing is beautiful, infuriating, captivating, cruel, and I love every second of it.
Awesome review, I just finished assassin’s quest myself, and dove straight into the Liveship traders. Honestly, I didn’t WANT to do that. I wanted to pick up the tawny man trilogy and continue fitz’s journey, but reddit has convinced me to check out Liveship. Apparently it fills in the gap between Farseer and Tawny Man. I didn’t expect to dig into the book, but I’m on chapter 4 and honestly compelled to finish it already because it’s just Robin Hobb’s beautiful writing that really grabs me.
Oh enjoy. Such a FANTASTIC trilogy. I'm rereading Farseer trilogy right now and while I am enjoying myself immensely, I VERY much look forward to Liveship.
Oh, I agree with you, starting Liveship was really hard because I wanted to continue on with Fitz. But it says something that it will get you to appreciate it for itself instead of resenting it not being about Fitz. I do think that the connections to the Tawny Man aren't as important to understanding and enjoying it as some people make it out to be, there is a certain character in Liveship traders you should keep a lookout for, since she is the one that connects the two trilogies the most.
dude please, plesae, i need links to the reddit comunnity i have been enjoing this books since i was like 11 , and i never find any comunnnity, i just discover this video and im excited(sorry for the bad english)
Having read Robin Hobb years and year before reading Kingkiller, I can 100% say that the reason I responded so readily to Kingkiller was because of Hobb
I like king killer, I did not like farseerer.
@@markcastellanet9672 Huh. I loved and read the whole Realm of the Elderlings. Liked the first KKC book, and was meh on the second one.
@@azurepulse1870 I was the opposite, I like the second kkc better.
Kingkiller and Realm of the Elderlings are my favorites! I think there are quite a few parallels you can draw between their storytelling
Now imagine being so drawn in by the characterwork and the next three books will have no Fitz and STILL you will think the next 3 are even better than the first 3!!! Please read the Liveship Trader series!!! It's so good.
I'm happy you liked the ending. I'll recommend trying to read the Realm of the Elderlings books without putting too much time between the books. Because the lore and events you will learn about in the following books will put into context many of the weird things that you had to "just accept" in the Farseer Trilogy (you probably know what I'm talking about, stumbling into a random city and so on). The fresher the previous books are in your mind, the bigger the pay off will be when reading the rest of the series.
I finished the whole saga of the Farseer from the original trilogy to the last three that came out recently... And honestly, it's one of my all-time favorite fantasy series.
I wept for the entire hour that it took for the narrator to read the final outcome of FitzChivalry Farseer. I could not stop crying because it was so beautifully written and I was so invested in him as a character. His relationship with The Fool and Molly and his little daughter Bee. The Fitz and the Fool series is excellent.
The ending of this trilogy felt like it wounded my soul. I seethed at the ending thinking that was it, since the next book moved on from Fitz. However years later I found out about the Tawny Man trilogy, reading that was so satisfying. I'm currently in the middle of the Liveship Traders trilogy, while I like it, the fact that there's another Fitz trilogy out there is distracting me greatly.
It's a great story. The part where The Fool "betrays" Fitz is the only part that had me shaking my head cause that was just too obvious of a situation where Fitz had been thru enough and learned enough of the Skill where he should have known the Fool was being controlled by Regal.
"Sneeze like a real man" - Pearce Hawthorne
Always a thumbs up for a good community reference.
Troy sneezes like a girl! How about I pound you like a boy? That didn't come out right.
Fool's Fate might be the single best fantasy book I've ever read, besides a storm of swords.
Cant wait for you to get to it.
Assassin's Fate you mean? Yes. I cried like a small child for that ending.
Eric Woerner no, Fool’s fate is awesome. Really did not enjoy Assassins fate.
@@fionamarshal9150 is that the end of tawny man?
@@fionamarshal9150 exactly! Fools fate is next level
@@rickywoerner yeah it is
i love it when a full series gets reviewed, makes me wish Daniel reviews more full series!
Please, tell us you intend on continuing Fitz's story. I want you to go through all the feels I just went through when I finished his story. You wont regret it. The Tawny man Trilogy is good, its Fitz's next adventure, and it really starts to get into more world building and magic. Daniel asks for world building and magic? Tawny man will deliver.
!!!! SPOILERS FOR THE TAWNY MAN TRILOGY !!!! The death at the end of Fool's Errand (1st book of The Tawny Man) still haunts me 7 years after reading the book. It is, to me, the saddest death every fantasy books, series, etc combined. I can't wait to hear what Daniel thinks of it.
@@alexislaurin5299 You can't wait for Daniel to have his heart brutally ripped out of his chest? You monster! I know what death you're talking about, and it's even sadder how when reading it you know it's coming throughout the whole book, like you know a bomb is about to go off but you can't do anything to stop it. Then it happens and it's so unbelievably sad it crushes your soul.
@@coleton7048 Exactly and the way Robin Hobb wrote this passage ... just thinking about it brings tears to me eyes.
"I'm so tired that rest won't ease me. Only the hunt."
Can't wait for you to read the Liveship Traders Trilogy and hear your thoughts on Malta
I want to hear his thoughts about kennit and paragon, two of the best characters I have ever read. Kennit for sure, he is my favorite character of the series.
@@CaoCao_0707 not gonna disagree I really enjoyed Kennit's story, but I can't remember a series that was able to drastically change how I feel about a character like Robin Hobb did with Malta.
@@user-zb9jn8fl7v I understand, I really disliked malta in the first book, I started to empathize with her in the second book and I loved malta in the third. Great character.
But I loved kennit so much, especially (spoiler).........................
his relationship with paragon and the way we discover his background story is amazing. His story is so tragic, and despite the fact that you shouldn't like a person like that, you can't deny you understand him. And the comparison with fitz that you understand only in the third book of the tawny man trilogy is fantastic.
(I'm sorry for my English, I'm Italian)
Love Malta!
Just want to see what he thinks about Althea's fate...
lol I couldn't stand Malta in the beginning, oh how things changed.
I totally agree with the “Fitz goes through a lot but it’s easy to miss.” I actually think that’s part of why so many people dislike this book, bc I’ve seen lots of reviewers call Fitz “whiny” when he’s clearly suffering with PTSD. Robin Hobb’s subtle with it, but I find it super effective.
Also -other thoughts - one of the things I love the most about Assassin’s Quest is how much every character changes in the year Fitz’s away. We see Fitz constantly, and we’re aware of how much he’s changed, but to come back and see how Chade coped, how the Fool and Kettricken grieved and changed.. idk it just makes it feel so *real* to me.
Anyway - rant over. Loved your review!
Not to mention he was a child when all this started. And the things that happened to manipulate his thinking!
Oh yes! So excited! Especially when you began with Robin Hobb being amazing.
Daniel, once you get to the end of all the World of the Elderlings books, you will realise just how clever Robin Hobb is; you say the dragon was a bit incidental, wait, oh just wait! So many threads get pulled together it makes you gasp!
You didn't mention Nighteyes or Fool!
Please, please continue reading; the next series (the Tawny Man trilogy) is just mega. You can skip the Liveship Traders trilogy, BUT, I would strongly recommend that you read them - they really are something else and add to the world building.
Don't you dare skip the liveship traders,they are the best!
No don’t skip it! It’s really important for that Thread pulling att the end you mention.
It's better not skiping it, it's good and add so much to the worldbuilding 🙂
I havent read tawny man, and I just finished MadShip, and I can already tell that livdship traders MUST be read. There's info that Im seeing a lot of forshadowing it drops about dragons and elderlings
Spoilers but not quite:
All that happened with Malta, the dragon and bit her bf whose names in english idk). Now I can see there's lore in there that will be explored later on
Don't skip the Liveships series. You think it doesn't connect but WOAH it does when you read Golden Fool.
The dumbest, most annoying decision made in the whole trilogy was not dealing with Regal earlier. That said, it's a great trilogy.
Favorite series for realistic characters in a fantasy book. It couldn’t have ended in any other way and be believable or not feel cheap. Loved it. And she builds on it so well in the next six books that deal with Fitz. And with that context in mind the dragon at the end will not seem like convenience any more
Please continue. Live ship is fantastic, tawny man is so good, rainwild is okay, but man that last trilogy. It changed me as a person it was so good.
Might pick it up, looks like something I'd like based off the review. I need some exciting things during quarantine. Thanks for the constant good content, Daniel!
Me, every video: Is he going to mention Fool?
Daniel, every video: Nope!
But, really, I've adored all your reviews and your measured and reasonable critiques. I really hope you explore more Realm of the Elderlings books in the future! I think especially with your desire for more world building from these books you'll just love where it goes.
Also, if "unless you're N.K. Jemisin" isn't a whole ass mood, I don't know what is. I could say this about...a lot of things, but especially second person haha.
I’ve been waiting for you to do this review for so long.
I love this series so much, I had my parents read it.
They are so beautiful and metaphorical.
The books are my ultimate.
So incredibly happy you loved Farseer as much as you did. Liveship Traders is in my opinion her greatest masterpiece, and I think you're going to love it as well.
How did you not even talk about the Fool he’s my favorite character in any book ever
Keep going with it. Fitzs and the fool trilogy is even better. I'm not a fussed with the liveship books as much but it's essential reading for the later series so it's worth getting through.
The most amazing thing about the Realm of the Elderlings series is the way that the mini series throughout it weave together and at the end of it all so many questions about the world are answered. The whole series is my favourite series full stop because of the way she makes me care for the characters (is it perfect? No...but that doesn't matter).
I am so glad you liked this first trilogy! The world building grows and the already brilliant characters just get better.
I'm so happy you loved the Farseer trilogy! Hobb writes wonderfully and I was worried her style wouldn't gel with you but I'm chuffed that it did. :) "Fitz my sweet summer precious child stop what you're doing" when it comes to Fitz making decisions is a pretty universal thing across the Hobb fandom, as far as I believe (myself included hahahaha)!
You've met my favourite character in any book ever: Nighteyes. Enjoy your journey into the rest of the Elderlings books. :')
I enjoyed the third book a lot, poor Fitz was so abused by the Farseers. I liked the conclusion of the relationship with Molly, the way they both realize that they loved their old selves was refreshing. Also I loved that Regal was killed by a ferret, a well deserved end.
I loved that ferret! 😭 It was so loyal and and followed its final orders to pass a message before going to carry out it's vengeance. A ferret on a mission to kill a prince!
I've never experienced a story where you follow a character almost their entire life, from childhood on. Fitz's nine book story is a masterpiece. I don't think there is anything else like it (and maybe never will be.)
Yes, continue with Robin Hobb. Just don't pick up the Soldier Son Trilogy. That's only for Hobb completionists.
I'm really thrilled to see you are reading "The Realm of the Elderlings". But how can you talk so much about Fitz and not mention the Fool a single time? He is so essential to the plot, to Fitz and to the whole series.
In regards to world building, just like you said, Robin Hobb is taking her time to build up her characters and explore them, and it is just the same with the worldbuilding. Read the rest of the books and don't skip the The Liveship Traders (I see that advice around the internet and it would be sacrilege to do so) and you will get all the world building you need!
Don't judge the dragons too quickly either ;)
The whole series is fantastic and left such a deep impact on me when I finished book number 16, rarely do I have to sit and reflect for a long time after such a series, but with this one I couldn't pick up anything else for a quite a while. I knew it just wouldn't have this world and especially Fitz and the Fool in it.
And Nighteyes!!! How can you talk about THAT relationship?
@@cherylmcintosh3131 definitely Nighteyes too!
I cried so many times reading her books that my husband was kind of worried about me. After I explained why he just laughed at me.
Glad you enjoyed the first trilogy, a lot more good stuff to follow still in this world! Robin Hobb can take some time to build up a story and her characters, but she does it so well that even when seemingly not much is happening, it never feels boring. That's how good her prose is and that - besides the great characterwork - makes her one of my favourite authors. And this 16 book series (if I remember correctly) one of the most enthralling - and often heart breaking, yes - reads ever :-)
I actually started the farseer triology on the wrong book. I started with volume two and was so impressed by the level of trust shown to me by the author in regards to picking up on an ongoing story. The way the backstory was referenced made me genuinely think it was just backstory. I thought it was so refreshing to have an author just skip the origin part of the story. I actually only figured it out when I had to find the next volume and realised it was volume three. But I didn't feel I missed anything, so I just continued. And 15 books later, having completed it all, I finally returned to the very first book. And man, was that a nostalgic experience. It was like watching the first Harry Potter movie, never having seen it before, but knowing all the plot. Oh, and I also mixed up Tawny man and Dragon keepers series, but that didn't really matter.
I'm thrilled you liked it! One of my favorites. Her characters will stay with me forever.
I would recommend that you go down the route of 'Liveship Traders' next, when I read her books I really enjoyed 'Farseer' and was tempted to jump straight into 'Tawny Man' but didn't, so glad I didn't or it would have spoilt the world building for me. These stories just get better and better, you will find out things as you go along the journey and I believe it is a journey with Robin Hobb, trust me. Any why never a mention of The Fool, one of the best characters from the Trilogy, mysterious, funny and lovable all in the one packet.
You're my favourite UA-camr, and the one who encouraged me to finally read WoT. I'm on Lord Of Chaos, nearly done with it, and I'm so far in love with the series.
To see you finally pick up MY FAVOURITE SERIES EVER alongside my second, Tad Williams Memory Sorrow And Thorn, delights me so much!
I think WoT joins them in my top three...
So much love for this series' and the world it's contained in. I agree with the love completely. I've re-read from Fitz' beginning several times, and the richness in re-reads is wonderful. What makes the series stand out for me, is that we see Fitz' understanding of his world genuinely evolve as he ages. Truths he based his actions on, become different truths as he gains understanding around the events he was oblivious to as a child, become different again, as he gains understanding of the influences that caused those events.
The characters are all three dimensional, there is very much a sense that they exist in a world of other people, not that they are there to hang a plot around. There is a reality to 'smaller' characters that is lacking in many other works, in that they don't simply appear, say their lines, and go off page - they have reasons for their interactions, and the reader can fully believe they exist beyond those conversations.
Huge fan.
So excited to hear your takes on the rest of the series :D
And I gotta say that I felt the same as you in terms of world-building after finishing the first trilogy, but came to love how Hobb fleshes out the world through the rest of the series.
As a mostly plot driven reader, who got Fool's Errand as a gift from a friend and accidentally started my Hobb journey with Tawny man trilogy. I just couldn't stop reading the beginning of Fool's Errand. It's so restrictive on the amount of character interactions and that it's mostly talking and yet with excellent prose and well written characters i actually didn't know that much about I was still hooked.
And this is where I think Hobb shines, she made something I usually would have had to work really hard to get through really enjoyable.
Daniel, you and I don’t have many books which cross over. Dune, WOT and GOT from what I know, soooooo when you started reviewing these I was really excited for ya!
Now hearing your thoughts they echo my own upon finishing the first trilogy and I simply can’t wait for you read the rest of the books. The world building is huge and the characters ... omg, poor poor Fitz!
I can’t wait to hear what you think of the liveship books! One of my favorite series of all time!
Thanks for this review! I just finished the Farseer Trilogy and like you, I really need to sit on it and think about it as, boy, it was an emotional ride!! Such prose, such character development! Hence I am here watching reviews so that I can reflect on it. I want to read the next trilogy in this world, but I need a break before I delve into it because I have a feeling my heart is going to break all over again for characters that are so well-written and rounded. So I am heading out of fantasy for a while to explore some other genres. When I come back to it, though, it will be with Robin Hobb :)
His internal battle for personal happiness and country is so beautifully shown in all these books.
Yesssssssssssssss so glad you liked it Daniel. I was afraid the ending of this one would sour you on wanting to continue the series, but trust me when I say it only gets better from here.
I went straight from Kingkiller to Farseer. At first I thought I wasn't going to enjoy it as much or get as attached. Little did I know Robin Hobb would have me in tears at times. So amazing. I'm working my way through The Liveship Traders now.
So glad you enjoyed the trilogy, and I'd wholeheartedly recommend diving into the rest of the Realm of the Elderlings. I started reading it in 1995, and -- for me -- no one does characters better than Hobb. The whole series is now my comfort read (what that says about me, I hate to think!) but even now I find more layers each time I re-read. Liveships is next, and it's a far cry from Fitz's adventures but the threads do all connect, eventually... Have fun and thanks for the review. :)
I find her slow pace and prose to be soothing and I really like it. Her day to day description gives me the kind of worldbuilding detail I love to know
I commented once but need to again. Your review was very accurate. To solve your world building need, you have to branch into the other series in this world. (there are 5 sets total). By the time you get through more or them, the better it gets.
Thanks for discussing this, I loved it too. But yes at times I cried, quite a bit. Fitz is my favorite but I love the Fool and of course Nighteyes.
Night eyes is such a important "wolf" in all the series, i'm surprised he wasn't mentioned. In some ways he steals the show with his wisdom, and he's a one true friend. RIP my little friend. :)
SPOILERS!
I'm glad you liked it. I wasn't sure how you would take to the series as a lot of people see Assassin in the title and expect an action series and are disappointed when they find out it's not.
I very interested in seeing your thoughts on the rest of Elderlings. The rest are usually considered better.
Was introduced to The Farseer Trilogy by John Howe through his artist forum many years back. Her writing style and storytelling is superb and I finished the last book in the series last winter. Highly recommend reading all trilogies, she blows my mind over and as you said has a unique style and also, as you will discover, completely her own ways of building this world. Don"t be fooled by what might seem as shallow world building...as with anything she writes she's building up to that too. I absolutely adore her stories and for me she's the best fantasy author since Tolkien. Oh and I like your channel s lot, keep on keeping on! 🙂
this is cool, I found your channel when I was looking for dresden reviews, found it pretty much when you started and now it's one of your bench marks, I read this at least 15 years ago and when I picked up dresden I was thinking ''oh, this is like Robyn Hobb''
I read Farseer in 2012, way before I even heard about The Kingkiller Chronicles, and I have to say you're spot on. I loved Kingkiller when I finally got to it in 2019.
I don't think there are many characters that I have ever grown to care about as much as Fitz, and that carries the whole universe for me, but there are definitely elements about this book I'm not crazy about. My favourite book in the whole Realm of the Elderlings universe is probably the 1st book of the final trilogy, despite it literally being a type of slice-of-life drama with almost no action.
It is just the beginning...loved all the Fitz and Fool trilogy
I just finished this trilogie too! I picked it up after watching your review for the first book. Thanks so much. I realy loved this world and am so happy I picked it up!
hey Daniel! so glad that you appreciated the Farseer Trilogy. the Liveship trilogy is a different focus; Fitz does not appear.
Fitz and his world of characters reappear in the Tawny Man Trilogy, after some 15 years have passed. Then, Robin Hobb's
final Fitz & co. storyline finishes with the Fitz & the Fool trilogy. The Liveship Traders and the Rain Wild Chronicles can be
read after you find out what happens to Fitz. It is world building; but not crucial to Fitz's story.
Kettricken is my queen.
A most excellent bitch!
@@Irishdazza Wolf Father has spoken.
really? i always liked Patience more.
@@leenox23 Patience is your queen
I'm glad you found this!!! My joint fave with wheel of time.Are you planning to read the liveship traders? Just keeps getting better and better
Just wait till he gets to Thick's story about his red whistle.
Don't think i've ever been more emotional while reading, and its a chapter i've read on its own dozens and dozens of times. Probably about to read it right now...
Omg the ending makes so much more sense as you proceed in the realm! Read the series in order though. Live ship then Tawny Man.
farseer was the first series i picked up after kingkiller and i loved it. totally agree about the pacing being off in books 1 and 3, but i found the pacing of book 2 to be relentless in an amazing way. hobb really makes you fall in love with fitz, and it continues into the next trilogy fitz is a part of (which, in some ways, i might like more)
The ending of the very last book in the realm of the elderlings is incredibly good
The best part is both the liveship traders and the tawny man trilogy blow this one out of the water..
Yep. They made this whole series my 3rd favorite of all time. Still need to get read the next two series.
@@myfasmarine the Fitz and the fool trilogy is really great
But ofc, we needed to read Farseer (and liveship traders, to a lesser extent) to really get the full impact of the Tawny Man trilogy. Farseer is great on its own, but it really does set up Tawny Man to be amazing for what it does.
You left me wondering about your feelings on his bond with Nighteyes and that element of the magic system. We know your feels about animal characters and you get a whole new presentation on those kinds of relationships.
What's your thoughts om Fitz's relstionship with the Fool? One of my favorite literary friendships ever.
I was beyond excited when I saw that you had done this review! Please keep reading! The series gets better and better with each book. And don't skip The Liveship Traders whatever you do. There's character crossover that is important, and if you like a lot of action, and amazing characters you will love it.
I read the first one based on your recommendation and I'm about to start #2. I loved the first one and can't wait to read her entire bibliography
Great video, Daniel!
Great review! Thank you, I've been really looking forward to it.
I really liked the third book a lot. I thought the travelogue was a great relief after the first two books I enjoyed all the places we ended up visiting in the book. I really liked how the big climatic resolution thwarted expectations and both resolved the overarching conflict and revealed new mysteries. When I think of the over-all plot, I think a lot of Jack Vance's _Durdane_ trilogy which has the same basic conflict and thwarts expectations in it's own way (highly recommended).
Anyway, thanks again!
Possibly my most favorite part of the wheel of time series is when Tallanvor was scene beating himself and crying because he took an oath betraying his queen. That is the Fitz in a nutshell. He cares so much for his family and Variety that his life doesnt matter, and that's what I love about this series. He would rather give up everything in his life then cause division in the kingdom. In my own opinion this is by far the greatest book series I have ever read.
Can't wait for your review of the liveship traders trilogy! 😁 It has to be my favourite trilogy of all time. If not Fitz and the Fool.. Really incredible journey you have ahead of you.
I read the entire series back to back and really loved it. It drags at times and lacks action, but that's fine. It's different from anything I've ever read before or since, and is high on my favourites list. Fitz is the only character I've spent so much time with, and not got bored or annoyed with them, or found them unbelievable. You feel like you really know all of Robin Hobbs characters after a couple of books, and I felt genuine sadness and joy at various parts, along with Fitz
In my book Robin Hobb is one of the best fantasy authors writing hands down. She really only gets better. And we come back to Fitz later in life a couple of times so things aren't all doom an gloom, but yeah he really goes through a lot.
One of my all time favorite characters. I love this entire series! Look forward to hearing your thoughts on the other series in this world.
You HAVE to read the rest of the series!!! Soooooo so good and the psychological aspect of the character development is amazing. The fact that you have to feel grief to enable you to work through it and develop into a better person
It's the Realm of the Elderlings and Farseer is just the beginning. You'll get much more world building. Especially with Liveship Traders. I'm glad that you like it so far! And I think it only gets better (with the exception of the Rainwild Chronicles I hear; I personally have read everything other than that and the last trilogy which I'm currently on)
The part of the magic system that revolves around the dragons really comes into its own later in the series (if you talk about all three trilogies as a the series as a whole) in a most fantastic way.
I've been looking forward to this!