***Spoilers for Fool’s Assassin through chapter 5. Mentions of the events of The Farseer Trilogy, The Liveship Traders Trilogy, The Tawny Man Trilogy, and The Rain Wilds Chronicles are fair game, too.***
Oh, hello there, friends. Not expecting to see me so soon? Well, we are back! And I can barely contain myself.
Quick peek behind the curtain: I had intended to read longer chunks of the story before pausing to react – maybe breaking the book into thirds. But here I am, a mere five chapters in, and I had to heed the call to write.
Sometimes I just know I’ve hit a turning point, a fulcrum in the story, and I strongly feel that now. We’ve had five chapters of catching up, visiting old characters, getting the lay of the land – both physically and politically. And after two years of Molly claiming pregnancy – and, by all rational interpretations, losing her mind rather than bearing a babe – she has given birth to her and Fitz’s tiny baby.
Holy shit. What did I just read?
So this felt like the moment to pause – process everything that’s happened as we step back into this world and Fitz’s mind – and gear up for wherever we are going from here.
Returning to a Fitz-focused trilogy feels a bit like reading in a different language. Or perhaps more accurately, returning to one’s mother tongue. A flood of familiarity- terms and characters I didn’t even realize I missed: “Forged”, Lady Patience being eccentric, Thick, Fitz being so fucking Fitzy…
The tone is so distinct. Both Hobb modes are good, but nothing quite hitz like Fitz.
I’m actually a little sad that this is the last time I will make this transition and have the experience of sinking back into the intimacy of Fitz’s POV. It’s a direct contrast to starting our southern sojourns, which feel novel and take time to settle into. This is a coming home.
So as we once joined Fitz in a façade of peace in his cabin with Hap, so too we find our boy (and yes, no matter how much he reminds us of his age, he will always be our boy) comfortable at Withywoods, living the seemingly content life he’s always sought.
And though that contentment isn’t false – his love of life with Molly is very real – the cracks in the façade start to show almost immediately.
First off: Idiot Fitz
Aka: the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Our first clue things aren’t quite as hunky-dory as they seem should have been Fitz being an absolute buffoon from the jump.
This man is a trained royal assassin. Known for his keen observation and investigative skills. And we open with him completely disregarding the arrival of strange travelers (minstrels? tumblers? it’s normal for three people to not even agree on their joint profession) who were discovered snooping around the stables. Ahh, maybe a little weird, but it’s Winterfest. Fuck it.
So the shadiest shit imaginable is happening directly in front of him, and then this is Fitz when blood is discovered in the den where the equally mysterious messenger he brushed off was waiting:
So yeah, it was a little tough to accept that Fitz could be this oblivious. But I’m choosing to read it as a marker of just how far removed we are from where we left him at the end of Fool’s Fate. It echoes the opening of Tawny Man – he’s just that far from the suspicious, paranoid environment of Buckkeep.
It’s a bit maddening, but it ain’t RotE if we aren’t smacking our foreheads in frustration at Fitz.
Next up: What’s missing
The Fool’s absence looms larger than anyone’s presence as we kick things off. Which makes sense, given his prominent billing in the trilogy title.
Even when he isn’t explicitly mentioned (which is often), his specter is everywhere. We’ve got a lot of pale, blonde figures popping up. And while our keen-sensed assassin may not be making the connection, this blogger is.
I’m not sure when he’ll enter the story proper. It took until around book twelve for Elderlings to really show up in a saga called The Realm of the Elderlings. So I’m prepared to be patient. But the longing is intense. For Fitz and for me.
I also like to touch on a quieter but still marked absence: Nighteyes. Or more broadly, the lack of a wit companion for Fitz.
We have Web outright urging Fitz to bond again – espousing how wrong it is for someone of the Old Blood to go without. And then there’s Fitz’s noticeable refusal to keep dogs on the property 🙁.
You can feel him holding the idea of a bond at arm’s length. When he shares space with Dutiful and his Wit-companion dog, there’s a deliberate disengagement. And the wisps of Nighteyes drifting through his thoughts only deepen that absence.
The continued exploration of grief across time is a beautiful thread in this story.
And finally: The Molly of it all
Molly is aging at a disproportionate rate to Fitz. (Thank you, Skill-healing, for delivering us a permahot Fitz.)
On its own, this doesn’t bother our uber-loyal, soft-hearted husband Fitz. And truly, every time he takes in her womanly traits and gets a jolt of lust harkening back to their younger days, I swoon. But it’s the harbinger of what’s to come that hangs over the entire opening (BIG shades of Nighteyes in Fool’s Errand 😰).
So let’s get into the “what’s to come.”
After a handful of mentions of Molly’s failing health – and their inability to conceive in the years since reuniting – it all seems to come to a head in her declaration that she is pregnant… despite being years removed from her cycle.
At first, I felt a glimmer of hope. Could a biological miracle be afoot? But as her insistence stretches on, well past any reasonable human gestation period, things get increasingly bleak.
The devastation of watching her presumed descent into dementia, Fitz’s dutiful care and kindness as he watches her slip away, and layered on top of that, the loss of one of his deepest desires.
After a particularly affecting scene where Nettle and Fitz are taken into the nursery Molly has been cultivating for years, allowed for a moment to indulge in her fantasy, they are understandably wrecked:
“’We’re losing her. It’s only going to get worse. We know that. What will you do when she no longer knows you? When she cannot take care of herself anymore? What will become of her?’ She lifted her face. Silent tears gleamed in streaks down her cheeks. I crossed the room and took her hand. ‘I promise this. I will take care of her. Always. I will love her. Always.’”
Sweet Eda and El, Robin.
So imagine my utter shock when Molly turns up at Fitz’s private study claiming to be in labor- and lo and behold, a tiny baby girl is born.
Truly, what the fuck is happening here??
Is there some sort of Skill quickening to credit? Whatever is happening, at least for this brief moment, I’m happy to see this fulfillment of Fitz’s wish to bring a child into the world with Molly and be present for it.
I say brief moment because I have serious concerns about Molly’s longevity in this story. I do not believe this means, “Oh, nevermind all that foreshadowing that something was very wrong. Everything’s fine! That two-year pregnancy was totally normal.”
And come on, this is Fitz. Things are never that simple.
It’s not if things will go wrong, it’s how soon and how horrifically.
And with that, let’s get into MUSINGS!
Chade
If anyone has been on this journey with me, you can probably imagine my delight when we got a chapter titled The Felling of Fallstar.
Long story short: Chade takes a fall, is on death’s door, and the coterie can’t reach him- so they urgently call Fitz to Buckkeep.
Oh, never mind that Fitz had a lovely evening at an inn planned with his beloved Molly. Nope. Straight through the high-likelihood-of-death Skill stones you go. Do not pass go, do not enjoy a moment of hard-earned peace.
We learn that Chade has sealed himself from the Skill, preventing Skill-healing. (Sounds like FAFO to me.)
It’s a good thing I wasn’t in the room, because I would have suggested that perhaps we could let the (conservatively) 120-year-old man just die already.
But no. Everyone is determined to unlock Chade and drag him back to health. So Fitz solves the fucking Sphinx’s riddle to uncover the key, and Chade, once again, eludes Father Time.
Fitz can frame Chade through whatever kindly, father-figure lens he wants. I won’t forget how shitty he is.
Kettricken
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the electricity between Fitz and Kettricken is palpable.
Maybe it’s that she’s the one person who consistently shows him genuine appreciation.
There’s a mutual respect, honesty, and shared history between them that makes their bond feel so grounded, and so compelling. And their first interaction here delivers:
“She crossed to me, and I rose to accept her firm embrace. ‘Fitz,’ she said by my ear. ‘Thank you. Thank you for coming, and for taking great risk by coming so swiftly.'”
Why is that so erotic??
Lady Patience
Oh, Lady Patience. May you rest in peace.
You weren’t here for much of this story, but the time we had with you was wonderful.
My favorite moment (and truly, every moment with Patience is gold) was her describing how she dissected and reconstructed dead birds in the name of science:
“…my task was before me: to assemble his little bones into a skeleton. Did you know that a bird’s wing is as close to a man’s hand as is a frog’s flipper?”
Go off, Charles Darwin. A true Renaissance woman. Ahead of her time.
A section above, I praised Kettricken for appreciating Fitz, but Patience loved him like a son, without ever wanting anything in return. A boy it would have been so easy for her to reject.
And it’s hard to imagine Fitz’s life without the love she gave him. (Not to mention she literally paved the way to his resurrection).
So she deserves this moment of recognition. A true RotE queen. I adored you.
Nettle
I absolutely adore watching Fitz and Nettle’s connection develop.
He can never go back and reclaim what he lost of her childhood. But he can be a steady, loving presence in her adult life. And watching them navigate Molly’s illness(?) together is beautiful.
We also get this incredible scene where a sulking Fitz (you know I love emo Fitz) leaves Jhaampe alone, only to be caught up to by Nettle, who has been sent after him to keep him company.
First, we get these Hall of Fame Fitz reflections:
“I was almost annoyed at her for spoiling my perfectly good sulk.”
and
“I felt thwarted in my petulance…”
(I would love to hear what Nighteyes would make of these thoughts.)
And then, as they make use of this extended time on the road to open up and learn more about each other, Fitz shares about his connection to, and loss of, the Fool. Which leads to this exchange:
“I think my voice told her far more than my words did. ‘I am so sorry, Da,’ she said quietly. Did she know that it was the first time she had honored me with that title?”
We watch Fitz endure so much that these small – yet significant – moments of triumph feel all the sweeter.
Dragon Watch
We get a brief Chalced mention as Fitz notes:
“Chalced might seem to be preoccupied with its own civil war, but rumor said the duchess now controlled most of her wayward provinces.”
There’s also a passing mention of dragons flying about, which had me like, “Hey, I know them!”
Just keeping tabs on any and all connections to the wider realm.
And just like that, we’re off again! An MIA Fool, a mystery baby, Fitz getting hit on at market… what more could a girl ask for?
***Spoilers for The Rain Wilds Chronicles through City of Dragons. Mentions of the events of The Farseer Trilogy, The Liveship Traders Trilogy, and The Tawny Man Trilogy are fair game, too.***
City of Dragons – ✅ One more book to go in our Rain Wilds Chronicles adventure, and then it’s time to buckle the fuck up and dive into the final trilogy of this RotE experience.
So with that, I’m going to jump right in with a character who proves likability has nothing to do with being compelling.
Hest
If Hest is a monster (and he is), here we finally meet his maker. And of course, it’s the final boss of boy moms: Hest’s mother. She enters the story as coddling and enabling as you might expect.
Robin Hobb isn’t called the queen of character (not sure anyone calls her that specifically, but still) for nothing. Hest is already one of the richest characters in the story, even without much direct page time. But the chapter we get to spend with him and his parents, especially his dynamic with his mother, adds even more depth to an already vivid portrait.
And he makes such a great villain. For me, he’s right up there with Kyle (and maybe Chade?) in the RotE loathsome-men rankings.
What makes him so terrifying is how real he is. He’s not a pale, ethereal magical woman in an ice palace. He doesn’t steal souls or chop up his foes. He’s just an asshole. A charismatic, entitled, deeply spoiled man taken to the extreme.
We see him encouraged to reclaim Alise and Sedric as if they’re property – and to secure any claim they might have to Kelsingra (good luck with that). But we also get to watch him taken down a massive peg when the Chalcedean mercenary he tried to have killed shows back up.
And listen, I don’t think of myself as sadistic, but I can’t lie, watching Hest get literally walked like a dog while writhing in poisoned-induced agony? Worked for me.
“He had licked the man’s boot. Not once or twice, but like a dog, lapping at it over and over until the Chalcedean had stepped away.”
But instead of taking even a shred of humility from this experience, Hest vows to pay it forward:
“There was, he decided, only one way to purge himself of the terror and humiliation that the Chalcedean had forced on him. He would pass them on to Sedric.”
😬 Healthy.
I can’t wait for this storyline to culminate. OF COURSE, I care deeply about the dragons and Elderlings 👀, but Alise and Sedric vs. Hest is the heart of the tension in this series for me.
And while I would like to see Hest get eaten by a dragon (which is still very in play), I do suspect this comes down to a more human conclusion. Man vs. man (man in the universal sense, Alise can get in on this payback too).
I want to see Hest forced into direct comparison with his replacements, Carson and Leftrin, and watch him come up painfully short. That’s not to reduce Sedric and Alise to damsels in distress, but Hest needs to face some real men and see what true partnership looks like.
Hest side note: he has such strong Gaston energy. This is all I can picture when I think of Hest bopping around Bingtown:
Just as everything culminated with our Liveship battle back in Ship of Destiny, it feels like all our pieces are now converging in Kelsingra. A lot of Rain Wilds Chronicles has been setup – very fun and satisfying – but setup nonetheless.
It’s time for shit to go down.
As I like to do, here are a few things I’d like to see settled as we wrap up our dragony quartet:
Hest goes down (see above)
Selden gets rescued and reunites with Malta and Reyn (and maybe some new Elderling friends 👀)
Sedric and Carson part amicably (sorry Carson, but I still think you’re more a “good time, not a long time” situation)
The dragons and Elderlings claim Kelsingra, fend off treasure hunters, and restore the city
I would say Sintara gets a mate and chills tf out, but we see how well that’s worked out for Tintaglia so…
MUSINGS!
With Selden heading to Chalced, and Tintaglia just deciding to depart the region, I’m curious how we are going to get him out of this pickle.
And so help me God, if I have to witness the Duke of Chalced take a bite out of that sweet boy – it is on sight.
Staying here for a moment – Tintaglia mentions she lost the ability to perceive Selden while he’s been out on his dragon search, which raises questions.
How far does dragon telepathy extend? Are we talking strong walkie-talkie range? What’s the deal here?
And how far is Chalced from Kelsingra?
This is opening some major “how far is the flight time between King’s Landing and Dragonstone”-type questions for me.
Of course I’m going to talk about Rapskal and Thyamara getting it on. But to be frank? I’m tired. The uncertainty from Thymara is never-ending.
So, Thymara and Rapskal find themselves in a very comfortable bathhouse in Kelsingra. It turns out all she needed to get over the hump was a clean body and a comfy bed- which I get. Don’t make a move on me after months of camping either. Blech.
We get part two of sensual wing play 🫦, and then they go all the way.
But then – in a shocking turn of events – the very next morning, we are right back to square one.
And I do empathize. She’s young, confused, scared. This isn’t simple, and she shouldn’t be pressured to know what she wants. That’s not how things work.
Still… it’s maddening.
Have sex with Rapskal. Have sex with Tats. Start a sexy Elderling throuple. Devote yourself to the Elderling clergy and a life of celibacy.
At this point, I just need forward motion.
Oh, have I forgotten to mention Malta’s birth scene?
Probably because I blocked it from my brain in a vain attempt at self-preservation.
Because, DAMN. It was absolutely bonkers. If somehow you’re reading this (weird) without having read City of Dragons (even weirder), Reyn leaves his heavily pregnant wife to navigate rickety rope bridges back to their Cassarick accommodations in the middle of a treacherous storm (lowkey the least believable thing that has happened in RotE so far).
She gets lost. Goes into labor. Gets kidnapped by a Chalcedean thug and dragged to a brothel. Gives birth on the dirty floor while the Chalcedeans actively discuss dismembering her and passing her off as dragon parts to the Duke.
Malta – our ultimate survivor – gives birth unnoticed, kills one of the creeps while the other leaves for supplies (you know, the dismembering and preservation supplies), and escapes back into the storm with her barely alive baby.
But the queen persists. She makes it to Tarman, who is able to keep the Rain Wilds-touched baby alive temporarily, but notes he will need the aid of a dragon to transform into an Elderling and survive.
You know, even in a series that doesn’t center on Malta, she still manages to steal the show. A true star 💫 .
(Also, Reyn: I know Malta is a force and you were getting dog-walked a la Hest following her lead, but how about walking your heavily pregnant wife to the fucking door next time? Still love you, boo.)
I will not be distinguishing between the various Chalcedean spies/merchants/mercenaries/etc. until I am absolutely forced to. Begasti Cored, Sinad Arich – potato, potahto.
(Side note: I went back to the “Cast of Characters” at the beginning of my eBook to find those names (this isn’t a bit, people!!) and saw this listing: “THE CHALCEDEAN: Hest’s nemesis.” GTFOH. They are all “The Chalcedean” to me.)
What in the fuck is happening with these bird handlers?
Of course I dutifully read the correspondence chapter-end interstitials and semi-absorb what’s going on. But at a certain point, there’s only so much I can keep track of. We’ve got memory stone revealing the history of a lost city, Chalcedean spies and politics, tertiary keeper romances – it’s a lot!
That said, I did enjoy when this side drama briefly bled into the main story, as Leftrin returns to Cassarick with messages from the keepers and crew to be sent off by bird.
The Cassarick bird handler is the troublemaker, right? Trehaug is where Erek and Detozi (newly married – mazel!) currently reside, with Erek’s (?) nephew(?) holding down the birds in Bingtown (???). Something like that.
So I’m wondering if these messages from the Kelsingra crew routing through Cassarick are going to have ramifications in the near future.
Good thing I have suffered through enjoyed each and every correspondence we’ve been treated to 😵💫.
No one skeeves me out more than Hest’s new manservant/fuck buddy, Redding. Though advised by his father to make the trip to the Rain Wilds alone, he of course brings his little lap dog along.
It does amuse me how annoyed Hest is by him, but their boat scene was nauseating.
“Redding smiled at him and with the tip of his tongue licked the sausage suggestively.”
Realizing I should probably touch down on Chalced – the Duke, the murders, his daughter, the schemes, etc., etc. But…
Let’s just say the Duke sucks, his Chancellor-turned-heir-apparent sucks, and they better keep their grubby paws off Selden.
I am intrigued by his feminist poet daughter, though. Burn it down, sister!
Onward we march! Blood of Dragons coming shortly. 🫡
***Spoilers for The Rain Wilds Chronicles through chapter 8 of City of Dragons. Mentions of the events of The Farseer Trilogy, The Liveship Traders Trilogy, and The Tawny Man Trilogy are fair game, too.***
I never rarely nail a prediction (see: Chade, still kickin’). But the predictions and wish list I left off with at the end of Dragon Haven, in relation to where we pick things up in City of Dragons, were pretty spot on.
Let’s check in:
The fallout: Hest. ✅
He hasn’t discovered the full story yet, but we do get a visit with the rage monster.
More ties to the broader RotE: Malta and Reyn. Selden. Amber/the Fool. Tintaglia. What is Wintrow doing? Let’s get some old friends back in the mix. ✅
No Wintrow or Amber/the Fool yet, but we do get significant time with Malta and Reyn 😍 , Selden 😬, and Tintaglia as we open the story.
Chalced? ✅
We got our first POV from Chalced proper. And boy, that Duke is a real dickhead!
Re: Kelsingra, I asked: will we discover remnants of Fitz’s time there?✅
Yuppers! Just as I was seriously starting to doubt that this was even the same place, Alise finds Verity’s city model and evidence that “Fitz wuz here.”
All in all, a very satisfying start to the back half of our penultimate RotE series.
***Spoilers for The Rain Wild Chronicles through chapter 13 of Dragon Keeper. Mentions of the events of The Farseer Trilogy, The Liveship Traders Trilogy, and The Tawny Man Trilogy are fair game, too.***
It might just be that I am writing this on December 26th, but the Island of Misfit Toys vibes have never been stronger.
There are two elements really jumping out to me so far:
how rapidly my feelings keep shifting, and
the amount of mirroring happening, on both a micro level within the story and a macro level across Hobb’s entire body of work.
Let’s start with my emotional whiplash.
Shifting Feelings:
In my last post, I had a lot of pep in my typing fingers. After Dragon Keeper’s bleak opening, the story started gaining momentum. Then I dove directly back into a Sintara POV and realized it was the lack of dragon experience that lightened things up. I mean, with lines like:
“And now they were masters of nothing, doomed to mud and carrion and, Sintara did not doubt, a slow death by slog up the river.”
… it’s hard to be buoyed by optimism.
As counterbalance to the dreary dragons, we have Captain Leftrin floating in the clouds with his crush on Alise. Sir- you are a grizzled, murdering (only once, but that counts), ruthless river man. Get ahold of yourself! As hard as I rode for their meet-cute, I have to admit I developed a smidge of an ick this time around. Leftrin is fucking gone for our girl, and Alise is relishing the attention, but it doesn’t feel like they’re on equal footing. Alise seems more lost on the sauce of someone being into her (rightfully!) than genuinely attracted to Leftrin, so surprisingly, I’m finding myself a bit worried for the captain’s heart.
It’s not just them- my feelings across the board have been shifting as rapidly as the Rain Wild River itself. Part of Liveship Traders’ brilliance is how Robin Hobb not only develops characters, but actively reshapes our perceptions over time. Most notably, of course, with Malta- going from the absolute worst to the Elderling queen we worship. In Malta’s case, it’s a long arc, but here in Dragon Keeper, I’m finding my opinions shift chapter to chapter.
Take Sedric. Sympathetic one moment, near-villainous the next. We learn he doesn’t care for animals (red flag), so Alise’s hackles are raised at his interest in assisting the dragons. She doesn’t know his actual motivations like we do, but she’s right to sense something is off:
“Oh, he shared some of her scholastic interest in dragons, but she had never seen him pet a dog or talk to his horse. And now he was going to assist this girl in doctoring a dragon? There was something here, and she felt she stood at the edge of a strange and perhaps dark current. Could he possibly be interested in the girl? She was so young and so peculiar looking. It would be very inappropriate.”
Alise’s ability to read a situation, as ever, remains unmatched.
Mirror Mirror
One of the clearest structural throughlines in Dragon Keeper is mirroring. In the overt sense, we have the dragons and their keepers; Alise and Sedric; Tats and Thymara. But there are lots of smaller examples too. My favorite odd pairing is Sedric and Thymara.
These are two characters who, outside the premise of this story, would never cross paths. Yet thanks to Sedric’s underhanded goal of bringing home dragon specimens (the little shit), he buddies up to Thymara with his sudden interest in veterinary medicine, offering to help tend one of the unpaired dragons. But the real gem of this combo comes when they are walking together and Thymara vents to him about the keeper dynamics:
“‘He behaves as if he can’t stand for me to have a friend, like it makes him less important. It’s almost as if he tries to drive a wedge between Tats and me. Why are some people like that?’ She hadn’t expected him to have an answer, but he looked startled, as if she had asked him something of great significance. When he answered, his words came slowly. ‘Maybe because we let them be that way.’”
Which triggers:
“It had snapped a stinging realization into his mind. Hest didn’t like him being friends with Alise. Hest didn’t want him to have conversations with her or have opinions about her… He didn’t like thinking of all the implications of that. He pushed aside the thought of other friendships he’d neglected for Hest’s, even how he’d alienated his father by taking the position with Hest…”
It’s a tidy little lightning bolt of self-awareness. I maintain that Sedric has a lot of growth ahead, and I’m excited to watch it unspool.
The Gang’s All Here!
Our main characters have congregated in Cassarick. I’m enjoying how Dragon Keeper blends elements of Liveship Traders and our Fitz-centered series. We have a Liveship-like ensemble, but instead of scattering them across the map, Hobb drops them all into Cassarick to join a central mission. (The sort of shit quest we’re usually watching Fitz get sent on.) That doesn’t mean, however, our group is unified. Let’s examine:
Keepers/Dragons
There’s a lot of meat on the bone (not literally for the dragons, of course) when it comes to the dynamics of the keepers and their dragons.
Last post, my commentary on Thymara’s experience of becoming part of the keeper cohort got left on the cutting room floor. Her joy at feeling part of a community was so endearing. I mean:
“She looked from face to face and named them to herself, counting them off as if they were jewels in a treasure box. Her friends.”
Don’t get excited- the kumbaya camp vibes didn’t even make it to the next page. Fractures almost instantly materialize, and rivalries and power struggles continue to widen the gaps as we prepare to set off upriver.
But it’s not just the keepers facing division. There are a lot of fascinating social dynamics at play.
Sedric-Leftrin
They don’t trust each other, but these two have more in common than they realize beyond just caring for Alise in their own ways. Both are harboring secrets: Leftrin with his blackmail resurfacing via a mysterious note, and Sedric with his quiet mission to collect dragon specimens. Oh! And of course they hate each other.
Alise-Thymara (and Sintara)
Alise strolls in armed with Selden-level dragon flattery and immediately forms a bond with Sintara, stoking Thymara’s jealousy. Add Sedric slinking around, and there’s a lot simmering here. At first, I imagined a big sister/little sister dynamic developing between Alise and Thymara, but I think we’ve got some ground to cover before we get there. I’m hopeful that these castoff women (Sintara included) have a lot to teach each other about their worth.
Tats-Greft
Our clearest emerging conflict. Greft is wanting to assert leadership over the group, and while some are happy to fall in line, Tats (with Thyamara) is not especially keen to accept his authority.
Add in the fighting over Thymara, and these two are a real tinderbox. I haven’t even mentioned the other keeper chickadee simpering over Tats and fueling Thymara’s jealousy. Ahhh, the social politics of youth. Let’s make things as complicated as possible and then send everyone on a brutal river journey with ill-tempered dragons. What could go wrong!
Of course, we’re firmly Team Tats as a good-guys-versus-bad-guys dynamic seems to be taking shape. And I would like to go on the record that I am getting extremely bad vibes from Greft. Major concerns for what he’s capable of as the story progresses.
Musings!
Alise is the epitome of book-smart, not street-smart.
She interprets Sedric’s protectiveness around Leftrin as possible jealousy. She reminisces on her youthful crush on Sedric and muses:
“Was it possible that he had once cared for her? Was it remotely possible that in some corner of his heart, he still did? Oh, it was a silly fancy, as silly as her timid flirtation with the captain. Silly and absolutely delicious.”
Oh, girl.
Her rise is going to be satisfying, but I fear she has a rough road to walk before we get there. Or Sintara is just going to bluntly spill the beans: he’s just not into you.
But for now, a girl can daydream (and hope she’s transformed into an Elderling with the power of gaydar).
For those who rode with me on my Liveship journey, you’ll know how important this line was to me:
“But the deal had been struck. Kalo had pressed his muddy, inky foot to a piece of parchment…”
I’m here for the talking ships. I’m here for the animal bonds. I’m here for carving giant stone dragons with one’s fingernails. I’m here for prophets, catalysts, forging, unforging- I’m here for it all.
But dragons signing contracts with muddy dragon footprints is pure absurdity.
I loved our time with Malta. She enters chewing the scenery in all her bitchy, Elderling glory. And if, during her arguments about why the dragons need someone advocating for their interests, you found yourself wondering why she isn’t down in the swamp tending them herself, we learn that after struggling to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term, she’s once again pregnant. 🤞
Last post I asked, where’s Wintrow? But the better question is: where the fuck is Reyn? Why is my gal spending hours advocating for the dragons alone? There may have been a passing line about what business he’s attending to, but it clearly wasn’t a good excuse because it didn’t stick with me.
Reyn- I want you present and doting, stat!
Protect Rapskal and Heeby!
They didn’t seem quite significant enough to mention in our list of most interesting dynamics, but I love these irritating little sweeties. Yes, Rapskal is endlessly annoying, but also deeply endearing.
(Greft is going to murder Rapskal, isn’t he? FUCK.)
Hard to believe, but we are approaching the end of Dragon Keeper. I’m sure all the issues will be ironed out and we will set off on our journey upriver smooth sailing.
***Spoilers for The Tawny Man Trilogy through the end of Fool’s Fate.***
Well, friends – I have concluded my read-through of the Tawny Man trilogy. What a beautiful culmination to an incredible series. I was struck by how complete this story felt when combined with the Farseer Trilogy. They may stand as separate series, but they truly feel like necessary companions. While both are remarkable on their own, it’s the arc of all six books that I find almost unbelievably stunning. This ending leaves me with a strong sense of closure, and a deep curiosity about how the Fitz and the Fool trilogy will complement, expand upon, and ultimately conclude Fitz’s story.
Before diving into the emotional conclusion of our tale, I have to address my personal state as I write this post. I debated whether to include this, but what’s the point of blogging if not to show up authentically and share a piece of oneself? This endeavor has always been about connecting across the human experience, and what I’m going through now is something almost everyone can relate to. It also ties closely to the themes of the text, so I’d feel remiss not to include it.
***Spoilers for the Tawny Man Trilogy through chapter 33 of Fool’s Fate.***
If the revelation of how Fitz was previously able to return to his deceased body thrilled me last post, then that was just the appetizer for this section’s full buffet of answers. There’s a lot to cover, so allow me to get right to the goods.
Fitz and the Fool are lingering in their market-square campsite, recovering and wrestling with where things go from here. Once again, we get that wonderful parallel between the Fool’s sense of lostness and desire to retreat from life, and Fitz’s past experience:
“…you cannot hide forever from your life and friends. Eventually, you must face it again.” He almost smiled. “This, from the man who spent over a decade being dead.
They almost feel outside of time in this suspended healing sojourn, but eventually the Fool declares himself recovered enough, and it’s time to rejoin the story. Not before a detour to the stone dragon garden for a visit to Girl-on-a Dragon.
Turns out the Fool has promised the rooster crown to the sort-of-lead minstrel of Girl-on-a-Dragon’s entombed coterie, Realder- a former wearer of the crown. (The crown/Skill-dragon/coterie lore goes pretty dense here, so let’s just stick with that and keep it moving).
***Spoilers for the Tawny Man Trilogy through chapter 29 of Fool’s Fate.***
I fear it’s not the most compelling analysis for me to come to the keyboard each week just to say that was the most incredible thing I’ve ever read. But what the fuck else am I supposed to say? The way this story continues to weave and build is truly unreal.
These chapters had me… affected. In every way possible. From an emotional parting and death that somehow gets relegated to a footnote, because everything else that happens overshadows it, to what I would argue is the most erotic scene I have ever read.
It feels like we’ve reached the crescendo of Fool’s Fate, so I’m curious what’s left for us in the remaining eight chapters or so. The way this volume culminates so many storylines begun all the way back in Farseer also makes me wonder what’s in store for the Fitz and the Fool trilogy. I know we still have some story left to tell, so I’ll save my reflection for the end. But are we going to get Molly before we close out Tawny Man? Or is Robin going to dangle her on the other side of an entire quartet? (I’m assuming Rain Wild Chronicles, like Liveship Traders, will be a separate storyline from the Fitz trilogies, with a little world-building overlap.)
Ok, enough filibustering. I need to get into what actually happened so I can get back to reading posthaste! It’s going to be hard for me to not just copy in 50% of Robin’s words, insert bow-down GIFs, and hit publish. The writing is that incredible. But I shall do my best to share actual thoughts.
Good news: The Pale Woman did not cut off the Fool’s head. Bad news: She did mercilessly torture him and deliver him to an undignified death. Great news: Fitz, with the wisdom of Yoda, realizes that death is life, and, possessing the magic of life, he can work with this.
***Spoilers for the Tawny Man Trilogy through chapter 26 of Fool’s Fate.***
So let me get this straight: I am supposed to just go about my regular life – work my full-time job (sadly, blogging for an audience of none doesn’t pay the bills), make dinners, drive my kids places, etc. – while Burrich is reuniting with Fitz on Aslevjal?
Oh, Robin, you sneaky little Hobb, you. When I saw the chapter title “Reunion,” I assumed it would be Fitz reuniting with Dutiful, Chade, and the rest of the dragon expedition gang. Never in a million years did I expect him to hobble back into camp and straight into Burrich’s strong embrace.
Did I have some questions about how Burrich – mostly blind and crippled – managed to make the harrowing journey across sea and glacier on his own? I did. But Burrich is the embodiment of “where there’s a will, there’s a way,” so I’m willing to go along with the “yada yada, he bumped into Longwick and made it to base camp” explanation and keep it moving. (I did at least appreciate Fitz questioning this seemingly impossible feat as well).
Their reunion is incredible, but there’s not much time to sit down and catch up, because, partially thanks to Web using his bird to tattle the slaying plans to Tintaglia, the situation with Icefyre has turned into a full-on pressure cooker. And when that cooker’s lid blasts off (barely a metaphor), it is on.
After attempting a controlled demolition of the ice encasing Icefyre, Fitz’s forgotten cask of explosive powder goes off unexpectedly, getting the job done (and taking out a few of those extraneous characters I’ve previously mentioned- RIP Eagle). Suddenly, we go from zero dragons to three in a matter of moments. First, Icefyre emerges in rough shape. Second, Tintaglia, punctual queen, arrives on the scene to collect her man. And third, because things can never go smoothly, the Pale Woman’s animated stone dragon, embodying the unhinged soul of Kebal Rawbread, awakens and clunkily hauls itself from the excavation pit.
Dragon Rawbread is given a clear missive from the Pale Woman: defeat at least one of the “real” dragons to prevent their procreation. (Gotta say, it’s handy having Fitz tuned into all the Skilling and dragon communicating throughout the battle. He’s basically our personal CB radio, picking up all the signals and keeping us in the know.) And so, a dragon battle ensues.
It was impossible not to think of Drogon and Rhaegar vs. the Night King’s undead Viserion during the Battle of Winterfell while reading this scene. (A rare Game of Thrones Season 8 bright spot. Well… not literally bright, but you know what I mean. I digress.) Icefyre is depleted but enormous; Tintaglia is comparatively tiny but fierce; and Dragon Rawbread is malformed but vicious. It’s quite the battle.
***Spoilers for the Tawny Man Trilogy through chapter 21 of Fool’s Fate.***
Holy shit. Is this the peak of modern literature? I know we have a ways to go, folks, but this section of chapters blew my fucking mind.
Up until now, events on our dragon-slaying journey had been unfolding fairly mundanely. Something had to give. And that thing – as I so deftly predicted – was the ice. And once it broke, everything went nuts. The tonal shift that accompanied Fitz and the Fool’s fall from the glacier’s surface into the hidden world beneath was magnificent. Suddenly, we were in a horror story, and I was on the edge of my seat.
I know I am constantly glazing my lord and savior Robin Hobb and her mastery, but the culmination of storylines in this section was on another level.
So what all went down? (You know, aside from Fitz and the Fool, literally going down.)
***Spoilers for the Tawny Man Trilogy through chapter 17 of Fool’s Fate.***
We are in it now, friends. I don’t even know where to start. We’ve got the intense drudgery of traversing the glacier; Fitz getting drugged and tweaking out; a charged Fitz-Fool confrontation; the Black Man of Aslevjal creeping around; a Skill attack; and an awakening Wit-awareness of Icefyre under the ice.
We are just around the halfway point of Fool’s Fate, and I don’t think I could possibly be more excited for the conclusion of this trilogy. I have no idea what’s coming, but that won’t stop me from speculating!
I’m typically more of an in-the-moment sort of reader, but as the glacial expedition got underway, a few things started to click. All of a sudden it dawned on me that of course Fitz would have some sort of Wit/Skill connection with Icefyre that would impact his looming decision regarding the dragon’s fate. And then we get this brief moment after Civil and the Fool’s fight, when Fitz has a flash of clarity about his ability to Skill-heal the Fool:
“I cannot say how I knew what it was I had glimpsed. Perhaps something in that closed circle of touching told me. I drew a shaky breath and reached recklessly toward his face with outstretched fingers.
‘I can heal you,’ I told him, amazed and breathless with the discovery. The knowledge of my newfound power rushed through my blood, hot as whiskey. ‘I see what is wrong, the bits that are broken and how the blood pools under your skin where it should not. Fool, I can use the Skill and heal you.’”
wizardwordship 