Fool’s Quest: Part One (Fitz and the Fool, #2)

by Robin Hobb

Lee Maxwell Simpson (Narrator) and Avita Jay (Narrator)

'Fantasy as it ought to be written' George R.R. Martin

Robin Hobb returns to her best loved characters with the second volume in a brand new series.

Happy endings never last…

Years ago, they freed a dragon from the glaciers on Aslevjal. Then they parted ways, the Fool returning to far-off Clerres, while Fitz finally claimed a wife, a family, and a home of his own.

Now, betrayed by his own people and broken by torment, the Fool has made his way back to the Six Duchies. But as Fitz attempts to heal his old friend in Buckkeep Castle, his young daughter Bee is abducted from Withywoods by pale and mysterious raiders who leave ruin and confusion in their wake.

Fitz must find a way to rescue his beloved Bee. At the same time it is the Fool’s fiercest wish to return to Clerres with the best assassin he has ever known, to gain vengeance and justice.
Can Fitz bear to take up the tools of his old trade again, even to avenge his dearest friend and save his child?

• ISBN13: 9780007573936
• Publish Date: 30 July 2015
• Publish Status: Permanently Withdrawn
• Out of Print: 19 February 2016
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
• Edition: Unabridged edition
• Format: Audiobook (WAV)
• Duration: 15 hours and 47 minutes
• Language: English
• URL: http://harpercollins.co.uk

Reviews

[Metaphorosis Reviews]

4 stars - Metaphorosis Reviews

When the Fool returned unexpectedly and near death, Fitz rushed to save him, leaving his daughter in the care of others. Now, he's paying for that decision.

With Robin Hobb's Rain Wilds Chronicles series, I feared that she had lost her touch. The first book of this new, more adult trilogy, Fool's Assassin, proved me wrong; it was her best book in some years. This second book in the trilogy is just as strong.

Fool's Quest confirms Hobb as one of the field's very best fantasy writers. The writing is smooth, effortless, and moving. The plot is carefully and credibly constructed. We gradually accrete pieces of the answers we've been wondering about over the series' 14 (!) previous books.

It's hard to say that the length of the series is a drawback, since most of the books have been extremely enjoyable. You can certainly read this book without reading all the rest, but you'll definitely get the most out of it if you know all the background. Hobb does a good job of tieing all the pieces together and providing key reminders, but I wish I'd had the time to go back and re-read everything that came before. Maybe I'll try that before the next book, which promises some important answers.

While I loved the book for most of the time I was reading it, a few things brought it lower than I'd originally anticipated.

• Bee (Fitz' daughter) seems a bit too adult in her writing, even considering who she is.


• Fitz starts to get very 'Recluce' toward the end, by which I mean that he returns over and over to a single character refrain - in this case, his oft-spoken determination to act alone. It's overdone for a character trait that we already know very well. Fitz' moping about it doesn't add that much to the story.


• Torture - the book has a glaring central hypocrisy that isn't well addressed. The Fool has been tortured, and that's terrible - he and Fitz need to go out immediately and kill everyone involved. Fitz tortures some other people - well, he needs information, and besides, he's angry. It's the quintessential 'what we do is good; what they do is bad' flaw. Hobb makes a token effort to note that torture doesn't work, but Fitz, for all his introspection, mostly falls back to 'I'm ashamed, but I had to do it.' I wish Hobb had chosen a different route; for me, this does not fall at all in the 'awful necessity' category, and it makes Fitz a lot less likable.

At its best, the book reminds me very favorably of the first Deryni trilogy, before it got too wound up in religion and politics. Overall, an excellent book flawed by a brief and inconsistent treatment of torture.


Merged review:

4 stars - Metaphorosis Reviews

When the Fool returned unexpectedly and near death, Fitz rushed to save him, leaving his daughter in the care of others. Now, he's paying for that decision.

With Robin Hobb's Rain Wilds Chronicles series, I feared that she had lost her touch. The first book of this new, more adult trilogy, Fool's Assassin, proved me wrong; it was her best book in some years. This second book in the trilogy is just as strong.

Fool's Quest confirms Hobb as one of the field's very best fantasy writers. The writing is smooth, effortless, and moving. The plot is carefully and credibly constructed. We gradually accrete pieces of the answers we've been wondering about over the series' 14 (!) previous books.

It's hard to say that the length of the series is a drawback, since most of the books have been extremely enjoyable. You can certainly read this book without reading all the rest, but you'll definitely get the most out of it if you know all the background. Hobb does a good job of tieing all the pieces together and providing key reminders, but I wish I'd had the time to go back and re-read everything that came before. Maybe I'll try that before the next book, which promises some important answers.

While I loved the book for most of the time I was reading it, a few things brought it lower than I'd originally anticipated.

• Bee (Fitz' daughter) seems a bit too adult in her writing, even considering who she is.


• Fitz starts to get very 'Recluce' toward the end, by which I mean that he returns over and over to a single character refrain - in this case, his oft-spoken determination to act alone. It's overdone for a character trait that we already know very well. Fitz' moping about it doesn't add that much to the story.


• Torture - the book has a glaring central hypocrisy that isn't well addressed. The Fool has been tortured, and that's terrible - he and Fitz need to go out immediately and kill everyone involved. Fitz tortures some other people - well, he needs information, and besides, he's angry. It's the quintessential 'what we do is good; what they do is bad' flaw. Hobb makes a token effort to note that torture doesn't work, but Fitz, for all his introspection, mostly falls back to 'I'm ashamed, but I had to do it.' I wish Hobb had chosen a different route; for me, this does not fall at all in the 'awful necessity' category, and it makes Fitz a lot less likable.

At its best, the book reminds me very favorably of the first Deryni trilogy, before it got too wound up in religion and politics. Overall, an excellent book flawed by a brief and inconsistent treatment of torture.

[Jo]

Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

As I said in my review of Fool's Assassin, I was unable to wait the whole year until the paperback of Fool's Quest was released to read this book, so I borrowed the hardback. I'm partly glad I did, but at the same time, I now have to wait a year for the third, and it's going to be so hard! Fool's Quest was brilliant!

While Fitz rushed through a standing stone to take the Fool to Buckkeep to be healed, raiders attacked his home and kidnapped his daughter, Bee, and Lady Shun, a woman under his protection. Away from home, believing Bee safe under the care of Lord FitzVigilant and Lady Shun, despite not fully trusting them, his concern for the Fool deepen. Tortured to the point of being unrecognisable by his own people, the Fool is nothing like his old self. Fearful and in so much pain, the Fool's is slowly dying. But the Servants of Clerres are out for the Fool's Unexpected Son, heard of in prophecies, and the Fool is adamant that the Servants must be stopped before they find him, and pleads with Fitz to journey back with him to kill every single last one of them. But when the news of Bee and Shun's abduction reaches Buckkeep, Fitz's only thought is to find his daughter, and kill those who took her.

I've been struggling to write this review for a while now. Quite a few of the major events of the book are spoilery, but as big as the book is, there's quite a lot of time where not a huge amount happens. It's only a little before halfway through that Fitz even hears about Bee, and it's quite a while after until there's any clue as to where they might be. We get a few chapters from Bee's perspective, though fewer than we did in Fool's Assassin, and with the kidnappers is a young man who has a magic similar to the skill that can make people not notice them, almost like they're invisible, so it's a long time before there's any idea as to where they could be. So a large part of the story is Fitz and the Fool together at Buckkeep, Fitz learning about the Fool's story and what happened to him, and the Fool trying to get better.

Saying this, it's still absolutely riveting reading, even though it feels like not a huge amount happens for a fair while. It's a hugely emotional story, in lots of ways, and there are some fantastic revelations. There was a moment towards the beginning of the book where I was so emotional because of how happy I was. Something good for Fitz, something truly wonderful, and I was so happy there were tears in my eyes - it was brilliant!

I could be wrong, but there was a point in the novel where I felt quite sure this might be the last trilogy in the Realm of the Elderlings books, or at the very least, the last for Fitz and the Fool. There are moments that are similar to those we saw in the Farseer Trilogy, the very first trilogy, and it almost felt like things have come full circle. They were, themselves, bittersweet moments, small as they were, but really quite important, especially for Fitz.

Fool's Quest is also a book that shows us just how much time has moved on since the Rain Wild Chronicles. Without giving away too much, we got to briefly see some familiar faces from the Rain Wilds, and although it was just a couple of moments, it was wonderful to revisit them, and see how their lives had moved on. I'm hoping there's the possibility of seeing a few more in the final book in the trilogy, Assassin's Fate (ominous title!), but I don't know. I do think there will be some threads from all series that will tie up together, though, in some way. These aren't so much hints, but just a feeling I have, that the next book might be the last in this world, and I'm really quite sad about it. Whether it is or not, I have a strong feeling Assassin's Fate is going to be extremely emotional, and probably quite sad.

A wonderful book, with an unbelievable cliffhanger ending! I cannot wait for Assassin's Fate, and all that will be revealed in that final book!

[layawaydragon]

Fool’s Assassin is the first book in Fitz and Fool’s third trilogy. It’s extraordinary. You must read the previous six though to get the full experience. It’s worth it. I can’t recommend it enough. It’s enriched my life so, I can’t imagine living without Hobb’s work. This is a Hobb classic, which has everything: beautifully written, full characters, rich world building, and an invigorating plot.
Hobb mentions how her heart always remained with Fitz and with this novel, she’s returned home. I feel the same. For me, this is more than just a favorite series. It’s personal and resonates in a way I can’t describe outside the closest friends who know my own story. I’m so glad to return and didn’t doubt Hobb’s ability to bring it home at all.

Point of view alternates between Fitz and another new favorite character. I haven’t fallen for someone this hard for someone since Fitz and Fool.

Fitz has aged and grown but still bears scars from his time as Catalyst. I connect with his need to constantly apologize. Yet unable to break habits pounded into flesh and drilled into thoughts. Classic Fitz being so insecure, rash, and at times dense, I can't help loving him.

Oh, Fool. Oh, you beloved Fool. Hands down my favorite character of all time.

Molly’s so sweet, loving, and strong as is Nettle. Every character is grounded and well-rounded. Background characters, like servants aren’t flat or bland. You’ll learn plenty of their names, whether you love or hate them.

Like their first book, Assassin’s Apprentice, it’s a slow buildup of relationships and dynamics before shit hits the fan. Most action and world-shifting changes don’t happen until the end. Even then, it’s more subdued than recent books. Before, Fitz was in the middle of world altering battles and politics. Now he’s an older man enjoying much deserved rest and reluctantly dragged into such doings. Too bad his calm doesn’t last long. Don’t for a second think this old wolf can’t or won’t protect his own.

I loved their everyday life at Withywoods. There are no mortal struggles, just mortals juggling the mundane: family dynamics and duties, neighbors and their kids, chores, jobs, learning, loving, and leaving. It's engaging and captivating, speaking to daily truths.

Even facts you see before Fitz does aren’t problematic. It draws out tension without ever breaking my patience, tolerance, or disbelief. It’s masterly achieved to provide gripping suspense waiting for the ax to fall because nothing remains peaceful for the royal bastard.

It’s such a roller coaster of emotion, hope, and turmoil. I was crying several times before hitting page 150. I don’t think I could ever do this experience justice. Homeward Bound was the first movie to rend me and stitch me back together. That, including every profound moment since then still doesn’t come close to this.

It’s beyond breathtaking and heartbreaking. Time-outs were required throughout to digest and recover; it’s that hard hitting. Even when responsibilities got in my way (dear god, nothing stays clean) I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I never left the Six Duchies and a part of me never will.
There’s so many questions still! The ending is…oh my lord; the Grand Canyon doesn’t have shit on this chasm Hobb leaves you clinging to. It’ll haunt me until I can continue the tale. I loathe cliffhangers but it’s a sensible separation place. Continuing would require another book or two; the fact I can’t have those now is my main gripe. (Please continue publishing every year, please!)
I’m sure I sound like a hopeless fangirl and this review does no good besides showing how much I love it, yet it’s all I can write. My friend and I were reduced to shouting “OH MY GOD” back and forth.
God, now I want to cry again.

So beautifully written. Descriptive, vivid, and engaging even when it’s just everyday chores. Everything springs to life.

Torn between wanting to read it quicker and make it happen now and never wanting it to end. Why can’t this be the never-ending story? I’d gladly live out my life in this world.

AND my friend got me an autographed copy!!! :DD