So how long did it take for you to get that...(spoiler) ?

[Sofiab]

Amber was the Fool from the farseer series? Or rather they are the same person.

I got it quiet quickly because I read the last three books of that series before this ones and there its revealed that the Fool has been doing stuff in the rain wilds and also I remember something about a letter Fool had that mentioned someone named Amber.

In case you didn't get it that's ok. I think it's much easier to see for those that have read the rest of Fit's story (the tawny man it's called in English right?)

[C.E.]

I read the trilogies in reverse order and never made the connection until someone pointed it out. Unfortunately several years had passed in between, and I could no longer remember who Amber was anyway. :(

[Jacen]

I read all of the Fitz stories first so I kinda knew going in who was who.

[Kevin]

It has been a while since I read the series but I want to say that I had a notion when it talked about amber being able to draw out what was hidden inside the beads - but I didn't have confirmation until the third trilogy ("The Tawny Man").. I won't go into when, just in case someone is working their way through the set.. suffice it to say it is blatantly in your face in one of them.

[Tessa]

Is Amber/The Fool a mayor character in this book? Because I didn't think - from what I have read - I would like this series, but if The Fool is a big part of the story, I think i'm going to give it a try?

[Kevin]

Tessa - If I recall correctly Amber wasn't really a key character until the Mad Ship (2nd book).. and even then never really held the same status as in the other two trilogies. As expected Amber/Fool/White Prophet holds the highest level of importance in the Tawny Man series, followed by the Farseer Trilogy and then Live Ship. That said, I would recommend reading it just for completion (if you're obsessive like me) especially since it does provide a lot of the lead in information for the Tawny Man.

Hope that helps!
-Kevin

[Raptori]

Tessa wrote: "Is Amber/The Fool a mayor character in this book? Because I didn't think - from what I have read - I would like this series, but if The Fool is a big part of the story, I think i'm going to give it..."

From what I remember, Kevin's right in that Amber wasn't that important in the first two books of the series. She does pop up quite a few times though, similar to how the Fool isn't actually there that often in Assassin's Apprentice.

I found the Liveships trilogy far more satisfying and enjoyable than any of the other trilogies, but a lot of people hated them for various reasons - some of the things people have criticised about them are actually highlights for me. Regardless, they're very different to the Hobb's other series.

For example, I remember someone saying they were confused and put off by characters being portrayed as "bad guys" in one chapter, then the next chapter switching to their viewpoint with them being "good guys" all of a sudden. To me, it's realistic: it shows the points of view of different characters in conflict with each other in situations where they're all trying to do the best they can and conflicting with each other. I wish more fantasy/sci-fi books would be like that - fights between "good" and "evil" are a bit bland.

[Aaron]

I didn't get it at all until you said it. My head's reeling.

[Bcvs]

RaptorSaur wrote: "Tessa wrote: "Is Amber/The Fool a mayor character in this book? Because I didn't think - from what I have read - I would like this series, but if The Fool is a big part of the story, I think i'm go..."

I totally agree.
The Liveship trilogy was also my favorite of the three.
For me it was the added value of being written in the third person. It gives a better perspective on the plot than seeing it all through the eyes of just one character.

[Marjolein]

I fully realized it when I started reading the Tawny man series. But I always taught she was from the same family or something

[Pascale]

It was abvious when Amber carved Paragon in the likeness of Fitz...

[Saoki]

I'm reading the elderling books in order, so I read this series after the Farseer Trilogy and I got who Amber was from the very first time Althea talks to her. I mean, she was obviously a prophet and this is a series of connected stories about the destiny of a world (and it has been said that there's only one prophet).
Then there is the earring from her one true love, and the way she teaches Althea to act as a man.
Then she spends the whole book saying she has been called a fool often.
I though everyone got that.

[Richard]

Chalk me up as another person who read them in 1 2 3 7 8 9 4 5 6 (10 11 12 13 14 (suggestions as to how to count The Inheritance are welcome)) order.

That said, I think it would have been pretty obvious even without the extra info.

[Jingizu]

I read the Liveships trilogy first, before the Farseer trilogy, so I only picked up that Amber is the Fool during the 3rd book of the Farseer trilogy.

I am currently rereading them all in the correct order, i.e. Farseer, Liveships, Tawny Man, Rainwilds and then I will read the new Fitz and Fool book (which I haven't read yet).

I definitely enjoyed Liveships the most. It was more intricate with more complex main characters and I prefer third person POV than first person. And of course, Liveships see the birth of Tintaglia, my favourite dragon! :)