The Golden Fool

by Robin Hobb

Paperback, 172 pages

English language

Published Oct. 20, 2002 by HarperCollins Publishers.

ISBN:: 978-0-00-648602-2

(54 reviews)

Fitz has succeeded in rescuing Prince Dutiful from the clutches of the Piebald rebels, and has returned with him to Buckkeep castle. With Dutiful safe again, Queen Kettricken can proceed with plans to marry him to the Outislander princess, Elliania.

However, with tensions building among the peoples of the Six Duchies over Kettricken's tolerance of the Wittted, even Buckkeep is no longer safe. A reluctant Fitz is assigned to protect the young prince, and also train him in the Skill, and in doing so he finally makes contact not only with his estranged daughter, Nettle, but with someone in Buckkeep who may possess a greater Skill talent even than Fitz. And who may represent a terrible threat to the Farseers.

Meanwhile, Elliania arrives and, before she will accept Prince Dutiful's betrothal, challenges him to undertake an impossible quest. He must kill a legendary Outislander dragon.

3 editions

Eden110 reviewed Golden Fool (Tawny Man, #2) by Robin Hobb

None

4 stars

Golden Fool felt like an interlude of sorts, where the story arc takes a back burner to the relationships that form and change between Fitz and several key characters. The changes in Fitz and his relationship with the Fool was both heartbreaking, but had a resolution that ultimately forged what I feel will be a stronger relationship. I especially loved the scene where Fitz had explained to Hap about the different kinds of love, an echo of what the Fool had told him.This is not necessarily a bad thing, and some revelations and great setup do happen in this entry. It makes me really excited for what's to come!

Sean Gursky reviewed Golden Fool (Tawny Man, #2) by Robin Hobb

Review of 'Golden Fool (Tawny Man, #2)' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

You always chose to be bound by who you are. Now choose to be freed by who you are.

Reviewing this series is a challenge. I know I am enjoying it but I can't articulate why. Like a glass of wine, I am satisfied by it but I can't pick out the different flavors that make the wine good to me.

Hobb's has crafted a very great vintage here and she has stuck to her careful pacing, slow evolution of the characters and now the reader has such investment in everyone that even the dislikable players in Buckkeep are enjoyable to read about. Actions have consequences, there is no reset and the frustrations I feel are real and are mercilessly unresolved and left to sit out in the open.

I started this series because of the fantasy aspect, and even though the pace is turned down in this book the characters and story kept me engaged the whole way through. This is a skillfully crafted series that doesn't rely on cliffhangers or shocking twists to keep you reading more. The characters are very memorable, and though the story is from the perspective of Fitz you gain a deeper understanding of Chade, Thick, or most importantly, the Fool.

I didn't read the Liveship Traders Trilogy, and I imagine there would have been some satisfaction with their story crossing over here, but it didn't diminish the story. It's probably a bit like reading Ender's Game and then reading Ender's Shadow. Both stories are benefited from having read the other but you are not required to read both.

I appreciate that the stories in this trilogy continue in the same short timeline because I'm ready to jump in to Fool's Fate and resume the events that were started in Golden Fool.