Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Gutted. Wrecked. Ruined. And that was just after the first 3 chapters

Assassin’s Quest: Book Three of the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb

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I love this series. I want to put that up front. It is outstanding, all three books. It is also heart wrenching. In this final installment of The Farseer Trilogy, the question is whether prophecies and destiny will be fulfilled, and if so, at what cost? FitzChivalry Farseer, bastard son of the man who was meant to be king but never would be, has been through horrifying, brutal, traumatic experiences. His maternal grandfather forced him from his mother and dumped him with his uncle at […]

It’s not over until we win

Royal Assassin: Book 2 of The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb

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The thing about second books in trilogies is that they have to do a lot of work developing conflicts and characters. Second books tend to be where the bad guys are ascendent and our heroes seem to be losing. They provide critical information and often are kind of depressing. Royal Assassin, the second volume in The Farseer Trilogy, is such a book but I am completely invested, as well as devastated, by what is happening to our main characters and the kingdom where they live. […]

My 2025 Robin Hobb journey continues

Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb

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This was my beach vacation read and I have to say I’m on the fence about it. That’s not to say that  I did not stay up way past bedtime to finish this (I did) or that I’m disenchanted with Hobb (not in the least).  I just felt that it wasn’t quite as strong as the second book and not as enchanting and well-paced as the Liveship Trilogy. A high bar, to be sure, but there we are. I have some notes! I will try […]

For Those Who Like Their Fantasy Slow and Emotional

Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb

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This was an excellent book that I’m not likely to ever re-read, and I imagine I’ll say that about the other books in the Realm of the Elderlings series. Robin Hobb can tell a great story and an emotional story. The Farseer trilogy has evoked a lot of depressed and anxious feelings from me. They’re emotional, heartbreaking books, which is why I say I probably won’t re-read them. But they are masterfully told, which is why I will be continuing on with the rest of the […]

I’m Still Not Clear on How Different Wit and Skill Are

Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb

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This was heavy. I had heard Robin Hobb wrote depressing books, but I expected it to be depressing due to trauma and loss, and while the books aren’t short on those things, equally depressing is the powerlessness of Fitz. I sometimes found myself chafing at the restrictions placed upon him as someone who has both too much and too little power. As the son of a prince, he is viewed as important and maybe even a threat, but as the bastard son of a prince, […]

Too long, too slow, and Fitz is a butt.

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Things I did not expect: 1. That koalas, cute though they may be, are actually incredibly gross animals who basically feed their babies poo, and who are so dumb they can’t even recognize a eucalyptus leaf when it’s removed from a branch and offered to them. 2. The Spanish Inquisition. 3. To three-star most of this series. This is one of those series (and authors) people have been recommending to me for yearrrrs now. And many of them have done so while telling me it’s […]



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