Robin Hobb

This is a novella by epic fantasy writer Robin Hobb, a legend which goes back to the early days of the Realm of Elderlings and the ruling Farseer family, and unearths the mixing of the twin magics that run in their line. The Skill is a magic of the mind, and the Wit a magical ability to speak with and bond with animals. The Princess Caution grows as a wilful, rebellious child into a woman who defies her family to fall in love with a handsome stranger and his piebald stallion. The child who is born from this union turns the kingdom on its head and brings in some dark truths and secrets that lay hidden for centuries. This is a short lyrical read with the poetry and soul of a fairytale, capturing both beauty and truth and the ugliness that lies within human minds.… (more)

Another interesting addition to the Fitz series. This book is Classic Fitz, in the sense that he spend a lot of time thinking about things, being certain he has let everyone down, and overall not doing very much (but somehow every time he decides to take any action, it comes off as rash and ill advised). I liked it in the sense that I think this could be a good set up book, but you shouldn't read it unless you know what you are getting into (e.g., have read all the previous books in the series). It was helpful to have read the Liveship series to read this, and I actually wish I had also read the Rain Wilds series, because it seemed like that may have been useful near the end.… (more)

I haven't been totally sure what to rate this because, like her other books, I didn't like her style. The book proceeds at a snails pace and the protagonist just seems like a complete idiot until she decides to have him buck up in the last 30 pages or so. While the story is interesting and slightly engrossing (due to its harry-potterlike fashion), I found it hard to care what someone like Nevare thought of anything. He seemed incapable of having fun or even living his life in any normal way (he'd react strongly to things many wouldn't even notice and ignore other things that I know would bother everyone...). I'm not sure if I'll read the second one, so I guess I have to say Hobb is 0/2 for me...

After all of this, the book wasn't exactly bad and I have trouble rating it too poorly because it was both readable and had a cool resolution/setup.… (more)

Despite all the negative reviews I've given Robin Hobb's books in the past, I keep coming back. The only way I can explain it is that, even though I finish every book unhappy and a tad disappointed, I have trouble denying that they are well written (certainly far above the curve for fantasy) and that the plotlines are usually well fleshed out. This book was no exception. Overall thoughts:

PROS:
Strong worldbuilding, story doesn't feel rushed, good characterization, wide array of different, equally interesting plotlines.

CONS:
Formatting! - I don't understand why chapters randomly switch narrators midway through. These should just be new chapters a la GRRM. It's not copying his idea if it's the best way to write third person with multiple viewpoints.
Pace - This is both a pro and a con. I love that the story is not rushed, and that all the characters are analyzed in detail so that they are realistic, but sometimes Hobb's books seem to move at a glacial pace. While I'm not sure if this is really a con, or just a personal frustration with her writing, it definitely keeps me from placing her amongst my all time favorite authors
SADISM - Hobb has this insane fascination with her characters being maimed, killed, or writhing in some sort of agony (either emotional or physical). While it is often realistic in the context of her stories, it makes her books overly depressing to read. To be honest, this book was less painful than the books of hers that I'd read previously, because it is not written in the first person (and thus isnt ALL about a single narrator's pain). I still am frustrated by this aspect of her writing, and really wish, just once, one of her characters would actually be happy for a few chapters.
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