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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780553582451
ISBN number: 0553582453
Label: Spectra
Manufacturer: Spectra
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 736
Printing Date: December 09, 2003
Publishing house: Spectra
Release Date: December 02, 2003
Sale Popularity Level: 17818
Studio: Spectra
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
The acclaimed Farseer and Liveship Traders trilogies established Robin Hobb as one of the most splendidly imaginative practitioners of world-class fantasy.
Now, in Book 2 of her most stunning trilogy yet, Hobb continues the soul-shattering tale of FitzChivalry Farseer. With rich characters, breathtaking magic, and sweeping action, Golden Fool brings the reluctant adventurer further into the fray in an epic of sacrifice, salvation, and untold treachery.
Golden Fool
Prince Dutiful has been rescued from his Piebald kidnappers and the court has resumed its normal rhythms. But for FitzChivalry Farseer, a return to isolation is impossible. Though gutted by the loss of his wolf bondmate, Nighteyes, Fitz must take up residence at Buckkeep and resume his tasks as Chade’s apprentice assassin. Posing as Tom Badgerlock, bodyguard to Lord Golden, FitzChivalry becomes the eyes and ears behind the walls. And with his old mentor failing visibly, Fitz is forced to take on more burdens as he attempts to guide a kingdom straying closer to civil strife each day.
The problems are legion. Prince Dutiful’s betrothal to the Narcheska Elliania of the Out Islands is fraught with tension, and the Narcheska herself appears to be hiding an array of secrets. Then, amid Piebald threats and the increasing persecution of the Witted, FitzChivalry must ensure that no one betrays the Prince’s secret—a secret that could topple the Farseer throne: that he, like Fitz, possesses the dread “beast magic.”
Meanwhile, FitzChivalry must impart to the Prince his limited knowledge of the Skill: the hereditary and addictive magic of the Farseers. In the process, they discover within Buckkeep one who has a wild and powerful talent for it, and whose enmity for Fitz may have disastrous consequences for all.
Only Fitz’s enduring friendship with the Fool brings him any solace. But even that is shattered when unexpected visitors from Bingtown reveal devastating secrets from the Fool’s past. Now, bereft of support and adrift in intrigue, Fitz’s biggest challenge may be simply to survive the inescapable and violent path that fate has laid out for him.
From the Hardcover edition.
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Rated by buyers 
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I dunno about this third trilogy of this bunch. No offense to Lindholm/Hobb, but it really is not doing much for me. Indeed, I liked this more than I did "Fool's Errand" (mostly because I tend to love the slow-paced observation books for their character insight). Which "Golden Fool" certainly does have. The truth is that Hobb is a master writer and her prose and descriptions are beautiful and tasteful. But I just can't get into the over-arching plot of this story. Frankly, while I adore Fitz, the highlight of this book was the cameo mentions of the Bingtown bunch. It's not to say that this isn't a respectable fantasy--it's worth reading if for no other reason than these characters and Hobb's writing. But for me it is simply not living up to the prior two trilogies. Hopefully "Fool's Fate" will bring the punch I'm hoping for.
Rated by buyers 
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"Golden Fool" book 2 of "The Tawny Man" series by Robin Hobb.
FitzChivalry recently and reluctantly returned to Buckkeep after rescuing Prince Dutiful from the Piebalds. As he always feared his duty to the Farseer crown is never done as he is asked to take up the position of Dutiful's Skillmaster all the while playing the role of servant and helping man to his friend The Fool who continues his masquerade as the noble Lord Golden. Fitz must also assist Chade as the eyes and ears of Buckkeep as Prince Dutiful's betrothed arrives for their betrothal ceremony which complicates all aspects of Fitz's life. Fitz attempts to juggle all of his Buckkeep duties while at the same time trying to keep his adopted son Hap reigned in as he struggles to adjust to town life and with his new duties as an apprentice. As if this wasn't enough for Fitz, the Piebalds are lurking in the background seeking revenge...
This was another great effort by Hobb. I am constantly amazed at her ability to take typically banal situations and write them in an interesting manner. Golden Fool chronicles roughly the year that follows the events taking place in "Fool's Errand (Tawny Man, Book 1)". The usual Hobb plot twist and turns are ever present as is her spectacular writing and characters. Also of note is that a connection is made in "Golden Fool" between the stories of the Farseers, The Fool and the events that take place in "Robin Hobb's Liveship Traders Trilogy (3 Mass Market Paper Backs Ship of Magic, Mad Ship & Ship of Destiny)". This was a great meshing of sagas and if you haven't read "Liveship" it might not be a bad idea to read that sage in between reading "The Farseer" trilogy and the "Tawny Man" Trilogy. If you don't, you will miss something special in this book.
The Good: It is always hard to expand on what makes a Robin Hobb book good. The stories are not overly complex and for their length their isn't a substantial amount that takes place. What continues to bring me back to her stories is her writing ability and the characters that she writes with such great depth. She manages to make even the tritest situations interesting as she displays them through her main character's eyes.
The Bad: Nothing memorable.
Overall: If you have enjoyed Hobb's other works pick this up and give it a try!
Rated by buyers -
I am happy to report that this book is far more interesting than book 1 of the Tawny Man series. The subsequent book is fantastic. So, get through this and enjoy the final conclusive book.
Rated by buyers -
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this book. But I enjoyed it as a part of the overall Fool/Fitz story. I think had I read this book while the series was being written, before the third was published, I'd have had a less charitable opinion. The Hobb books I've read all give something of a satisfying ending (or at least an ending) to each individual book without compromising the overall storyline. This one didn't. Not a big deal with the third book at hand, but still something I didn't like about this book. It also felt slow. I agree that primarily this book, indeed, most of the Fitz books are focused on Fitz's development as a character, but I felt this book was less him developing and more me being frustrated with him still trying to hide from his old life in plain sight and the struggles and frustrations birthed by that.
Still, I love Fitz's storyline from the beginning of Assassin on, so this book is a must read and its shortcomings are highly forgivable.
Rated by buyers 
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Another great book by Robin Hobb! This book was great and I'd highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of the Farseer Trilogy. I HIGHLY suggest you read the Live Ship Traders trilogy first. It really enhances this trilogy.
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