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8th out of 45 books
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Golden Fool (Tawny Man #2)
by
Robin Hobb
The acclaimed Farseer and Liveship Traders trilogies established Robin Hobb as one of the most splendidly imaginative practitioners of world-class fantasy.
Now, in Book 2 of her most stunning trilogy yet, Hobb continues the soul-shattering tale of FitzChivalry Farseer. With rich characters, breathtaking magic, and sweeping action, Golden Fool brings the reluctant adventure...more
Now, in Book 2 of her most stunning trilogy yet, Hobb continues the soul-shattering tale of FitzChivalry Farseer. With rich characters, breathtaking magic, and sweeping action, Golden Fool brings the reluctant adventure...more
Mass Market Paperback, 709 pages
Published
November 23rd 2004
by Spectra
(first published January 1st 2002)
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Finished Fool's Errand and Golden Fool.
A few months ago I re-read The Farseer and The Liveship Traders trilogies. Loved them as much or even more than when I read them first time 7 years ago. However, The Tawny Man trilogy is a major disappointment so far.
1. The major storyline/plot is very "local", no grand scale plot as it was in the first two trilogies.
2. So many boring descriptions, unbelievable.
3. Hobb's obsession with describing all sorts of gowns, c...more
A few months ago I re-read The Farseer and The Liveship Traders trilogies. Loved them as much or even more than when I read them first time 7 years ago. However, The Tawny Man trilogy is a major disappointment so far.
1. The major storyline/plot is very "local", no grand scale plot as it was in the first two trilogies.
2. So many boring descriptions, unbelievable.
3. Hobb's obsession with describing all sorts of gowns, c...more
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This is only the second Robin Hobb book I've read, and I already thing higher of her than most other authors of "fantasy". He first book in this trilogy was very good. I started out thinking it was going to be another "magic" driven fantasy novel. Where the magic is more important than well thought out plot and characters. Not so at all! Being as I was and still am waiting on the next installment of the Song of Ice and Fire series, I was happy to find a fantasy series wi...more
4/2/04 - 9/10
Book 2:
more boring first half. not a lot happens. Thing pick up more near end. Lots more intrigue, and character development rather than action
Series 9/10:
The Tawny Man blends some characters and situations from Hobb's first two series. This series again focuses on Fitz, the main character from the Farseer series. I think the more narrow focus really helps. Relationships are more detailed and Fitz is an incredible character. Not a ton of things happen, there is more intrigue...more
Book 2:
more boring first half. not a lot happens. Thing pick up more near end. Lots more intrigue, and character development rather than action
Series 9/10:
The Tawny Man blends some characters and situations from Hobb's first two series. This series again focuses on Fitz, the main character from the Farseer series. I think the more narrow focus really helps. Relationships are more detailed and Fitz is an incredible character. Not a ton of things happen, there is more intrigue...more
This book can be viewed as the 5th book, or the 2nd book, in it's series. Although many of the characters are the same, so much time has passed, and the threats facing them different enough, that it's easier to see it as the 2nd book in the series. There is less repetition in this book than in the first, so it ends up being quite a lengthy book. And we finally start to see the main character achieve a sort of grounding, maturing slightly.
Like the other books in the series, the tensi...more
Like the other books in the series, the tensi...more
Hobb perfects a world that I honestly would not want to go to. The political intrigue, the constant threat of death, and the viciousness of it citizens make this setting a wonder. Following an assassin who uses an Axe that rarely assassinates people throughout the book makes the novel truly misguiding. Sounds bad turns out good like a sandwich made form the contents of your fridge without actually looking in your fridge. I'm just the consumer, I didn't edit this series nor did I publish it but ...more
I'm still hooked on Fitz's story, it seems, no matter what happens. This book finally gives us a little more of the Fool, the other main character, who is still a mystery in general but in some ways very real and perhaps one of the most insightful and authentic characters I've encountered in a long time. But this book felt very much like a middle book. The first in the series was very quick... this one dragged a little and alot of time is spent on setup. And to be honest, Fitz goes about alienat...more
4.5 stars. I enjoyed this very much, and stayed up far into the night reading. It does have an unsatisfying ending, common to the middle novel of a trilogy, so I'm glad that I have the third book at hand.
Fitz is such a wonderfully flawed hero: self-centered, almost childishly stubborn, and prone to melodramatic self-pity. But I mourn for his losses and rejoice in his victories and I desperately want him to be happy.
I'm tremendously curious about the Fool, and I can't wai...more
Fitz is such a wonderfully flawed hero: self-centered, almost childishly stubborn, and prone to melodramatic self-pity. But I mourn for his losses and rejoice in his victories and I desperately want him to be happy.
I'm tremendously curious about the Fool, and I can't wai...more
Golden Fool is carried by the strength of its characters--many of whom the reader has been following for four installments now when including the Farseer trilogy--but it suffers from an unorganized plot that lacks a clear narrative. There are at least three major, yet seemingly unrelated, plot threads, and though there are hints of how at least two may ultimately come together, it is left to the subsequent volume in the series to make the connections.
The most powerful scenes are tho...more
The most powerful scenes are tho...more
My first impression of this book, as with most books, was the cover. And after reading maybe 100 pages, I was already mad at whoever illustrated it for failure to read the whole book. Then I read 300 or so more pages and I got it. But still. It wasn't a good foot to get off on.
Golden Fool suffers a little from middle-volume syndrome. In order to have an impressive finish, in the middle book or move things have to get so rotten that you feel bogged down and don't actually see how any o...more
Golden Fool suffers a little from middle-volume syndrome. In order to have an impressive finish, in the middle book or move things have to get so rotten that you feel bogged down and don't actually see how any o...more
The second book in the trilogy is where everything falls to pieces and that is the case with this book. I was anxious to continue FitzChivalry's story after "Fool's Errand" and see what was in store for him. It was good, but I liked the first book much better.
Robin Hobbs' "The Realm of the Elderlings', 4 sets of trilogies which include, in order, "The Farseer Trilogy," (which includes, "Assassin's Apprentice, "Royal Assassin, "Assassin's Quest,"); "Liveship Traders Trilogy," (which includes, "Ship of Magic," "The Mad Ship," "Ship of
Destiny"); "The Tawny Man Trilogy," (which includes "Fool's Errand," "Golden Fool," "Fool's Fate,");...more
Destiny"); "The Tawny Man Trilogy," (which includes "Fool's Errand," "Golden Fool," "Fool's Fate,");...more
Spoiler-------
I love everything about this book except for where I think it's going with the Fool. What the heck??? I kept hoping thru the whole thing that it would finally be revealed that the Fool is really a woman. By the end of the book, I'm thinking there's no way. Hobb is actually romanticizing this relationship between Fitz and Fool. I'm just so disappointed because it would have been awesome to find out that the Fool was really a woman. When that foreign friend came to vis...more
I love everything about this book except for where I think it's going with the Fool. What the heck??? I kept hoping thru the whole thing that it would finally be revealed that the Fool is really a woman. By the end of the book, I'm thinking there's no way. Hobb is actually romanticizing this relationship between Fitz and Fool. I'm just so disappointed because it would have been awesome to find out that the Fool was really a woman. When that foreign friend came to vis...more
This series... man. I loved this series and wanted to throw it against the wall so many times. The main character especially challenged me as a reader. Fitz is, without a question, a immensely believable character. If for no other reason then that there are so many times you want to slap him for being so often fallible. He is by no means perfect and he makes many selfish or foolhardy decisions. But that only wants you to want that much more for him to improve and succeed.
The ...more
The ...more
Prince Dutiful has been rescued from his Piebald kidnappers and the court has resumed its normal rhythms. But for FitzChivalry Farseer, a return to isolation is impossible. Though gutted by the loss of his wolf bondmate, Nighteyes, Fitz must take up residence at Buckkeep and resume his tasks as Chade's apprentice assassin. Posing as Tom Badgerlock, bodyguard to Lord Golden, FitzChivalry becomes the eyes and ears behind the walls. And with his old mentor failing visibly, Fitz is forced to take...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
WARNING: May contian spoilers from the previous book "Fool's Errend" book #1 of the Tawny Man Trilogy.
This book take's place right after the events of the first book "Fool's Errend", Fitz Chivelry, or also known as Tom Badgerlock, has saved the prince from a life of inprisonment from his wit bond with his hunting cat. Unfortantly there was a terrible price to pay, Fitz himself lost his trusted compainon Nighteyes during the process. In this book Fitz's finds himse...more
This book take's place right after the events of the first book "Fool's Errend", Fitz Chivelry, or also known as Tom Badgerlock, has saved the prince from a life of inprisonment from his wit bond with his hunting cat. Unfortantly there was a terrible price to pay, Fitz himself lost his trusted compainon Nighteyes during the process. In this book Fitz's finds himse...more
Jaime Wrote, "Fitz is such a wonderfully flawed hero: self-centered, almost childishly stubborn, and prone to melodramatic self-pity."
Fitz is indeed a flawed hero, and I would leave out the Wonderful. This book takes us away from the focus on the Fool that had gone in the previous books, and given us more of Fitz. I don't particularly like him, and I don't really care if he succeeds or fails.
That is the main problem with this novel and all of the novels from...more
Fitz is indeed a flawed hero, and I would leave out the Wonderful. This book takes us away from the focus on the Fool that had gone in the previous books, and given us more of Fitz. I don't particularly like him, and I don't really care if he succeeds or fails.
That is the main problem with this novel and all of the novels from...more
While it didn't stop me from buzzing right through this one, I'm getting a little fed up with Fitz acting like an idiot. The rest of us knew that the Fool was in love with Fitz several books ago, but despite it being thrown in his face in this one, he's still acting as if he has no clue. It would be one thing if he was generally a stupid character, but I don't think he usually is. He's a bit of a whiner, yeah, but not an idiot. So that makes his idiocy here particularly frustrating.
...more
...more
This review refers to the whole Tawny Man Trilogy:
Robin Hobb is one of my favorite fantasy authors because her stories are unique and complex and she's a great writer. Her prose is pleasant and she is particularly good at characterization; When you get finished with her books, you feel like her characters are your friends and you hate to say goodbye! Her plots are absorbing and they move forward at a pleasant pace.
Fitz of The Farseer Saga is one of my favorite fantasy he...more
Robin Hobb is one of my favorite fantasy authors because her stories are unique and complex and she's a great writer. Her prose is pleasant and she is particularly good at characterization; When you get finished with her books, you feel like her characters are your friends and you hate to say goodbye! Her plots are absorbing and they move forward at a pleasant pace.
Fitz of The Farseer Saga is one of my favorite fantasy he...more
Robin Hobb is masterful. This is certainly a middle book, tying up ends from the first and unraveling more for the last; but in all of it, Hobb wields her words to create layer upon layer of vitality and intrigue to her story. There are so many aspects to this story, so many different concerns that are presented to Fitz and those around him to be sorted through, and through all of it is the overarching story of the White Prophet and his Catalyst.
I'll say it again: Hobb is masterful...more
I'll say it again: Hobb is masterful...more
Wonderful writing, yet again I stayed up way past my bedtime (3am on a weeknight) to devour this book.
Two things stuck with me in particular. Kettricken's devastation at the loss of Nighteyes. The fact that she felt the loss of Fitz's wolf as a bereavement for herself enabled Fitz to speak *his* grief. She understood more than anyone Fitz's connection with Nighteyes.
The second is (again) the relationship between Fitz and Lord Golden/The Fool. This deepens and is compl...more
Two things stuck with me in particular. Kettricken's devastation at the loss of Nighteyes. The fact that she felt the loss of Fitz's wolf as a bereavement for herself enabled Fitz to speak *his* grief. She understood more than anyone Fitz's connection with Nighteyes.
The second is (again) the relationship between Fitz and Lord Golden/The Fool. This deepens and is compl...more
Unique magics abound in this fully fleshed world imagined by Robin Hobb, drawing the reader in and keeping him or her hooked.
I cannot recommend this book and series enough. Any fantasy reader who likes intricate world building that unfolds in glorious layers will dive in and happily enjoy Hobb's creations.
The characterization is amazing. There's never a moment where you doubt a character's actions, even if you disagree with them.
Every detail matters. Remember...more
I cannot recommend this book and series enough. Any fantasy reader who likes intricate world building that unfolds in glorious layers will dive in and happily enjoy Hobb's creations.
The characterization is amazing. There's never a moment where you doubt a character's actions, even if you disagree with them.
Every detail matters. Remember...more
Thus far this is my least favorite of Hobb's novels. It suffers from all the faults of a second novel in a second trilogy taking place in a previously successful universe. The relationships and threads of the story have become overly complex. They have lost the easy flow that characterized her previous series. Additionally, the book takes up so much space with simple explication. Those passages where the characters seem to have discussions simply to add to the knowledge base of the reader. It's ...more
This was a some what difficult book for me to read. Not because it wasn't good, as you can see from my rating I liked it very much. By now these are characters that I have come to love, even with all their mistakes in which many are made within these pages. And there were some passages that made me angry. But for an author to give me such a passionate response to her words she must be doing something right. I'm going to read straight on to Fool's Fate and am more than a little sad my journey wi...more
Tim James
added it
The book started a bit more slowly than I would have liked, but it soon picked up speed, becoming a very enjoyable read.
If anything it suffered from middle book syndrome, dealing with threads started in book 1, and setting things up for book 3; that being said Hobb is too good a writer to let that hold her back too much, and the novel got better and better as it went along, leaving one ready for the finale.
If anything it suffered from middle book syndrome, dealing with threads started in book 1, and setting things up for book 3; that being said Hobb is too good a writer to let that hold her back too much, and the novel got better and better as it went along, leaving one ready for the finale.
I'm only about half through this, but after reading the first in the series, I think I can say they are good fantasy reads, frustratingly slow at times, but surprised me with their ability to suck me into the world she has created with faulty magic and cardboard people and all. Only a few characters are fleshed out at all, and side characters tend to be irritatingly lacking in emotion, motivation and understanding. The first book kept my attention, the scond I will probably pick up again… when I...more
It took me nearly a month to finish this book, because I found myself losing interest and putting it down to read another book. But I did, inevitably, pick the book up again and continue reading because the plot and storyline attracted me, however slowly it crept along.
I'm looking forward to the conclusion of this trilogy, not only to follow along in Fitz's extraordinary tale, but hopefully to FINALLY come to a conclusion with the Fool. The Fool intrigues me and I want to finally understa...more
I'm looking forward to the conclusion of this trilogy, not only to follow along in Fitz's extraordinary tale, but hopefully to FINALLY come to a conclusion with the Fool. The Fool intrigues me and I want to finally understa...more
The 2nd and final trilogy in the Farseer series. Some all time greats in my shelves. These final 3 perhaps even better than the first trilogy. Robin Hobb is a master at gazing unflinchingly into the human soul and embracing and exploring equally the illumination and the darkness that burns at the core of a life fully lived and full of friendship, love, hate, revenge, anger, lust, sorrow and redemption.
I loved the Farseer trilogy and all the characters reappear in this trilogy. Again masterfully done. Characters stay true to their characters. Robin Hobb weaves her way through political intrigue, personal devils, and the reality of sacrifice.
This trilogy receives a four because of the unnecessary sexual details. I would recommend this trilogy only to adults because of the sexual content
This trilogy receives a four because of the unnecessary sexual details. I would recommend this trilogy only to adults because of the sexual content
Xejx
added it
the book ends just when the story is starting! i felt that so much of this book is just filler so that she can fill up 3 books instead of 2. i would suggest from reading the first book in the series to jump straight to the third. you wont miss much and everything imp is repeated in each book.
that being said i am looking forward to reading the next and final book.
that being said i am looking forward to reading the next and final book.
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Robin Hobb is the author of three well-received fantasy trilogies: The Farseer Trilogy (Assassin’s Apprentice, Royal Assassin, and Assassin’s Quest), The Liveship Traders Trilogy (Ship of Magic, Mad Ship and Ship of Destiny) and the Tawny Man Trilogy (Fool’s Errand, Golden Fool, and Fool’s Fate) Her current work in progress is entitled Shaman’s Crossing. Robin Hobb lives and works in Tacoma, Washi...more
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“if love doesnt come first and linger after, if love cant wait and endure disappointment and seperation, then its not love.”
—
16 people liked it
“But change proves that you are still alive. Change often measures our tolerance for folk different from ourselves. Can we accept their languages, their customs, their garments, and their foods into our own lives? If we can, then we form bonds, bonds that make wars less likely. If we cannot, if we believe that we must do things as we have always done them, then we must either fight to remain as we are, or die”
—
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