Assassin's Quest : Book Three of The Farseer Trilogy : Revenge is Sweet?

Old Blood

Fitz has just met a couple who have the Wit magic, which they call the Old Blood. The man is bonded to a she-bear, and his wife to a hawk. They offered some more information as to what the Wit actually is, it seems there's a whole community of Old Blood folk out there, but infuriatingly, Fitz decided not to stay, learn and listen but carried on his revenge-quest.

I'm sure he'll be back with his proverbial tail between his legs soon enough to find out more, I just hope he doesn't take too long about it because I'm itching to find out all the secrets that this series has set up.

As ever, the writing in this third book in Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy is superb, gripping and exciting. When I came across Chapter 6 and saw its title : The Wit and The Skill, I nearly squealed with excitement (well, I did actually squeal with excitement).

Slow-going on this book, not because of the book but because I didn't take it on my week's holiday to Lanzarote. The flight had severe weight restrictions and, yes, this book is that heavy.

I'm over halfway through this book now and I think we're just starting to head to the grand climax. There are lots of threads that are just starting to come together and it's all getting very exciting.

Fitz has just had a Skill vision of Verity in a very strange place where there's some kind of river of pure magical energy, of thought and perception made substance, which he plunged his hands and arms into. I think Verity might have just become some kind of Skilled super-hero but there's still no sign of the Elderlings. Perhaps the surprise has been somewhart muted by the picture of the big dead-looking dragon on the front cover (surrounded by a group of likely-looking questers and a wolf.)

I just can't wait to see Verity, Fitz and Nighteyes use the Skill and the Wit to kick some serious Red Ship butt and knock the "Wheel of Time" off of it's terrible course.

Yes, I am still reading this book. Some of the slow-down is due to the amount of audio fiction I've been listening to, although I tend to listen to that on my iPod to and from my walk to work, as well as when I'm doing chores at home.

The other reason is because I'm making really good progress on my own novel. There just isn't enough time in the day -- one of the reasons why posts and comments to the bookworm trail have been a little thin lately.

I look forward to giving my thoughts on this book, I'm sure to finish it within the next few days now that I'm getting close to the end.

I think I've already chosen the next book on my trail... something completely different... watch this space.

Hurray! I've finished. It was fantastic, great and so complex and bittersweet. What a masterwork. A little break from the fantasy journey is due now, just to keep me balanced, although I want to go straight out to the library and take out another Robin Hobb, they're all trilogies so it's a big decision.

Imho, Assassin's Quest has the best use of dragons in any story I've ever read.