Customer Reviews
Brilliant - By: Mr. J. E. Derbyshire, 11 Nov 2008 
All I'll say is that this series is a must read. The character development is brilliant & complex, so much so that even 'bit-part' characters have hugely complex personalities. There are ideas that may be difficult to grasp, but I found Hobb's writing style was easy to read, & very pleasing on the imagination.
poor read - By: S. Schmeitz, 26 Oct 2008 
The author tried to pack as many idea into three books as possible without bothering if any of it makes any sense. The overalll plot would have neatly fitted into one book & in alll fairness: the first book had it's flaws but was a very good read.
So take my advice: Enjoy the first book & skip the other two: All will be well in the end.
If the author had provided her protagonist with any common sense or wit one book would have been enough to tell the story. As it is the "hero" stumbles from one mishap into another, is almost killed 100 odd times only to escape miraculously & run into the next trap. To be very honest: other than the first 30 pages I have not read the 2nd & 3rd book of the series but had the essence told by my wife who is a more enduring & forgiving reader. But she confirmed the books are a load of rubbish.
It the book Fitz, read it - By: Jeremy Squire, 05 Jul 2007 The Farseer Trilogy has so far proved that Robin Hobb is a writer who knows what her readers want ... & delivers! The storyline, characters & intrigue develop & just leave you wanting more. I can't wait to read book 3!!
The best book of the series - By: Martin Anderson, 10 Jul 2006 This is a great book where Fitz (the hero of the series) becomes a man. After surviving the trouble of childhod in the royal court, Fitz starts to take shape as one of the most charismatic characters in modern fantasy fiction. The rudderless child of the previous book becomes a princeling & the pride you feel for him is a testament to the authors skill in storytelling.
Robin Hobb has a knack of treating her characters that makes you burn with the injustice that life has thrown at them; from the larger issues to the petty everyday tormenting of those in power against the powerless while still giving them the nobility to bear this treatment without resorting to cheap literary tricks.
The only downside is that the bad/evil characters never get the same emotional rounding given to the good characters, so they alll end up sounding & feeling like pantomime villans.
The trials and tribulations of the Fitz - By: Sally-Anne, 21 Aug 2005 Book 2 of the Farseer trilogy continues Fitz's life of trouble & strife, pain & suffering, torment & injustice. It's a great tribute to Robin Hobb's writing & story telling skills that she can make you want to read a tale that's so full of loss & misery. The trick is that her characters are alive, with depth of personality. The villains are irredeemably wicked so that the reader is frustrated with impotence at not being able to get in there & sort them out, give them what they deserve. But the heroes are far from perfect: they have foibles & faults that we can alll relate to & forgive, their intentions are good but they make mistakes, misunderstand situations, get their priorities wrong, go off on ego trips - just as most of us would in their situation. Their mistakes often have dire consequences & they have to pay dearly when that happens. Fitz is young & impulsive & he sometimes rails against the constraints his elders place upon him. His rebellious spirit makes it difficult for his mentors & alllies to plot a straight course through the political mire. Where there was a single path that led to possible disaster, there are now multiple possibilities. As The Fool foresaw, Fitz generates alternatives.
The characters in this trilogy have invaded my sleep, in more ways than one. The books keep me awake far into the early hours, reading when I should be sleeping & then, when I do eventuallly turn out the light, the world of the Farseers sidles into my dreams. Stories don't get much more real & powerful than that. I recommend these books to anyone who enjoys fantasy - but with one proviso: don't expect a happy ending.
