Even now, eight books into her Realm of the Elderlings universe, Robin Hobb continues to leave me gobsmacked in the best way whenever I reach the end of one of her books! I finished reading The Golden Fool moments ago, and I'm still in awe of Hobb's storytelling abilities. This author is truly a standout talent, as evidenced to me by the skillful way in which she depicts settings, lore, plot and characters. The Golden Fool is a brilliant second installment, a follow-up that I was really excited to pick up given how much I'd enjoyed the previous book Fool's Errand; it absolutely lived up to all of my high hopes.
Plenty of effort has been put into laying the foundations of this universe throughout the previous two series (The Farseer Trilogy and The Liveship Traders, both of which I highly recommend reading first!), but it still is pretty darn cool to see how Hobb incorporates the various elements that make up the setting from cultural details to storied history to the events that shape societies. These things make the world feel rich and fully realized, and I love that.
I also really enjoy how Hobb weaves together a plot that keeps me glued to the page (or in this case, my e-reader). Yes, there are various exciting and unexpected turns this tale takes (which is something I personally quite enjoyed - I love being taken for a real ride when I'm reading). But what really stands out to me is how masterfully woven together the personal and the political are. Poor Fitz certainly has a lot to contend with and to try to master or sort out in just this one book. I can't dive into the specifics of what exactly is going on, but suffice to say, it's a wonderfully chaotic mix of things that have been brewing for ages, things that have newly arisen and the hints at what might potentially be to come all drawn together by a very clever author's hand.
What really has me putting Hobb on my shelf of personal favorite fantasy authors is the way she writes characters. I've always said that it's the characters that can tip the scales for me; Hobb has me fully invested in hers. It's true that Fitz is the lead in this trilogy as the tale is narrated through his eyes; however, it must be said that all the other characters with major roles in this one - the Fool, Chade, Prince Dutiful, Queen Kettricken, Thick, to name just a few - are just as well-portrayed. While I don't always necessarily like their behavior or agree with their choices, the characters just feel like real, flawed individuals with complex personalities informed by their different histories and current positions to a one... and this, to me, feels significantly more impactful. Because these characters feel so real, I'm invested in what happens to them all and care about the various relationships. And that absolutely elevated my overall experience with this book!
The Golden Fool is another brilliant book by Robin Hobb and a wonderful addition to the Realm of the Elderlings universe. I find myself excited to pick up the third novel! And I, again, highly recommend beginning your Realm of the Elderlings journey if you're a fantasy reader who loves a character-driven tale.
The Golden Fool (Tawny Man #2) by Robin Hobb
Publication Date: October 21, 2002 | Publisher: Harper Voyager
Format: ebook | Source: Owned | Buy the book!
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