Have you guys encountered this writer Robin Hobb?
These are, I think my new favourite books, even eclipsing Lord of the Rings (which tops my list). They're a call in sick to work, stay in bed, drinking tea all day just reading kinda book.. So brilliant. The quality of the writing is awesome.

Assassins Apprentice
Royal Assassin
Assassin's Quest

I'm just finishing the last one. It's fantasy, but not like any i've ever read, it's way more realistic & gritty.
The author lives in Seattle now (or so the sleeve says) She's got a number of books set in the same world and i'm really looking forward to getting into them...
Just a thumbs up if you're stuck for a good present or need a good read for yourself.

These are, by far, the best books I've ever read my whole life. And I read a lot.
All her books are really brilliant!

its christmas day & im after passing up the family dinner out in my cousins just so i can just be on my own to finish book three...im a loner dumb ass i spose .best books i think ive ever read...never felt so satisfied by a book..thought rings was the king..we have a new winner....brilliant.

Have you read any of her other books? I've read everything she's written as Robin Hobb, except for book two and three of the Soldier Son Triology, of which I'm currently reading Forest Mage (book two), and I'm planning to buy Renegade's Magic (book three).

This far, the Tawny Man Triology is my favourite.

Well the titles sound intresting...Whats the overall story about?

The main character is Fitz (or FitzChivalry), who is the bastard of the king-to-be, prince Chivalry. Fitz originally lives with his mother, but when he is about 6 years old, his granddad takes him to the court and tells them they have to take care of him. When confronted with his bastard, Chivalry decides to give up the throne for his younger brother, Verity.

At the court, king Shrewd decides that Fitz will be taught to be an assassin, so he is sent to Chade, the royal assassin. Meanwhile, a huge war is going on and King Shrewd eventually dies, and just before, prince Verity had to go on a quest to search for the dragons that is told about in the old tales. The youngest prince, Regal, now sees the opportunity to take over the throne.




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I think this kinda sum up this first triology about the Farseers. Not very detailed, and the books are far greater than I can ever describe here.
You should really read them

didja ever...were you ever in a situation with someone you love and trust where you love something and want to impart a joy or thing of beauty? but you couldnt explain that something beautiful?

these books are that feeling but beyond that.....thet are the most sturdily, solid, beautiful, flowing books I have ever, ever read. The writing is the magic, not the story. She's a real live Poet & Magician. So brilliant.

Not loving the liveship traders so far....its just not as good.

Robin Hobb is okay. She doesn't blow my mind at all. I much prefer something like the Sword of Truth series to her work.

Really? who wrote them? i've become more open minded about fantasy writers since finding her. Always up for new suff.

You'll like them more when you've read the Tawny Man too. At least I did.

Really getting to Liveships now...just about finished book II and i'm baffled and amazed at how she's managed to weave the Dragon elements of the Farseer story into this one. She's such a beautiful storyteller.
Cant wait for Tawny man!

Wow...just started the tawny man trilogy with 'fools errand' and 60 pages in it's already better than Liveship-which was good but not mind blowing by any means...

She's such a great writer...and it's so brilliant being back with Fitz & the Fool..even if he is being difficult right now..

Hum....Terry Goodkind. The man seems to be a little twisted, but the writing on this is fantastic. By the third book, he was really just destroying anything else out there in my opinion. The series ended weakly, comparing the final book to the previous 4, but that was forgivable since those four were just gut-wrenching.

if i only tell you one thing in your life, whoever you may be, go and find the Robin Hobb 'Farseer' books and read them as soon as you can.
The first one is called 'Assassins Apprentice' and it's the start of a trilogy which is then connected to two ensuing trilogys but in the most artful, intricate but simply&beautifully cunning way.
You'll thank me someday the same way i thank my friend who gave them to me every time i read one.. Best books i've ever read.
Now after a week, i have to get out of bed and face the world..i don't want to...these books are too good..

The Farseer Trilogy - A Synopsis

Assassin's Apprentice 1995
Royal Assassin 1996
Assassin's Quest 1997

The first Robin Hobb Trilogy, The Farseer Trilogy, took place in the Six Duchies. It is the tale of FitzChivalry Farseer. The discovery that this bastard son exists is enough to topple Prince Chivalry's ambition for the throne. He abdicates, ceding the title of heir to the throne to his younger brother Verity and abandoning the child to the care of the stable master Burrich. The youngest prince, Regal, has ambitions of his own, and wishes to do away with the bastard. But old King Shrewd sees the value of taking the lad and training him as an assassin. For a bastard can be sent into dangers where a trueborn son could not be risked, and may be given tasks that would soil an heir's hands.

And so FitzChivalry is trained in the secret arts of being a royal assassin. He shows a predilection for the Wit, a beast magic much despised in the Six Duchies. This secret vice in the young assassin is tolerated, for a partnership with an animal may be a useful trait in an assassin. When it is discovered that he may possess the hereditary magic of the Farseers, the Skill, he becomes both the King's weapon, and an obstacle to Prince Regal's ambitions for the throne. At a time when the rivalry for the throne is intense, and the Outislanders and their Red Ship raiders are bringing war to the Six Duchies, FitzChivalry discovers that the fate of the kingdom may very well rest on the actions of a young bastard and the King's Fool. Armed with little more than loyalty and his sporadic talent for the old magic, Fitz follows the fading trail of King Verity who has traveled beyond the Mountain Kingdom and into the realm of the legendary Elderlings in what may be a vain hope to renew an old alliance.

And it's sequel

The Liveship Traders Trilogy

Ship of Magic 1998
Mad Ship 1999
Ship of Destiny 2000

The Liveship Trader's Trilogy takes place in Jamaillia, Bingtown and the Pirate Isles, on the coast far to the south of the Six Duchies. The war in the north has interrupted the trade that is the lifeblood of Bingtown, and the Liveship Traders have fallen on hard times despite their magic sentient ships. At one time, possession of a Liveship, constructed of magical wizard wood, guaranteed a Trader's family prosperity. Only a Liveship can brave the dangers of the Rain Wild River and trade with the legendary Rain Wild Traders and their mysterious magical goods, plundered from the enigmatic Elderling ruins. Althea Vestrit expects her families to adhere to tradition, and pass the family Liveship on to her when it quickens at the death of her father. Instead, the Vivacia goes to her sister Keffria and her scheming Chalcedean husband Kyle. The proud Liveship becomes a transport vessel for the despised but highly profitable slave trade.

Althea, cast out on her own, resolves to make her own way in the world and somehow regain control of her family's living ship. Her old shipmate Brashen Trell, the enigmatic woodcarver Amber and the Paragon, the notorious mad Liveship are the only allies she can rally to her cause. Pirates, a slave rebellion, migrating sea serpents and a newly hatched dragon are but a few of the obstacles she must face on her way to discovering that Liveships are not, perhaps, what they seem to be, and may have dreams of their own to follow.

And it's true sequel and finalé...all the threads come together beautifully.

The Tawny Man Trilogy

Fool's Errand 2002
Golden Fool 2003
Fool's Fate 2003

The Tawny Man Trilogy picks up the tale of Fitz and the Fool some fifteen years after the Red Ship wars. Queen Kettricken is determined to secure her son's throne by arranging a marriage between Prince Dutiful and Elliania, the daughter of their old enemies in the Outislands. But the Six Duchies themselves are restless. The Witted are weary of persecution, and may choose to topple the throne of the Farseers by revealing that young Prince Dutiful carries an old taint in his blood. The Narcheska Elliania sets a high price on her hand: Dutiful must present her with the head of Icefyre, the legendary dragon of Aslevjal Island.

Meanwhile, to the south, The Bingtown Traders continue to wage war against the Chalcedeans, and seek to enlist the Six Duchies into the effort to obliterate Chalced. Bingtown's temperamental ally, the dragon Tintaglia, has her own motives for supporting them in this, ones that may lead not only to the restoration of the race of dragons but also to the return of Elderling magic to the Cursed Shores.

Fitz, in the person of Tom Badgerlock, will accompany the prince on his quest to secure the dragon's head. For reasons of his own, he decides that it is of the utmost importance that his old friend, The Fool, not accompany him. Chade agrees with him, and thus Fitz sets out without his companion, to face an enemy from his past and also decide what future he will claim for himself.

I reread these this week. Good...still not amazing. Well, maybe the first trilogy is (that's the reason I started rereading), but the whole Tawny Man series pushes through what should be emotional or resonant moments, and employs what I feel are a few copouts.

Spoiler: show

Specifically, I always hate when you have something of a love triangle where two characters are slightly more, shall we say, important in the scheme of the series than the third, and the third one ends up dying so the two can get together. It's such an overdone premise, and it's one of those things you can see coming a mile off. It asks nothing of the characters or the reader.

re-the spoiler-

Spoiler: show

yeah i'd agree but she swerves that for me, as you'd expect him to find another wit bond or even more likely, end up travelling with the Fool. I did find the Star wars-esque, everyone gets medals and plaudits from the king & Queen bit, contrary to not only the whole story line(they USED HIM for SO long!) but also contrary to Fitz's character...i think i've to re-read the last few chapters again HIGHLIGHT TJIS NEXT BIT **SPOILER** from the Fools ressurrection because i know she explained all the threads endings but i take your point, its all a bit saccharine at the end.
im saying that and thinking, well Fitz had been through enough..but still..i need to reread these immediately...