I have basically grown up with Fitz. I was a teenager reading the Farseer trilogy and now in my late thirties reading this. I mention this as I identify with him quite a bit even though I have lived a vastly different life. I feel for Fitz so much, he tries but makes so many mistakes, a bit too set in his ways, too introspective. I was dreading reading this, in that the Tawny man trilogy had ended so well for Fitz and Fool that I feel this can only go somewhere bad.
It’s a slow paced book, pretty much entirely set in Withywoods and the everyday life of Fitz at the estate. As so many have already said it is testament to Hobbs’ writing that she can make these mundane scenes have so much feeling and intensity. Now not everybody will feel this I’m sure, but because I know the characters and world so well, I enjoyed this quieter introduction immensely. We gradually learn where the story is going (of course Fitz doesn’t) and then it all bursts into action for the last 50-60 pages. It is all perfectly set up for book two and I am both looking forward to and dreading where it is going.
5 stars out of 5
Barry's Bloody Books 