"Assassin's Apprentice..." Robin Hobb's other series? (POSSIBLE SPOILERS)

[MB (What she read)]

Has anyone read Robin Hobb's other series (i.e. LiveShips, Tawny Man, Dragon Keepers)? I read the Assasin series, and was blown away by how good it was. BUT couldn't bring myself to start the other series due to the emotional toll that the aggregate accumulation of torture, pain and death in Assassin series took on me. I admired the books, and glommed my way through them, but ultimately they were 'not fun' reads for me. (I'm not explaining that very well, I know...sorry.) I felt like she was almost enjoying the pain that she put her characters through too much for me as a reader personally. (Gleefully torturing?) I'm just a wimp I guess...

Does anyone know whether the other series are as intense and painful? I haven't steeled myself up to reading them yet.

I felt this way about Firethorn as well, still haven't 'got the courage up' for the sequel. And about Kate Elliot's 'Crown of Stars' series. I haven't been able to talk myself into going on to book 3 yet.

[VMom]

MB wrote: "I felt this way about Firethorn as well, still haven't 'got the courage up' for the sequel. And about Kate Elliot's 'Crown of Stars' series. I haven't been able to talk myself into going on to book 3 yet. "

I think Tawny Man trilogy is where Fitz finally gets rewarded, so I liked it. I also liked Shaman's Crossing Trilogy but the MC is possibly MORE tortured than Fitz. In fact I made a shelf called Hard-Luck-Heroes and there those books sit.
I don't recommend the Firethorn sequel (Wildfire) at all. I practically threw it at the wall.

But I do do rec Kate Elliot's Spirit Gate. One of my favorites. Something awful happens right off the bat but overall no overwhelming character abuse, imo. If you don't feel like reading The Burning Stone yet, give Spirit Gate a try.

[Erick]

I agree with Mayakda, the Tawny Man series is a lot easier on Fitz.

As far as Shaman's crossing goes, I have never read a book, seen a movie or heard a story where someone went through as much suffering as in those books. Most of the suffering is psychological which makes it even worse. Of course, they are very well written and I enjoyed the series although I squirmed most of the way through it.

The Liveship trilogy is probably the lightest of the three. It is also very good.

[MB (What she read)]

Thank you both!

[LeAlan]

The Tawny Man series brought such relief to me after reading the first series. I also read the Shaman's Crossing Series and I had to take a break from reading all together after that one. It just made me quiver in awkwardness.

[VMom]

Btw, I just reviewed Dragon Keeper. I only rec it to Liveship Traders fans, really.

[Mike]

I read and very much enjoyed all three of the Farseer Trilogy and on the strength of the first series I bought the first two of the Liveship Traders.

I have to confess I could not get into Ship of Magic at all. It remains unfinished (rare for me not to finish) and the other is unread. I found the style irritating and the characters thin, in marked contrast to the Farseer books. The magic seemed contrived and I figured out what the 'dark secret' was almost immediately.

If you check out the reviews, the Liveship books do seem to polarise opinion. Those that like it, really enthuse about it, but it just wasn't for me. I later tried The Tawny Man series and found it was straight back to the form seen in the Farseer Trilogy. I read all three of those with relish.

Conclusion? Proceed with caution.

[Shannon]

I read The Liveship Traders about 10 years ago. I remember it took me forever to read the first book, but the next two went more quickly because the story had picked up, I was more used to the prose style etc. and more into the characters' stories.

I'm still impressed, when I think of those books, on the quality of the writing, how well Hobb created such distinct characters with their own personalities that seemed subtly presented. I might have a different impression reading them today, but at 19, 20 years old I was really impressed.

[Laura Beth]

The Shaman's Crossing Trilogy is very dark and depressing - I have been enjoying the Farseer Trilogy much much more!

[Erick]

I agree that Shaman's Crossing is absolutely brutal but I think it does have some real value. It really made me consider how my expectations for myself can influence my decisions. Especially if I am not flexible in allowing those expectations to evolve as life goes on.

[VMom]

Erick wrote: "I agree that Shaman's Crossing is absolutely brutal but I think it does have some real value. It really made me consider how my expectations for myself can influence my decisions. Especially if I..."
Yeah. Shaman's Crossing was a tough read for me. It helped that I read each book a year apart.
But it is one of my favorites because of how it looks at colonialism and fat-hate.

[MB (What she read)]

Shannon wrote: "I read The Liveship Traders about 10 years ago. I remember it took me forever to read the first book, but the next two went more quickly because the story had picked up, I was more used to the pros..."

Good to know... I read about 3 chapters in the First Liveship Trader and just got bored. Since it seems that it picks up, I may try again sometime. It's still on my To Read List.

Everyone, thank you for your responses! There is a ton of knowledge and experience in this group, I certainly came to the right place!

And it sounds like the Shaman's Crossing series is DEFINITELY not for me. I have a very low tolerance for reading about person-on-person torture and Hobb and Kate Elliott both seem to be fairly masochistic with their characters--they seem to enjoy writing/describing the torture and pain too much for me. (I'm that way about things to do with the Holocaust and Slavery too. It's just too painful most of the time for me.) I'm not an escapist, but I get plenty of that from the news already.

[Erick]

MB wrote: "Shannon wrote: "I read The Liveship Traders about 10 years ago. I remember it took me forever to read the first book, but the next two went more quickly because the story had picked up, I was more ..."

Just to be clear, I don't recall any actual torture in Shaman's crossing. It is just the situations the characters find themselves in similar to the assassin series.

[Jennie]

I adored the Farseer trilogy as well as the Tawny Man books (I agree with others that they're something of a relief for poor Fitz). I liked Shaman's Crossing, too, and didn't really enjoy the Liveship books or her new novel Dragon Keeper nearly as much. Perhaps I like my heroes to be faced with painful decisions and consequences! Ha. Still, I'd at least recommend reading the Tawny Man books.

[VMom]

MB wrote: "Shannon wrote: "I read The Liveship Traders about 10 years ago. I remember it took me forever to read the first book, but the next two went more quickly because the story had picked up, I was more ..."

I hope you reconsider Kate Elliott's Spirit Gate (Crossroads). It's one of my favorites. There wasn't extreme cruelty to characters in that, iirc, except for recalling the history of a supporting character in the 2nd book and that part was done in flashback, which helped a lot to distance it emotionally. The writing is a level higher then the Crown of Stars, imo, which was already very good.

[Gaby]

I remembered that this group was reading a Robin Hobb book this week, and so I picked up Ship of Magic of the Liveship series when I saw it at the 2ndhand bookshop. Hmmm nearly 900 pages later and I'm really annoyed....! I understood that this was a trilogy, but really books should always stand up on their own! Not a single conflict was resolved.... I should have noted the word "saga" on the cover. My mistake. This book also very nearly didnt have enough steam to keep me turning the page. But I don't think it was because of the plot, I think maybe the writing style doesnt draw you in... and the writer keeps changing between characters/perspectives and plot scenarios every two seconds. Hmm probs read another of her books though, very complex stories in more ways than one.

[Donna]

I've enjoyed all of Robin Hobb's stuff (even the ones she wrote as Megan Lindholm) despite the varying levels of harshness, with the exception of the Soldier Son books.

Shaman's Crossing was okay. I didn't care for the ending much, but the characters and setting held some promise. I hated Forest Mage. I don't think I've ever read a more disappointing book in terms of what I got versus what I'd expected. It took everything I liked about the first book away, and added a big dose of whining. Fitz's story had its dark moments, but he managed to stay a likable character. Nevare was self-destructive and nearly impossible to care about.

And even apart from all the angst, the pacing was terrible. I didn't read the third one, but I enjoyed the Liveship books so I'm hoping that Dragon Keeper will work a bit better for me.

[Carol]

I really like the Tawny Man series, more than the Assassin books, actually, though I don't know how much sense the second series would have made if I hadn't read the first. I'm about 1/3 of the way through the second Liveship book and it's definitely growing on me.

[Mackenzie]

I read The Assasin series and i loved it as well but i haven't finished the series yet. I started the series because i bought the first book at Goodwill a couple of years ago. I enjoyed the character Fitz's personality as well as just for being a great book. I was surprised by the turn of events when i found the third book and the twist with the wolf took me by surprise. In actuality, I did not even know there was a 2nd or 3rd book until i saw the 3rd book at the library.