It was a real treat to return to a familiar area of the Realm of the Elderlings universe when I picked up Fool’s Errand. I’ve always admired authors who can tell stories set within one universe at varying points in the timeline and with a mix of perspectives… and Hobb is no exception, and in fact, happens to be one of the best.
I genuinely didn’t think I’d ever be able to say this given my relatively tepid feelings towards him during the first trilogy, but I rather enjoyed the fact that Fool’s Errand puts us back in the perspective of Fitzchivalry Farseer. I’d argue that that is, in large part, because I much prefer the adult Fitz. His character is shaped by the trauma and triumphs of his history, retaining certain personality traits from his youth (namely stubbornness, the occasional insular way of thinking, to name two) even as he also demonstrates maturity in other aspects. We’re also reunited with other familiar faces (namely the Fool, who I’ve always had a soft spot for, as well as other members of the Farseer court) and get introduced to some fresh faces that add new angles to this existing world.
In this chapter of his story, Fitz is (surprise, surprise) faced with even more challenges and tribulations. Some are tied to the past, to choices made and events that occurred in the previous trilogy. Others are more recently inspired, whether from those who would change their current circumstances and the addition of some powerful new individuals. Fitz winds up being caught in the current of all these plots in ways he never expected nor wanted, and it’s truly easy to feel sympathetic about the fact that he yet again must be so tangled up in the future of the kingdom and the Farseer clan. Hobb depicts the inciting incidents of this specific trilogy and the events that follow in a way that just weaves very well together, and honestly, the plot of this one really had me hooked from start to end.
Fool’s Errand is one of my favorite Fitz-narrated stories I’ve read in the Realm of the Elderlings world so far. I really got swept up in the book from the moment I started it, and truly found myself looking forward to the next installment when I got to the very last page.
Fool's Errand (Tawny Man #1) by Robin Hobb
Publication Date: October 15, 2001 | Publisher: Harper Voyager
Format: ebook | Source: Owned | Buy the book!
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