And so ends my first foray into the world of Fitz and I was not disappointed. I first read the Liveship Traders, both written and set after the events of the Farseer Trilogy. Hobb has changed little in the years which is no criticism as her writing is intimate and inviting. It's kind of annoying how fully-formed her writing is (and yes I know she wrote books before this), the prose beautiful and unpretentious.

I know her to be unhurried in her approach so I know I can settle into the rounded characters and rich world of the Six Duchies without blinking excitement. That being said, mark my rating. I think this is an excellent introduction to the world but not so successful as a book. It strikes me as a very truncated affair as the last 50 or so pages unfold at such a whiplash-inducing speed. The seed have been planted, true, but blossomed much too quickly.

Fitz is a great, and greatly flawed--believably flawed protagonist. I challenge any reader not to empathise with him. All the characters have such clear delineations and personalities it's so frustrating how skilled Hobb is at this, because it appears easy, intuitive. But it's to this book's credit. I love the magic. I love the world. I want more and I am starting right now.