Years of waiting for Assassins Apprentice and now Daniel is breezing through the series.

Robin Hobb is the best damn character writer in all of fantasy. There, I said it.

Regarding the magic system: what I think is so unique about the Skill is that no one really knows how it works anymore, this becoming more evident as the series continues. It is a forgotten art that no one knows how to use, but still need to use. Thats what I love with Fitz's struggle with the Skill

Love Robin Hobb. Her prose and characters are wonderful.

The ending of the third one may not click with everybody. But it would be a shame if you stopped there. The next set of trilogies are some of the best the genre has to offer, Liveship Traders and Tawny Man, how I wish I could read them for the first time again.

I liked the third one a lot. It’s a departure from the Buckeep formula you’ve been seeing and you need that. You see Fitz expand his magic use, and while the ending of it may turn some people off, stopping there and not giving Liveship Traders a try would be a damn shame. Liveship is one of the greatest fantasy trilogies full-stop.

One aspect of Hobb’s writing I appreciated was the very thorough descriptions of foods and smells. It seemed like such a weird thing to focus on, and so rarely done. However, Fitz’ deep connection to canines means that smells and tastes are a much larger part of his life. It is subtle for many scenes, but I think an excellent writing choice.

Thanks for this video! I've been getting a bit disenchanted with fantasy booktube's bias for simple prose. In many reviews by eminent booktubers I'm seeing good prose be slandered or viewed as a negative that distracts from the story, while mediocre and clumsy prose alike are praised for being "straightforward". It's good to see there is still appreciation for authors who spend just as much time on crafting *how* the story is told as they do on the story itself.

Speaking of prose, as someone who has been reading fantasy since I was a kid in the mid 1980s, writing has gotten weaker over time. The fantasies written in the 70s 80s 90s prose was a selling point. And writers really took some pride in it (Hobb, Katharine Kurtz, Tad William's, Jennifer Roberson, I could go on and on). The popularity of YA in the 2000s has sort of killed that across the board. The writing styles have become more bland and workman-like. One is not better than the other...but I know which I prefer

It took me MONTHS to read Royal Assassin because I was so irritated with Regal, I just couldn't. I found Assassin's Quest to be overly long but on a par in terms of quality with RA. The Liveship Trader's trilogy combines all of the prose and character qualities of Farseer, with the better magic system, larger world and multiple perspective 3rd person limited. SO GOOD ETA: The first spoiler you mentioned is the best representation I've seen of this situation, only time it's not taken me right out of the story

I dunno if the magic system in this book series is softer, but based on what you said, I can't help but remember a video from HelloFutureMe how while hard magic systems tend to magnify the fantastical aspects of the story, soft magic systems magnify on the psychological aspects of the story.

Having almost finished the whole trilogy of trilogies I really appreciate the slow, well developed character work. Fitz and the Fool are such amazing characters

And btw, I know some people dislike book 3, but i LOVED it. I adore the pacing of Hobb's books - the 'slowness' makes me feel at ease (or not) but really makes the story, characterd and world feel expansive by its slowness instead of 'big world big fast action'

As an adult reader, I really appreciate Robin Hobb's writing. One of my problems with other fantasy books is that the simplicity of language pervasive in YA seems to be oozing over into adult genre fiction and I'm not a fan of that.

Don't listen to the people telling you the third book isn't good! The Elderlings series just keeps getting better and you'd miss out on some of the best character work in the genre if you give it up. D: Liveship Traders is SO GOOD, Tawny Man ever better, and Rainwild Chronicles? *CHEF'S KISS* SO MUCH GOODNESS YET TO COME. also dragons. :D

I just want to send Kettricken to Washington....I always have, but now more than ever. If nothing else it would be satisfying to see all the head scratching as she tried to explain what "Sacrifice" meant:)

I actually love the ending to the Farseer trilogy. It broke me and I was appalled. I see a lot of people who hate it which I think is another virtue of Hobb which is that the ending generates emotion, good or bad. While I liked the Farseer, the rest of the Realm of th Elderlings is so much better especially Liveship Traders trilogy. That one is a masterpiece.

One thing I always mention about the Assassin trilogy from Hobb is that she doesn't mean assassin like most current popular authors use the term. I'm not exactly sure how to articulate the differences, but there is very little in the trilogy that reminds me of the assassin school series' that have become so popular in YA fiction recently. Fitz' journey is a lot more about his nation, his sense of self, and the intrigue than it ever was about assassination. The fact that SPOILER he kills people sometimes SLASH SPOILER is almost incidental. EDIT: Please please please still continue with Liveship Traders even if you dislike the ending of Assassin's Quest! I personally don't mind the ending but even if you do, you could still enjoy the LST a lot! It would be like... cheating yourself out of the Stormlight Archive because you didn't enjoy how the Mistborn trilogy ended.

I think the third one is great. There is about a 100 page stretch in the second half that feels a little drawn out, other than that, it’s great imo. Some of the conclusions feel a bit rushed, but nothing major. Reading The Liveship Trader trilogy now, and I think I might like it even more than Farseer.

I really didn’t like Assassins Quest, but the next trilogy (live ship traders) is my favourite trilogy of all time. So if you do end up disliking the next book, I would recommend not giving up on the realm of the elderlings.

what I love about Robin Hobb is that her characters truly "sit down and talk" to solve problems. There were many moments (especially in Rain Wild Chronicles which I just finished) when I thought "these lies, half-truths or misconceptions will lead to a great conflict and damage characters' relationships" but no! The characters sit to talk, and explain, and the conflict that could do a lot of damage is no more.

For me, the third book will forever be one of the most captivating reads I ever had ( probably because of what was happening in my life ). I understand if some people think its too long, but in the context of the entire series, it's still my favorite adventure in the head of Fitz.

Great review, Daniel! Assassin's Quest is a bit hard to get through in terms of plot, but if you're invested in the relationships I think you'll still enjoy it. But you should definitely stick out the whole series! The Liveship Traders and the middle trilogy, The Tawny Man, are just so damn good.

The second trilogy about Fitz is way better than the first, the third one is amazing too

Daniel: Posts spoiler-y review for a book I haven’t read Me: Turns off volume, and plays and likes video bc he deserves to post reviews of whatever books he wants to talk about without it hurting the channel

Currently reading Assassin's Quest, so it is very fun to see how you felt about the second book, knowing a bit about what comes next. Great review, can't wait to see how you feel when you finish the series!

Royal Assassin (or I must say the 'Fitz' saga ?) was the third fantasy series I read after Lord of the Rings and A song of Ice and Fire. It's interesting to have the perspective of someone who has much more experience in fantasy :D And I agree that the end of this book was probably one of the most incredible I have ever read in fantasy!

While I think RA is the best book of the trilogy, the third is by no means bad. If anything, you might find the ending frustrating, but not because it's bad, at least imo. I really hope you continue reading the Realm of the Elderlings, because the other Hobb trilogies are just as good and often better than Farseer.

My mom picked up the first book at a secondhand store with no idea what the story was, gave it to me (I was 11) and ever since that I have been hooked on the journey of Fitz and that universe. These books have been with me as I grew up and I always re-read them once a year 😊

Please continue with the Realm of the elderlings. Liveship traders is absolutely fantastic and expands the world so well and the characters are amazing. Malta in particular has such an amazing arc throughout that it would be a travesty to not keep going.

Great review!!! and do keep reading this trilogy and the others in Hobb's world. I will very much wait for youre further exploration of this amazing story

After I'm done with A little Hatred I am now going to re read Assassins Apprentice and finally continue with the rest of the Realm of the Elderlings now knowing it just gets better

I'm going through the series now, currently in the middle of Tawny Man, and I adore them. Can't wait to see what you make of Liveship Traders, think you're going to really love it!

I enjoyed all the books along the way but man, the ending to the 16th and final book was well worth the journey imo. So much comes together in that last trilogy.

awesome! I just found your videos on KZfaq. I watched the Assassin's Apprentice video and noticed it was published at the beginning of this month. I thought, "Aw, man! He just read this book. I can't wait until he reads the next one." Boom! You just published the second book review. Okay, now I have to watch this video too and it's already 4am.

I'm so glad that you've started burning through the series of my favorite fantasy characters! Although I see the point of some people not enjoying the ending of the third book, I have to say that the two other Fitz trilogies certainly make up for it. But I must warn you; there are many tears ahead of you if you continue your journey.

So glad you are enjoying what to me is a truly wonderful series, it's not perfect, but what is!? I hope you do continue, because it is so worth the time and effort and is deeply satisfying on a fundamental level.

Thank you so much for finally picking this series up!!! Fitz is my favourite character!

Mate the 3rd book is my favourite one. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

One thing about Robin Hobb is though her books may be a bit slow, I don't mind cuz they're so beautifully written and she spends that time crafting such wonderful characters.

Happy Saturday morning to me!

So excited you are enjoying this series. I am currently reading the Liveship Traders Trilogy’s final entry and it is even better than the Farseer Trilogy.

Amazing review Daniel! I love the Eldering characters. Thr third book is long and the ending is kind of frustrating, but I liked it a lot since it's not a perfect ending

Looks like I'm gonna have to add yet another series to my TBR. Starting to think that I'm never going to clear that list now 😂

Even if you don't end up liking the last book (which I didn't), please please please carry on to the liveship trader series by Hobb as that is bloody fantastic.

I am eagerly waiting for you to cover the Live ship traders books. While initially it feels like an interlude between the fits stories, It is written in the third person and it turned into one of my favorite pieces of written work ever.

Glad you enjoyed it. The third book in the trilogy does drag a bit and was disappointing at the time of release when we didn't know there were more books coming. Now that Fitz has a true ending it's not as bad as it was before lol. The Liveship Traders is next, and I think you'll enjoy it immensely! Third person, multiple points of view, and expands on the magic system. :)

Wow that was quick. I love the series. Keep going.

I was really happy with how book 3 ties everything together. Then, if you pick up the Liveship Traders trilogy, you'll see bits and pieces of Farseer thrown in perfectly. Liveship Traders is one of my favorite series of all time. I just started the Tawny Man trilogy and it's really good too!

The last trilogy is the best. Bee is the best......... Oh and that ending!!!!!!

Such a pleasure to see this review. Robin Hobb's writing nearly destroys me for other authors. (You know, when you start a new book directly after and although it's an enjoyable read, it just feels... lacklustre.) She conveys, in one short sentence, a full mood - and I am forever in bewildered awe (shamelessly stealing from Four Weddings and a Funeral here; how's that for irony? : ). The only other author I experience this sense of loss with, when finishing a book of, is Guy Gavriel Kay. She is the writer I have recommended to everyone I know - for a while there, we had an impromptu Robin Hobb book club, which was awesome - and without exception the books were loved, which amazes me, because that is a lot of very different people : )

Thanks for the great review Daniel. Elderling series one of my favorites. Also would like to see your thoughts on Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince trilogy.

I recently read the Farseer trilogy. Didn't liked the ending, but it didn't felt out of place. And I love her writing, so I'm definitely going to read the next trilogy. Don't give up Daniel!

Been waiting for this one. Unlike Daniel, I only heard of this series 6 months back and I was waiting for Daniel to read it first!

Nice review. It is great, seeing you enjoy this series, I really love. Hope, you like the last one too.

I love this book and series. I am not so keen on your green lights. Brilliant review

Spoiler free. I do feel like Assassin's Quest can be a bit divisive and I can see why. There's no way it's as bad as anyone might say because I can see that you love the characters and you're right about what you said about taking care to construct characters as Hobb has. I could live and breathe off her characters! 😋 Even if you find it's not your favorite ending, it's not like it's insultingly bad. It's really going to boil down to what you appreciate about Hobb and her world. I know we are strangers but I think you're going to enjoy Assassin's Quest just fine because your enthusiasm and thoughts remind me of mine back when I read these.

Just a little point about book one and about Fitz being kind of a shallow character, mostly passive and with little to no agency. He is also a little kid (at the beginning of the story he is 6 years toung if I remember correctly) thrown off his familiar world and into a unfamiliar world full of intrigues where he only deals with adults that he doesn’t know or understand. The only thing he knows is that he is at the bottom of the food chain and that he is somewhat guilty for the absence of his father (whom he has never met). All that to say that he has very good reasons to be shy, discreet and passive as a mouse in a world of cats.

Excellent series! Don't worry about book 3! Also read Thraxas!

I prefer her Liveship Traders Trilogy honestly.

I hope you make it to the end of Realm of Elderlings series it will be one of the most satisfying endings you've read since A Memory of Light.

Now you're sounding more like I did when I would defend the series. I'm definitely going to re-read it, and this time I hope to make it through to the follow-up trilogies. I recall the third one being very different from the others but not in a bad way. And yeah, I love how in this fantasy the hero doesn't get the girl and we're ultimately okay with that.

I started watching your videos recently and your great. That's why I would like to request a book review on the "Ranger's Apprentice" book series. Book one is "the ruins of Gorlan". They read really well and John Flanagan in my opinion is a phenomenal writer but, I feel that he doesn't get that much attention. He has a large fanbase and yet no reviews or booktube.

I just got the trilogy in library today hyped to read it again ^_^ hopefully ill finish it this time Danile review the third book as well ^_^ Anyway the Fool kept me reading, i remember him the best

You need to check out 2nd and Charles out near short pump. Games, books, and movies galore. Also, McKay's up in Manassas is great too. Would love to see ya around those places sometime!

I’m going out to get The illustrated edition today lol This must be a sign

What a wonderful video! I hope that even if you are not sold on the ending of the Farseer trilogy you'll consider continuing on with the Realm of the Elderlings as the Tawny Man trilogy, Fitz and the Fool trilogy, and Live Ship Trader trilogy (especially this one) are some of the best fantasy I have read to date and far superior to the Farseer trilogy (though it was still enjoyable!).

Robin Hobb is in my top 5 favorite authors. Her Protagonist go THROUGH it. Super gratifying in the end. All her trilogies. Keep pushing Daniel, theres a reason I'm a patron its cause you're Dope.

The third book is a rollercoaster of beautiful moments, action and intrigue. It feels long but I loved this one more than the other books because of how good the middle section of the book is. Yes the ending is a bit slow but I feel that this is mainly because of the fantastic middle, which makes the ending pale by comparison. If you make it to the (current) end of the fitz series, you will see how well all of the low-key set-ups in these books pay off again and again.

I loved the series, also met Robin Hobb a few years ago, and she's a wonderful person. One of my fav fantasy series so far, need to begin on Wheel of Time once. :)

Wow, that sends me back a while as I read that series 10 to 15 years ago ! Which actually reminds me of a serie I would completely recommend if you haven't picked it up: The Black company by Glen Cook (great dark fantasy with really good narration).

The Fool

I read Farseer and liked it enough to pick up Liveship Traders. I fell in love with Liveship Traders.

Picked up this series based on your praise. Love it so far.

I really hope you make it all the way through this series because the ending made me cry. I'm a 42 year old man from Texas and i cried. The conclusion is the best I've read in fantasy from the ring in lava to any new ending. The dragon books are a bit of a chore but i really hope you finish the series. Thanks for what you do.

Surprised you haven't mentioned the Fool as they are my favorite character in the whole series

I have to point out that the correct use of “prose” is as a singular noun. Like you would say “her poetry _is_ lovely”, you would say “her prose _is_ wonderful.” Love your channel, man! The growth is insane to spectate. Keep it up!

Liveship Traders is surprisingly good as well. I’m on book 1 right now and I was just expecting Pirates of the Caribbean with Elderlings. It has similarities with the whole pirate thing but I’m so absorbed into the dialogue and character relationships.

I love Assassin's Quest at least partially because of the increased presence of two particular characters (who I won't mention because...spoilers, but if you know you know), though my view of it 100% increases with the long view of what it sets up for the Realm of the Elderlings at large. Even if you're lukewarm on Assassin's Quest I really, really recommend at least checking out Liveship and Tawny Man (though if you make it through that and you don't finish the last two series...how). Her prose and character work are really unmatched in all her books but particularly those two series. Loved your review and your takes on the series and can't wait to hear what you think of more Robin Hobb books!

On the topic of prose, are you planning to read more Guy Kay?

Assassin's Quest (book 3) is fantastic imo - but I think all of the books are fantastic, so I might be a little bias.

I’ll probably give this series a shot. Sounds really interesting

I wouldn't say book 3 nor it's ending is bad. It is well done, but it isn't all wrapped up in a pretty bow. Far from it. I think maybe that is what many people don't like. I look forward to hearing your view at the end of this first trilogy because personally I found it very powerful.

Good luck with the third book- it's very good. Nighteyes, the wolf is my favorite character and he just keeps getting better.

Such a great book -- my favourite from the Farseer trilogy, though not my favourite in the whole Realm of the Elderlings (that goes to Fool's Errand). Thanks for your thoughts and review.

I just noticed you have Silo Series on your shelf. Have you read it? I feel like I need to search your channel cause that’s one of my fav trilogies.

I'll be starting this series soon; I'd heard of it before but never picked it up for some reason. I love exceptional prose and am always looking for more authors who are true artists of the written word. Good fantasy with great prose: The Curse of Chalion, anything by Susan Cooper, Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaimen, Circe by Madeleine Miller, Watership Down by Richard Adams. Although, can Watership Down be called a fantasy? I think I put it there because for me, it doesn't really fit in any category while transcending all of them.

This is probably the only trilogy I've read where the middle book was my favorite, but AQ was still enjoyable. I hope you continue on to the Liveship Trader trilogy!

Go all the way for the Realm of the Elderlings, one viewer garanted here ! your critics are on point

Have you read any of the Herlads of Valdemar series? If you have, you should do a video on those. I really enjoy your videos, keep up the good work.

Hi Daniel, what do you think about Warhammer Fantasy and 40K books?

The lighting is somewhat intriguing

I love Robin Hobb's works and how they flow from the intrigue, to wide adventure, to a spiritual journey. I prefer the first person, especially for Hobb's style. Another series I can recommend is Kylie Chan's 'White Tiger', which actually got me into fantasy 🙂 I cannot recommend it enough!

Can't wait to see what you think of Assassin Quest, the third book. I remember that the pacing gets a bit out of whack on that one and it has some really slooooow parts. Even so, I don't think you'll hate it, even if the end isn't the most climatic and epic don't abandon the series! Reagal as the antagonist for the first trilogy is the weakest of the fitz books antagonist and the following trilogies are better in my opinion.

Wow you smashed through this!

Would you be able to check out The Wounded Kingdoms? I know you aren't a huge fan of assassin novels but I think this might be something for you to check out. The main character is a disabled young assassin. Very well written (imo) with an amazing humour, great action, flawed characters etc. I would give it a shot. Loved the review, keep up the great work.

Hey, just wondering if you have read the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch. A young probationary policeman interviews a ghost in a murder investigation and is drawn into the Metropolitan Police's magic unit which for years consisted of one man. The series is both interconnected and standalone. This book is unusual as it is a real world accurate police procedural mixed.with magic and fantasy. The series grows and builds as Peter becomes deeper into the world. As a graffiti says in one later book 'Metropolitan Police working towards a stranger London'

what‘s your outro song called? it‘s so chill:)

Fantastic books, my friend had only ever read warhammer books then i loaned him my robin hobb collection (including soldier son triology) and he was hooked after the first book. Then went on to get him reading the wheel of time and he went crazy for them, then I introduced him to "magician" by Raymond E Feist. The best books he's ever read he says,

Lol. The ending is awesome. Great series. I read the trilogy about 12 or 15 years ago I guess. I still remember it being something I looked forward to picking up each day. Definitely good writing.