Book Review: Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb

Author: Robin Hobb

Title: Ship of Destiny (The Liveship Traders #3)

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Date: 2000

Plot: The dragon, Tintaglia, released from her wizardwood coffin, flies high over the Rain Wild River. Below her, Reyn and Selden have been left to drown, while Malta and the Satrap attempt to navigate the acid flow of the river in a decomposing boat.

Althea and Brashen are sailing the liveship Paragon into pirate waters in a last-ditch attempt to rescue the Vestrit family liveship, Vivacia, who was stolen by the pirate king, Kennit; but there is mutiny brewing amongst their ragtag crew, and in the mind of the mad ship itself.

And all the while the waters around the Vivacia are seething with giant serpents, following the liveship as she sails to her destiny . . .

Book Review: Fool’s Fate by Robin Hobb

Author: Robin Hobb

Title: Fool’s Fate

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Date: 2003

Synopsis: Kingdoms will stand or fall on the beat of a dragon’s wings, or a Fool’s heart.

Prince Dutiful has been charged with a quest to the Outisland to take the head of the black dragon Icefyre. Only then will his betrothed marry him and cement the alliance between their warring kingdoms.

But is Icefyre just a legend? Or does he truly slumber beneath the glaciers? Fitz has prevented his friend the Fool from accompanying them the Fool has foreseen his own death if he ever sets foot on the isle of the black dragon. But as their ship draws in towards Aslevjal a lone figure awaits them…

Book Review: The Golden Fool by Robin Hobb

Author: Robin Hobb

Title: The Golden Fool

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Date: 2002

Synopsis: The second book in Robin Hobb’s thrilling fantasy series returns readers to the Six Duchies and the magical world of the Fitz and the Fool.

Fitz has been persuaded back to court, posing as a servant to the decadent Lord Golden (who is the Fool in disguise). In secret, he will train Prince Dutiful in the magic known as the Skill.

The peace remains fragile, so the diplomatic wedding between Dutiful and the Outislander princess is a crucial alliance. But when Elliania arrives she challenges the prince to undertake an impossible quest before she will accept him.

He must kill Icefyre, one of the last true dragons. And Fitz and the Fool must go with him…

Book Review: Fool’s Errand by Robin Hobb

Synopsis: Return to the world of the Farseers…Robin Hobb’s best loved characters, Fitz , The Fool and Nighteyes the wolf, face new adventures and trials in the first book of The Tawny Man trilogy. When Assassin’s Quest closed, Fitz was living in self-imposed exile. Wracked with pain, he had chosen to discard the magical gifts that had seen him survive the wonders and torments of navigating the legendary city of the Elderlings, and of raising a dragon.

Now, in this the first of a new trilogy, we are returned to the world of the Six Duchies and the lives of those who managed to survive the events of the first Assassin trilogy. Fifteen years have passed and events are about to sweep Fitz out of his quiet backwater life and into the main political current again. Persecution of the Witted has become rampant throughout the Six Duchies despite Queen Kettricken’s effort to damp it. The Witted themselves have begun to strike back.

So when 15 year old Prince Dutiful disappears, is it only because he is nervous about his betrothal ceremony to an Outislander princess, or has he been taken hostage by the Witted? Worse, is he perhaps another ‘Piebald Prince’, a Farseer tainted by Wit magic? As the desperate situation worsens, Kettricken has no choice but to summon Fitz to Buckkeep, for who better to track the young prince down than another gifted with the Wit, together with his bonded companion, the wolf Nighteyes?

TBR: Fictional Book Bucketlist (#1)

All book-bloggers have this problem: looking at their TBR pile and having no idea what to read next.

I’ve been so caught up on reviews and ARCs the last year or so that I haven’t stopped to think about what authors/series have been on my TBR pile for years that I still haven’t got around to. ARCs are great, don’t get me wrong, but I need to find a bit of a balance!

I’ve put together the top books/series that I’m hoping to get through sometime soon. I think they will all be trips to the library as I don’t own any of them:

Book Review: Assassin’s Quest

 

Book 1: Assassin’s Apprentice | Book 2: Royal Assassin

Plot: Everyone believes Fitz is dead and with Regal as King, it is better that way. But an assassin cannot remain hidden in the shadows and as Fitz regains his humanity, he desires revenge on Regal, regardless of the consequences.

What begins as a quest to kill Regal soon becomes more when Fitz is driven to seek out the true king. Joined by friends, old and new, and his wit-wolf, Fitz journeys where few venture to find the true king of the Six Duchies. But the road is full of danger and Verity may not be the man Fitz remembers.

Book Review: Royal Assassin

Title: Royal Assassin

Author: Robin Hobb

Publisher: Harper Voyager, 1996

Rating: 4.25/5

Plot: Having survived the attempt on his life in the mountains, Fitz journeys back to Buck Keep to face Regal. But revenge is forbidden for Fitz and he must adapt to life the best he can. Finding love only complicates things further.

When Verity – his prince and protector – travels Inland to find a mysterious power to free the Six Duchies from the Raiders, Fitz is more alone than ever. Treason is in the air and Fitz must accept what kind of man he is to save those he cares about. It may not be enough to save his own life.

Book Review: Assassin’s Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy)

Plot: Fitz is a bastard. More than that, he is the bastard of a prince, who subsequently abdicated his right to the throne. This puts him in an unusual position; he can’t be left to his own devices, nor can he be treated too well.

Fitz obtains various tutors. He is taught to fight, to read, to use magic and become an assassin. While he excels at some, fate (and his tutors) wish him to fail at others. Plus the kingdom is under threat and Fitz doesn’t know who is trying to help and who is trying to kill him!