Fool's Quest

July 13, 2015
Hobb’s second Fitz & the Fool fantasy novel (following Fool’s Assassin) untangles numerous story lines and weaves them into a complex tapestry of adventure, betrayal, destiny, and unrelenting peril. FitzChivalry Farseer has reunited with the Fool after years of isolation. Fitz is ecstatic at finding his friend, but a horrible misunderstanding—related to the Fool’s drastically changed looks, his blindness, and his torture-scarred body—leaves Fitz feeling off-balance and as unhappy as ever. Worse, even as Fitz has found his long-lost friend, he has had to abandon his own fragile but strong-willed daughter to the untrustworthy care of servants at his holding, Withywoods. The Fool is eager for a quest of revenge, which soon meshes with Fitz’s own needs when he finds his daughter has been kidnapped. Though there is some sluggishness in places, and a bit of reliance on magic to move the plot forward, Hobb’s expertise is evident as always. Agent: Chris Lotts, Lotts Agency.

Starred review from July 1, 2015

Fitz has rushed his old friend, the Fool, back to Buckkeep for healing (immediately following the events of Fool's Assassin), leaving his home at Withywoods undefended. The unthinkable happens, with Servants of the White Prophet attacking Withywoods and kidnapping Fitz's small daughter, Bee. The Servants believe Bee is capable of prophecy, just like the Fool, and are determined to keep her under control at their distant school in Clerres. Fitz gets the news of the attack on the eve of what should have been his greatest happiness--he's been acknowledged by the court and can finally step out of the shadows he's dwelt in so long. Now all Fitz can think about is getting Bee back and helping the Fool get revenge on the White Servants. VERDICT Hobb finds a way to always show us more details of the universe she's been building over the course of the four previous series set in the same world, going all the way back to the first book, Assassin's Apprentice. The friendship of Fitz and the Fool brings danger to them both, but it's one of the most touching in fantasy fiction. [See Prepub Alert, 2/9/15.]--MM

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2015

Bad news for FitzChivarly Farseer in this second in the "Fitz and the Fool" trilogy, following the "Farseer" and "Tawny Man" trilogies, also featuring Fitz and the Fool, and the "Liveship Traders" trilogy, in which the Fool plays a tangential role. Here, Fitz has narrowly avoided killing his oldest friend, the Fool, whose enemies have managed to make off with Fitz's daughter. As a former royal assassin, though, Fitz can certainly deal with it. Hobb's entire backlist, numbering more than two million copies in print, is getting a repackaging. Over-the-top demand.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015

Fitz has rushed his old friend, the Fool, back to Buckkeep for healing (immediately following the events of Fool's Assassin), leaving his home at Withywoods undefended. The unthinkable happens, with Servants of the White Prophet attacking Withywoods and kidnapping Fitz's small daughter, Bee. The Servants believe Bee is capable of prophecy, just like the Fool, and are determined to keep her under control at their distant school in Clerres. Fitz gets the news of the attack on the eve of what should have been his greatest happiness--he's been acknowledged by the court and can finally step out of the shadows he's dwelt in so long. Now all Fitz can think about is getting Bee back and helping the Fool get revenge on the White Servants. VERDICT Hobb finds a way to always show us more details of the universe she's been building over the course of the four previous series set in the same world, going all the way back to the first book, Assassin's Apprentice. The friendship of Fitz and the Fool brings danger to them both, but it's one of the most touching in fantasy fiction. [See Prepub Alert, 2/9/15.]--MM

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.