The Farseer Trilogy
The Liveship Traders Trilogy
The Tawny Many Trilogy
In the second book in the Tawny Man trilogy, Golden Fool, we pick up right where we left off in Fool's Errand. Our man Fitz, no longer accompanied by Nighteyes (a moment of silence for the wolf), is back at Buckkeep Castle, disguised as Lord Golden's valet/bodyguard and going by the name Tom Badgerlock. Fitz's adopted son Hap is an apprentice with a carpenter in Buckkeep Town, although that is not going all that well, what with Hap going out cavorting with a certain young lady all night long. Fitz's biological daughter, who is being raised by his old flame and his old mentor, regularly talks to him through dreams. Fitz's biological son is Prince Dutiful, although even Dutiful's mother doesn't know that. So Fitz's personal life is a disaster.
It would be a bit of an exaggeration to say that nothing happened in this book, but that's my general impression because, unlike in most of the books I've read from Hobb so far, Fitz doesn't actually go anywhere. The whole novel is told from four basic places within the Keep. The lack of traveling makes it seem like not much is happening, but that's far from the truth. If you're in this series for world-building, it's still getting done by bringing in characters from other worlds and by deepening our understanding of existing characters.
Fitz is busy in this book, teaching Prince Dutiful and a handful of others what he knows of the Skill, a magic that many in the Farseer family have. Fitz tried to learn to Skill in the Farseer Trilogy, but his teacher was difficult and Fitz has never really learned to control his abilities. So he's a crappy teacher, but all they've got. Fitz is also busy attempting to save the Witted, the folks, like him, who are good with animals and develop a strong bond with one. There's friction among the Witted and the Witted are persecuted by the superstitious general population, so there's a lot going on here.
The main beauty of the novel is the increased development of complex, layered characters. Fitz is obviously the main focus and you can definitely feel that he's so torn about his loyalties. Is he loyal to the Prince? To his adopted son? To the Witted? Who does he trust? Who can he turn to? WHY DOES HE ALWAYS MESS UP? Fitz is sort of incompetent in the best way possible.
But, aside from Fitz, Hobb works to really create deepness in so many characters. Chade, the Fool/Lord Golden, Queen Kettricken, and Prince Dutiful all get their time in the sun to become real people with real qualities. At the end of the previous book, I had quite negative feelings about Prince Dutiful and while I haven't exactly grown to adore him or understand why Fitz is so besotted with him, I also understand his motivations a bit more. We also get some new characters, especially Thick, a dim-witted servant who can Skill, and Civil Bresinga, a Witted noble who is frenemies with the Prince.
So, yes, I love this series and I thought this was a solid addition to the story. The next book is already requested from the library.
Notable lines:
Almost as soon as we entered the Great Hall, several lovely women broke away from the young noblemen they had been talking to and converged on Lord Golden. It was rather like being mobbed by butterflies. (page 80)
I grudgingly admitted that I resented the changes I saw around me, not only because they eclipsed more and more of the Buckkeep I remembered from my childhood, but also because they made me feel stodgy and old. (page 81)
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