At another time, I might have given this book a full four stars, but I’ve been on a streak of reading really great books lately, and this ended up feeling overly long, as well as frustrating due to some plot decisions that I just hate, even if I get why they’re there.
This is the second in Hobb’s Farseer trilogy, and for me unfortunately, a lot of it felt like a replay of conflicts and events from the first book, only on a widening scale. Fitz is still solitary and depressed. He’s still denying himself his bond with animals, he still remains frustratingly distant from even his closest allies and friends. And Prince Regal, Fitz’s uncle, still remains a ridiculously obvious problem that seemingly no one but Fitz can see. I hated reading about him so much. He’s just so evil, and it’s so obvious that he needs to be taken care of else he fuck everything up for everyone, and sure enough that’s what happens. At a certain point, I sort of felt like they deserved what they got, which is terrible. But Hobb could have done a better job making him more complicated, less obvious of a villain, so everyone else didn’t seem so stupid for underestimating him.
I also couldn’t get behind Molly as a love interest for Fitz. She is not a well written character. She could have been so much more developed, and she pissed me off when she left Fitz. I do not understand this stupid culture’s fear/hatred of people who have the Wit* like Fitz does. Every time a character expresses a negative opinion of it, part of me writes them off as an idiot. And the worst part is I can’t tell if Hobb means for the Wit to be something that is dangerous and worthy of being feared, or if it’s just a cultural bugaboo.
*The ability to bond magically with animals.
Those complaints aside, I do like this book and this series. Hobb’s plotting is slow to get going, but in both books I’ve read of hers, the books ramp up insanely towards the end and become very exciting. She’s also a talented wordsmith, and she clearly has a wonderful imagination. It’s just I can’t love it with those other things getting in my way.
[3.5 stars]
In the long ago times, when I had more time and energy for reading, I read all the interconnected book series set in this world and really enjoyed them. (I wonder if I still would.)
I remember loving The Fool so much and never really getting the point of Molly Romance McGuffin. It’s probably unfair of me, but I wish women authors wrote more and better female characters in fantasy epics. Ideally as the hero, but even if the other female characters were just better, I’d be satisfied.
I’ve heard her later books get better.
It’s funny how even female authors can be swayed by the sexism of the industry. I’m sure it’s a not a coincidence that her protagonist is a male, either.
The Liveship books have a female protagonist and The Tawny Man series has some interesting gender stuff around The Fool as I recall, but it’s been a while so I’m not sure I’d be as impressed now as I was then.