The Harrowing and Epic Conclusion

Would you listen to Fool's Fate again? Why?

I certainly would. Hobb has made me care so much about these characters.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I don't want to give away spoilers but I have to say the ending is exceptional. At so many points while listening to this I thought the situation was beyond redemption. But the conclusion was perfect. Hobb has a genius for knowing exactly what needs to happen to her characters and why.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I almost did! This is a deeply addictive trilogy (so I recommend you listen at a time when you need a VERY sizeable distraction). I cannot wait for the next Robin Hobb release this August, I'm desperate to know what happens next.

Any additional comments?

This book, like many many of Hobbs writings, does not shy away from fantasy stereotypes. If you were to pick apart the events of her "Realm of the Elderlings" saga, I'm sure you'd find many of them. However, please do temper your judgement, Hobb doesn't just manage to reinvent these tropes but uses them as weapons. Her narrative is enthralling, rich in detail yet open to the imagination. She tackles epic high fantasy, rooted in real modern society issues, and anchored by a rich multitude of developed and colourful characters.This book makes for an intense listen (many fans get emotional about it, and rightly so). I cried like a child. Prepare for an emotional rollercoaster, though do trust in Hobb's dazzling prowess. She's an author that, no matter how convoluted the situation, never loses her absolute control of the story, finishing the Tawny man has left me in no doubt of that.I must also say that i found Nick Taylors narration to be spot on. I loved Beomer's farseer but Taylor was even better. He pronounces "Burrich"'s name properly (i.e. the way the author does) and even starling's voice is closer to what I envisioned. The ageing up of Nighteyes' voice was appropriate to his 20 years: unnaturally old for a grey wolf. And the rest of the cast is wonderfully distinct! Well done!

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Excellent timing....

in the sense that it won't be long before we get further tales of Fitz and the Fool from the wonderful pen of Robin Hobb.

Needless to say that you should just stop whatever it is you are doing and listen to all six of these glorious books. I think you would be hard pressed to find any novelist anywhere quite as good. Immense and immersive, lovingly read, and chock full of life.

Treat yourself.

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Loose yourself in this amazing story!

I have not lost myself so deeply in a story since I was a child. Robin Hobbs intricately woven story of Fitzchivalry Farseer and the Fool Fate was so heart achingly , beautifully written, that i found myself going to bed early to get 4 or 5 hours listening before resigning to sleep. I have fallen so in love with the characters of Fitz and the Fool, their trails throught quests and deepening of the relationship is incredibly moving and poigniant. I have cried more with this book than any other i can remember, and am kind of dazed now I'm at the end. I am in awe of Robin Hobbs writing. It may sound over dramatic and sentimental, but this book has changed me. I heartily recommend the journey!

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Absolutely Brilliant!

Once again Robin Hobb's tales captivates both attention, imagination and heart!

Taylor's narration was perfect from the distinct voices for each character and the speed and depth of his reading, he really makes the characters come to life and perfectly creates the tension and dare I say, drama, which the story demands.

I've been left aghast and have even shouted out to the player in my car, willing the tale to change track for the characters I have come to love. And so too, have I experienced the joy and wonders as Hobb's fantasy is told, and between Hobb and Taylor, they have had me laughing and brimming with happiness as the tale of the tawny man has unfolded.

An excellent story and an excellent series, coupled with perfect narration! Absolutely Brilliant!

Great story and performance but badly edited<br />

The title said it all.

The editing issue is repetition of sentences and phrases. At first I thought I had a fault with my phone or a faulty download file but realised that sometimes the intonation was different.

Robin Hobb does it again

Once again, Robin Hobb has created a masterpiece of intricate detail and astounding literary prowess. We follow Fitz on his attempts to secure the Farseer throne for his King in Waiting, facing down dragons and reacquainting himself with friends we thought only committed to memory. Hobb creates a stunning scenery with her descriptive and passionate writing style, and this book will have you laughing and crying in equal measure. Well worth the time to read or listen - but what else can we expect from such an author?

She does it again

Again another stellar book in the series and most probably my favourite of the entire elderling series.

This has left me feeling content the story gave closure to a lot of things from the first series.

The narration was good I have given the narrator 4 stars as the pronunciation of the words varies from the first series.

If your this far in your robin hobb adventure I guess there is not much else to say apart from enjoy and live in your NOW.

Great with one small caveat

I have enjoyed the series though I do wish that the publishers would keep the same narrators or at the very least have them use the same pronunciations of names as it jarring to hear the names changed.

Whiny, melodramatic and disappointing.

I’ve read or listened to works by most of the major fantasy writers over the years but rarely have I been this disappointed by a trilogy

The initial assassins trilogy was fun. Not exceptional but had an engaging story, good pace and whilst there was a reasonable amount of whiny, teenage angst involved, the main character was a teenager so it was entirely understandable.

Fast forward to the same teenager grown into a man and he’s now metamorphosed into a……. whiny, somewhat pathetic adult, full of teenage angst! Great!

And it’s not just the main character, before, there was levity in some characters and diabolical evil in others, the current batch all seem to be self-centred, melodramatic and love a good whinge! Just over half way through book three and I’m pretty close to giving up as I just can’t stand all of the patheticness that I’m bombarded with!

Now don’t get me wrong, whilst I absolutely lay a good deal of this at the feet of the author, the clumsy, adolescent narration has a lot to answer for as well. Gone is nuance and inflection to help you recognise the voices of the different characters and now he just resorts to stereotyped accents from the far flung corners of our world to try and achieve the same. If I could give zero stars for the performance element of my review, I would.

And the treatment by both the author and narrator of “Thick” in this is horrible! The personification of someone with mental difficulties has been reduced to a mean-spirited, playground ridicule that reminds me of nasty kids picking on some poor unfortunate. Truly pathetic and raises a lot of questions about the mindset of the author and narrator.

Oh, and as a plea to the author, STOP PADDING! The entire second book was padding. It went nowhere. It set up a couple of story lines (clumsily) and if this trilogy had been written as one large or maybe two smaller books, momentum would have been maintained and left you less time for the melodramatic, self-indulgent whining that has entirely ruined this trilogy for me.

If I had one bit of advice to give to the prospective reader? Don’t bother. Read the first trilogy and leave it there then go find something else to read.

Great book

I loved this book so much. I recently discovered Robin Hobb's work, and have slowly been making my way through all of it. This was the first book I listened to, and only because I was too impatient to wait for the physical copy to arrive. I really enjoyed listening to it, and I think the narrator fit Fitz quite well. In later chapters there were a few places where the beginning or end of a sentence was repeated, but otherwise there were no problems with it.