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Golden Fool (Tawny Man #2)

by Robin Hobb (Goodreads Author)

4.31 · Rating Details · 44,884 Ratings · 712 Reviews

The acclaimed Farseer and Liveship Traders trilogies established Robin Hobb as one of the most splendidly imaginative practitioners of world-class fantasy.

Now, in Book 2 of her most stunning trilogy yet, Hobb continues the soul-shattering tale of FitzChivalry Farseer. With rich characters, breathtaking magic, and sweeping action, Golden Fool brings the reluctant adventure The acclaimed Farseer and Liveship Traders trilogies established Robin Hobb as one of the most splendidly imaginative practitioners of world-class fantasy.

Now, in Book 2 of her most stunning trilogy yet, Hobb continues the soul-shattering tale of FitzChivalry Farseer. With rich characters, breathtaking magic, and sweeping action, Golden Fool brings the reluctant adventurer further into the fray in an epic of sacrifice, salvation, and untold treachery.

Golden Fool

Prince Dutiful has been rescued from his Piebald kidnappers and the court has resumed its normal rhythms. But for FitzChivalry Farseer, a return to isolation is impossible. Though gutted by the loss of his wolf bondmate, Nighteyes, Fitz must take up residence at Buckkeep and resume his tasks as Chade’s apprentice assassin. Posing as Tom Badgerlock, bodyguard to Lord Golden, FitzChivalry becomes the eyes and ears behind the walls. And with his old mentor failing visibly, Fitz is forced to take on more burdens as he attempts to guide a kingdom straying closer to civil strife each day.

The problems are legion. Prince Dutiful’s betrothal to the Narcheska Elliania of the Out Islands is fraught with tension, and the Narcheska herself appears to be hiding an array of secrets. Then, amid Piebald threats and the increasing persecution of the Witted, FitzChivalry must ensure that no one betrays the Prince’s secret—a secret that could topple the Farseer throne: that he, like Fitz, possesses the dread “beast magic.”

Meanwhile, FitzChivalry must impart to the Prince his limited knowledge of the Skill: the hereditary and addictive magic of the Farseers. In the process, they discover within Buckkeep one who has a wild and powerful talent for it, and whose enmity for Fitz may have disastrous consequences for all.

Only Fitz’s enduring friendship with the Fool brings him any solace. But even that is shattered when unexpected visitors from Bingtown reveal devastating secrets from the Fool’s past. Now, bereft of support and adrift in intrigue, Fitz’s biggest challenge may be simply to survive the inescapable and violent path that fate has laid out for him.

From the Hardcover edition. ...more

Mass Market Paperback, 709 pages

Published December 2003 by Spectra (first published October 21st 2002)

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Community Reviews

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Jul 03, 2016 Bookworm Sean rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 5-star-reads

Fitz is in a bad way, and it’s not surprising considering what happened at the end of the last novel. We all knew it was coming eventually, but I honestly didn’t expect it so soon. I guess age finally catches up with us all. But for Fitz, he has lost half his soul; he will never be quite the same again.

Is this an excuse to finally return?

What his loss has granted him is loneliness. And this forces him back into an old life. He picks up the old tools of the trade, his axe and his poisons: he r Fitz is in a bad way, and it’s not surprising considering what happened at the end of the last novel. We all knew it was coming eventually, but I honestly didn’t expect it so soon. I guess age finally catches up with us all. But for Fitz, he has lost half his soul; he will never be quite the same again.

Is this an excuse to finally return?

What his loss has granted him is loneliness. And this forces him back into an old life. He picks up the old tools of the trade, his axe and his poisons: he returns to Buckeep castle once more, the place he grew up in. He takes solace in the companionship of old friends, but that’s not why he returned, he returned because he needed distraction: he needed an excuse to move on with his life. And the mysterious politics of the Farseer reign is the perfect thing to immerse himself in once more.

description

As ever, the Six Duchies are plagued with strife and tension. This time the cause is a tenuous marriage contract, one that will only be fulfilled if King Dutiful brings back his betrothed the head of a dragon. Yes, a dragon’s head. This is not an easy task. Dragons are powerful creatures, but they’re also vertically extinct, so, needless to say, more problems arise. Fitz’s oldest friend, the Fool, wishes to revive the dragons not slay them. Fitz is stuck in the middle. His duty to his King demands he helps in the perilous quest, and his loyalty to his friend demands he helps to preserve dragonkind. He has some rather tricky decisions to make.

Slow, slow, character development

Like all of Robin Hobb books this is incredibly drawn out, wonderfully so. Hundreds of pages fly by, in which little progress is made, but in this resides the beauty of Robin Hobb’s style. She doesn’t rush. She takes her time. She allows the tension to build up until it eventually erupts in a most dramatic manner. The slowness of her books to many is a flaw but to me it’s wonderful. If a writer can pull you along in a story, in which the characters spend large amounts of time lamenting over the past, and yet you don’t get bored with the words, you know she is doing something right. I could read about Fitz and the Fool all day.

Fitz has grown very gradually over this series, and he still has, no doubt, much further to go. I think the loss he has sustained has made him much stronger. He has come to rely on his other form of magic, and even has gained his own group of telepathically linked individuals. The student has become the master. I loved his relationship with Thick, the mentally deficient, yet extremely powerful, skill user. The Fitz in the first series wouldn’t have had the wisdom to deal with him in such a kindly efficient manner.

Do I need to say that I love this book? For me, Hobb is the queen of modern epic fantasy.
...more

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Aug 16, 2015 Samantha rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Loved this to bits! Especially the last few pages. Cannot wait for book 3 to arrive so I can dive right back in!

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Sep 21, 2013 Hanne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, 2013-challenge

After reviewing 7 previous Robin Hobb books, I feel like a broken record. So instead of making a new review, I decided to dig up all the previous ones and mash them together:

Some of the biggest sized words read: I just really love.

And I do!
I love her writing.
I love her characters (well, most of them. the others, i just love despising them)
I love how she makes me care.
I love how she keeps me guessing.

And most of all, I love how I have five more books to go set in this world. Four more days and ...more

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Aug 16, 2015 Kaitlin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: my-sff-faves

What is this book...? Well, it's the continuation of Fitz's storyline. It's also the continuation of the Fool's storyline and Bukkeep's storyline. I would also go so far as to say that this is the continuation of the Elderlings world. This book, although focused on Fitz most of the time, is actually a story which traverses the boundaries of the two series we've previously read in this world. Whilst before now we have had small easter egg references to events or people within one of the other ser What is this book...? Well, it's the continuation of Fitz's storyline. It's also the continuation of the Fool's storyline and Bukkeep's storyline. I would also go so far as to say that this is the continuation of the Elderlings world. This book, although focused on Fitz most of the time, is actually a story which traverses the boundaries of the two series we've previously read in this world. Whilst before now we have had small easter egg references to events or people within one of the other series books, we've not had a big crossover of many characters or events which directly affect the story quite as much. We get to see the return of some of those we met in Liveships, and we also see or hear about how many of the lives of those we enjoyed from the Farseer books are going. We meet new people along the way too, of course, but mainly this book felt to me like the beginning of a solidified narrative between all 8 of the books so far in the Realm of the Elderlings.

This story follows Fitz after his return to the mysteries and struggles at Bukkeep court. We can see the many challenges his return has forced him to face, and we see many old and new faces who are, inevitably, mixed up in his storyline too. We get to follow Fitz through yet more ups and down, some of which were shocking, others seemingly destined, and we see how he copes against those who wish him harm and the secrets he must keep.

One element of this book I particularly enjoyed were the italicised passages at the beginning of each chapter. Whilst I have thought that these were always interesting I think some of those shown within this book in particular have been most insightful and enlightening.

I also really liked getting to see more of the characters of Dutiful, Thick, Hap and the Narcheska (alongside, of course, Fitz and the Fool) because each one was uniquely interesting and full of life and vibrance in their own way.
We see Dutiful trying to become the man he strives to be and fill his position at Bukkeep well.
We get to see Thick, a new character who is a halfwit, as he struggles against much of the same adversity and cruelty that Fitz had been subjected to in the past.
We see Hap as he comes up against some of the fancies and ideals that young men around town are prone to and falls into some pitfalls which lead him to make his own mistakes.
And finally we learn a little more about the Narcheska herself and her, rather odd and foreign, country which is maybe not so different to Buck.
Each of these characters either amused me, intrigued me or made me worry for the at some point in the story meaning that I was constantly invested in their stories and what would happen next. I felt that the changing story threads for each of the characters was handled expertly and each one was given proper time to develop and unfold as Hobb intended.

On the whole the story of this one was great and featured some excellent and central moments which will no doubt change the path of the next book and the history of Buck forever more. I cannot wait to finish up the Tawny Man series and see what is happening, and I also thought that this was one of the first times that I think the third book might be the best because of how much stuff Hobb has set in motion which will have to be resolved in book 3.

I cannot wait for the final one, this one was a wonderful 5*s with some excellent writing and fab story-telling! ...more

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Dec 18, 2015 Kaora rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I can't say this is my favorite Robin Hobb book, but that is like saying it is not my favorite type of chocolate. It's still fucking delicious.

I just felt that this one dragged a bit more and while a lot happened there was really no resolution. It is the second book in a trilogy, but in the first book I felt like things were accomplished even though it was nowhere near the end.

Then I started this and so many plots were set into motion that I'm not sure how she can wrap them all up in one more bo ...more

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Nov 14, 2016 Halima rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-sci-fi-paranormal, absolute-favourites, friend-reccomendations

"If you think I've never known love, then you don't know anything about me."

This is a five star novel, Heaven knows it to be true.

This novel second in the Tawny man trilogy continues the story of our older FitzChivarly, or as we've come to know him: Tom Badgerlock. Hobb delivers yet another remarkable read; the plot, the characters, the Wit, the Skill, the dialogue- oh gosh the dialogue, it was insane!
I loved every moment, yes, it may have taken me longer than usual to finish, but I'm glad I t ...more

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Sep 17, 2013 David Sven rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, favourites, audiobooks

I'm enjoying this Trilogy so far even more than the previous two in the series. Robin Hobb's writing is either getting better or I am just increasingly more invested in the characters of her world - probably both. Either way, Hobb's characterization is second to none. She can make you feel the joy of friendship rekindled or the rift of a lover's quarrel or the grief that come's with a close companion's death. Let us now pause a moment to remember NightEyes...

The other thing that made this book v I'm enjoying this Trilogy so far even more than the previous two in the series. Robin Hobb's writing is either getting better or I am just increasingly more invested in the characters of her world - probably both. Either way, Hobb's characterization is second to none. She can make you feel the joy of friendship rekindled or the rift of a lover's quarrel or the grief that come's with a close companion's death. Let us now pause a moment to remember NightEyes...

The other thing that made this book very enjoyable was the audio narration by Nick Taylor. Somehow he just nailed exactly how I imagine certain character's voices in my head. Namely Fitz, the Fool, and Chade. On the other hand the French accents for Kettricken and Dutiful were a stroke of genius and now I can't imagine them sounding any other way.

Our story picks up right after the events of book one. On the surface of things the plot takes a step back, slowing right down as Fitz reconnects with his old life at Buck Keep. Some relationships are renewed while others are deliberately avoided. Fitz' foster son, Hap, is settled into a trade apprenticeship in Buck Town. Fitz explores his relationship with the hedgewitch Jinna. Fitz establishes his cover as Tom Badgelock, Lord Golden's serving man come bodyguard. Nothing much appears to be happening plot wise. Yet Robin Hobb has that ability to make the simple pleasures of walking through Buck Town or raiding the kitchens of the Keep such delightful experiences, recalling fond memories of Fitz' childhood and coming of age in the Farseer Trilogy.

I'm making it sound boring but it's not really. Part of the reason why those moments are to be treasured is because they are snippets of light that stand out in stark contrast to the darker undertones and more sinister intrigues permeating the story. And though the pace may seem to have slowed down in some regards it actually hurtles forward in other ways. There was no point where I was bored or felt the story was getting bogged down and needed to move along. There is actually a lot going on. Fitz has so much to deal with he doesn't have time to scratch himself.

In the Farseer Trilogy Fitz role was well defined as the Assassins Apprentice. This time he is no longer Chade's apprentice and his role is a lot more fluid as he is thrown back into the intrigues of the Six Duchies and court of Buck Keep. This time he returns as The Skillmaster, assigned to assemble and train a coterie of skill users for Prince Dutiful - even though his own Skill training was limited and twisted and he has nearly as much to learn as his students.

When he's not doing that he is a royal Spymaster - assigned to dig out secrets while keeping his own and the crown's well covered. And yes, if the need should arise, he will again assume the role of Royal Assassin. Whenever problems arise, killing is always on the table as an option, whether the problem be a simpleton who knows too much or Piebalds lurking somewhere in town.

And Fitz has all his old Assassin's tools honed and ready to use - whether it be foresight to be able to avoid violence altogether - or ruthless pragmatism combined with herbal lore to inflict death by food poisoning - or whether it be cold steel when gutting one's enemy is all that's left to do.

5 stars

Warning
Fitz will be subjected to extreme harm during the course of this story. Fitz lovers are advised to consider using the dead tree edition of this book in preference to electronic devices that are vulnerable to shock damage. Be also advised that no characters in the book are able to hear you no matter how hard you yell at the pages. If you must yell and are using an electronic device take care to cover any exposed ports as device manufacturers generally don't provide warranty for moisture damage. ...more

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Mar 25, 2015 Dara rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, favorites, reviewed, series, read-2015, elderlings

It's getting more and more difficult for me to articulate what I love about these books. It's a combination of so many things. Fitz has become one of my all-time favorite characters, along with many of his friends. The world of the Elderlings is endlessly fascinating. There's a deep history there - in the Six Duchies and beyond - that I want to know about. The magic in this series is captivating and mysterious - I always want to experience more of the Skill and the Wit. Robin Hobb's writing is m ...more

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Sep 27, 2014 Em rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, fantasy, seriel, abuse-torture-rape, soldiers-warriors-military, paranormal, magic, angst, dtr, hard-copy, dragons, mainstream

This is my third time of reading The Tawny Man series and I still enjoy it just as much as the first time. The Golden Fool doesn't have middle book syndrome, there isn't much of a plot but a lot happens and it's all about exploring and building relationships between Fitz, Fool, Dutiful, Chade and of course Thick. It is in fact my favourite of all the books in the series.

It's extremely painful to read in parts, especially the explosive argument between Fitz and the Fool. It was upsetting to see ...more

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Nov 03, 2016 Wastrel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: r-ss, z-2002, fantastika-fantasy-saga

It's hard to be objective, because this is one of my favourite books of all time. After seven volumes, we're now so deeply into the mind of FitzChivalry Farseer that it feels like a second home, and while some may complain that nothing whatsoever happens in this book (they'd be wrong - a lot happens in this book, there just isn't really a plot), I rejoiced in being given the time and space to see more of Fitz dealing with ordinary life. Hobb's great stylistic strength might be the way that she t It's hard to be objective, because this is one of my favourite books of all time. After seven volumes, we're now so deeply into the mind of FitzChivalry Farseer that it feels like a second home, and while some may complain that nothing whatsoever happens in this book (they'd be wrong - a lot happens in this book, there just isn't really a plot), I rejoiced in being given the time and space to see more of Fitz dealing with ordinary life. Hobb's great stylistic strength might be the way that she takes often quite cliche and uninteresting fantasy tropes and revitalises them, by showing what they mean for real people - what motivates the tropes, and what their consequences are.

This is also that very rare thing, a grown-up fantasy novel, by grown-ups, about grown-ups, and to a larger extent for grown-ups, as the middle-aged Fitz looks on upon the foolish actions of younger characters (and it's great to see parental concern, one of life's greatest motivating forces, take centre stage in a fantasy novel, rather than romantic love, or adventure, or glory), and looks back upon his own youthful follies. But just as the young Fitz made a lot of mistakes, so too perhaps do the two middle-aged Fitzes (both the Fitz who is a character in the novel and the later Fitz who acts as the narrator) - but this flawed narrator is nothing more than an extension of the flawing, the humanity, of all the characters.

I'm not going to go on at too much length. I suppose to sum it up, I would say: this is a great fantasy novel about relationships and psychology and growing older; it also has a surprising amount of dramatic tension, not only around the relationship developments but also around the inchoate heroic plotline that will take over in the final volume of the trilogy; it is, however, rather formless, with a lot of parallel plot strands but no overall arc, and consequently the emotional pacing is lacking and there is no fulfilling climax (or there is, or are, but it or they are long before the end); it definitely benefits from the reader having read The Liveship Traders as well as The Farseer Trilogy; if you don't like Fitz, you won't like this book; if you love Fitz, hopefully you'll love this book.

I go on (and on) at greater length about the book over on my blog, HERE. ...more

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May 16, 2015 Chris rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, 2015-series-challenge, 2015-dark-room-challenge

Here we are again, the middle book of a Hobb trilogy. I really think she hits her stride in these second books. The pace has built up a bit from the first, and it sets up the third one nicely.

There were a couple of emotional scenes in this that are certainly appreciated by a long time reader of this overall series. I won't go into it, but they alone made this book something special. I hope they are a good preview of what's to come in Book #3, which I'll be starting soon.

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Aug 13, 2009 Jason rated it it was amazing

This series... man. I loved this series and wanted to throw it against the wall so many times. The main character especially challenged me as a reader. Fitz is, without a question, a immensely believable character. If for no other reason then that there are so many times you want to slap him for being so often fallible. He is by no means perfect and he makes many selfish or foolhardy decisions. But that only wants you to want that much more for him to improve and succeed.

The relationship betwee ...more

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Jun 29, 2016 Claudia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, z-to-a-hobb

Superb second part! There are a lot of things which relates it to the events from The Liveship Traders, a lot of revelations and some other turnabouts which I did not see coming. And even if Fitz’ misfortunes did not forsake him, yet I get the feeling that the wheel is starting to spin – very slowly but there is a movement; I really hope I’m not mistaken.

Now, lets see where the path takes our heroes in their ultimate quest and what happens with the black one from the tales...

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Dec 22, 2015 Paul rated it really liked it

Shelves: own-paperback, listenedto, read-2015, own-audio

Golden Fool takes the foundation that Fool’s Errand establishes and just adds so much more in a familiar setting that any Hobb fan would be happy in, Buckkeep Castle. It is difficult to tell what this book is about without spoiling other Robin Hobb books but suffice to say that there is a greater emphasis on the Wit, the magic that allows people to commune with animals, and also foreign relations. The Six Duchies is establishing itself in the world as a powerful ally and other kingdoms are now t Golden Fool takes the foundation that Fool’s Errand establishes and just adds so much more in a familiar setting that any Hobb fan would be happy in, Buckkeep Castle. It is difficult to tell what this book is about without spoiling other Robin Hobb books but suffice to say that there is a greater emphasis on the Wit, the magic that allows people to commune with animals, and also foreign relations. The Six Duchies is establishing itself in the world as a powerful ally and other kingdoms are now trying to form an alliance with them. This is very much a court focused book about secrets and who knows other’s secrets.

What makes this book special in the Realm of the Elderlings Series is that we really get a sense of Fitz’s issue with secrecy. Fitz has so many relationships with people but each person has a different level of friendship and information about Fitz and the truth. This creates a great dynamic where Fitz must constantly be on his toes so that people don’t find out too much about him. When each character has a different degree of secrets with each other, the conflicts pop up when characters learn information that has been withheld from each other. I love these type of plots because it is character conflicts that really showcase the strength of Hobb’s characterization.

I thought the plot of this book was much stronger than the plot in Fool’s Errand and it was just overall a more complex and stronger book. Even though I really liked this book a ton, there was nothing in this book that really excited me all that much. There was one scene that was amazing, as two characters confronted each other about the secrets they held, but that was the only truly spectacular scene.

The extra characters that are added in this trilogy are great and I’m so happy to have new blood in this saga. This trilogy really feels like one really long book, as the sequence of events picks up immediately at the end of the previous book. I am definitely enjoying the older and wiser Fitz, but I also appreciate the new, younger blood that has been added to this story.

The pay off from reading The Liveship Trader Trilogy is fantastic in this book and the highlight of the book for me. The third book in this Tawny Man Trilogy, Fool’s Fate is going to be epic, as so many story arcs come together, and hard choices must be made. A very strong book that does everything great but nothing that makes it stand out as a 5 star book.

4/5 20/25 Possible Score

Plot – 4(Strong)

Characters – 4(Strong)

Setting/World Building – 4(Strong)

Writing Style – 4(Strong)

Heart & Mind Aspect – 4(Strong)

For more reviews like this visit http://www.commontouchoffantasy.com ...more

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Feb 03, 2015 Rob rated it really liked it

Shelves: elderlings, read-2012, fantasy, own, author-female

Executive Summary: I really enjoyed this book, and found myself staying up till 2 in the morning and rudely reading while visiting with family on Christmas Eve just to finish it.

Full Review
There isn't a lot for me to really say about this book without getting into spoilers. Robin Hobb seems to find a way make you really care about her characters and suck you into the story even when it's just day to day living. Of course Fitz's days are a tad bit more interesting than your average person.

It al ...more

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May 25, 2015 Scarletine rated it it was amazing

photo 078f1d8c697bae8eab1e076c5dc76f50_zpsbhzem3ac.jpg

The more I read of Robin Hobb's books, the more I berate myself from not reading them earlier in my life. I don't know how they escaped me, but I'm catching up, at a pace!
Having read the Assasins Trilogy, and Fools Errand I am already deeply in love with the Fool and deeply frustrated with Fitz. He blunders his way through life with rarely a lesson learned. He cannot see the love is in front of his face, and longs for a dream of Molly and a family that he chose not to persue. This story continu ...more

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Apr 04, 2012 Meg rated it liked it

Shelves: scifi-fantasy

I couldn't put this book down but it made me hella angsty, especially the parts about Fitz and the Fool. Although it's clearly Fitz and his culture who are anti-gay, I still felt like Hobbs does a disservice by casting the Fool in the role of the "tragic homosexual" (http://www.glbtq.com/arts/film,2.html if you need some context - a lonely gay person who is hopelessly in love with a straight person and/or doomed to spend their life alone and unhappy). Admittedly, my romantic wish for Fitz to be ...more

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Lee If you read the Live Ship books, you will realise the Fool is actually a woman called Amber. So there is no tragic homosexual, but a frustrated woman ...more
Oct 12, 2012 05:42AM

Merel I wonder if Hobb has tried to get rid of the anti-gay feeling of Tawny Man because in her Rainwild Chronicles there are several gay characters. Hmm... ...more
Jun 27, 2013 06:15PM

Logan Lee wrote: "If you read the Live Ship books, you will realise the Fool is actually a woman called Amber."

I think that's just as silly as someone sayin ...more
updated Dec 14, 2014 01:14AM

Apr 27, 2016 KostasAt rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, epic-fantasy

8/10

The second book has a bit slower pace than the first as Robin Hobb focuses more on Fitz’s life and with the intrigues of the Castle, as also with a mix of some events from Liveship Traders that will put in motion a great adventure to come and lots of revelations.

Fitz has returned to the life of the Castle again and he has to face, not only his personal difficulties but also of the Six Duchies itself as the threat from the Piebalds still remains and with their machinations starting to grow th ...more

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May 24, 2012 Brittany rated it it was amazing

Golden Fool was an enjoyable read. Truthfully, many parts were painful. From an outsiders perspective, I cannot understand some of Fitz's decisions - to keep his identity a secret; to introduce a rift in his friendship with the Tawny Man; to keep his family from harm, while ignoring the need for their presence at Buckkeep. At times, the character of Fitz is maddening. However, this is how normal, real humans exist: often reasoning and decisions are messy and irrational. Fitz beautifully embodies ...more

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Apr 01, 2016 Shari (colourmeread) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: highly-recommended, fantasy, read-in-2016

I haven't written enough reviews when it comes to Robin Hobb's books. It's always been a challenge for me, not because I have nothing to say about the book, but because 1) the book I just read was so good I just jump to the next one and 2) how do you describe feels?! Needless to say, I'll probably sound like a broken record if I managed to review them all.

Hobb is a great writer. She proves this again and again and just when I think she couldn't possibly outdo herself, she does.

Hobb's world is fa ...more

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Sep 05, 2015 Zayne rated it it was amazing

Absolutely amazing. I enjoyed reading this book so much, I was always sad to set it down. This book captured my attention almost the entire time. The beginning was a bit slow, but it shot off afterwards. This was definitely better than Fool's Errand: faster pace, secrets so close to bursting, and the focus on Fitz's life and his relationships with the various characters rather than the actual plot.

I always say the same thing when I'm reviewing a Robin Hobb book: its amazing, Hobb is the Goddess ...more

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Sep 06, 2016 Kalin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Ghosts of notes:

~ When I can face pain and regrets and meaningful friendships again, I should reread Chapter 5, "Shared Sorrows." It is sublime.

~ Also, Chapters 15 ("Quarrel"), 16 ("Fathers") and 20 ("Coterie").

Flow, my tears ....

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Apr 29, 2016 Mike rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, charity-2016

3 Stars but arrggh, so much talking/thinking/indecision and so little action. My least favorite so far. But I have to give it stars because she has gotten me to read over 1,000 pages. She writes well but does not relate well in the mind of a male.

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Mar 21, 2016 Beleth rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016

Aunque me ha encantado le pongo esta nota porque realmente la trama prácticamente no avanza y hay muchísimos frentes abiertos... a ver cómo consigue cerrarlo todo sin dejarse nada por el camino.

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Mar 29, 2016 Dan rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, magez, adventure, 2016

Another enjoyable read in this worthwhile series.

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Nov 15, 2016 F.R. rated it liked it · review of another edition

I may have expressed some disappointment in my review of ‘Fool’s Errand’ that there just wasn’t enough court intrigue to get my teeth into. Hobb more than makes up for it in the second volume of this trilogy – there is court intrigue at every possible vantage point; Fitz spends so much time hidden in spy tunnels I pictured him constantly covered in dust and cobwebs – so why have I still come away feeling not completely satisfied?

As befits a middle novel, there are numerous strands coming togethe ...more

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Aug 25, 2009 Arthur rated it it was ok

Shelves: mediocre, fantasy

Finished Fool's Errand and Golden Fool.

A few months ago I re-read The Farseer and The Liveship Traders trilogies. Loved them as much or even more than when I read them first time 7 years ago. However, The Tawny Man trilogy is a major disappointment so far.
1. The major storyline/plot is very "local", no grand scale plot as it was in the first two trilogies.
2. So many boring descriptions, unbelievable.
3. Hobb's obsession with describing all sorts of gowns, clothes is driving me nuts.
4. Unwarranted ...more

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Dec 21, 2016 Marta Montell rated it liked it · review of another edition

EDIT: Al final redondeé a 3

Para leer mejor CLICK AQUÍ

Como funcionamiento de libro: 3.5 estrellas.
A nivel personal y sentimental: 2 estrellas :(

Este libro es igual que cuando alguien te dice que os va a cocinar vuestro plato favorito y os dais cuenta al probarlo que le falta un ingrediente. Sabéis que sigue siendo comestible, pero que por culpa de ese ingrediente, no sabe igual.
Puede sonar a chiquillada, de hecho puedo admitir que no soy imparcial, pero no puedo evitar sentirme que me ha faltad ...more

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Sep 24, 2016 Andrew Wilson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Robin Hobb's writing is incredible, I love these books.

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Oct 28, 2014 Kat Hooper rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobook

Robin Hobb’s TAWNY MAN trilogy, and the FARSEER trilogy that precedes them, are some of the finest epic fantasies ever written. FitzChivarly Farseer is probably my favorite character in all of fantasy literature and he’s at his best in the TAWNY MAN books. Golden Fool, the middle book in the trilogy, is nearly a perfect novel, and so is its successor, Fool’s Fate. I re-read Golden Fool last week because it’s just been released in audio format by Brilliance Audio (superbly narrated by James Langt ...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Hobb-A-Long Read-...: Chapters 16-20	6	15	Nov 11, 2016 01:47AM
Hobb-A-Long Read-...: Chapters 1-5	5	19	Oct 28, 2016 05:47PM
The Robin Hobb Co...: golden fool part 6 > finished	18	45	Sep 19, 2013 10:18AM
The Robin Hobb Co...: golden fool part 5 > chapters 21 to 25	14	43	Sep 17, 2013 07:46AM
The Robin Hobb Co...: golden fool part 4 > chapters 16 to 20	21	34	Sep 16, 2013 01:42AM
The Robin Hobb Co...: golden fool part 3 > chapters 11 to 15	13	46	Sep 14, 2013 01:44AM
The Robin Hobb Co...: golden fool part 2 > chapters 6 to 10	22	27	Sep 12, 2013 11:10AM

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About Robin Hobb

** I am shocked to find that some people think a 2 star 'I liked it' rating is a bad rating. What? I liked it. I LIKED it! That means I read the whole thing, to the last page, in spite of my life raining comets on me. It's a good book that survives the reading process with me. If a book is so-so, it ends up under the bed somewhere, or maybe under a stinky judo bag in the back of the van. So a 2 st ...more

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“if love doesnt come first and linger after, if love cant wait and endure disappointment and seperation, then its not love.” — 70 likes

“You seek a false comfort when you demand that I define myself for you with words. Words do not contain or define any person. A heart can, if it is willing.” — 43 likes

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