Fool’s Quest (Fitz and the Fool, Book 2)

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Although I was also half expecting her to be taken right in front of Fitz’s eyes 😂 But this is so much better! Also, some of the major characters from The Rain Wild Chronicles and The Liveship Traders trilogies reappear at the end of this novel, which could only end in more obstacles in the path between Fitz and his Bee, and, more importantly, work dragons back into the plot.

Yup, Lant, Perseverance, and Motley are already here 😂 Now we just need to wait for the Fool and Spark.Fitz and the Fool discovers Ash is really a girl - Spark - who can shift back and forth between being Ash and Spark, at Chade's encouragement. As usual Fitz puts us through the emotional wringer, and not with cheap writing tricks but in a mature way that people who have lived, loved, and seen children grow, will resonate with. From the first page to the last, I was absolutely enveloped in this world, and the only reason I am not bitterly disappointed that this book is over is because I still have another one yet to read. It's one hell of an emotional ride, and far from having the middle-book blues, it is even more engaging than the previous.

Of course Fitz would tell the Fool he merely cleaned out his wounds and bandaged them, when in reality, he ended up taking the Fool’s wounds onto himself while trying to heal his friend! Prince FitzChivalry amuses himself painting crows on the first day after his acknowledgment by the throne. I've nothing to add to my original review, but I feel like until I have Assassin's Fate in my hands, I'll be trapped in a Skill-pillar.

It took quite a while for the plot to really develop, but when it did the setup felt extremely well done and it made the payoff of these pivotal moments even more important to the reader. And when he finally decides to sacrifice his life on a Fool's quest, he even leaves the Fool behind, fully intending to go at it alone. Everything you want from a Fitz and Fool book is here, and the surrounding characters who many of us hold so dear are put front and centre, given roles and interaction that reveal more and more of themselves to us, the reader. Also, Lant, Perseverance, and Riddle wanting to accompany Fitz and Fitz being super annoyed about it is so wholesome 🥰 And now he drugged them!

I appreciate the gesture of Chade giving Fitz this proclamation of Verity’s now, BUT WHY NOT SOONER? I thought it was really interesting to see Fitz navigate it as Prince FitzChivalry, rather than as Chivalry’s bastard, Tom Badgerlock, or Lord Feldspar of Spiretop. As the plot slowly spools out, it promises great complexity, and it is difficult to imagine that she will wrap this series up in one more volume.Of course Fente and Sintara would be squabbling over who gets to shape Thymara and Tats’ child rather than helping her. Suspending my disbelief over how totally out of shape Fitz and Chade won that fight, seeing their assassin training kick back in feels totally in character. All that's left is either going on a suicide run with the blinded and broken Fool against a whole powerful kingdom by himself, or settling in with his old friends who love him like the hero that he is, trying to enfold him back into their graces despite his deep reluctance. Fool's Quest is the second book in The Fitz and the Fool trilogy, the fifteenth book in the Realm of the Elderlings, the eighth book led by FitzChivalry Farseer, and the penultimate installment in the entire series. The character work and prose is still incredible, it didn't quite hit me as hard emotionally as my true favorite RotE books, but this is still an incredible book.

Fitz then attacks and subdues Hogen, threatening to castrate him and gets him to explain the rest of what happened. I worried once whether I'd be opening these new novels only to find a beloved series lessened after so long without a new entry but to the contrary the first two books of this trilogy have only stepped it up a notch. I love how awed Perseverance is by Fitz’s identity 😄 Still, why isn’t he affected by the Obliviation? No matter what you people say about friendly kisses, I still think the way Kettricken treats Fitz is super weird 😳 You can’t just manipulate him into doing what’s best for you and then start smooching him whenever something bad happens to make up for it! Thus, as ever, Fitz takes his time; he picks up his old tools of the assassin trade and doesn’t begin his mission till he knows he has a chance of success.I have a thing for Robin Hobb's 2nd book in a trilogy, they are always my favorite out of the three or at least on equal grounds with the first book (let's avoid talking about her previous finales stillsaltyaboutfoolsfate), and this is no different except that ASSASSIN'S FATE BLEW MY FREAKING BRAINS OUT.