The Wilful Princess and the Piebald Prince

by Robin Hobb

Internationally-bestselling, critically-acclaimed author Robin Hobb takes readers deep into the history behind the Farseer series in this exclusive, new novella.

One of the darkest legends in the Realm of the Elderlings recounts the tale of the so-called Piebald Prince, a Witted pretender to the throne unseated by the actions of brave nobles so that the Farseer line could continue untainted. Now the truth behind the story is revealed through the account of Felicity, a low-born companion of the Princess Caution at Buckkeep.

With Felicity by her side, Caution grows into a headstrong Queen-in-Waiting. But when Caution gives birth to a bastard son who shares the piebald markings of his father’s horse, Felicity is the one who raises him. And as the prince comes to power, political intrigue sparks dangerous whispers about the Wit that will change the kingdom forever…

Internationally-bestselling, critically-acclaimed author Robin Hobb takes readers deep into the history behind the Farseer series in this exclusive, new novella, 'The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince.' In her trademark style, Hobb offers a revealing exploration of a family secret still reverberating generations later when assassin FitzChivalry Farseer comes onto the scene. Fans will not want to miss these tantalizing new insights into a much-beloved world and its unforgettable characters.

• ISBN13: 9780007498130
• Publish Date: 24 October 2013
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 15 October 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc
• Imprint: HarperCollins
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 160
• Language: English
• URL: http://harpercollins.co.uk

Reviews

[Mercy]

I read this novella a few months ago and this won't surprise you guys but I absolutely loved it. This story takes place many years before the main events in Assassin's Apprentice, it's written as a sort of account by a woman called Felicity who with her son decided to write down the truth about the Piebald Prince. I won't go into much details as it is a short story but I recommend reading it before Tawny Man and I wish I had done that because that way some things that happened in Fool's Errand would've been clearer for me.

Through the Farseer trilogy we learn how despised the Wit is so in this novella we discover how this came to be and it was so sad and it made me angry to read the truth about how a wonderful magic was suddenly loathed. The story is sad and even though I knew things would end badly I found myself wishing otherwise because Hobb once again made me cry and care deeply about the characters. My absolute favourite thing was Hobb's prose, I was so immersed in the story and felt sad about it ending but the characters were also great. Princess Caution and Felicity were my favourites, they were totally opposites, whilst Caution wasn't cautious at all, Felicity was more thoughtful and I loved how they keep going with life without needing a man by their side, contrary to what everyone wanted them to do.

The Wilful Princess and the Piebald Prince is a beautiful written story, it was heartbreaking but the ending compensates the bitterness of what happened and I cannot praise Robin Hobb enough because both her prose and imagination shine in those pages.

[Jo]

Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

This prequel novella to The Farseer Trilogy is just perfect! It reveals the truth behind why there is such distrust of and disgust for the Wit, and why so many people believe such awful, completely untrue things about what the Wit can do. And it all comes down to rivalry, which spawns jealousy, and leads to lies.

Two men, vying for both the crown and the heart of the same woman. One oddly marked and in possession of the Wit, and rightful heir to the throne, the other the King's nephew, older, charming, and knowing how to work a crowd. An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. Until there's only one final outcome.

It's great getting to see the whole story, not just because of what happened to the Piebald Prince, but because of what happened with his mother, Princess Caution. If things were different there, then maybe things would have been different with the Prince. There's so much to come out, and if only people in the present day Six Duchies knew the truth, how easier life would be for the Witted!

I can't really say much more, I don't want to spoil this awesome story! But it's fantastic to get to see the truth! And hopefully, the truth will come out one day...