Realms of the Elderlings Series by Robin Hobb - Reading from 'The Wilful Princess and the Piebald Prince (Realms of the Elderlings 0.5)' from February 8th 2019

[Sarah Elizabeth]

Internationally-bestselling, critically-acclaimed author Robin Hobb takes readers deep into the history behind the Farseer series in this exclusive, new novella.

One of the darkest legends in the Realm of the Elderlings recounts the tale of the so-called Piebald Prince, a Witted pretender to the throne unseated by the actions of brave nobles so that the Farseer line could continue untainted. Now the truth behind the story is revealed through the account of Felicity, a low-born companion of the Princess Caution at Buckkeep.

With Felicity by her side, Caution grows into a headstrong Queen-in-Waiting. But when Caution gives birth to a bastard son who shares the piebald markings of his father s horse, Felicity is the one who raises him. And as the prince comes to power, political intrigue sparks dangerous whispers about the Wit that will change the kingdom forever…

Internationally-bestselling, critically-acclaimed author Robin Hobb takes readers deep into the history behind the Farseer series in this exclusive, new novella, 'The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince.' In her trademark style, Hobb offers a revealing exploration of a family secret still reverberating generations later when assassin FitzChivalry Farseer comes onto the scene. Fans will not want to miss these tantalizing new insights into a much-beloved world and its unforgettable characters.

[Haris]

We agreed 25% per day so I'm sticking to it (as it's a short one).

(view spoiler)[
I always wanted to peek into this story as it was brought up quite a bit in the Farseer trilogy.

Though this reminds me of a biography from a medieval family where a girl describes the inner happenings of the royal court. And I kinda like it.

Though that stable master sure got lucky, on every way.
(hide spoiler)]

[Gillian]

Are You planning to read the whole series in Feb?

[Haris]

Gillian wrote: "Are You planning to read the whole series in Feb?"

Natalie and I finished the Farseer trilogy in 2018 and it took as a long time. With so many books in the Realms series this can last up to 2 or more months.

[Gillian]

I would love to join you if thats ok I am trying to source the book now.

[Haris]

Of course it's okay! The more the merrier



We're doing this after wilful princess

[Natalie]

Hi Gillian! Would love to have you join us 😁

[Natalie]

26% (view spoiler)[Well I can definitely see how the ‘wilful princess’ became so! Seems like she was just never told no from her very birth, and with her parents passing her off every time she wasn’t perfect, and with her being royalty and all... I don’t think anyone would have even had the STATUS to tell her no!

I love how frank Felicity is being about all of her involvements, and how she’s not shying away from any single detail. I can see why she would ingratiate herself to the young princess so too, as really it’s her only way of ‘going up in the world’ as a poor peasant in a medieval society. (hide spoiler)]

Honestly this is such an easy read compared to the Farseer trilogy. I could probably finish this tonight, but we DID say 25% XD

[Gillian]

28% (view spoiler)[I am surprised Princess Caution is blind to Felicity's feelings for her. Felicity's mother is certainly a cunning person making sure Felicity will be indispensable right from an early age, I do find it hard to believe Felicity could take on board her mothers instructions to that degree at such a young age. (hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

Natalie wrote: "Hi Gillian! Would love to have you join us 😁"

I knwo right, it's like a children's book compared to Farseer

[Haris]

Up to 53%
(view spoiler)[
Damn, so many twists upon twists. And I'm really glad the child is spotted, that play with swapping kids is just the worst, on so many level.

Poor princess, she was deceived by Felicity so much just because she wanted her to be safe and the princess was mad at her.

And I really thought this book would be a romance story between a prince and princess XD
(hide spoiler)]

[Gillian]

54% (view spoiler)[ Felicity's mother is such an evil person, l was surprised to find out her true plan. I had thought she wanted her daughter to get pregnant so she could help the princess in some way but no she was just being selfish. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

53% (view spoiler)[Honestly, what a horrible thing to claim to the one you apparently love... that the man who fathered their unborn child also fathered yours. Said in the heat of the moment or not, you should have later confessed 😐
—
All I can say right now is... HOLY SHIT. I did NOT expect for the stablemaster to be killed in a fight with the smithy over the horse O.O
That was definitely NOT how either Caution or Felicity wanted things to go... Felicity trying to get Caution back to being her own, and Caution trying to get over the love she thought had betrayed her.
—
Are you SERIOUS? Felicity’s mother wants them to swap the children so that they can put their own kin in line to the throne? That’s horrible!
—
And the ‘piebald prince’ has been born! Wonder what will happen now...
—
“The only lie I ever told her was my undoing, and hers, and the Stablemaster’s. Such is the power of a lie given to one you love.”

No kidding... that one lie caused a LOT of freaking misery that could have been avoided... (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Haris wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Hi Gillian! Would love to have you join us 😁"

I knwo right, it's like a children's book compared to Farseer"

It really is XD hard to believe tbh.

[Haris]

75%
(view spoiler)[
Damn I sure pity the Piebald prince, called a bastard, his throne right about to be ripped off, his girl sitting with his opponent on the day of his coronation. I hope things will be better for him

(hide spoiler)]

[Gillian]

Opps 92% (view spoiler)[ Well that was a very short life for our Piebald Prince. He seemed like a nice enough guy, who just happened to fall in love with the wrong girl. Plus have a cousin that wants what is not his and is a murderer. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

76%
(view spoiler)[Whilst I feel terrible that The Wilful Princess died, I am ever so happy that Felicity was able to essentially raise the Piebald Prince as her own, alongside her son, because I worry what might have happened to a poor ‘piebald bastard’ had there not been someone who genuinely cared for him ._.
—
I’m glad that the prince and her son became (and stayed) good friends ;-;
—
Uh oh... a woman has turned up that has captivated both Charger and Canny, huh? I see some future... issues...
—
Whilst I’m glad that the king did name his ‘bastard’ grandson heir, and king-in-waiting, and so far it does SEEM that that is going to be upheld... I have s feeling that things will end badly, especially based on my experience in the Farseer Trilogy...
—
Well if that isn’t an omen of bad things to come I don’t know what is... (hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

Holy freaking cow sh*t damn hell of an ending

(view spoiler)[
I can't believe both Redbird and the Piebald prince are dead. I really didn't see that coming. Also I'm glad Redbird was filled courage at the end because you could easily say that the Piebald prince was like his brother.

And at the end the queen was indeed a good woman and had cucked her husband. (I can't believe I ever would say that sentence)
(hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

I won't be able to read the rest until later tonight, but based on your comment Haris, I'm in for a hell of an ending! XD

[Haris]

Haha, maybe you won't like it. I don't want to over-brag it

Anyhow, when do you want to read Ship of Magic?

[Natalie]

Fair XD Will have to see how it goes when I finish it tonight c:

Uhh... In a couple of days, it that works for you?

[Haris]

Awesome, I could wrap up other books in the meantime.

[Natalie]

That's my reasoning for the delay too :P

*currently reading two nonfiction books*

[Haris]

Natalie wrote: "That's my reasoning for the delay too :P

*currently reading two nonfiction books*"

I'm getting caught up with the books I started in late December but never finished

[Gillian]

Finished (view spoiler)[ What a sad book that was nothing but death and heart ache. Redbird and the Piebald Prince never meant anyone any harm. (hide spoiler)]

[Gillian]

When we start the next book how much per day are we meant to read as its a pretty big book, 880 pages. I hope its not 25%
I am going to try to re-read Assassin's Apprentice and the other 2 books in the trilogy as I have not read them, in-between these other books so that I catch up to you all.

[Natalie]

Definitely not 25% per day of that one, it’s way too big and it might be a slow read even then... any idea what you think would be a good daily goal? c:

[Natalie]

Finished! And holy shit o.o

(view spoiler)[How did those nobles know where Charger was going to be, when he was for all intents and purposes alone in his chambers and not in the garden?
—
Poor Redbird... having to silently witness not just the murder of his dear friend, but seeing him stabbed so many times and then literally cut into pieces so that none could find the body? And THEN seeing him blamed for the murder of a lord (who was murdered by one of the other lords in the ‘let’s kill the king’ group)... shittttt.
—
“To be Witted had become a sign of an evil and beastly nature, low and deceiving”

Wait... is this the origin of when The Wit became seen as this evil thing, and witted one’s as needing to be destroyed? O.O
—
Poor Redbird ;-; He was so brave at the end, and even if he didn’t finish his song he still managed to get pretty far before his rather untimely demise. That was some intense courage though, because he would’ve known EXACTLY what was coming when he started his song...
—
OH MY GOSH YES. Take THAT you sonofabitch usurper! Your ‘first born son’ is none other than CHARGER’S first born son. Your legacy will not get to keep the crown, because it’s going straight back where it should following your death.

I was so depressed with this up until that moment, despite how great the story was. I am so pleased 💕💕 (hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

I know right, it's a crazy end. And I don't know, I'd personally like a couple chapters per day as any more would just be overkill

[Gillian]

Most of them are pretty big chapters so I doubt you would want to do anymore than 2 a day.

[Natalie]

Sounds good, I think I should be able to manage 2 a day! Fairly certain I managed that with the Farseer trilogy XD

[Haris]

Of course you can, we used to do 3 per day XD

[Gillian]

Ok just let me know when we are starting and how many chapters you decide I don't mind how many we do.

[Haris]

Can we start tomorrow? I wrapped up 2 books (also finishing up another one today), 1 web novel and then starting a fourth :D so I'm kinda free.

Also, Natalie how's the popsugar challenge going on for you?

[Gillian]

I am good to start, I just finished my re-read of Assassin's Apprentice.

[Natalie]

I should be good to start whenever! Seem to be pretty slot at the moment but meh. I'm sure I'll be fineeeee XD

Popsugar challenge is going okay so far, thanks! :D Only done five of the prompts so far, but I've been doing multiple challenges so it's taking a little while at the moment.. I'm hoping I can knock out some more of the prompts soon c: How about you?

[Haris]

Natalie wrote: "I should be good to start whenever! Seem to be pretty slot at the moment but meh. I'm sure I'll be fineeeee XD

Popsugar challenge is going okay so far, thanks! :D Only done five of the prompts so ..."

I started late sadly so I just have finished 2 books. I'm lucky that many books that I BR fit the prompts as well though so soon I'll be adding more to the list

[Haris]

I must agree, 2 chapters is the perfect pace; this is one heavy read.

Anyhow, I have no comments after reading the prologue and chapter one since I hardly understand anything.

[Natalie]

That's okay, I'm sure you'll manage to complete it! I'm definitely taking my time at the moment because there are SO MANY books I want to read so rather than reading for prompts at the moment I'm just reading, and then hoping they fit in somewhere XD

Haven't started Ship of Magic yet, but planning to start later today c:

[Haris]

Yeah true, though all the prompts fit the books I want to read so it's all the same for me.

[Natalie]

That's definitely helpful!

Which books have you decided on for some of the prompts? (...And which prompts)

[Haris]

Natalie wrote: "That's definitely helpful!

Which books have you decided on for some of the prompts? (...And which prompts)"

For now I'm reading for LitRPG, for mythology, Rick riordan books for multiple POV, author with the same letter for name and surname. Now I'm looking to read a retelling of Pride and Prejudice

[Natalie]

Ooh! I was wanting to read Circe for that same challenge actually! XD

I think the only ones I really have planned right now are...

= 5. A book with at least one million ratings on Goodreads
= 10. A book with POP, SUGAR, or CHALLENGE in the title
= 12. A book inspired by myth/legend/folklore
= 14. A book you see someone reading on TV or in a movie
= 20. A book set in space
= 21. A book by two female authors
= 23. A book set in Scandinavia
= 46. A book with no chapters / unusual chapter headings / unconventionally numbered chapters
= 50. A book set in an abbey, cloister, monastery, vicarage, or convent

Got a bunch that are tentative, but the above are probably the only ones I've decided on at this stage XD

[Haris]

Natalie wrote: "Ooh! I was wanting to read Circe for that same challenge actually! XD

I think the only ones I really have planned right now are...

for space

I can't really decide on it? I guess I'll dm you with a list in a couple of days if you maybe want to BR some titles?

[Natalie]

Sounds good to me c:

[Natalie]

Okay, so I don’t think I’ll get me two chapters done today (prologue + chapter 1 right?) because I got sidetracked with The Radium Girls (I finished it! :D) but if I don’t manage it today I’m sure I’ll be able to catch up tomorrow XD

It’s been a long day o.O

[Haris]

Since Gillian didn't post anything as well I'll just wait for you two.

[Gillian]

I read the Prologue and 2 chapters a few days ago was not positive of when we were starting lol I will make my comments the Prologue and first chapter so I match up with you both.

[Gillian]

Ship of Magic

Prologue (view spoiler)[ I am not positive what the tangles are but the serpent’s can obviously travel through time, although they talk about going North for now. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[ Kennit is a devious pirate he was lucky he got off the island. The Oracle's prophecy was very obscure I doubt it will turn out exactly the way Kennit wants it to. Thank goodness for the kittens. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Fair enough XD I just got distracted because I was in the final 35% or so of Radium Girls and it was just SO GOOD that I couldn't put it down and then when I'd finished I was so tired that I managed to get through the prologue of Ship of Magic and that was it... oops? 8'D

Hopefully I can get through Chapter 1 today. And then if I succeed in that I will try and get through 2 and 3 as well XD