I love the story of Fitz who is the farseer.

I "shared" his joys and sorrows. Fitz is one of my favorite fantasy heroes.

Mulluane wrote an impressive review on the first book of the trilogy. Just read it:

Assassin's Apprentice review

I was totally absorbed in both the Farseer Trilogy and the Tawny Man trilogy. I still haven't read the Liveship Trader trilogy yet. They're shelved ready for one long break ... I know I'll just get immersed and need to read them back-to-back.

Did you find the Fool/Tawny Man an enigma? You know, I really liked that Hobb left his true fate up to the reader imagination. He (or possibly she?) was my favourite character.

Awww, but Liveship traders are great! Better than "The Tawny Man" trilogy, imo.

Trin ... I'm getting worried now that there will be a queue behind you saying the Liveship Traders is the best trilogy and my TBR NOW pile is massive already

I've tried to stick fingers in ears singing LA LA LA or avoiding reviews since I finished the Tawny Man trilogy a few years back. But then I was advised initially that the LT trilogy could be read out of order as it doesn't revolve around Fitz. I'll get to them sometime soon though ...

Well, I've read Liveship Traders trilogy cca half a year before the other two and it really has nothing to do with Fitz (well, almost), but is very interesting nevertheless and it makes a nice insight into the world beyond Six Duchies.

The Liveship Trader trilogy is on my shelf.

Wend, it seems we both like similar books.

I also read Tawny Men trilogy. It is sad when you know your hero won't return in an other story.

Trin — If I correctly recall; the liveships, and the place the wood is taken from to build them, are described briefly in the Fitz trilogies and I believe a major character in Liveship Traders appears (to help the Tawny Man) in Fool's Fate. So, I'm wondering if there are quite a lot of strong female characters in Liveship Traders?

And yes, it would be interesting to see beyond the six duchies after the hints we've had - and maybe it'll show more light on the Fool. I still found him (and I sometimes pondered, her) an enigma at the end of Fool's Fate.

OMG I want to read them now.

Edifanob — we sure do! I remember reading the last part of Fool's Fate really slowly to savour it ... I really didn't want it to end.

I recently started the Royal Assassin but am having a hard time getting into it. My life is busy at the moment, but it also just seems slow in starting. Alot of summary, very little real scenes. But I assume that ends. Everyone swears by Robin Hobb after all.

Yeah, I'd say there are far more strong female characters in Liveship Traders than in Farseer/Tawny Man.

Thanks Trin. Woot ... me loves me some feisty female characters. Looks like 1-2 weeks of February is now devoted to Liveship Traders

Plus, you prefer that trilogy ... must be great.

Oldrobotsneverrust - I suppose it's a bit slower to begin with because of establishing setting and world-building (very medieval, but I still like that), and preposition with character building etc. If I remember right, there are several slower passages throughout each book but it develops toward conflicts/goals or dilemma. And, for me, with books that fat there need to be for a change of pace eh? For me, it was the humanity of the characters, be they black/gray/white in character, that I loved about the books.

Hope you hang in there with them.