Wondrous world of Robin Hobb!
356866
ANYTHING written by Robin Hobb is excellent...no question!
724782
If you are continuing from the Farseer trilogy, you know that Robin Hobb is among the world's great fantasy writers. This book continues the story of Fitzchivalry, and continues to please with ever-growing complexity and intrigue.  New characters come to life with depth, and some may have a dark side. The authors skillful and beautiful language is a pleasure to read.  The story gets better and better.
53117
I bought this book at a conference, in which Thomas Locke (Davis Bunn) was the speaker. The world building in this book was amazing. I would go to bed at night wishing that I could listen to this as an audiobook, because I just wanted to live in that world.  To me, it is reminiscent of "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" and "Beowulf."  So, if you like those two, you will really enjoy this. It also follows the Hero's Journey, as Hyam has to save not only his region of the world, but discover who he really is in this bildungsroman, or coming of age story.

I highly recommend it, and can't wait for the second one to come out next year!
2357081
Impressively imagined in a wonderfully rich tapestry of lands and creatures, this story is full of adventure, drama and magic. From the outset the pages reveal one surprising event after another. The pace is well judged and the story is gripping from the beginning to the very satisfying conclusion. That conclusion has me licking my lips in anticipation of further magical adventures in which Taren is the central figure. I also find that I hope to meet Zamna again, and I don't even like reptiles! Some readers might feel that the writing is too simple, perhaps too easy-reading in style; this is a matter of personal taste. I would point out that Nathaniel Hawthorne once commented, Easy reading is damn hard writing. All of the characters are well drawn, and the magic working is outstanding. I felt that this was an original creation, not quite like any other fantasy that I have read, and thoroughly enjoyable. Fantasy lovers, this one is for you.
3330926
A fascinating new world, rich with detail and interesting characters.  Although I would love to see a sequel, this story does very well as a stand alone.  As is often the case in Robin's books, the animals have important roles in the storyline.  Worth reading....and re-reading!
3659685
Fantasy doesn't get much better than this.  Thank you Robin Hobb.  It has been a long (20 year)  and entertaining journey.
628442
I thoroughly enjoyed this series! Hobb did an excelent job in creating the story, so much so that the amount of detail left me believing that I was in story long after reading the books!

I recommend to any and all fantasy fans!
2128161
I thoroughly enjoyed this fantasy adventure into the unknown. This book says alot about the character and personality of the author, Andrew Q. Gordon, in a good way. At least that is my perspective. You can relate to the characters and enjoy triumph and tragedy along with them.  Life can be the same way and with or without magic, it's unavoidable. My compliments to the author and I truly hope the series continues!  What will happen when Prince Farrell faces Meglar???  I want to know!
1581209
What can I say? This book is a adventurous, complex, and highly detailed and believable fantasy masterpiece! Tolkien has done so much to make his characters familiar, that I almost cried when Mithrandir, Cirdan, Elrond, and others went sailed of west (to Valinor). Frodo and Bilbo also sailed off, and so did Legolas and Gimli together, one of the greatest friendships in the book, and one of the best in all literature! This book was as joyous in its victory as it was bittersweet...the end was a roller coaster ride of emotions I have yet to experience--and I doubt will experience--again. You read the book and get lost for hours reading the flowing speech and breathtaking descriptions of Middle Earth...and I highly recommend you read the appendixes at the end of Return of the King. It gives you more background on the Second Age and Third Age, a run through of the events that took place in the book, and 120 years into the fourth age, where Elessar (Aragorn) died and Peregrin and Meriadoc died with him also, and Sam sailed out to sea... Other appendixes note about family trees, languages, and histories of the races.
All in all, the Lord of the Rings was a thought-provoking fantasy book that will keep you occupied years after you first read it!
3632261
With the Farseer Trilogy, Robin Hobb handily skips beyond the mish-mash of generic wizards and dragons that can sometimes be the fantasy genre.

Hobb has created an intelligent fantasy trilogy that readers who are weary of fantasy stereotypes should NOT be afraid to pick up. Her characters have a great deal of depth, the world she creates is immersive and intriguing.

Fitz is a dirty secret - an illegitimate son in the royal family.  At a young age, he is taken in by the castle with the silent understanding that he will be raised and trained in the secret art of asassination, in order to serve his grandfather, the king. As he grows, Fitz realizes what it is he's being taught, and at the same time, finds that he has an ability to impress and recieve impressions from animals - "The Wit," or wild magic, is a much reviled practice in that society, and he must learn to control it, or be ostracized.

"Assasin's Apprentice" introduces a cast of characters that stand among my favorites in literature: the Fool - a wispy, mysterious, androgynous jester who speaks in poetry and who most people think is an idiot, but seems to have the ability to predict the future... Nighteyes - the wolf who is changed by Fitz's growing ability with The Wit, becoming aware and capable of critical thought, he bonds to Fitz more closly than Fitz manages to get to most people...

This is my favorite book in a series that I felt compelled to buy in hardcover.  *Highly* recommended.
570479
This is, almost unbelievably, my first foray into the fantasy worlds created by Janet  Morris. I have no idea why these novels passed me by first time around, but I am extremely pleased to have found them now.

First I have to say that the writing is superb. This novel is no lightweight read, crammed as it is full of ation, intrigue, and classical references. I was swept along in the Stepsons' wake as, led by god-cursed Tempus, they leave the sinkhole that is Sanctuary and go up against the sorcerers and witches of Wizardwall.

While I could fault nothing in the book, I found the characterizations, especially, to be mesmerizing. I like my fantasy worlds to be complex, rich in all aspects of life, and this one didn't disappoint, In other novels I have found myself bemoaning the lack of depth in fantasy characters. Not so here! Each one was fully drawn and realized, fleshed out and flawed. I was drawn right in and ensnared, and now I have to read the others in this series!

To read Beyond Sanctuary is to walk with gods and demons, and I just have to do exactly that once more!
4209343
The latest installment in Steph Swainston's Castle series was worth waiting for. This is the most richly described fantasy world I've experienced in decades. I can't praise the writing highly enough. It's so vivid and moving that I feel as if I'm actually there when I'm reading it. I honestly can say that I know how it feels to fly after reading the sections narrated by Jant, the Comet. Remarkable story with complex, three-dimensional characters. It will be hard to wait until the next one!
2663197
A true classic that brings the reader into a wonderful adventure in Middle Earth!
4244810
What an amazing world Mr. Dreece has created! I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this story; the writing is stellar, the plot is exciting, and the adventure is everywhere. As soon as I started this book, I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend it for lovers of fantasy everywhere, regardless of age. There is something in it for everyone! Hats off to the author! I will be reading every single book in this series!
2038742
Robin Hobb is a genius.  I have read absolutely everything by her, and I can never put her books down.  The characters she creates are so real, they feel like actual people.  And watching Molly's "crazy" belief, and then seeing what actually happens, was so neat.

I will say out of all her books, this one moved the slowest for me.  Not much really "happens," but the internal thoughts of the characters and their day-to-day struggles are fascinating, when you already love this character.  I'm not sure if this book would've been AS good, if I picked it up without knowing Fitz and the Fool. :)
714094
I loved this one. It is an epic adventure I'd put side-by-side with names like Spiderwick and Fablehaven. I struggle with Otherworld settings, but this one is akin to our Middle Ages. It's comfortable. It's solid. I've studied a lot of history, and stepping into this book felt like stepping into a world of times past that I love so much, only with magic. The world building was one of my favorite elements.

Characters resonated with me, as well. From different worlds, Aaron, Bran, and Rosella find a common denominator in simply being kids, and they keep a tight friendship despite some, uh, shall we say undesirable circumstances? For the three of them are each keepers of a piece of the all-powerful Stone of Valhalla, which the Goblin King will do anything (and does!) to claim for himself. The dialogue between Samarlidi the crotchety old wizard (love him!) and Klara, an equally crotchety old lady, is filled with snarky comments that sometimes made me laugh out loud.

The plot is well thought out, with some twists and turns I didn't see coming. And as for style, I'll grant bonus points. There are some lovely, poetic moments, yet Aaron is so darn unassuming that his point of view adds an honesty and innocence to the thoughts being presented and magnifies their beauty. Fantastic fiction!

By the way...narrator Shea Taylor is a wonder. The way he creates a distinctive voice for each character and flips between them so effortlessly left me in awe. Seriously.
3678859
I was pleased to find that Robin Hobb had returned to the world she created in The Liveship Trilogy.  The lives of the dragons and their keepers are well developed and fascinating.
All of the books set in this world are quite good.  I recommend that they be read in order:  The Assassin's Trilogy,The Liveship Trilogy, The Fool's Trilogy, and The Rainwilds Chronicles.