Fool’s Fate

Robin Hobb 2003 Buy from Amazon.com

The final novel in the Tawny Man trilogy is full of adventure and intrigue. Prince Dutiful is leaving for the Outislands to fulfill the quest that the Narcheska Elliania has given him. The Fool believes that his death waits for him there with the dragon Icefyre and Tom Badgerlock, also known as Fitz, believes he can prevent it.

Tom and Chade know that there is more going on with Elliania’s demands than just the whim of a girl but they don’t know what. As they travel through the Outislands they discover that the other clans may not approve of their dragon being killed by the Farseer heir and they see no way around the problem. They hope to cement ties with the Outislands by marrying Dutiful to the Narcheska, but they soon realise that the Outislands do not have a monarchy like the Six Duchies, and that Elliania will lose her status by leaving her motherhouse to be Dutiful’s Queen.

Tom is worried by his daughter Nettle, who has been raised to believe his old friend Burrich is her father. She is using the Skill without knowing what she does and he is still trying to keep her away from the court that has stolen his life. Burrich’s son Swift has run away from home and journeys with them to the Outislands, determined to find a way to live with his Wit magic.

This is a very complex novel, and Robin Hobb weaves it together with skill, creating a fascinating finish to the stories of Fitz and the Fool. There is great hardship and danger to the characters in this novel, and several of them die, including some that have been in the story since the first Farseer novel. It does provide answers to some of the oldest questions from both series and the resolution, while not entirely a happy one, is still very satisfying.

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