what an amazing finale

I feel bereft. I can't believe that this series is now over. the ending was really good. it's always useful not too have too much of an expectation when you come to the end of a big series such as the realm of the elderlings, so to avoid disappointment.

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Somehow less moving than other Farseer trilogies

Having been fully swept away by the other two Farseer trilogies, there was no way I wasn't going to listen to this one too. This one is not bad but I found myself oddly unsatisfied by the end of this one. The whole book is somehow both stressful and distressing while also drawn-out and nor as fast paced as previous trilogies. It felt like lots and lots of misery without the moments of joy and interest and heartfelt meaningfulness that punctuate the other ones. I feel like this one perhaps did not get the editing that the others did, because they knew people would read it anyway. Also the other trilogies were built on political intrigue and gripping interpersonal dynamics, whereas this one is more of a straight-up quest to get the bad guys. Characters are flatter than in previous books. Rather than including antagonists who have at least some motivation that you can sympathise with on some level, this one is populated by people who are generally less interesting and less likeable than in previous ones.

And yet! It's not all bad and I still got something out of this one. Bee's character development goes a bit further, although I didn't find her very likeable by the later parts. The ending made sense even though it was somehow drawn out and then didn't have enough 'dust-settling' afterwards, for me. Avita Jay is good, although her intonation is a bit repetitive. I was glad they replaced the male narrator who was in the first two of this trilogy. The guy reading this one is good, but I would still have preferred one of the Farseer or Tawny Man narrators.

Overall I can't work out if I only enjoyed parts of this because of being invested in the characters from previous books, or on the other hand, whether I was dissatisfied because I'm comparing this trilogy with previous ones!

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Terrible female narrator

Any additional comments?

As much as I love Fitz and the Fool and as much as I hate parting with them, I am glad I have finished listening to this audio-book. I did not particularly appreciate David Thorpe but I found Avita Jay's voices so irritating and unbearable!! Bee's tone is flat and boring, the other female characters have such high-pitched, childish, sulky voices I just could not take them seriously. In the penultimate chapter, when I should have cried and cried, her rendition of the Fool's voice was so....so....unlike him that I felt nearly no emotions at all. I am sorry to say that she killed all the pleasure of a long, long expected release. I am going to buy the book and hope I can forget her voice...

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An excellent end to a long story, I am going to miss this world.

The last book in the long 16 book series finished well, closing all the hanging threads fro all previous books. I was sad to see Chad died and Fitz long before end but enjoyed how it was all brought together.
I did not enjoy narration by the male voice. The voices given to Fitz and the Fool just were not up to it. The previous two books they were given voices that suited them. Should really have carried on for just one more book.
Finally, referring to ‘Liv’ ship rather than ‘Live’ ship referred all throughout previously was totally disconcerting.

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Livships???

Another great book from Robin Hobbs, but … livships - really? Otherwise, a wonderful tale that relates to the complex world created by RH.

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A perfect ending

I found this the perfect ending to a great series. This is one of my fav books of all time and I’ve no faults with it. I struggled a little with the narrators odd pronunciation which differed not only from the other books but in some cases he changes how he pronounces a name half way through a chapter. I wish they would pick one person to do the whole series.

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Narration is disjointed, changing characters

Would you be willing to try another one of Avita Jay and David Thorpe ’s performances?

Avita Jay does Bee very well.
I feel that David Thorpe should have listened to the other narrators - his changing Live Ships to Liv Ships is irritating. He has also made loved characters sound petty, Althea in particular.

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16 people found this helpful

great book let down by a poor dramatist

if only had used previous narrators. I loved the story just had to grit my teeth through the performance.

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Fantastic and complete ending

A great listen, despite yet another break in pronunciation continuity (the main aggravation being "Liv Ships" rather than "(a)Live Ships"(ommit the a)). But having got this far with the Robin Hobb audio books it's not the first, or even the second, time that this has happened by any means. I'd love another to be honest, perhaps exploring the original fall of the Elderlings. I'd highly recommend this book, it's a brilliant conclusion to the many farseer and liveship novels.

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Exceptional

I've not had a book bring me to tears before absolutly love the whole series of books. What more can I say, Thank you!

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