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shandyt's review
4.0
4.5 stars.
The Longest Goodbye
One day shy of one month after starting, I have ended my journey with RotE. I have done the sacrilegious thing and read the Fitz books only, but I have no regrets.
Goodbye to the most beautifully written fantasy series I've ever read. With the loveliest prose, the most sharply drawn characters, and the stupidest names since the Dragonriders of Pern. FitzChivalry Farseer, you will always be my favorite POV protagonist. Despite your frequent moments of willful obliviousness, your poor choices, and your baffling lack of self awareness, I love you.
I made a good choice to wrap up my listen to this book at home, and not at work. Many tears were shed, even at the fairly lighthearted stuff like. I'll admit to feeling a little gutted every time . And I absolutely lost it when .
I truly have only one complaint about this magnificent finale to the series.
In the days to come, I may have more detailed thoughts about this book, and the series as a whole. Just know that I cannot recommend it enough.
The Longest Goodbye
One day shy of one month after starting, I have ended my journey with RotE. I have done the sacrilegious thing and read the Fitz books only, but I have no regrets.
Goodbye to the most beautifully written fantasy series I've ever read. With the loveliest prose, the most sharply drawn characters, and the stupidest names since the Dragonriders of Pern. FitzChivalry Farseer, you will always be my favorite POV protagonist. Despite your frequent moments of willful obliviousness, your poor choices, and your baffling lack of self awareness, I love you.
I made a good choice to wrap up my listen to this book at home, and not at work. Many tears were shed, even at the fairly lighthearted stuff like
Spoiler
Bee meeting and loving ThickSpoiler
Fitz skilled and heard "My boy!" in the Skill streamSpoiler
everyone came to be with Fitz as he died, especially Kettricken, second-best character in the series. Yes, I like her even more than the Foolβespecially in this trilogy. (I wonder... did anyone notice when Kettricken referred to Elliania's unborn child as her and Fitz's grandchild?) I just wish there had been more time for goodbyes before Fitz put all his feelings into his wolfI truly have only one complaint about this magnificent finale to the series.
Spoiler
Why did it have to be worms?? What an ignominious way for Fitz to go. I think part of my problem with the idea of death-by-parasites is that it seems so unlikely to my modern senses. One big dose of ivermectin in the real world (or maybe a couple trips through the Skill pillars, which are known to abort pregnancies?) and Fitz's problem may have been solved. Why couldn't it have been a poison the Servants darted him with? Fitz and poisonings go way back, so it would have been thematic. The poison could have had the same effects as the parasites, and if you told me it was some fantastical, incurable toxin that leached into the bones and caused a slow wasting via internal hemorrhaging, I'd have had no trouble suspending my disbelief. Hell, make it magical radiation from the silver, or turbo-ebola, or even necrotizing fasciitis. But worms??In the days to come, I may have more detailed thoughts about this book, and the series as a whole. Just know that I cannot recommend it enough.
dkadastra's review
5.0
What an incredible ride! A truly amazing, bittersweet, and fitting end to Fitz and the Fool's journey. Robin Hobb saved her best work for the finale. It is truly rare for someone to land the plane this well at the end of such an epic saga, without invalidating any character work or choices that came before it.
Another thing that was awesome was how she wove all the previous series that occurred in different settings with different characters into this final trilogy. It even made slogging through the rain wild chronicles worth it, even those that series was.... not great.
I had initially read the Farseer trilogy awhile ago, and remember enjoying it, but I didn't move on to the rest of the books. I'm so glad I revisited them. For whatever reason, I definitely enjoyed them more this time around. I truly think the massive tapestry Hobb wove over the 5 series that comprise the whole epic is a stunning achievement.
Another thing that was awesome was how she wove all the previous series that occurred in different settings with different characters into this final trilogy. It even made slogging through the rain wild chronicles worth it, even those that series was.... not great.
I had initially read the Farseer trilogy awhile ago, and remember enjoying it, but I didn't move on to the rest of the books. I'm so glad I revisited them. For whatever reason, I definitely enjoyed them more this time around. I truly think the massive tapestry Hobb wove over the 5 series that comprise the whole epic is a stunning achievement.
guppyur's review against another edition
5.0
I think we all knew we were heading for something like this. I didn't predict the ending, although I feel a bit like I should have. This series of trilogies is, I think, the greatest modern work of fantasy I've ever read, and this was a perfect, amazing conclusion.
I didn't read this final trilogy for a good while after it was released, and procrastinated reading this final volume even longer, partly because the series is important to me and I didn't want it to be over, and partly because I've read enough Hobb to know that it would be an emotionally difficult read. I was right; I spent most of the last 10% of it -- which is an insanely large amount, when you think about it, especially for a 950 page volume -- sobbing and hyperventilating uncontrollably. My wife came downstairs to check on me, thinking from the sounds I was making that I might have received some kind of awful news.
The first volume of the first trilogy of this series was published in 1996, according to Goodreads, and I think I must have started reading it not long after publication. That means I've read this series for almost 25 years, which is a longer relationship than I have with nearly any other series. I hardly know what to say now that I've finished it, except that I have a decades-long connection to these characters and I'm incredibly pleased that Hobb has finished it so well, though that's no surprise.
Strangely, I never read the Rain Wilds trilogy, and I'll have to go back and do that. It'll be interesting and different to read it for the first time now, knowing what we learned in this final trilogy.
What an immense talent.
I didn't read this final trilogy for a good while after it was released, and procrastinated reading this final volume even longer, partly because the series is important to me and I didn't want it to be over, and partly because I've read enough Hobb to know that it would be an emotionally difficult read. I was right; I spent most of the last 10% of it -- which is an insanely large amount, when you think about it, especially for a 950 page volume -- sobbing and hyperventilating uncontrollably. My wife came downstairs to check on me, thinking from the sounds I was making that I might have received some kind of awful news.
The first volume of the first trilogy of this series was published in 1996, according to Goodreads, and I think I must have started reading it not long after publication. That means I've read this series for almost 25 years, which is a longer relationship than I have with nearly any other series. I hardly know what to say now that I've finished it, except that I have a decades-long connection to these characters and I'm incredibly pleased that Hobb has finished it so well, though that's no surprise.
Strangely, I never read the Rain Wilds trilogy, and I'll have to go back and do that. It'll be interesting and different to read it for the first time now, knowing what we learned in this final trilogy.
What an immense talent.
nitroglycerin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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bookslut's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
raiju01's review
5.0
A world and its characters, built for 16 books and more than 20 years...
This trilogy felt like a procession, celebrating all that we have seen while tackling the current mission, revisiting scenes and characters from all the previous books, and it hits with the force of decades.
I can't believe the amount of characters that I absolutely love.
The best thing throughout the series, however, was Fitz's relationship to every character, each dynamic is so very distinct, I had so much fun trying to predict his reactions, his likes and dislikes. I felt like he was a friend after reading his pov for so long. Replying frequently to his many internal questions.
Fitz and the Fool and Nighteyes, my beloveds for a long time to come.
This trilogy felt like a procession, celebrating all that we have seen while tackling the current mission, revisiting scenes and characters from all the previous books, and it hits with the force of decades.
I can't believe the amount of characters that I absolutely love.
The best thing throughout the series, however, was Fitz's relationship to every character, each dynamic is so very distinct, I had so much fun trying to predict his reactions, his likes and dislikes. I felt like he was a friend after reading his pov for so long. Replying frequently to his many internal questions.
Fitz and the Fool and Nighteyes, my beloveds for a long time to come.
pennym_'s review against another edition
adventurous
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
i finished it out of respect for this incredible series, the world, and its characters. but it took me forever. and i just dont enjoy reading about a long journey. it was fun to see characters pop up from previous books, but at times it really made the plot drag. im thinking especially of the time spent in the pirate isles, just stuck and waiting while these other characters from another series (my favorite, even!) had to play out their drama. there was also SO MUCH retelling and summarizing the events of previous books, which i guess might make sense if you were reading these books as they came out. ive been reading them all over the span of two years, so i found myself skimming those sections. but moreover, the characters in this book didnt really need the history lesson, not for the purposes of their journey.
also for a grand finale book, hobb sure did keep a lot of those characters alive. im not saying i wanted everyone to die, but it rubs me the wrong way when authors pretend to kill off a bunch of characters and then they turn out not to have died. in this case, fitz i understand not dying where everyone thought he did. im more annoyed about everyone surviving the paragon attack.
anyway this was a fitting conclusion to the rote, it did really feel like a full-circle ending. it did in some ways mirror the structure of the first three books, which i can appreciate, but my ratings are also reflective of that first series of books; i just dont enjoy a quest plot π€·ββοΈ
also for a grand finale book,
anyway this was a fitting conclusion to the rote, it did really feel like a full-circle ending. it did in some ways mirror the structure of the first three books, which i can appreciate, but my ratings are also reflective of that first series of books; i just dont enjoy a quest plot π€·ββοΈ
teargarden's review against another edition
4.0
this was the most romantic ending to a "platonic" relationship i've ever seen in my life. merging together into stone to be one for the rest of eternity seems pretty gay to me but whatever floats ur boat, robin hobb. this last series made me fret and rage in equal amounts for many different reasons but i can accept this ending. at least both of them died instead of just fitz bc that would've made me bring down the wrath of all hells to flatten the earth. this book series has been with me for what seems like a short while but with the end of it there is something monumental in me that ends as well and no one knows about it. i feel alone and adrift like a derelict ship. these characters have come to mean the world to me and have brought me much pain and joy. there might never be a character like fitzchivalry farseer again in the entirety of literature. that man is me. i feel like a huge part of me went into the wolf with them, but not enough. i wish i could go with them.
covergirlbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
johannaplatt's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The end of Fitz and the Fool's story made me very emotional. Of course the main plot point of this book is Bee's rescue, but it's also about an ending for our poor dear Fitz. Really enjoyed hearing more of the "echoes" of Nighteyes than in previous books. It's heartbreaking that Fitz couldn't be the father he should have been for Nettle and Bee, but he'd been through so much at that point, used so ruthlessly by the Farseer throne and the Fool that it's no wonder he wanted his last act to be for his own choice. My only criticism is that I would have preferred their going into the stone wolf to have been from Fitz's POV, I think emotionally that would have packed a bigger punch for our last moments to have been with Fitz, Nighteyes and Fool. Bee is a capable person who no doubt we will see more of. I think people are unfair when they say she is unlikeable - she's complicated and traumatised. She is a product of what happened to her and what she had to do to survive. She's flawed and interesting. Would love to read more from her POV. The subplot of the Live Ships was very engaging and I enjoyed the returning characters (though I had forgotten some of the plot points from those books as I read them a while ago!).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Drug use, Murder, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Child abuse, and Confinement
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Pedophilia