When it comes to the Skill, the more you use it the more it pulls you in. The same can be said for reading anything by Robin Hobb and the Realm of the Elderlings. At least, that is what I felt after finishing the third book in the Farseer Trilogy.
If you are just stumbling on this post, I have also written reviews for Assassin’s Apprentice and Royal Assassin.
I admit this book was quite lengthy and at time challenging to read because the pace was slow. In some ways though the slow pace complemented the situation that Fitz was facing as he traveled alone towards the mountains. I don’t know if it was intentional or not but sometimes there are moments where everything seems to slow down before a decision gets made or a lot of things start to change very quickly. Fitz’s journey towards Tradeford felt just like that.
Even while he was at Trade you could tell that this wouldn’t be the point of Fitz’s story. It happened too fast in some ways. It also didn’t feel like the ending because while at Tradeford, when he was on the precipice of making his own choice – a choice was made for him. Well, it was put into him so that he had to follow it to the ends of the world it seemed.
Come to me
Fitz had always struggled with the fact that everyone around him makes decisions about him without even asking what he wants. This book is no exception. When he ends up in the mountain kingdom and the old political schemes pick up again and without thinking about the impact it has on him. His life is sworn to the Farseer line, he doesn’t get a say after all. It makes him bitter and want to throw it all aside. Except the words still scratch at his mind.
Come to me.
So he keeps going. By the end of the book he realizes that no one is ever truly free to make their own choices. Everything he does has an impact somewhere. To make a choice is to accept the consequences that brings. To make a choice is to accept the pain it brings. All of it is part of life. And he doesn’t have to do it alone anymore. He has a pack. Honestly seeing his relationship with Nighteyes and the Fool strengthen is one of the greatest joys in this book. By the end of the book Fitz has finally discovered what it means to have true friends. He also has realized that sometimes, it is best to let go of the past.
Previous reviews for the Farseer Trilogy:
- Book One: Assassin’s Apprentice
- Book Two: Royal Assassin.
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