Farseer Trilogy Book 1 - Assassin's Apprentice

[Margo]

Janice wrote:

Re: Fools ."

Well said Janice!

People jump to all sorts of ill-informed conlusions. That story made me angry. I think that that is the sort of thing that gives social media a bad name. There should be a way to trace that photograph and hold the person who took it to account. It was a clear invasion of privacy. Lord knows what effect that could have on a person who is already depressed. Shame!

Tyrion was my favorite in GOT too. I saw a great pic of George R.R. Martin at Comcon one year. He had a sign around his neck saying "Be nice or I'll kill Tyrion"!

[Janice, Moderator]

I would never forgive Martin if he did such a thing. Grrr!

[Margo]

You andme both LOL

[Margo]

Chapter 13 (view spoiler)[ I cannot decide if I like Patience or not. She is kind hearted but she seems to be oblivious to peoples feelings. The puppy was the perfect gift for Fitz. I hope he doesn't use "the wit" on it while Burrich is around! (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "Chapter 13 [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ She's certainly not conventional. Chivalry went against tradition to marry her. She seems quite "fey" to me. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Re chapter 13 (view spoiler)[ yet her reaction to infidelity was very conservative. Refusing to have anything to do with Fitz. She was terribly hurt and her reaction was in charicter - she put her own feelings above anyone elses. I am reminding myself that from her POV this stranger had given Chivalry the very thing that she had failed to.

I am assuming Chivalry did NOT know of that there was a child. I wonder though if he had confessed the affair would it have lessened Patiences sense of betrayal.

I can understand her curiosity now that Chivalry is dead though. Fitz is all that she has left of him. She wishes he was her son.

(hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Janice wrote: "Chapter 12 - 15
.."


(view spoiler)[ You are so right Janice! Galen is a truly horrible man and a woman hater to boot. Sounds to me like someone who failed to come to terms with his own sexuality.

It made me smile when his connection with the puppy saved him. Smity, all teeth and nails, bless him :-D

Then the lesson that Burrich deals out to Galen. You are right Janice - this chapter is all about connections, good and bad! I am glad that Fitz has another friend in the Fool :-) (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Chapter 16 - 18

I have trouble remembering what happens in what chapter so I lump them together. I hope that's not confusing for people. It's too hard to go back on an audiobook.

(view spoiler)[ That Galen is truly evil. He sent Fitz out under the guise of being tested like the others. But he sent him to Forge and didn't use the Skill to give him instructions to get back. He set him up to die. As we learn in the next chapter when Fitz talks with Verity, Fitz realized that Galen attempted to murder him using the Skill by planting the sense of worthlessness and haziness of mind along with the desire to throw himself off the wall to certain death. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

When Fitz gets back from Forge, Burrich has been gravely injured and Smithy had been killed. Burrich knew that Fitz had bonded with the pup and cast him off. I felt so bad for Fitz. He was truly alone.

Then Chade finally summons him. He becomes the assassin he was intended to be, even if the people he killed had been forged. But, Chade plants in him the question about who attempted to kill Burrich. I hope that Burrich reconsiders his harsh judgement of Fitz.

I think Verity saved Fitz. I had no doubts that Fitz had the Skill. In the early training sessions, he was able to connect with Galin and felt Galin's fear. The whole thing makes sense now that Verity explained the how inept G was and how he became Skillmaster. I hope Fitz it the undoing of him.

I don't think the king is strong in the Skill, if he has it at all. He seems to have little understanding of the need for Verity to keep up his vigilance. Instead, he wants Verity to marry. I think this marriage, when it happens, is going to be pivotal for Fitz. Just a feeling. Now, he's got the assignment to kill the future queen's brother. A real person this time, not a forged person. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Finished ch 11: (view spoiler)[ I knew something was up with Lady Thyme! It's Chade in disguise!

Those forged towns are scary. That ultimatum made no sense at first, but I get it know. I wonder how they do that, and if or when we'll learn more about the raiders and outislanders. (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: "Finished ch 11: ..."

You're going to laugh... (view spoiler)[ I missed that. Perhaps I was distracted when I was listening to that section. (That's my excuse.) I got that Fitz was summoned to see Lady Thyme, but I just thought that Chade was in the room, not that Chade was her. That explains the subterfuge about not disturbing Lady Thyme while Chade and Fitz were away. *smacks head* Thanks for clearing that up. Next time I think something doesn't make sense, I need to rewind and listen more closely. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Haha Janice! I already thought it was strange you hadn't mentioned it in your spoiler in chapters 9-11. I double checked my chapter number before I posted, thinking that perhaps I was further along than I thought.

[Janice, Moderator]

She's laughing. *hangs head*

LOL!

[Margo]

I thought it was odd that said in your chapter 11 spoiler something like (view spoiler)[" why did they make a fuss about not disturbing Lady Time? " I decided that you just been wondering where they were off to!

It is always easy to get distracted from audio but with this narrator it is ultra easy! He was definitely born with a silver spoon in his mouth. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 16 (view spoiler)[ I can't blame Fitz for having a mental barrier to Galen. The man oozes hate. Why does he hate Fitz so much? The is insulted by his existance yet he, supposedly, loved his father so much. Even Patience eventually accepted Fitz. Galen is trying to push him to suicide. Thank goodness for Smithy! (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

I'm actually impressed by all of you who listen to this in audio. I would have missed much much more than just that one thing.

[Janice, Moderator]

I finished! I'm wavering between 4 and 5 stars.

(view spoiler)[ Oh the intrigue! I never liked Regal, but I wouldn't have expected him to be so duplicitous.

Nosey wasn't dead after all! That was a happy twist in the story. Nosey to the rescue. I'm glad that Burrich and Fitz patched things up. Hopefully, one day Burrich will accept that the Wit isn't a perversion. I think, like the Skill, both can be used incorrectly to the point of harm. Who was it in Burrich's life that succumbed to the dark side of the Wit?

Fitz has finally broken through the barrier and used the Skill. I'm glad to hear that Galen is dead. All Regal's co-conspirators are gone. Will he try again in future books? (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: "I'm actually impressed by all of you who listen to this in audio. I would have missed much much more than just that one thing."

I kind of zoned out as he described the countryside in the last section. I may have missed more. LOL!

[Peggy]

I'm glad you enjoyed it so much Janice :)

[Peggy]

Margo wrote: "Chapters 9 to 11 I have some memories of so I am abraid to comment. Can't wait to see other peoples takeon them though!


Chapter 12 (Can't look at Janices spoiler as I'm not up to 15 yet :-(

It..."

Chapter 12: (view spoiler)[ I'm also not sure what Chade means about not being able to see into the Queen's Garden. Could it be that Chade has some magic which enables him to keep track on everything and spy everywhere, but that Galen has used his Skill to block such magic?

The Fitz fats riddle I'm also not sure about. In the end it was something like 'fat suffices' which are actually words, but still don't know the meaning. There was also a chapter entitled 'Fat Suffices' and I thought it might be cleared up there, but I didn't see a link. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 14: (view spoiler)[ I don't like Galen at all! I wonder if he will become a tormenter to Fitz or whether they will eventually become more friendly with each other if it turns out Fitz has skill with the Skill. I hope he does not find out about the Wit, but I'm worried he will.

I really like the Fool. He speaks in riddles sometimes but he does really care for Fitz and gives him good advice. It's also interesting that he generally speaks to nobody, but actually makes an effort with Fitz. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Re chapter 12 (view spoiler)[ I can't comment on the Fool because I remember quite a lot about him. He is my favorite character. I cringe every time I have to type "the Fool". It is so wrong to call someone that. I know that, historically, many royal households had "Fools", bought and paid for and that it was probably a better life than they could have hoped for otherwise. It still seems wrong though. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

I look forward to hearing your comments when we finish the book (or the series?). It reminds me a bit of The Stormlight Archive: (view spoiler)[ There's the King's Wit, who is sort of similar I guess, and who appears to be a simple man insulting people at parties, but actually knows more about the court and the world than anyone else. (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

I forgot to comment on the Fool. I don't know what chapter this was in, so you might want to hold off on reading it. (view spoiler)[ I was nervous when Fitz entered the Fool's chambers and as surprised as him at the way it was set up. Imagine a doll that is so lifelike that you think it's an actual baby. Did the fool make this doll? I was happy that Fitz admitted to the Fool that he had entered his rooms. His comment about the Fool's room reflecting more about the Fool than his own rooms reflected him.

Maybe Fitz's room reflects more about him than he realizes. Simply by not making it his own, he shows his feeling of not belonging. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

I'm in ch 15 and have a question. (view spoiler)[ the repelling that Fitz does sometimes, is that part of the Wit or the Skill or something different? (hide spoiler)]

[siriusedward]

Peggy wrote: "I'm in ch 15 and have a question. [spoilers removed]"

I think part of Skill.

[siriusedward]

Janice wrote: "I finished! .."

(view spoiler)[ I know ,wasn't that a good surprise?
I gave it 4 stars.
Burrich is okay,he does care for Fitz but in a very narrow way ,I think.
I like Fitz ,The Fool Patience and Chade ,a lot.

What do you all think of Molly?
I am okay with her ,in this book.

And Janice this being a series Regal is definitely going to keep on trying.After his Greed seems to be inherent and hereditary, greedy grasping ,stupid, Regal Galen and Desire.
(hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

@siriusedward: I thought so to, but then (view spoiler)[ isn't it strange Galen did not notice? As he's so trained in the skill, I expect him to notice every little use of it. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

I was reading some comments I missed or couldn't read before. I like Patience, she's a bit strange sometimes but also nicely unconventional.

I finished ch 16. (view spoiler)[ I like that Burrich took Galen to the Witnessing Stones and taught him a lesson. Poor Fitz! I wonder who Galen was referring to at the end of the chapter. Burrich? The Fool? Smithy?

I don't think Fitz will make it into the coterie.. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Peggy wrote: "@siriusedward: I thought so to, but then [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ My understanding is that Galen could feel Fitz skill but it was very weak. Also, Galen couldn't connect to him because of some barrier in Fitz mind. The skill is supposed to be a two (or more) way thing and Fitz was sending out a very weak signal and blocking any incoming signals. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

I understood that part like that too Margo, but (view spoiler)[ I thought that repelling was different. The Skill has to do with thought and Galen can feel it and Fitz is blocking his thoughts so others can't reach. But the repelling seemed much more physical, like he also did with Molly's dad earlier on. It makes people actually physically fall to the floor. He was repelling Galen at some point too but Galen didn't notice, which made me wonder whether it's Skill related. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Peggy wrote: "I was reading some comments I missed or couldn't read before. I like Patience, she's a bit strange sometimes but also nicely unconventional.

I finished ch 16. I like that Burrich took Galen to t..."

Re chapter 16 (view spoiler)[ I don't what he means or who is talking about. I meant to ask that question but forgot. The word is unclear on the audio, it he asking "is he your catalyst?". He could mean Smitty (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17 (view spoiler)[ Galen must be trying to kill Fitz judging by the location he chose for the test!

The attack on Burrach was a bit too timely for my liking. I susprect Galen had a hand in it knowing that it would cause Fitz to return home and hence fail the test. I nearly put into my last spoiler that I thought Galen might have been referring to Burrich as the "catalyst" and that could be the motive for the attack - luck I realised in time or that would have a big spoiler LOL

I was gutted when Smithy died. What a brave little soul :'( I couldn't believe Burrich reaction to the fact that Fitz had seen the attack! What is so bad about the wit? Surely he has seen Fitz around animals enough by now to know that it is not a bad thing? Poor Fitz. And now it looks like he has lost Molly to - of he had her save as a friend. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Peggy wrote: "I look forward to hearing your comments when we finish the book (or the series?). It reminds me a bit of The Stormlight Archive: [spoilers removed]"

You're right peggy, (view spoiler)[ I'd never made the comparison before but it is very like the Stormlight Achives in that way. It seemes that all Fools are very clever LOL

By the end of the series you will know all that I know about the Fool ;-) (hide spoiler)]

I think I've replied to comments in reverse order :-)

[Peggy]

Isn't there also a trilogy called The Fitz and the Fool? That should be good!

Oh, and that word in ch 16 is (view spoiler)[ catamite. I didn't know if it was a real or made up word, but google says it means 'a boy kept for homosexual practices.' (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Yep, but before that there is the Tawny Man trilogy which,I think has the same characters. There are 17 books, not including the .5's! It just keeps going.....

Re chapter 16
(view spoiler)[ so, not a thing that helps chemical reactions LOL That is interesting, thank you for googling. He is referring to Burrich then. Casts some light on the way his mind works - not that we needed it! (hide spoiler)]

[siriusedward]

I think the next two books, in this trilogy ,are very angst ridden though.
So,I have been wondering whether to skip onto Liveship Trilogy or to continue this series?

[Claire]

siriusedward wrote: "I think the next two books, in this trilogy ,are very angst ridden though.
So,I have been wondering whether to skip onto Liveship Trilogy or to continue this series?"

I would continue this series. I have read them all and read the liveship first, but I started to fit everything together when I read them more or less in order.

Fitz and the fool is the last trilogy, there is a lot more to come!

[Janice, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: "@siriusedward: I thought so to, but then [spoilers removed]"

I think that (view spoiler)[ it was the Skill as well. I think Galen knew full well that Fitz was skilled in the skill, and he was afraid. Remember in the first stages of the training, Fitz felt fear from him. (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

siriusedward wrote: "Janice wrote: "I finished! .." ..."

Re Molly - (view spoiler)[ I liked her well enough. I think she didn't reciprocate Fitz's feelings. She saw him more as a brother. I think he'd be better off with another woman more suited to him, but I have this funny feeling that he's going to press his case. (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

siriusedward wrote: "I think the next two books, in this trilogy ,are very angst ridden though.
So,I have been wondering whether to skip onto Liveship Trilogy or to continue this series?"

Oooo… continue with us, please!

[Margo]

siriusedward wrote: "I think the next two books, in this trilogy ,are very angst ridden though.
So,I have been wondering whether to skip onto Liveship Trilogy or to continue this series?"

Siriusedward, I have a thing about reading in order so it pains me not to! I read the current series first nd about 5 years I innocently picked up the Rainwilds trilogy. I have one more book to go to complete that, which is Blood of Dragons.

The point of that rambling tale is to tell you that I would the Rainwilds series worked as a standalone, don't know about Live Ships but I intend to follow on with it.

As Janice says - read with us. It will be fun!

[siriusedward]

It is fun to discuss as we read each book.
And thanks all of you, for pushing me towards continuing the trilogy.
:)

[Margo]

Janice, I finally got you chapter 16 to 18 spoiler. (view spoiler)[ you are so right the Galen is evil :O (hide spoiler)] My problem is that I have read up to chapt 20 and like you, I can't rememder what came where!

Up to and including Chapter 20 (view spoiler)[ I kinda remembered that it was Galen preventing Fitz learning the skill. Also that sent him near Forge and didn't help him return.

I did not remember much about the trip to marry Verity to whats-her-name. I was shocked that Regal had "got drunk" and told the intended sister-in-law that Fitz was a poisoner! Regal is obviously trying to finish the job Galen began i.e. get Fitz killed! But, is it on Shrewds orders of is Regal playing his own game? Thank goodness for the Fools about not eating food Fitz hadn't prepared himself. I wonder what they will try next?

@Janice, I too was surprised that Shrewd was trying to Verity away from Buckskeep at such a crucial time. You are right - why is Shrewd not Skilling? Why leave it all to poor Verity?

I like the bride to be. I think both Verity and Patience will like her. She was very open with Fitz considering what she had been told! Another question: why did Regal paint such a dull picture of Verity? There is so much political integue going on in this story :-D (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

I finished chapter 19. I agree with the earlier posts about (view spoiler)[ Galen being evil. I'm glad everything was explained to Fitz. I also expect the bride for verity will play an important role. And I'm more and more intrigued by the fool. (hide spoiler)]

Margo, I smile a bit every time you post and wonder whether you've forgotten most of the book or are pretending ;-) (not that it matters!)

[siriusedward]

Fool is very compelling.
What I saw I liked.

[Margo]

Peggy wrote: "I finished chapter 19. I agree with the earlier posts about [spoilers removed]

Margo, I smile a bit every time you post and wonder whether you've forgotten most of the book or are pretending ;-) (..."

Peggy, I wish I was pretending. My medium and short term memories are very patchy. That's why audiobooks are so good for me - I exercise my memory a lot LOL

For some reason I remember a lot about the fool and some of the events in the book but other things - gone!

[Janice, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "Janice, I finally got you chapter 16 to 18 spoiler. [spoilers removed] My problem is that I have read up to chapt 20 and like you, I can't rememder what came where!

Up to and including Chapter 20..."

Re Chapter 20 - (view spoiler)[The bride (Kettricken) had been led to believe that Fitz was a spoiled brat. When she met him, she realized he wasn't like how Regal had portrayed him. Fitz also portrayed Verity differently too, so she told him all the other stuff to see if Regal had been telling the truth. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

I'm the same Margo. I can probably read 95% of my books again and it would be an almost completely new experience.

It's a comforting thought. If I ever end up with no money to buy books anymore, I have hundreds I can read as if for the first time ;-)

[Margo]

Peggy wrote: "I'm the same Margo. I can probably read 95% of my books again and it would be an almost completely new experience.

It's a comforting thought. If I ever end up with no money to buy books anymore, ..."

Comforting indeed. I wonder if we can the same discussions all over again - that is if we can afford WiiFi *shock! horror!*

[Peggy]

The horror! I could get used to many aspects of not having WiFi (at least that's what I'd like to think), but I would really miss these discussions.

[Margo]

Janice wrote: "Margo wrote: "Janice, I finally got you chapter 16 to 18 spoiler. [spoilers removed] My problem is that I have read up to chapt 20 and like you, I can't rememder what came where!

Up to and includ..."

So much for (view spoiler)[ in vino veritas! I think Regal in playing a solo game. He is very jelous of Verity whereas for Shrewd it is better to have "an heir and a spare"! (hide spoiler)]

[Suzanne]

Janice wrote: "Peggy wrote: "Finished ch 11: ..."

You're going to laugh... [spoilers removed]"

Don't feel bad, Janice. I thought the same thing about Chade & Lady Thyme as you did.

[Suzanne]

I've read through Chapter 12. (view spoiler)[Not sure what to make of Lady Patience, but it's clear Fitz's life is going to change again. Those "Forged" towns sound awful. I wonder if Fitz is going to confront the Raiders eventually. It seems like he and Chade barely got through the danger, so I can't help but think they'll be back in the thick of it eventually. (hide spoiler)]