Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Fool's Errand (Tawny Man, #1)” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Fool's Errand

(The Tawny Man #1)

Robin Hobb (Goodreads Author)

4.31 · Rating details · 70,967 ratings · 1,874 reviews

Fantasy as it ought to be written George R.R. Martin

Return to the world of Fitz, the Fool and Nighteyes in the first book of The Tawny Man Trilogy by international bestselling author, Robin Hobb.

Years have passed since Fitz was tortured by Prince Regal. Now he lives in self-imposed exile far from the court. Even his beloved Molly believes him dead. It is safer that way.

But

...more

Get A Copy

Kindle Edition, 593 pages

Published September 1st 2011 by HarperVoyager (first published October 15th 2001)

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Fool's Errand, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.31 ·

Rating details

· 70,967 ratings · 1,874 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Fool's Errand (Tawny Man, #1)

Feb 22, 2018 Petrik rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, owned-physical-books

A tale of a bond between humans and animals at its finest level.

Fools Errand is the first book in the Tawny Man trilogythe third out of five subseries within Hobbs The Realm of the Elderlings gigantic seriesand it is my favorite installment within the entire RotE so far. This is seriously a lovely, memorable, and poignant return to the world of Fitz, Nighteyes, and the Fools journey. Honestly, after the disappointment I had with the last installment of the Farseer trilogy, and after the ...more

flag 238 likes · Like · see review

Nov 09, 2014 Sean Barrs The Ultra Vegan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 5-star-reads

The characterisation of Fitschivalry through the series is brilliant. The books are told from the first person entirely; thus the reader witnesses the change in his thoughts as he grows into a man. In this book, he has developed a new persona: Tom Badgerlock. This is set fifteen years after the Red Ship wars and King Veritys reawakening of the Dragons.

description

Tom Badgerlock is the person Fitschivalry has evolved into: the one he always wanted to be; he is the man with a simple life, a small farm, a The characterisation of Fitschivalry through the series is brilliant. The books are told from the first person entirely; thus the reader witnesses the change in his thoughts as he grows into a man. In this book, he has developed a new persona: Tom Badgerlock. This is set fifteen years after the Red Ship wars and King Verity’s reawakening of the Dragons.

description

Tom Badgerlock is the person Fitschivalry has evolved into: the one he always wanted to be; he is the man with a simple life, a small farm, a few friends and the close companionship of his loyal wolf. His reaction is unsurprising when his former mentor and friend comes seeking his help: reluctance. Prince Dutiful, heir to the Farseer throne, has gone missing. Nobody seems to know why. He is suspected of having the Wit and is known to have an undeveloped grasp of the Skill. Tom Badgerlock doesn't want to go back to being the tool of the Farseer throne, their Assassin. Who can blaim him? He wants to be free.

Slow, but excellent

Few authors of the fantasy genre, if any, could write a book in which the first third of it is essentially the protagonist living in a hut looking back on his youth as he weighs up the decisions of the future. In this Robin Hobb’s style is remarkable. The internal conflict of Fitz really spoke to me. Fitz has earned his rest but at the same time he is the only person who can bring stability to the realm: he must go back to Buckeep and the role of his youth.

The novel is very well paced and probably the most apprehension evoking I've read in fantasy; the author knows how to draw the plot out, revealing more information at exactly the right time. The plot could have been over and done with, in three hundred pages or so, but that would not have achieved the same effect. The emotions of Fitz, his fears and worries, all play a pivotal role in establishing the suspense of the plot and only through his vivid characterisation do we, as the reader, understand the meaning behind his decisions.

Wonderful Magic

A theme has been established through the book, through the use of animals, almost defining the author’s style. The thoughts of animals have been brought to life; their personalities exhibit their animalistic traits. For example, the cat’s snobbish nature and vainglorious attitude to itself is captured in the thoughts it sends to Tom Badgerlock. This is my favourite aspect of the series: the Wit magic. It is a wonderful idea. The relationship between Fitz and Nighteyes is very touching. Their bond, along with the Fool’s closeness to them, is very deep. They are almost one person as their wit bond has rubbed off characteristics onto each other. The Wolf thinks like a human and the Man acts like a wolf. I liked this development and how it becomes tested as Nighteyes ages quicker than Fitz.

Robin Hobb is one of my favourite fantasy novelists, third only to Tolkien and Susanna Clarke, her books define the modern fantasy genre, thus they're a must read for any fantasy enthusiast.
...more

flag 170 likes · Like · see review

Feb 19, 2020 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own, fantasy-all, paperback

I loved the beginning but then bullshit and dont talk to me about it. Things and people could have died in peace in their shack.

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more

flag 83 likes · Like · see review

Jun 12, 2018 Em Lost In Books rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-star, 2018, 2000-09

I went into this story with zero expectation. My poor heart was still very tender after the beating it got in Assassins Quest. But then I saw everyone reading one or the other Fitz book and going ga ga over. I kept thinking, did we read the same Fitz stories? to find the answer I thought why not give another chance to Fitz, perhaps he did better in this. And oh boy, this book simply blew me away. All my complaints of Fitz being whinny and doing nothing went out of the wind. Ms. Hobb what did you ...more

flag 81 likes · Like · see review

Jun 12, 2019 J.L. Sutton rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Robin Hobbs Fools Errand is an engaging and immersive read in an expansive world that Hobbs has already created. The novel is the first book in the Tawny Man Series which picks up 15 years after the Liveship Traders and Farseer Trilogy. Some readers didnt need the background information about Fitz or the political intrigue that was woven into his story. Since this is my first book with Fitz in it (and my first Robin Hobb book), I appreciated the background. It was a slow immersion but by the ...more

flag 72 likes · Like · see review

Sep 06, 2019 Jamie Tivendale rated it really liked it · review of another edition

"History is no more fixed and dead than the future. The past is no further away than the last breath you took." - Spoilers from the first series will follow.

Fool's Errand is set 15-years after the finale of Assassin's Quest. Once again we follow FitzChivalry Farseer - the assumed dead royal bastard. In song, he is acknowledged by many as being the Witted Bastard ghost that rose from the dead to aid his uncle Verity who was the rightful heir to the throne and he helped him raise the Elderlings "History is no more fixed and dead than the future. The past is no further away than the last breath you took." - Spoilers from the first series will follow.

Fool's Errand is set 15-years after the finale of Assassin's Quest. Once again we follow FitzChivalry Farseer - the assumed dead royal bastard. In song, he is acknowledged by many as being the Witted Bastard ghost that rose from the dead to aid his uncle Verity who was the rightful heir to the throne and he helped him raise the Elderlings and save the Six Duchees.

In the years since the Farseer trilogy, Fitz, or Tom Badgelock as he is now currently known has been living in isolation. Well, not exactly. He is accompanied by his adopted son Hap and his wolf companion, Nighteyes. They look after chickens, tend to a handful of horses, and produce herbs they can sell at the local markets.

One evening Chade, the former assassin for the King and Fitz's former mentor arrives at his abode. They discuss past times and also current dramas. Chade presents Fitz with a proposition which he politely refuses. A day or so afterwards, his other best friend, known as the Fool arrives also and after reminiscing, he refers to the dire times and grave tidings that Chade had already mentioned. The future king-in-waiting, Fitz's Skill-formed/created son who he has never known has been kidnapped. It takes a while to convince him but after consideration, Fitz decides to assist, although the consequences when he has aided the Farseer line before have not always been the most sought after. Losing your one love, torture, death, children you can never know... etc. Approximately 4-people know his true identity so he takes on the guise as acting as the manservant of the Fool's new character, Lord Golden. The Fool is a frivolous and excentric noble that all wish to impress, flirt with or have the attention of.

I am aware that this series should really be read after the Liveship Traders. I jumped straight back into the story of Fitz as I love him as a character. He's a hero, honourable, has the worst luck and does all for the monarchy and what is true even if he loses because of his choices. He is the Changer after all. In this novel, I can't say 100%, but I don't think you are missing much from not reading the other trilogy. The next book, when the entourage from Bingtown arrive and we are told about another of the Fool's characters, Amber, is when I believe prior knowledge of their related pasts would be beneficial but it isn't absolutely necessary as I loved this trilogy, but I can't deny my enjoyment may have been heightened if I had read the Liveship Traders first.

I've had no internet for 2-weeks and have read all 3 of the tales from this trilogy so unfortunately they all blur into one which isn't great for reviewing purposes. Dutiful is a great new character. As are Nettle and Thick. This is more of the same, a continuation of the same first-person vibe presented in the first trilogy and I love it for that. At this rate, the Realm of the Elderlings may become one of my top 3 ever fantasy series. Harper Voyager have been nice enough to send me the rest of the books and there is very little I'd wish to read right now that isn't Robin Hobb. She's brilliant. I adore the story, the characters, even tiny things like grammatical choices. She's an expert and I can't wait to read what comes next. ...more

flag 59 likes · Like · see review

Aug 22, 2013 Kaora rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Do not you sense it? A crossroads, a vertex, a vortex. All paths change from here.

This book made my cry. Multiple times.

I don't often cry while reading books. I takes a lot. And I might blame it on pregnancy hormones except Hobb made me cry in her last two series Liveship Traders and Farseer Trilogy and when I read those I wasn't pregnant.

But this book again has ruined me. In a good way.

Robin Hobb is the type of author that slowly builds her story. She introduces her character and you live their ...more

flag 56 likes · Like · see review

Jul 21, 2013 David Sven rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, favourites

Again, Robin Hobb demonstrates that you dont need to write grimdark to generate realism, high drama, or sinister undertones. Now I love my grimdark as much as Hannibal loves liver *phphpht*, but Hobbs realism is expressed in believable characters, complex relationships, detailed worldbuilding...wait wait wait a minute now...what about blood and guts? Yes, there will be blood too, but the joojoo is not in the gore - the joojoo is in the sustained threat of violence - the joojoo is in the way the Again, Robin Hobb demonstrates that you don’t need to write grimdark to generate realism, high drama, or sinister undertones. Now I love my grimdark as much as Hannibal loves liver *phphpht*, but Hobb’s realism is expressed in believable characters, complex relationships, detailed worldbuilding...wait wait wait a minute now...what about blood and guts? Yes, there will be blood too, but the joojoo is not in the gore - the joojoo is in the sustained threat of violence - the joojoo is in the way the sense of danger and foreboding creeps up on you and builds and seduces you until you can’t help but keep turning pages. You just have to know what is going to happen next. That was my experience anyway.

The story begins at a leisurely pace as we catch up to Fitz in his self-imposed exile some 15 years after the events of the Farseer Trilogy. We get a taste of what a life of peace with his wolf Nighteyes is like. I make it sound boring but it’s not. Fitz has been to some interesting places and done some interesting things in those 15 years – including a visit to Bingtown and the Rainwilds which those fans who have read The Liveship Traders series will appreciate. If you’ve skipped that Trilogy to come straight over to Tawny Man then I think you are missing out. Most people do it because they want more of the Fool – more Fool you I say – because there is more Fool in Liveships – so technically that would be more Fool to those who read Liveships first? Damn Fool bastard has me talking in circles.

But back to the Bastard – Robin Hobb(no I’m not calling her a bastard) still manages to reintroduce us to an older Fitz and catch us up in a way that is interesting despite being slow. Even when Fitz is doing nothing, I still wanted to know what he was going to do next as his old life calls out to him. And the pace and tension keep increasing from there as Chade’s old apprentice Asssassin is called on to do his duty for his Queen and the Farseer throne. And in Robin Hobb’s world, duty is spelled “P-A-I-N.” So though we know Fitz can’t die, seeing the story is told from his POV in the first person, we should know by now that he is never safe. We should know by now that there are worse things that can happen to Fitz than dying and we should know that Robin Hobb does not hold back from inflicting them on our protagonist. Did I just say Robin Hobb isn’t a bastard?

5 stars

And now a quick word from out sponsor Lord Golden

Fitz is Dutiful to Fitz’ Dutiful
...but what is Dutiful’s Duty?
Should Dutiful be Dutiful to Dutiful
...or should Dutiful be Dutiful to Duty?
What so Beautiful seduces Dutiful
...is Duty not Beautiful enough?
Will Fitz's Duty bring Beauty
...or will Fitz' duty be rough

Psst - Fool says Robin Hobb really is a ~~bastard~~...~~bitch~~... ~~sadist~~...~~get off me, I'm the White Prophet and I will be heard~~. Fool says you should read her next book as soon as possible. ...more

flag 50 likes · Like · see review

Jan 01, 2019 ❄️Nani❄️ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-fantasy-sci-fi

No.
DAMMIT. 😰
Starting the year with a heartbreak. Stellar start.

flag 50 likes · Like · see review

Oct 28, 2012 Hanne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This is more or less what I look like whenever FitzChivalry Farseer is involved:

So many books later, and Im still feeling überprotective of Fitz. I got furious with his neighbour when he attacked Fitz in the market place, I wanted to kick Starling out of the door (and none too gently), and I was even too angry to cry when the inevitable happened (view spoiler).

What Robin Hobb manages to do is quite amazing ...more

flag 51 likes · Like · see review

Oct 31, 2015 Stefan Bach rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Fool?
What?
You are not Fool anymore. What do they call you these days?
What does who call me when?
I should not call you Fool anymore. What do you want me to call you?
Ah, what do I want you to call me now? I see. An entirely different question. And if I tell you, you would call me by that name?
In private only. And only if you wished me to.
Ah... Oh, but I would.
Then?
The name my mother gave me, I give now to you, to call me by in private. Beloved.
Fool! Im serious!
And you think Im not? Well if you ...more

flag 48 likes · Like · see review

Nov 11, 2015 Emma rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, magic, fantasy, historical-fantasy, re-read

Much preferred to the first Fitz trilogy but maybe because the Fitz books are so well integrated into this. It also worked really well for me because I read the first trilogy nearly 20 years ago and so I have been away from the world of Buck keep as long as Fitz himself had!
My only minor niggle is that the first third of the book was very slow and by the end of that section I was on the verge of getting restless for some action.
Loved this book :)

flag 32 likes · Like · see review

Feb 19, 2012 Hanna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

3.75

GAAH! These books frustrate the hell out of me! Absolutely and wholly.
But I love them. The plot. The characters.

I think I hate them like I do because they are so damn realistic. Never the happy ending to anything. Only the harsh and brutal reality.

The main character is brave. And good. Lovable. He is also a fool. A wimp. That makes mistakes. That you yell "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?" at.
Same for other characters. One moment you scream your head of at them. The next you sit there ...more

flag 28 likes · Like · see review

Jul 06, 2015 Kaitlin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This is book #1 in the Tawny Man series, which follows on from the events of the Farseer books and the Liveship books. This series relates a lot more to the characters from the initial Farseer books such as Fitz, the Fool and various other characters, both old and new, who are local to Bukkeep. We are told that the main character (first-person again) of Fitz is now 35, so it's about 15 years after the Farsser series.

As we follow Fitz we don't actually know an awful lot about the life he's been This is book #1 in the Tawny Man series, which follows on from the events of the Farseer books and the Liveship books. This series relates a lot more to the characters from the initial Farseer books such as Fitz, the Fool and various other characters, both old and new, who are local to Bukkeep. We are told that the main character (first-person again) of Fitz is now 35, so it's about 15 years after the Farsser series.

As we follow Fitz we don't actually know an awful lot about the life he's been leading for the last 15 years. We haven't seen or heard of him since the ending of Farseer, and so a large amount of the beginning sections relate Fitz's tale and what he's doing now. We see he's living with a young boy who he cares for greatly, and we learn some of the daily life chores for his new persona, Tom Badgerlock.

After the initial re-immersion period the actual story kicks in introducing us once more to characters we knew from long ago and many new characters who will also begin to play a new role in the Elderling Realm. Fitz's story starts off slow, but quickly he's drawn to change his pace and take on new challenges and meet new people. The story flies away with itself from that point on.

I was wary of returning to Fitz after severely disliking his character and the way he made so many mistakes and blunders in Assassin's Quest (Farseer #3). I found that even though I had really enjoyed Fitz's struggles and character up to that point, he bored me and annoyed me so much in Assassin's Quest I wasn't sure if he was going to be a character I would enjoy reading about anew, luckily my fears were quickly put to rest. As Fitz is so much older and wiser by this book - he has matured and had a life - he makes for a much more likeable character, less inclined to childish mistakes and folly. In the Farseer books we follow a young boy with many secrets, harsh alliances, and different strings attached to him, whilst in Tawny Man, Fitz has had time to reflect on that period of his life and decide that he knows better now.

As for the story itself I felt that this one was much better paced and far more fun than the final Farseer one. Clearly the different approach to writing which Hobb adopted for the Liveship books allowed her to hone her skill and master the pacing and structure of her Fitz storyline too. I felt compelled to read this fast, and see where it was heading. I wanted to immerse myself back into the world, and find out the consequences of the events of the Liveship books and the Farseer books.

Overall my only slight criticism of this book was that, although we learn a lot throughout this book about new and old characters and the magic of this world, I didn't feel that there was as much mystery or anticipation surrounding certain elements of the plot. In the Liveship books we can see hints and ideas which link into Farseer, and whilst that's still sewn throughout this book, I felt that this was more of a set up for the next book of the series than a fully fledged book of its own. I think that the next two books will more than likely incorporate more of the elements of mystery and wonder I am seeking, and hopefully as a whole the trilogy will make its mark next to the Liveship books.

I enjoyed reading this immensely, and I look forward to continuing and finding out more about the state of the Elderling Realm, the opinions of the public on the ending of this book, and finally the new characters who we've been introduced to more in this book. 4*s overall. ...more

flag 27 likes · Like · see review

Jun 30, 2017 Phee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2017

I am broken.
My love for Fitz and the Fool is strong as ever, but my heart is broken from the events of this book.
I didn't cry, but I screamed.
Also, Fitz and the Fool... I ship it. So damn hard!

flag 27 likes · Like · see review

Jun 07, 2018 Diana Stormblessed rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, series, 2018-read

When I say I couldn't put it down, I mean I couldn't put it down. This 661 page book took me about 24 hours to finish. I listened to it on audio and I couldn't disconnect myself. I listened during my commute, during work, during cooking, during putting my kids to bed. It was so great to reconnect with old characters and watch how they have matured. This book is set almost 15 years after Assassin's Quest. Fitz is no longer whiny and misguided. The Fool is no longer mean spirited. Additionally, I ...more

flag 26 likes · Like · see review

Jun 25, 2014 Em rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, fantasy, seriel, abuse-torture-rape, slave-kidnapped-hostage, paranormal, magic, angst, mating-bonding, dtr

This is my third time of reading this series and it still remains my absolute favourite! Fitz, Fool and of course Nighteyes are absolute heroes and can do no wrong in my eyes.

Wishful thinking below, but who cares and I may get my wish come true in the new series, you never know!

flag 24 likes · Like · see review

Dec 24, 2017 Jennifer rated it really liked it · review of another edition

It was a strange transition from the pace of the Liveship Traders to the pace of this trilogy, told (like the Farseer trilogy) entirely in first person from Fitzs perspective. Fitz is a thorough scribe, to say the least, and this is definitely a set-up book (the main plot doesnt begin until 200 pages in). But I appreciated this for its quiet steadiness, and found myself getting surprisingly emotional over passing moments of dialogue and introspection. I absolutely cant wait to read the next two ...more

flag 23 likes · Like · see review

Sep 22, 2015 Helene Jeppesen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Another great book about our hero Fitz. I especially love reading about him for some reason, and this book was no exception. I can't go too much into the story since it's a continuation of the long series Robin Hobb has created, but I can say that I liked how we get to follow Fitz at an older age - and I LOVED that this novel contains cats :D I'm definitely going to continue on with this series once Autumn really sets in.

flag 20 likes · Like · see review

Jan 23, 2010 Mili rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own-the-book, personal-favs

So good to be back in the world of the Six Duchies. Fitz is a grown man now and was living a rather relaxed life for a change. That couldn't last forever. Robin Hobb sucks me right in and makes me feel one with Fitz. I love his character, what a softy sometimes haha. Rather sad twist at the end, but she was building towards it. Meh.

flag 17 likes · Like · see review

May 29, 2014 Kat rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, animals-talk, assassins, favorite-author, orphans, buddy-read, friend-recs, part-of-a-series, 2014, animalia

I woke up this morning and thought to myself... "hey, I really feel like having my heart ripped out and dashed upon the stones."
Yes, it is definitely time to reconnect with Fitz.

flag 17 likes · Like · see review

Mar 02, 2020 David S Meanderings) rated it really liked it

4.5 stars. I loved it. RTC very soon.

flag 17 likes · Like · see review

Feb 25, 2015 Dara rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, favorites, reviewed, series, read-2015, lady-author

Fool's Errand picks up 15 years after the events of Assassin's Quest. Fitz is living a quite life in a cottage with a boy he adopted and his loyal wolf Nighteyes. Naturally, things can't stay quiet for poor Fitzy Fitz. Adventure comes to his door in the shape of Chade, followed by the Fool.

The first 5 chapters or so deal primarily with catching up with Fitz and finding out what's been going on in his life. In any other writer's hands this would be tedious but Hobb slowly reveals his past in a ...more

flag 16 likes · Like · see review

Oct 26, 2014 Bradley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, worldbuilding-sf

I really enjoyed getting back into the bastard's world, although honestly, most of the novel was pastoral and catching up with the main character after almost two decades of living without adventure. When the story picked up, the intrigue was decent and the developments hinted at greater things for the future. It was almost like enjoying his comfortable life was a well earned and just reward for what happened to him as a child. Being drawn back into the world of royalty seemed inevitable because ...more

flag 15 likes · Like · see review

Mar 31, 2009 Kat Hooper rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

Updated August 2014.
Originally posted at Fantasy Literature. http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...

Alone again. It isnt fair. Truly it isnt. Youve the saddest song of any man Ive ever known. ~Starling Birdsong, minstrel to Queen Kettricken
I squealed with delight when I recently opened a box from Brilliance Audio and found a review copy of Fools Errand inside. This is an old favorite that, for years, I had planned to re-read. Since Hobbs new book comes out next week, this seemed like the Updated August 2014.
Originally posted at Fantasy Literature. http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...

“Alone again. It isn’t fair. Truly it isn’t. You’ve the saddest song of any man I’ve ever known.” ~Starling Birdsong, minstrel to Queen Kettricken
I squealed with delight when I recently opened a box from Brilliance Audio and found a review copy of Fool’s Errand inside. This is an old favorite that, for years, I had planned to re-read. Since Hobb’s new book comes out next week, this seemed like the perfect time to get back into FitzChivalry Farseer’s world.

We first met Fitz back in Assassin’s Apprentice when he was a boy. As bastard son to a Farseer prince, he was brought to court and trained as the king’s assassin. He inherited the Skill, the magic that the Farseer family uses to communicate telepathically, from his father. Unfortunately, he inherited the Wit, the maligned “beast magic,” from his mother. He has had to hide this magic, and his wit-bond with his wolf Nighteyes, from others. Folks in the Six Duchies are suspicious of Wit users and often burn them at the stake. The next two FARSEER books, Royal Assassin and Assassin’s Quest, follow Fitz as he grows up, learns to use and control his powers, falls in love, and does the ugly duties that are required of the king’s assassin. By the end, Fitz has served the Farseers well, but he’s lost just about everything in the process.

I remember how devastated I was, years ago, when things didn’t turn out well for Fitz. A few days later I found out that Fitz’s story wasn’t over. As soon I realized that it continued in Fool’s Errand, the first book in the TAWNY MAN trilogy, I immediately sent my husband to Barnes & Noble. (I had the flu that day.) I don’t think I was ever so happy to get my hands on a particular book, and I felt that way again when the audio version showed up unexpectedly at my door a couple of weeks ago. Déjà vu!

And so Fitz’s story continues. For the first half of Fool’s Errand, we see Fitz and Nighteyes in their little home in the wilderness. Fitz is 35 years old and he’s been away from court for fifteen years. Almost everyone, including the woman Fitz loves, thinks he’s dead. Occasionally Fitz gets a visit from someone at court who urges him to come back. He is a Farseer, after all. Finally, Fitz is convinced to return when Prince Dutiful goes missing and the Witted Piebalds are suspected of being involved. (You can read the Piebald origin story in Hobb’s recent novella, The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince.) Fitz’s partner on his quest to find Dutiful is his best friend, The Fool, who he hasn’t seen in years.

The brilliance of the FARSEER stories is that Fitz feels so real and evokes such sympathy due to his circumstances that I am content just to be around him, even if he’s doing nothing more exciting than feeding the chickens or fixing the roof. I just want Fitz to be happy and content and to find a place where he belongs. I suppose I might get bored if Fitz fed chickens for 700 pages, so at just the right time Hobb takes him away from his cozy little home and he goes off to have an adventure. First we get to revisit Buckkeep, where Fitz grew up. Then he’s off to find Prince Dutiful. His quest is dangerous and he uncovers a plot that is sure to result in a major political upheaval. In the end, Fitz loses out again and it’s clear that his old comfortable life with Nighteyes is over. It’s devastating. And now we have another boy to worry about: Prince Dutiful. In many ways his situation is similar to Fitz’s.

This is the series I recommend first to anyone who asks me what they should read. But if you don’t want to get involved, I won’t blame you. FitzChivalry Farseer’s life is one of the most bittersweet (emphasis on “bitter”) stories in epic fantasy. He struggles with his identity as an orphaned bastard. Now that he’s an adult, he knows the importance of having a father, yet he has sired two children who he can’t be a father to. He has been bullied from all sides and has been hated and mistrusted because of the Wit. He has been overworked nearly to death by the people who should love him most. He deals with addiction and difficult moral choices. He loses so much. In the entire world there are only a couple of people and one wolf who truly understand and love Fitz. That makes these few relationships so powerful, which is part of the beauty of his story.

James Langton narrates Brilliance Audio’s version which is 25 hours long. I loved his voices for all the characters and I’m looking forward to re-reading the next book, Golden Fool, in this format. I really hope it arrives soon. ...more

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

Sep 12, 2017 Rob rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 4-5-stars

I often have problems with sequels... BUT NOT THIS ONE!! Robin Hobb delivers with amazing character development, great plot, twists, and brings in great new characters in the first book of The Tawny Man trilogy!

The Farseer Trilogy (Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin, Assassin's Quest)
Liveship Traders Trilogy (Ship of Magic, The Mad Ship, Ship of Destiny)
The Tawny Man Trilogy (Fool's Errand, The Golden Fool, Fool's Fate)
The Rain Wild Chronicles (Dragon Keeper, Dragon Haven, City of Dragons, ...more

flag 22 likes · Like · see review

Aug 29, 2012 Penny rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites, fantasy, to-reread, adventure

This was one of the sadder books in the series but I have to admit, I could not put it down. There's nothing quite like reading a book that really grabs you.

I really enjoyed re-reading the first trilogy, seeing Fitz and his friends so young, but I particularly enjoy older Fitz. Lots of great new characters, grand adventure, loss, love, and all things that make a great book. Another beautiful book in a long series of beautiful books. On to the next one!

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

Jan 20, 2018 Mark Harrison rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

After fifteen years alone Fitz is dragged back to help protect the Farseer line from a new threat Soon we are back with the magic of The Wit, Skilling, Nighteyes and the enigma of The Fool who has a whole new persona now. Much more of an adventure story than the first Fitz series with some nice links to the previous Liveship trilogy. Excellent story, some new characters and a moment of sheer tear scorching heartbreak. Brilliant.

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

Aug 26, 2013 Eddie Costello rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: robin-hobb

The first half is meh; second half better meh

While I did end up enjoying it, it was just so slow and boring yet it still manages to bring a major case of the feels.(still reeling over that one)

The characters are,like always, excellent but they're different and while it's more realistic I still wanted more of younger Fitz.

Hopefully the next book is much better but after 6 book I fully trust Robin Hobb and am extremely excited the next two books in the trilogy

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

Oct 20, 2019 Siobhan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: books-we-own-read

Once again Robin Hobb rips my heart out of my chest and tears it to pieces... 💔
Every one of her books so far has reached me in such an emotional way I can't even describe!

flag 14 likes · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Fantasy Buddy Reads: Fool's Errand [Sept 25, 2019]	54	29	Oct 23, 2019 10:47AM
Beyond Reality: Fool's Errand: finished reading (spoilers!)	4	22	Feb 26, 2019 01:35PM
Beyond Reality: Fool's Errand: roll call and first impressions (no spoilers)	3	9	Feb 15, 2019 09:53AM
Fantasy Buddy Reads: Fool's Errand [June 3, 2018]	46	32	Jun 15, 2018 08:01AM
The Robin Hobb Co...: fool's errand part 2 > chapters 6 to 10	17	58	Jan 09, 2018 10:30PM
The Robin Hobb Co...: fool's errand part 1 > chapter 1 to 5	27	77	Jan 06, 2018 08:46PM

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Fantasy

4,744 users

Fiction

395 users

Fantasy > Epic Fantasy

230 users

Fantasy > High Fantasy

177 users

See top shelves…

About Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb

78,167 followers

** I am shocked to find that some people think a 2 star 'I liked it' rating is a bad rating. What? I liked it. I LIKED it! That means I read the whole thing, to the last page, in spite of my life raining comets on me. It's a good book that survives the reading process with me. If a book is so-so, it ends up under the bed somewhere, or maybe under a stinky judo bag in the back of the van. So a 2 ...more