Robin Hobb’s Masterful Run Concludes with the Phenomenal Fitz and the Fool Trilogy
Fool’s Assassin (Fitz and the Fool #1)
Well, folks, this is it. Over the past year or so, I’ve been reading Robin Hobb’s fantastic Realm of the Elderlings novels, and I’ve made it to the final trilogy. After not loving The Rain Wild Chronicles (though those books did get better as they went along) and considering that The Tawny Man Trilogy basically wrapped up Fitz’s story quite nicely, I really didn’t know what to expect with Fitz and the Fool. Fortunately for me, Robin Hobb knows exactly what she’s doing. Because Fool’s Assassin is nothing short of fantastic.
This first volume of Hobb’s final trilogy was originally released in 2014, 11 years after she had seemed to finish with Fitz’s tale at the end of Fool’s Fate. If you’re going to revive a story after over a decade, you better have really well mapped out way to do so. Hobb does.
Fool’s Assassin never feels like a tacked-on continuation of an already completed story. On one hand, we’re returning to read more about characters we already know and love. On the other, Hobb is able to introduce an entirely new element (and character) into the story that sets events off in a new, exciting direction.
The far majority of Fool’s Assassin reminded me of the first third or so of Fool’s Errand, the first novel in the Tawny Man Trilogy. On those pages, we spend our time with Fitz, Nighteyes, and Hap in a cabin simply living life. Plot-wise, not a ton happens. It’s all about the characters.
Fool’s Assassin is mostly that – this is a book focused largely on characters just living their lives over the passage of years. It’s an exploration of people and relationships.
The introduction of Bee, Fitz’s daughter, works excellently. Hobb needed a worthwhile reason for Fitz’s story to continue, and Bee provides exactly that, in addition to being a great character in her own right.
I won’t say much about the ending of Fool’s Assassin, other than the fact that the book is so calmly, methodically paced that it’s stark contrast to that made it all the more powerful and heart pounding. Fool’s Assassin is up there as one of the top three books (to this point) in Hobb’s entire run.
Grade: 10/10
Fool’s Quest (Fitz and the Fool #2)
Fool’s Quest picks up right where we left off after the first book in this trilogy. And, after finishing this one, it seems as though the final book will continue immediately after the events in the last couple of chapters here. This definitely seems as though it’ll be an extremely connected three books, unlike a few of Hobb’s earlier trilogies in the Realm of the Elderlings where novels stood on their own a little bit more.
Despite being the middle part of our overall final Fitz story, nothing here drags or feels not supremely worthwhile. In fact, though we’re clearly reading the fallout from the first book and building into what’ll surely be a dramatic concluding novel, a good bit of plot happens in Fool’s Quest.
Many Robin Hobb books are more about exploring characters without a ton happening story wise. At this point in our journey though, we know all of the key players, so Hobb can concentrate on really moving things along.
There are a few truly great moments in Fool’s Quest. Overall, I maybe didn’t quite love it as much as I did the first book in Fitz and the Fool, but it came pretty darn close. I can’t wait to read the final novel in what’s been possibly the best series I’ve ever read.
Grade: 9.5/10
Assassin’s Fate (Fitz and the Fool #3)
It’s tough to nail an ending, especially the concluding volume to a series of novels that spans 16 (rather long) books. Robin Hobb has done exactly that though. Because Assassin’s Fate is a triumph.
This concluding book to the Fitz and the Fool trilogy gets everything right. It’s the rewarding read that fans who began the initial journey into the Realm of the Elderlings with Fitz all those books ago deserve. Despite being nearly 1,000 pages in length, Assassin’s Fate is also one of the faster paced books of Hobb’s that I’ve read. I really couldn’t put it down.
In addition to concluding the Fitz storyline, Hobb manages to expertly weave her (previously mostly unconnected) books that also take place in the Realm of the Elederlings into the story. Having read both the Liveship Traders trilogy and the four books that comprise The Rain Wild Chronicles is important to truly appreciate Assassin’s Fate, something that wasn’t the case for other Fitz-centric novels.
Robin Hobb’s Realm of the Elderlings ends on a high note as I found these last three books collectively to be the best overall trilogy in the entire run. If you’re reading this now and haven’t taken the plunge and started reading these books yet, do it. It’s a decision you won’t regret. I’ve only just finished the series and I already miss reading it.
Grade: 10/10