Robin Hobb

[Badqueen]

I thought id start a thread to talk about the work of robin hobb (and any of her other work published under her other names if you like)

Favourite trilogy? For me it's the Liveships. Id never read anything like it. The way she weaves everything together was a cut above any fantasy id read before. Favourite book though - assassins apprentice because it's where it all started. Favourite character? Who else but the beloved fool?!

Any more fangirls here want to chat?

I like the Assassins books better than the Liveships. The Fool is definitely my favourite character too! My 16yo dd is now reading them and really enjoying them.

That's fantastic, I've introduced a few of my friends to them now but i have to be selective because if anyone doesn't like them i take it personally 😄

I love her! I'm a bit out of order though - I've read the first and last trilogies so far. i got several cheap the other day but I'm trying to work out what I need to read before I can read those.

I love nighteyes and the animal pairing part of the Farseer story, how he and Fitz end together is so happy/sad

And also The Fool and Fitz's relationship

I read the final book of the final Fitz and the Fool trilogy the other day and couldm't believe how amazing it was. So few writers can sustain that level of invention, tension and characters development through such a long arc and in first person, too. Nighteyes, Burrich and Chade are probably my fave characters, aside from Fitz himself. I do love Liveship too but I prefer the writing in the Fitz books.

I love Verity and Burrich.

Will move onto Live Ship once finished War and Peace!

I love her. She is just so amazing to listen to. I've only managed to go to one of her readings/signings but it was brilliant getting to hear her read a passage herself and discuss her characters.

I loved the Assassins trilogy best, nighteyes, so clever. Followed by the fool and fitz relationships maturing in the follow ups. The live ships were ok, but didn’t enjoy them auite as much.

I adored the Farseer tribology, the last one broke my heart though. I was insanely happy when I discovered the Tawney Man tribology. Enjoyed Liveship Traders but it didn't generate the same level of obsession. I abandoned the Soldier Son tribology on the second book, just found it too grim.

No idea how I spelled it 'tribology' three times. Blaming my phone for that one I think 😅

Oh i couldn't get on with soldier son or the rainwilds trilogy. They felt like they'd been written by someone else entirely.

You lucky thing! Where did you see her? I don't think she's come to the uk in a few years now.

What have you got? We can help you work out the reading order if you like?

@Badqueen

It was back when Borders bookshop was still around. She came to the Glasgow branch. So many, many years ago! It was after 2009 though as I had a copy of The Fantasy Medley with her short story, Words Like Coins.

Spoiler alert

🚨

I don't think I've ever cried so much at a book as when Nighteyes died!!

The Rain Wild Chronicles. I just re-read it. It has got to be my favorite.

Spoiler alert!

I thought that till i got to the bit in the ice caves with the fool 😭😭😭

I love the fool. I hope they never make it into a tv series or film because i just think nobody could play that role to my satisfaction!

I remember back pre-kindle days finishing Assassin’s Apprentice after midnight and being up at the crack of dawn to call the book shop to see if they had the next one I .

The a 2 hour bus ride to collect it. I had to order the third one the same day as they didn’t have that one in.

I love Burrich, but always my favourite is Nighteyes. I used to walk a couple of miles to work and used to quote him in my head. ‘Mile devouring trot’ and ‘weather just is’.

I might have to do a re-read.

I quite enjoyed the rainwilds trilogy, but loved the Liveships and Fitz.
My favourite is the cat Fitz occasionally pushes out of its warm spot beside the fire.

I hope they never make these books into movies, particularly not The Rain Wild Chronicles, because you just know they would hire the hottest actors and actresses for characters who were distinctly discribed in the book as plain.

Love them! I've re-read the Assassin/Liveship/Fool trilogies several times over the years. My one regret is going onto a Robin Hobb fan forum before reading Liveship and getting spoilered (about the nature/identity of a character) before having a chance to work it out myself. I won't say it here as would hate to spoil it for someone else!

The characters are so real - I was actually a bit off for days after reading about a certain quarrel (again no spoilers - in GF).

And some of the injuries/pain the characters feel is so well written it makes me flinch a bit even now!

I didn't love the Rainwilds books - never got attached to the characters in the same way. I enjoyed Soldier Son though - I thought they were really well written.

Haha - that weather quote has stayed with me too! How if it's raining, wolves just accept that they'll be cold and wet. It doesn't harm - it just is.

Yes same!

I forgot Malta and Kennit - i love the character development of those two in particular.

potential spoiler....

Also one of my favourite bits is where kettricken rides out with her guard to see to the forged people. So full of humanity and one of my favourite moments because she's struggling to find her feet as queen then she does that and wins everyone over.

Right, charging my Kindle to start again at the beginning 😄

SPOILERS for Liveship

Yes, Malta is a great character - I really, really disliked her at first! And Reyn is 😍

I also like how difficult Kennit is as a character and how he changes for the reader as we learn more about him. Loveable rogue to rapist to abused child.