Fool's Fate

The Tawny Man, Book 3

By: Robin Hobb

Narrated by: James Langton

Length: 32 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

FitzChivalry Farseer has become firmly ensconced in the queen’s court. Along with his mentor, Chade, and the simpleminded yet strongly Skilled Thick, Fitz strives to aid Prince Dutiful on a quest that could secure peace with the Outislands - and win Dutiful the hand of the Narcheska Elliania.

The Narcheska has set the prince an unfathomable task: to behead a dragon trapped in ice on the isle of Aslevjal. Yet not all the clans of the Outislands support their effort. Are there darker forces at work behind Elliana’s demand? Knowing that the Fool has foretold he will die on the island of ice, Fitz plots to leave his dearest friend behind. But fate cannot so easily be defied.

©2004 Robin Hobb (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Critic Reviews

"Fantasy as it ought to be written.… Robin Hobb’s books are diamonds in a sea of zircons." (George R. R. Martin)

"[Robin] Hobb’s rich, vibrant and unique world [is] filled with sentient ships, magical beasts, and fascinating characters.… Highly recommended." ( Library Journal)

A triumphant ending to the trilogy!

This is a story of pain, of adventure, of intrigue and, ultimately, of love. Love of country, love of monarch, familial love, romantic love and brotherly love. Most especially love between the closest of friends. A fateful connection binds these two friends. It's a relationship all at once heart-rending and tender, pleasing and difficult.

This book has most of the characters that we have come to love in these two book series, as the life of FitzChivalry Farseer comes to a triumphal climax. All six books in the Fitz series are well worth reading and wonderfully narrated.

This trilogy is read by James Langton and he comes as close to the most excellent reading of the first series by Paul Boehmer as I could have hoped. He always portrays the character with just the right level of emotion.

Well done Robin Hobb! I'm looking forward to a great experience with the next Fitz trilogy that begins with "Fool's Assassin."

Continuation, not a stand alone.

I liked it a lot and think the narrator did a good job. Not the greatest story ever, and sometimes dry and lengthy ramblings about mundane events, but good and long continuation of Fitz and his adventures. It resolved well finally, and has some great moments. I like long stories that are will written and descriptive. Hobb does well in this regard.

Ended well, but...

I've rarely been so frustrated with a protagonist before... He got better, thankfully, but only near the very end of the book. I'm actually quite surprised that I pushed on to the end; and I'm presently trying to figure out if the decent ending was worth all of the countless moments that made me curse Fitz's name, aloud. I don't think that I could ever bring myself to listen to the series again (at least, not the books from either this or the first trilogy)... And, perhaps, somewhere therein lies my answer. Of course, there's always the possibility that the passing years will effectively dull my memory, and thus my aversion to them; but, of that, only time will tell.

So good

So good I often wish Fitz’s story had ended here. The third and final trilogy in the 9 book series is great, it’s worth reading, and it is different than the first 6 books. But this was a more fitting and heartfelt ending.

A satisfying ending to the 3rd trilogy!

If you made it this far in the series you will be glad you did and I urge you to it. The Tawny Man trilogy is a great one and I loved It! I absolutely love the Fitz and the Fool. <3

James Langtons performance is amazing

The third trilogy in the elderling universe might be my favorite. I couldn't wait to get back to it whenever I left it.
When I first started the Tawny man trilogy I didn't like the change in pronunciation from the farseer trilogy but James Langton wins you over so easily, every character sound different and you always know who is talking and the changes are so seamless.

Another good one

James Langton does a wonderful job bringing all the characters to life. Wish it didn't have to end

Happy

think I enjoyed this one the best part of all so far it is awesome

The Boring Years Part 3

I DID NOT WANT TO LOOK FOOLISH
Perhaps you read my reviews for the first two books in this trilogy and your wondering why, I bought this book. Well, I fell for one of those sales, where you buy the whole trilogy. I love Robin Hobb. I have read and reread and listened and listened again to THE LIVESHIP TRILOGY, THE FARSEER TRILOGY, THE SOLIDER BOY TRILOGY AND THE RAIN WILDS CHRONICLES and until this series I did not think Hobb could write a bad book. In those books the magic was strange and wonderful, somebody's life or a group of people lives were in jeopardy. In this book looking foolish seems to be the biggest problem.

TOO WEARY
This also seems to dwell on people being sick and tired. I have enough of that in real life, it does not interest me in a fantasy novel.
The narrator is okay, but I miss Anne Flosnik.
I have the first book in the Fitz and Fool trilogy, I will give it a try, but not buy any more than book one. I am also seeing that no one seems like the change in narrator.

One of the great fantasy series

Would you consider the audio edition of Fool's Fate to be better than the print version?

I think I would consider it better. James Langton did an outstanding job narrating the book!

What other book might you compare Fool's Fate to and why?

I consider the Fitz books in the top 10 of fantasy epics. I was very pleased to see the Tawny Man trilogy released as audiobooks! I've read the hardcopy books twice and have now gone through the six (7) audiobooks. One of my favorites!

Have you listened to any of James Langton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

His range of voices, accents and inflections are masterful! Langton brings each character to life.