SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
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Robin Hobb
What Else Are You Reading?
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Series: The Realms of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb ("Assassin's Apprentice")
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Amanda wrote: "Would we need to finish the Farseer trilogy before reading Liveship Traders?"I think the most critical thing is to make sure and read the Tawny Man trilogy after both the Farseer and Liveship Traders trilogies. Those first two trilogies have some subtle connections beyond the minor shared world references, but they’re more easily recognized and appreciated on a re-read than they are the first time around, so I don’t think you’re really going to miss out on anything significant.
Is this still happening on schedule? Do you guys want a thread for Tawny Man?
I'm still reading them. Just finished the first of the Tawny Man trilogy, Fool's Errand, and I could not put it down.
I’m fully intending on keeping going. I had to stop when I couldn’t find book 2 in Farseer for a while and I have to try and get back to it now that I’ve found a copy. I had 3 pretty quick after finishing 1 but couldn’t find 2 without ordering it and paying full price which I only do sometimes. While I was looking I also made up my collection of Liveship and Fitz and the Fool and I’m making headway on Tawny Man.
I just want to read some of my currently reading like before I get to new stuff. Maybe.
Oh look...shiny...
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Allison wrote: "Friends, did anyone listen to these? How's the narrator? I'm trying to decide how I want to consume Assassin's Apprentice."I did for the third book and found the audio in parts (esp. the voice of one character) crinchworthy, but others had no problem with it. - then again I had my problems with the third book in general, so I'm perhaps grumpier than usually about the audio.
Allison wrote: "Friends, did anyone listen to these? How's the narrator? I'm trying to decide how I want to consume Assassin's Apprentice."I agree with Gabi. Mostly, though, I really enjoy the narrator.
I'm also probably going the audio route when I finally start these, hopefully this year. Is there lots of finicky name stuff to learn in the first book? Should I have a physical copy handy at first, while I learn who everyone is etc.? Names like Fitz should be fine, but if there's any of that typical epic fantasy naming going on, or hundreds of people to remember, I might want to see things with my eyes.
Names are not at all close to, say, Goblin Emperor. They’re things like Burrich and Nighteyes and Regal and Molly. The map might be worth a peak, but you won’t get lost in the audio.
OK, so pretty normal names. That sounds promising! The map I can probably find online. Maybe I'll actually eventually get to these!
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Allison wrote: "I'm using my third Hoopla borrow for it and if I don't like it, it's almost April and I'll get it in print!"Wow I didn't know Hoopla had that caliber of book. I just use it for comics, but maybe I should look closer.
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Wow I didn't know Hoopla had that caliber of book. I just use it for co..."
It's sort of...hit or miss. But I found both next month's books on it so that's a bonus!
I'm almost done with The Dragon Keeper and, so far, am pretty underwhelmed, which is especially disappointing because I loved the first three series so much. I don't mind the slowness of the plot. I mind the thinness of the characters. They don't quite feel like the fully realized beings we encounter in the first nine books. I'll definitely keep going, though: to finish the series and because I'm sufficiently intrigued. For those of read all four books in The Rain Wild Chronicles, does it pick up?
Travis wrote: "For those of read all four books in The Rain Wild Chronicles, does it pick up?"Yes and then no and then yes. :) I thought the second book was quite a bit more fast-paced than the first book, and it was my favorite of the four. The third book was my least favorite and had some really slow parts for me. I liked the fourth book almost as much as the second.
Although I liked The Dragon Keeper, I didn’t enjoy it as much as the earlier books either. By the end of the first book, I pretty much hated every character except (view spoiler). The characters do develop a bit more in the later books, and some of them become more likeable, but they never reached the “real people” status that some of the characters in the other books have in my mind.
There are some references to these books in the next series though, so you’ll probably be glad you read them once you get to those. It may help that the books are much shorter. I think the whole four-book series is shorter page-wise than each of the trilogies.
Ha! She's the best. I I agree. I'm definitely going to continue. If only because I want the backstory for the next books. I also think this city (which I'm guessing is a city we've seen before) will be worth the effort.
I'm about to start book 1, finally! Before I do, could someone tell me when is a good time to slot in The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince? After I've finished Farseer? Or later? I'll be listening to these, and that one is also available on audio, so I might as well listen to it, too.Oh, same question for The Inheritance, once I get that far. It's marked as 4.5 and 9.5, so should I wait until after I've finished Tawny Man?
I hope you like it!Regarding The Willful Princess, it doesn’t matter too much, but my preference would be to slot it after the first trilogy. The first trilogy has several references to the legend, and The Willful Princess tells the true story, so it will be more meaningful after that. It doesn’t spoil anything for any of the books, though.
I read The Inheritance after the second trilogy and that worked well for me. There are three stories in it that are set in this world. Cat’s Meat has no connection to larger events at all from what I remember. The short story called The Inheritance uses some plot devices and the setting introduced in the second trilogy, but the story itself stands alone and doesn’t affect larger events. The third story, Homecoming, is set in the past and has some great background for the second trilogy.
Thanks YouKneek! So it would be safe to read Homecoming after Liveship, even though it's marked as 9.5?I got through 8 chapters without pause, so I think it's safe to say I like it!
Yes, I’m not sure why it would be marked as 9.5 because it doesn’t have anything to do with the third trilogy (Tawny Man) that I can remember. Maybe whoever numbered it was thinking it would be useful to have that background story fresh in the reader’s mind right before the fourth series (Rain Wilds)? If so, that would make some sense. I think either position would work fine.Whew, I’m glad you’re enjoying the first book! :)
Reading it after Liveship would work well for me, since I'm planning on getting through the first two trilogies and then possibly taking a break. Well, I'm planning on giving myself permission to take a break after each trilogy, but I want to get through at least Liveship during May. Then I would have these two extra audios out of the way so to speak, and can concentrate on just the main books.
Hi ! I'm a big big fan of Robin Hobb's work but I've never come around to reading The Rainwild Chronicles. I'll very certainly join you guys in June ;)
Sophie wrote: "Hi ! I'm a big big fan of Robin Hobb's work but I've never come around to reading The Rainwild Chronicles. I'll very certainly join you guys in June ;)"I think the reading schedule kind of fell by the wayside. There wasn’t much discussion past the Liveship Traders series. Some people kept reading faster than the one-book-per-month pace, and I think some others may have stalled out. And our moderators appear to be about 8 months behind, just getting started. :) Maybe there are still a faithful, quiet few out there following the schedule.
I finished the last subseries myself early this year, but I very much enjoy reading what people who are still reading it think about any of the books. It makes me happy to see new posts in these threads. :) So whenever you read it, I hope you’ll let us know what you think even if there aren't many other people talking about it at the time!
YouKneeK wrote: "And our moderators appear to be about 8 months behind, just getting started."Hey! What's that supposed to mean?! :D I'm right on schedule to start Rain Wilds in June! :P
LOL, I can see where that might be possible!
YouKneeK wrote: "Some people kept reading faster than the one-book-per-month pace...."Ummmmmmmm. Maybe just a bit... :)
I'm planning to start Fitz and the Fool this June or July.
I started the remaining two BR threads. I don't know if anyone is actually following the schedule, but necroposting is always welcome!Rain Wild Chronicles - Discussion
Fitz and the Fool trilogy - Discussion
Anna wrote: "I started the remaining two BR threads. I don't know if anyone is actually following the schedule, but necroposting is always welcome!"Thanks, Anna. I just learned a new word. Necroposting.
I can't take credit for necroposting, that honor goes to Allison! Or did someone else coin it, and Allison just made it popular?
I am just about to start Fool's Fate, so we'll see if I get burned out and try something else, or jump right into Rain Wild Chronicles.
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I was summoned. I think the internet sprouted this word from its collective consciousness, but I'm pleased to share the gospel of virgin word creation with my groupmates!
I'd also like everyone to spread the word "igry" around like wildfire. This word means "secondhand embarrassed"; ashamed on someone else's behalf.
ex. "Meet the Fockers makes me too igry to watch! I just keep my hands over my face the whole time."
Hi peeps! I notice many people are continuing their reads of one or more of these books. Just reminding you that we do have these discussion threads set up as a place to talk about them! I promise the threads won't break if you post something :PFarseer trilogy - Discussion
Liveship Traders trilogy - Discussion
Tawny Man trilogy - Discussion
Rain Wild Chronicles - Discussion
Fitz and the Fool trilogy - Discussion
There is a graphic novel series of The Assassin’s Apprentice with 4 volumes so far. The first one is on sale ATM (not sure how long, though) (for £1.59 on the Amazon UK):Check this out! https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BGVTMT7...
Are these the same stories she published some years ago? or a new series of tales? Loved her work.
Janet, do you mean the graphic novels? Or the Realms of the Elderlings as a whole? The graphic novel series is an adaptation of the first Volume of the Realm of the Elderlings which starts withThe Farseer Trilogyc which was first published a good 24/5 years ago.
Ahh, thank you for getting back to me on that...! I just purchased #1 which is $1.99 right now.
Looking forward to it!
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
The Inheritance (other topics)The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince (other topics)
The Dragon Keeper (other topics)
Fool's Errand (other topics)
The Inheritance & Other Stories (other topics)
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Well, let me know when you need it!