Hobb-A-Long Read-A-Long discussion

the books about Fitz always seem a bit slow to me. At the halfway point a bit more should have happened already. The plot still feels like setup and not like the actual story has already begun.

So Fitz's return to Buckkeep is ostensibly supposed to be a one time thing, so to act on this urgent matter that Chade is concerned about; and also by performing this service to the Farseers, to help Fitz secure financing to pay for Hap's apprenticeship; however, I think even Fitz knows that once he resumes his relationship with Chade, the Fool and Kettricken, he will be enticed someway into making the arrangement permanent. Kettricken already considers him, like herself, a "Sacrifice" for the Kingdom, and Chade is all too eager to get Fitz back in the harness to do dangerous, clandestine business for the Queen.

Even when Fitz bitterly complains about the bad effects that Skilling has on him, and how much pain that he has been put through over the years serving Chade's bidding, Chade makes him feel guilty for never trusting Chade to do what is in Fitz's and the Farseers best interests, and finally Fitz(in his weakened, post-Skilling session state), capitulates; and so again Chade has used emotional manipulation to take Fitz another step toward subservience to the Farseers.

Fitz hopes his Tom Badgerlock guise will keep his true identity safe, but it seems likely that anyone with a long acquaintanceship with Fitz ( like Hands, the stablemaster, who actually saw Fitz at Regal's court in Tradeford , after Fitz had already sustained his facial scar and broken nose) might recognize him even after fifteen years, given enough opportunities to get a good look at him, and maybe gauge his voice( The Fool as Lord Golden might have an easier time of it, as he now sports different skin tones and hair color, and is a master of make-up, and of affecting mannerisms that can create any sort of persona he may require).

Tom and Lord Golden will undertake to retrieve the missing Prince Dutiful with the addition of Laurel, the Queen's Huntswoman, who Chade suspiciously introduces to the quest at the last minute, with little explanation, other than asserting it was the Queen's wish.

Laurel quickly realizes the blunder Tom makes in showing up Lord Golden in that impromptu horse race; as if he wasn't actually Lord Golden's servant but his peer( thereby casting doubts on their identities); she tricks Tom into admitting that he had known Kettricken for a long time; and catches Tom in a lie about Nighteyes being his "dog" when she knows full well it is a wolf, forcing Tom to then try to feebly assert that he had been mistaken about him being his dog; this latter circumstance of the wolf following Tom at a distance, and his denial, must lead her to realize that Tom is Witted.

Fitz is obviously way off on his spy skills, and it may prove impossible to conceal the fact he is Witted in other covert missions, if he is among other Witted people who know what tell-tale signs to look for in him.

I don't know why it hasn't clicked with Fitz yet but I think Dutiful is being lured to some place by the piebalds. This way the will make the lynching of witted ones illegal, the cat was planted just to do this and whoever planted it is witted too (obvs), I suspect that the people that hunt with cats are witted since I don't think a cat can be trained by a normal person. Overall I'm intrigued where the story is going with this band of piebalds and if they really have great power or are a band of dumb-wits.

But this may seem like the main plot for now, but I doubt it so much, the Fool came to Fitz for a reason and this is not it. There is something bigger happening here, but as always the first book is an introduction. I think Fitz could stay living like that for ever, he missed this intrigue and adventure, even if it take a toll on him, this is his mayor addiction.

Abner wrote: "I don't know why it hasn't clicked with Fitz yet but I think Dutiful is being lured to some place by the piebalds. This way the will make the lynching of witted ones illegal, the cat was planted ju..."

This is a good example of having a crime (like lynching) be "officially" illegal in Buck and the other five Duchies, but have a lack of cooperation or resistance to enforcement by local authorities, particularly those outside of Buck where the local duke is responsible for their prevention, even over popular objections. Lax enforcement is effectively like having no law at all, and that's why the Old Blood's live in fear, with some resorting to becoming Piebalds.

Sarah wrote: "the books about Fitz always seem a bit slow to me. At the halfway point a bit more should have happened already. The plot still feels like setup and not like the actual story has already begun."

It's that first person narration again, Sarah! Third person is much easier to generate multiple plotlines from several characters, like with the Liveship trilogy. First person limits the plot to things that the character actually sees or encounters himself, so it has a tendency to advance the book's story arc more slowly, like with the Farseers and Tawny Man series. However, if you can put your first person protagonist into a more fluid environment where he sees a lot of characters and covers more settings in a shorter amount of time, all of which advance several plotlines, you can speed up the action; so it's not impossible to do this with first person; but it's not always done because it might detract from character development.

Thats why Hobb is using the skill dreaming so much, its a way to generate other plot lines or develop them, so we get Fitz POV when he is awake and Dutifuls POV when Fitz sleeps. It a better variation than only having to see everything to Fitz eyes.

Abner wrote: "Thats why Hobb is using the skill dreaming so much, its a way to generate other plot lines or develop them, so we get Fitz POV when he is awake and Dutifuls POV when Fitz sleeps. It a better variat..."

That is a such a good observation! Thank you for pointing that out.

Sarah wrote: "the books about Fitz always seem a bit slow to me. At the halfway point a bit more should have happened already. The plot still feels like setup and not like the actual story has already begun."

I just picked this book up again; fell off the reading wagon for a few months, life got in the way. I completely agree with you Sarah, after Liveship Traders Trilogy, this series feels a bit slow.

Hoping that the book picks up pace soon!