Fool's Errand (Tawny Man Trilogy, book 1)
By Robin Hobb
Blurb:
For fifteen years FitzChivalry Farseer has lived in self-imposed exile, assumed to be dead by almost all who once cared about him. But now, into his isolated life, visitors begin to arrive: Fitz’s mentor from his assassin days; a hedge-witch who foresees the return of a long-lost love; and the Fool, the former White Prophet, who beckons Fitz to fulfill his destiny.
These books are huge. I thought the Farseer series was big but these books are even bigger and growing. This first book was 661 pages long, which is insane. Netherless I powered through because I knew it would be worth it.
For those who haven't read books by Robin Hobb, you're probably wondering why they're so long. It's simply really, she just really likes to include a lot of detail. She includes every aspect of Fitz (main character) life; when he sleeps, eat, rides on a horse for a few days...Everything!
Therefore I wouldn't reccomend this book to people who don't like that style of writing. I personally do, it really helps to visualise and to create a strong bond for the characters. It makes me feel like I'm there watching or it's like watching a TV series. The details makes me have emotional attachments for the characters. That's why I love her work and this series so much.
The downside of the detail is that it does make the book quite slow. I believe roughly the first 30% of the book not much happens, it's mainly a catch up (which is expected) done through short conversations. Once Fitz (or Tom who knows how to address him) gains his quest thats when the story starts to properly pick up.
I wouldn't reccomend reading this if you haven't already read the Farseer series as I think it'll get confusing, mainly understanding who all the characters are. That's because this book is set 15 years later, Fitz is in his 30's now when in the previous series it ended with him in his late teens. I love watching this character grow and I know the next series in the Realms of the Elderlings will have Fitz even older. It's just enjoyable to read the character mind set grow as he develops across the ages. Now that he is older, he's meant to have less child impulses and seem more of a man and for the most part that is true. It's enjoyable seeing his relationships grow as he grows too. His freindship with the Fool is just getting stronger despite everything that goes on around them. It's good to see such a unique friendship.
The way I see this book is that it's more focused on the Wit than the previous series. As that series seemed heavily involved in the Skill. I could be wrong but I have a feeling that the next two books of Tawny Man will also be more Wit heavy. For those who don't know Wit and Skill are forms of magic that Fitz possesses. The Wit; also known as Old Blood; is a magic that creates a bond between man and beast. This magic however, is not praised in the community and people get killed for having it. That's why that magic is kept secret. The Skill is the magic of the Farseer bloodline and for some reason isn't hated despite being quite an intruding magic. It lets Fitz hear people's thoughts, to talk to other users of the skill through their mind and also to expereince peoples dreams and lives. Yet for some reason this magic is fine?
Speaking of the Wit, one of the things I loved was the introduction of cats. For those who have cats, you know they are quite impulsive and they get what they want. Normally when Fitz meets an animal through the Wit its subtle but cats are very loud and constantly making demands. It really humoured me when there was a cat in the scene.
*SPOILERS*
Now it's time to get into the big spoilers. In the Farseer series, Fitz has a love interest named Molly. Their love was forbidden and when he was finally ready to embrace her once more, he was unable to as she thought he was dead and fell in love with Burich the stablemaster. The end of the relationship was really devastating at the end of the first series, as the Tawny Man series begins, we discover they ended up having 5 kids together. Although this upsets me, it does make the story more interesting. Mainly because it means there is room for him to fall in love all over again. It looks like he might be as well, as a new character named Jinna might be the one. Not much has happened between them too much yet, just one kiss but it definitely seems like something will blossom especially when the book ended. Eventhough Jinna is new, I already like her more than Molly, she just seems to have a lot more personality. Therefore I'm looking forward to this relationship developing, well possibly.
Throughout the book, you see the age of the wolf having a toll. The wolf would have been around 15 years old which is about the life expectancy of a wolf in captivity. It's hard to read about the wolf being so weak and even harder still when the wolf eventually dies. It's hard to let such a good character go so early in the new series. I don't doubt that Fitz will bond again but it's still hard to let go. I'm glad Hobb didn't keep the wolf alive too long because it would have took the realness away.
In conclusion, I really loved this book. It was great seeing Fitz grown up and new parts of him to develop such as aggression and his fear from his scarred past. I also like how he is no longer a people pleaser and he does what he wants to do/is right to do. I look forward to the next book. My guesses is we'll find out who Chades apprentice is and I have a feeling it will be set purely in Buckeep again.
Quote:
'So grief has always seemed to me, a time of waiting not for the hurt to pass, but to become accustomed to it'
- FitzChivalry Farseer, Fool's Errand
Rating: 4.5 runes out of 5
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