I personally hope to see you exceed the popularity of most Booktubers. You are thorough, well spoken, and dont use foul language. Keep it up Matt. Excellent stuff.
Nope... though, I've only read the first trilogy, it's decent at best. She couldn't write an intelligent character if her life depended on it and all the other issues with the books tear down even her capability to write complex and fully drawn characters. And sometimes the character behavior just doesn't make sense even when considering the motivations and temperament she gave them.
@@strawberryorange3755 Which doesn't? Abercrombie's First Law books, Tolkiens LotR, Erikson's Malazan. Even Sanderson's Stormlight Archive, while a bit heavy handed at least isn't pure cringe and depression porn with nonsensical motivations for the characters actions.
@@Matthew1J Sanderson isn’t cringe then tell me what is this? “I can see you are a woman of discriminating taste.” “ I am. I do like my meals prepared very carefully, as my palate is quite delicate.” “Pardon. I meant that you have discriminating taste in books” “ I’ve never eaten one actually” While you might like flat characters written like marvel superheroes with cringe dialogues , that doesn’t make them better. At least Hobb writes like she has met a human before, her characters are very realistic and that pisses off so many people. Do you always make best choices in life? You don’t have any regrets? You never have self doubt? Having psychological realism doesn’t make everything trauma porn, do you think everyone has a happy life? While it is bleak at times, there are also equally heartwarming moments . Lotr is good but the characters are bland, they’re divided into typical good vs evil, (except frodo) with little moral ambiguity. I can’t speak on Malazan as I have not read it.
So glad you did a breakdown of this utterly amazing series, as it is one of the best ever. She is an amazing author but, even more important, she is an amazing person.
I repeat this everywhere and any time I can. Robin Hobb's fantasy novels are in fact coming of age and psychological novels disguised as fantasy. 📚 They have their issues with pacing but it's never that much annoying as in some books by R. Jordan or B. Sanderson. At least for me.
I’m half way through Fool’s Quest right now… I don’t want this to end! I rarely re-read books, and I’ve never re-read a larger series, but I will 100% come back to Realm of the Elderlings in a few years.
Amazing video, Matt! I'm currently making my way through Realm of the Elderlings, about to start Ship of Destiny, and I can tell this series will become very dear and special to me. I can't wait to experience the rest of the journey and see where it takes me!
Man….this is one of the most finest reviews of “ The Realm of the underlings saga” or in general any fantasy saga I have listened …..your sense of explaining everything to the last minute detail is so calming and relaxing…..it doesn’t feel loud , it doesn’t feel rushed and most importantly it doesn’t feel forcefully hyped for simply the sake of it ……keep up the good work my man 🤲🏻👏🏻👊🏻👊🏻🤟🏻🙌😇😄😍…..
This video might have come out at the perfect time as I’ve recently been contemplating starting the series but I didn’t know if it was right for me. After watching your video I think that I will greatly enjoy this series with the proper mindset. Thanks for making my decision all the easier.
6:18 I'm doing a re-read at the moment, and your point about Hobb writing a child/teenager correctly is so true. There haven't been many authors who have nailed that so well. Perhaps Bernard Cornwell with Uhtred in the 'Saxon Stories', and Martin did it so well with the various younger people in ASOIAF.
Fascinating getting a perspective of people who come to Robin Hobb now that there are 16 books. I found her in the late 1990s when there were only 6, and I got hold of them in the wrong order! The first one I came across was Mad Ship. Then I read Farseer trilogy, then the other two Liveship books. Then I had to wait. And I read each book as it was published. I have loved all of them and have just finished 're reading Farseer after a gap of some 20 years. I think I'm pretty much the same age as Robin Hobb.
You are one of the most thorough booktubers I have seen. The effort you put into your videos are praiseworthy !! You are gonna get BIG. I just know it !
Such a great overview Matt. Nailed all the great stuff about it. This is my favorite series of all time, despite the first two books of Rainwilds haha.
This was really good. I am coming into fantasy from scifi and looking to step into a fantasy series. I know the usual pantheon that get repeated everywhere on booktube but only recently has this one been getting some shine. You've got a really great format here. You pitched this book to me. Those are points I do want to know if I'm to invest in such an epic number of books. Ticket sold, I'm putting at least the first book on my TBR.
I’ve just finished the Farseer trilogy - one of the greatest trilogies I’ve ever read - didn’t think anything could beat the First Law for me, but it is so brilliant. Robin Hobb’s writing is some of the most beautiful I’ve ever read, her characters are so well fleshed out. Can’t wait to start the Liveship Traders tomorrow
The last trilogy is amazing, imo. I envy you getting to read that for the first time. Don't want to give you too high expectations, but keep on with the series, because it's amazingly worthwhile. The final trilogy blew me away, but you'll need a tissue for the tears.
Great video, Matt! RotE is my favorite series. One thing I would say to encourage readers who may be daunted about starting a 16-book series is that each sub-series has it’s own satisfying arc and ending, and the first 3 books function really well as standalone novels. You don’t need to read all 16 books to get a complete story, though the overarching plot points across all 16 books are also quite good and satisfying.
I read the 2nd trilogy, Liveship Traders, first and used it as the launch into the others. I would recommend that order as those three books really don't need an intro. One of the best stories I have ever read.
Although, it does have (major) spoilers for the first trilogy, so I wouldn't recommend that order of reading. Reading liveships first would reduce enjoyment for the following reasons. ****Spoilers below stop reading if you haven't read first 2 trilogies**** You missed the fun of working out/realising who amber really was. (And who she carved paragons figure head into) There's definitely mention of the stone dragons verity awoke, being a big spoiler. Also the end of liveships we see the hatching of actual dragons, then stepping down to verity's stone dragons has to be a disappointment, which you'd wouldn't experience reading in correct order. I'm not having a go at your choice to read that first, but I do take issue with recommending starting with liveships to others, as it would reduce enjoyment of both, compared to reading in release order, in my opinion.
Wonderful post, Matt. I couldn't have said it better myself. That's why you are my favorite book tuber and I am merely a commenter🙂. I wish everyone could read these books, you did an excellent job of describing them. My favorite series of all time. I was blown away by how she brought all the elements from all the books into such a satisfying conclusion. I hope no one skips the Rain wild books because they make so many elements clear from the earlier books. Now i might have to go back and read the whole series again (it would be my 4th reread) but I am determined to give Malazan a read or at least an attempt. From your encouragement I'm sure it will be a series I will enjoy. I have begun.
Great breakdown! I liked the ranking at the end, too. Our top 6 is mostly the same, although probably a different order, although Fool's Fate would likely be up there for me too.
All 16 I'm not sure, but I've thought all day and can say 1. Assassin's Fate, 2. Fool's Fate, 3. Mad Ship, 14. Assassin's Quest (although I'm also very curious when I get to a reread how it will feel different), 15. Dragon Keeper, 16. Dragon Haven.
Oh I soooooo agree with you! Robin Hobb has completely ruined every fantasy book I have read since finishing RotE. NOTHING else has the depth or ability to embed itself into my brain like her books. I am in love with her characters - Fitz, Fool, Nighteyes, Kettricken et al. Hardly a day goes by without me thinking of them and when I can read the books again (3 times so far.) I am so jealous of anyone reading them for the first time now - that will never be me again. The only other authors whose books have stuck with me nearly as much, are Joe Abercrombie and John Gwynne. (Though I am reading the Greenbone Saga and I think it may join them.) Robin Hobb has been a curse and a blessing!!!!!!
As someone who is in the middle of Assassins quest, I really appreciate that you said other people have felt that it's super slow. I was getting really bogged down by the book and it's just SO much TRAVELLING! I've had times where I need to put the audio book onto 2.5x speed to get through so much Yada Yada. I absolutely loved the first two books (why the hell woukd I be reading the third if I didn't) but it's motivating to know that live ship traders is a banger. Huge book series always turn me off, but I definetly agree that this being a COMPLETED series is really exciting, and the fact that it's broken up by trilogies and quartets is very nice. I'll power through assassins quest, and I'm looking forward to liveship traders!
Its funny because the 3rd book of the 1st trilogy is actually one of my favorites of the entire series lol. Shows how different each of our experiences with these books are ;D
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews Hmm good question, on my first read it was the first book of liveships, because I found it to be very slow back then. But on a re-read I like it a lot more. Right now I'll have to say my least favorite is maybe the second book of Tawny Man, or the first book of Fitz and the Fool... But it's close, I like most of the books... :D
I agree, yes there's a lot of traveling that seems to slow down plot development, but still so much happens in that book, and it's part of Hobbs writing still that it isn't purely plot driven, but gives space for the characters and the huge emotional engagement of the series.
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews unfair question, I didn't "dislike" any of the books. I get the criticism on pacing, but as I've said that's needed for the space for the character development and the emotional impact of the books, let's face it, they're traumatic as it is, if the pace of that trauma was quicker it would be overwhelming. Rain wilds are my least liked of the series, but I still thoroughly enjoyed them. And while it was possibly the best stand alone tale (trilogy/tetrology) the Fitz narrative was the big complexion for me, so the combined trilogy if Fitz trilogies totally outdoes liveships. The best trilogy is the last, but as I said in another comment, it needs the foundation of at least the other two Fitz trilogies to work.
I m left with the "fitz and the fool" trilogy and i m already mourning . I started with the liveship trilogy and i loved it. I have to say that i fully back your book ranking and having 2 of the last 3 books in the top five is definitly something that makes me happy.
Great job. A lot of what you say is exactly what I want to tell my friends to recommend the series. A few more spoilers than I would have liked, but good enough that I would share this. Thanks.
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews I have read everything except Rainwild Chronicles. My favourite individual books are the first two Liveship books and favourite trilogy overall is the Tawny Man trilogy. Unfortunately I was a bit underwhelmed by the last trilogy, especially the final book.
I hate to call Robin Hobb underrated but it's staggering the amount of fantasy fans I meet that have never read her. I always recommend her as highly as you do even though I haven't finished the whole RotE series. I know without a doubt the rest will be just as amazing.
Fair comment, while it's the weakest in the series, it's still well worth reading. I didn't mind the romance angles (there was definitely more than one, in fact it's one of the main themes for the 4books) And I think having that back ground on what happened/who the people of kelsingera are, benefits when reading (the amazing) final trilogy
I am currently jumping between Wheel of Time and Tawny Man triilogy and man, you are right. Hobb's character work is so good that I am even more frustrated with WoT's characters now (they are kind of annoying at times, which is a common criticism from what I hear). It's like putting a lightbulb next to the sun, even if it's bright it's still pales in comparison. Abercrombie is probably the only one that can go toe to toe with her.
Oh, man. How had I not watched this video before? You did such an amazing job. It’s been a few months since I finished the Realm of the Elderlings and I’m still experiencing post-series hangover. I can’t start another fantasy series just yet, it’s just that dark certainty that nothing will come close to it. Kinda like not wanting to watch anything after Better Call Saul or Breaking Bad.
I have only read 'The Farseer Trilogy' so far. And for me the first book was pretty average, but the second book was soo good !! It expanded the world and Nighteyes my love !! And then again 3rd book was dragged out a lot. So overalll Farseer did not end up being a fav but it definitely showed the potential Robin Hobb has. I am sucker for Nautical fantasy and pirates !! Cannot wait to read Liveship books this year !!
I'm starting the third in The Rainwild Chronicles and i'm very much enjoying this subsaga! It has very interesting themes and you know, dragons! And the third of the first trilogy is my fav of that trilogy 😂, unpopular opinión here.
Hi Matt! Love your channel. A little bit off topic but you have said in this video that you love Fitz realistic portrait as a teenager. And i know that you have tried reading Stephen King and you enjoyed it but didn't loved it. As a major Stephen King fan i would advise you to try to read a book where Stephen writes from the perspective of a child / teen. Its one of his best traits i leave here some suggestions: - Needful Things -IT -Dark Tower (some parts) -Pet Semetary The Long Walk The Shinning Among a lot of others that have child characthers even if not the main one His portrait of child innocence is a master work. Still, even though i have different opinions on the Stand and 11/22/63 i love your reviews and the points you make are fair. Keep up the honest feedback and i hope you keep growing :)
Raul Araujo I agree with you about SK's writing. His opening chapter of The Regulators as he describes a perfect summer morning in small town America is so beautiful. Makes me want to go there. Until chapter two starts...heheheh.
I’m about to finish Golden Fool and have placed a limit on myself to only read a chapter a day for the rest of the RoTE series because I know I’ll only be able to experience it once and want to savor it. Robin Hobb is seriously GOAT!
Am I foolish to think about trying to pair this with WoT? Like reading Farseer then 3 WoT, Liveship then 3 more WoT, etc... both high on my TBR but unsure how to attack them and avoid burning out on either. Also very quickly becoming one of my top booktubers, keep it up!
Finished assassins apprentice last week. I ain't gonna lie..1st person in high fantasy is...odd. but I'm a huge fan of character first stories. My only thoughts at the end of book 1 were... "poor fitz"
Hey Matt can you answer this if you have time So I just started reading Farseer, Im 150pg in the assassins apprentice, and I rly dont like how slow it is, or lack of action. I know Hobbs strength is the characters, but I dont find characters nor story exciting, its boring actually. Even tho her writing style is excellent, its not for me. Does it get better or should I drop the series?
This series probably isn't for you. Although I will say that the 2nd trilogy, which has virtually nothing to do with the 1st trilogy, might be up your alley. It's 3rd person perspective and WAY heavier on the action. It's called "Liveship Traders"
I was so discouraged to hear that Hobbs is the best character writing in fantasy of all time. I first read her books over 20 years ago and I’ve read all 9 of the Fritz books every 5 years or so because I love her characters so much that miss them over time and so visit them again and again. Meanwhile I read other series and want to find this level of character depth again but in 20 years I’ve never succeeded. Now I’m beginning to feel I never will, and that makes me sad. I guess I’ll have to keep revisiting Fitz to get my fix 😢
Liked this review/overview of ROTE, TH-cam needs more Robin Hobb championing, There's total over kill of channels pretty much dedicated to ASOIAF or LOTR, yet so little on ROTE. Time we build a ROTE community to rival ASOIAF. To start with, I'm highly biased, ROTE is my favourite book series. I read it fairly recently 2021/2022. I hadn't heard that there's a general criticism of the third farseerer book, totally unfounded in my opinion, so much happens in it, I have to dispute this point. The big draw for me was boy with wolf friend, (growing up that was my thing, littlest hobbo, white fang, adventures of natty gann, etc.) I nearly skipped the liveship trilogy. Magical talking ships and pirates not generally my thing, so glad I did read it. And although my big live of ROTE is Fitz's story, I think your probably right, that in Terms of stand alone trilogy/tetrology liveships is the best. However, the final trilogy, Fitz and the fool, blew me away, but it needed the rest, in particular the two other Fitz trilogies as foundation. It's a magnificent work. Bee is such a good character, now my favourite literary character (she stole that from nighteyes) It's fair comment to say the plot is slow going at times, but it needs that space for the character writing and the levels of emotion the books induce. I don't mind admitting that there was times I blubbed my eyes out, certainly in the last trilogy. It's such a great ending to Fitzs story, I didn't know what time expect, but in hindsight it's exactly right, and well foreshadowed (eg the carving the fool leaves Fitz at the end of tawny man) While it's more than a satisfactory end to the series, I hope beyond hope, we get more books following Bees life. She's too good a character to leave there, Robin/Megan/Margret did say on her blog that she'd started another book about Bee, but it was at the start of COVID and the book revolved around a blood plague, and Robin/Megan/Margret found it too close to what was happening at the time, and abandoned it. I deeply hope she changes her mind on that.
Have you read any of the short stories linked to ROTE? "Words like coins" is particularly good....... Im pretty sure its the pre story to Jinna the hedge witch from tawny man, but with a name change, shes mirrifen in the short. (The short came out in 2009 in a book called "a fantasy kedley" edited by yanni kunznia) So some time after tawny man trilogy, but in my head cannon its jannis backstory
Once upon a time I thought that I wouldn't like The Farseer Trilogy. I thought I will jump over to Liveship traders because it sounded more interesting. I read the Farseer trilogy and at first the royalty having name sounding like My Little Pony characters turned me off. I perservered and learned later that it is tradition among nobles to name their children after virtues in the hope of instilling such virtues to their name. I finished it and I love it and Hobb really does write really well that other authors feel eh at times. As for the Liveship Traders, I only finished the first book. I just want to say that I hate Malta way more than Kyle. A whole lot more.
Just finished the series, avoided all spoilers, my biggest surprise getting into ROTE on the internet is the hate for the rain wild chronicles! It's my third favourite of the 5. Also I think a big "pro" to do with the liveship traders is complex female characters. Most fantasy do "femme fatale" "wise wizard" "well meaning princess" or "prostitute" and that's about it. The 4 vestrick women were complex and believable. Also, I love some fantasy in a tropical setting given every other book is in a temperate environment. Bit of an odd take but I loved it! As a con ...the narration is terrible on audible...
Fully agree, liveship has many great female characters without falling into fantasy tropes or coming across as feminist/diversity agenda pushing. And it covers a spectrum of different female characters all very individual, yet brilliant character portrayals and development.
I coudn't agree more, "Realm of the Elderlings" is a great series. But did you read Hobb's "Soldier Son" trilogy? Whille intriged at the beginnig I had to force myself to finish the last book.
You could miss it, but, although the weakest in ROTE series still worth reading, there's no bad books in the whole ROTE series. You'll have better understanding if some of Fitzs experience in the final trilogy if you've read it. While it gets knocked, or rather cited as the least good series within ROTE, it's still well worth reading, and very much enjoyable. Don't read too much into it being the least good of a series that is exceptional.....
Yes I agree. I kinda forgot but book 3 of Farseer was a big disappointment. I loved the first two like crazy and then book 3 was a major step down. This made me delay picking up Live Ship.
Yeah completely. Upon finishing the series you are going to look back on it fondly - but yeah I didn't enjoy it at the time nearly as much as the others.
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews Yeah and tbh I think I would have enjoyed it more the first time if I wouldn't have had such high expectations after the first two books!!!
Hi again, Matt. I don’t know why I don’t see my message to you « I think you forgot to include Magali Villeneuve in "Artwok By"... » I don't control you or anything, but the illustrated anniversary edition of the « Farseer trilogy » was illustrated by Magali Villeneuve and you use that artwork in your video... Don't you have an obligation to mention the names of the artists when you use their creations? Personally, I would add her name to avoid problems, but, of course, the decision is yours...
Just finished Assassin's Quest last night and OMG was it slow. I still think Hobb is great - her writing style so buttery smooth - but OMG was it slowwwwww.
5:35 mm apart of hermione granger, no wise teen come to my mind. Maybe because I try to don’t read modern young adult books. The geek furioso, the most popular spanish booktuber, basically became popular making funny and histrionic criticism about how shitty the genre is. And curiously, analysing his videos, most of the books done by women were terrible. Males were of better quality. I wonder why.
I just finished book 1 of "Assassin's Apprentice," and he is constantly getting abused, used as a tool, and then thrown away. But he's still going to those people who used him and tried to kill him, and he doesn't do anything about it. In a realistic character, that's bullshit. He's like 16-17, bro. If I were in his place, I would try my best to destroy the Six Duchies.
Oops, sorry about that - I watch the videos through my Xbox but I write comments using my iPhone. This comment was supposed to be in response to the “Top 10 Fantasy Characters” video!!! I could not help but notice that every single one of them was male.
I personally hope to see you exceed the popularity of most Booktubers. You are thorough, well spoken, and dont use foul language. Keep it up Matt. Excellent stuff.
Thanks so much Chad - you are too kind!
Couldn't agree more! Matt is THE BEST!
He absolutely will
agreed except foul language
Completely agree. Matt’s amazing and I love his videos on different fantasy series
Her character writing is so incredible
Yeah. Bes tin the genre in my opinion.
Nope... though, I've only read the first trilogy, it's decent at best. She couldn't write an intelligent character if her life depended on it and all the other issues with the books tear down even her capability to write complex and fully drawn characters. And sometimes the character behavior just doesn't make sense even when considering the motivations and temperament she gave them.
@@Matthew1J and which books do you think has better characterisation? Brandon Sanderson?
@@strawberryorange3755 Which doesn't? Abercrombie's First Law books, Tolkiens LotR, Erikson's Malazan. Even Sanderson's Stormlight Archive, while a bit heavy handed at least isn't pure cringe and depression porn with nonsensical motivations for the characters actions.
@@Matthew1J Sanderson isn’t cringe then tell me what is this? “I can see you are a woman of discriminating taste.” “ I am. I do like my meals prepared very carefully, as my palate is quite delicate.” “Pardon. I meant that you have discriminating taste in books” “ I’ve never eaten one actually”
While you might like flat characters written like marvel superheroes with cringe dialogues , that doesn’t make them better. At least Hobb writes like she has met a human before, her characters are very realistic and that pisses off so many people. Do you always make best choices in life? You don’t have any regrets? You never have self doubt? Having psychological realism doesn’t make everything trauma porn, do you think everyone has a happy life? While it is bleak at times, there are also equally heartwarming moments . Lotr is good but the characters are bland, they’re divided into typical good vs evil, (except frodo) with little moral ambiguity. I can’t speak on Malazan as I have not read it.
You are slowly becoming one of my favorite booktubers. 👍🏼
That's super nice of you. Thank you!
You did so well keeping this spoiler free. Rote is my all time favourite and I loved listening to you talk about it with so much compassion.
Thank you so much Sasha!
So glad you did a breakdown of this utterly amazing series, as it is one of the best ever. She is an amazing author but, even more important, she is an amazing person.
Yes, a really wonderful person overall!
I repeat this everywhere and any time I can. Robin Hobb's fantasy novels are in fact coming of age and psychological novels disguised as fantasy. 📚 They have their issues with pacing but it's never that much annoying as in some books by R. Jordan or B. Sanderson. At least for me.
Yeah very well said Anna!
Yes! I started Assassin’s Apprentice this week and LOVED your Malazan breakdown. Keep up the great work Matt, booktube needs more of you!
Thanks Thomas, you are too kind!
I’m half way through Fool’s Quest right now… I don’t want this to end! I rarely re-read books, and I’ve never re-read a larger series, but I will 100% come back to Realm of the Elderlings in a few years.
On the re-read now, it’s even better 2nd time
Yup, I can't wait to do a re-read myself!
Amazing video, Matt! I'm currently making my way through Realm of the Elderlings, about to start Ship of Destiny, and I can tell this series will become very dear and special to me. I can't wait to experience the rest of the journey and see where it takes me!
So glad you are enjoying it - it really is an all-time great series!
It’s so good! I think Liveship is her best plotted work. Enjoy reading the ending for the first time 😊
Man….this is one of the most finest reviews of “ The Realm of the underlings saga” or in general any fantasy saga I have listened …..your sense of explaining everything to the last minute detail is so calming and relaxing…..it doesn’t feel loud , it doesn’t feel rushed and most importantly it doesn’t feel forcefully hyped for simply the sake of it ……keep up the good work my man 🤲🏻👏🏻👊🏻👊🏻🤟🏻🙌😇😄😍…..
Thank you so much - you are too kind!
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews ….your welcome..Dear Sir 😇
This video might have come out at the perfect time as I’ve recently been contemplating starting the series but I didn’t know if it was right for me. After watching your video I think that I will greatly enjoy this series with the proper mindset. Thanks for making my decision all the easier.
Wonderful - enjoy!
6:18 I'm doing a re-read at the moment, and your point about Hobb writing a child/teenager correctly is so true. There haven't been many authors who have nailed that so well. Perhaps Bernard Cornwell with Uhtred in the 'Saxon Stories', and Martin did it so well with the various younger people in ASOIAF.
I’d love to see you do a Realm of the Elderlings tier ranking video.
Fascinating getting a perspective of people who come to Robin Hobb now that there are 16 books. I found her in the late 1990s when there were only 6, and I got hold of them in the wrong order! The first one I came across was Mad Ship. Then I read Farseer trilogy, then the other two Liveship books. Then I had to wait. And I read each book as it was published. I have loved all of them and have just finished 're reading Farseer after a gap of some 20 years. I think I'm pretty much the same age as Robin Hobb.
Wow that's awesome, you basically grew up with these characters!
The other enormous series that intimidates me!
Don't be afraid, it's a lot less intimidating than it looks!
You are one of the most thorough booktubers I have seen. The effort you put into your videos are praiseworthy !! You are gonna get BIG. I just know it !
Thanks so much! You are too kind.
Such a great overview Matt. Nailed all the great stuff about it. This is my favorite series of all time, despite the first two books of Rainwilds haha.
Yeah we just pretend those first two Rain Wild books don't exist!
This was really good. I am coming into fantasy from scifi and looking to step into a fantasy series. I know the usual pantheon that get repeated everywhere on booktube but only recently has this one been getting some shine. You've got a really great format here. You pitched this book to me. Those are points I do want to know if I'm to invest in such an epic number of books. Ticket sold, I'm putting at least the first book on my TBR.
Thanks so much, I appreciate your feedback!
I’ve just finished the Farseer trilogy - one of the greatest trilogies I’ve ever read - didn’t think anything could beat the First Law for me, but it is so brilliant. Robin Hobb’s writing is some of the most beautiful I’ve ever read, her characters are so well fleshed out. Can’t wait to start the Liveship Traders tomorrow
The last trilogy is amazing, imo. I envy you getting to read that for the first time.
Don't want to give you too high expectations, but keep on with the series, because it's amazingly worthwhile. The final trilogy blew me away, but you'll need a tissue for the tears.
Great video - you've given me the push I needed to start this series.
YES!
Great video, Matt! RotE is my favorite series. One thing I would say to encourage readers who may be daunted about starting a 16-book series is that each sub-series has it’s own satisfying arc and ending, and the first 3 books function really well as standalone novels. You don’t need to read all 16 books to get a complete story, though the overarching plot points across all 16 books are also quite good and satisfying.
Yes great point!
I read the 2nd trilogy, Liveship Traders, first and used it as the launch into the others. I would recommend that order as those three books really don't need an intro. One of the best stories I have ever read.
Can I ask why you started w the liveship traders first?
@@LavroseRovender at the time I didn’t know better. It was stated as part 1 on the cover that I had.
Although, it does have (major) spoilers for the first trilogy, so I wouldn't recommend that order of reading.
Reading liveships first would reduce enjoyment for the following reasons.
****Spoilers below stop reading if you haven't read first 2 trilogies****
You missed the fun of working out/realising who amber really was. (And who she carved paragons figure head into)
There's definitely mention of the stone dragons verity awoke, being a big spoiler.
Also the end of liveships we see the hatching of actual dragons, then stepping down to verity's stone dragons has to be a disappointment, which you'd wouldn't experience reading in correct order.
I'm not having a go at your choice to read that first, but I do take issue with recommending starting with liveships to others, as it would reduce enjoyment of both, compared to reading in release order, in my opinion.
Your books breakdows are amazing. Thank you for your time to create them.
Thanks so much, you are too kind!
Wonderful post, Matt. I couldn't have said it better myself. That's why you are my favorite book tuber and I am merely a commenter🙂. I wish everyone could read these books, you did an excellent job of describing them. My favorite series of all time. I was blown away by how she brought all the elements from all the books into such a satisfying conclusion. I hope no one skips the Rain wild books because they make so many elements clear from the earlier books. Now i might have to go back and read the whole series again (it would be my 4th reread) but I am determined to give Malazan a read or at least an attempt. From your encouragement I'm sure it will be a series I will enjoy. I have begun.
WOW that's a lot of re-reads. I'm really looking forward to doing a reread eventually!
High on my tbr after I finish everything Joe Abercrombie . Then malazan ( final boss )
All wonderful series!
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews should keep me busy until I’m 35 😭
Great breakdown! I liked the ranking at the end, too. Our top 6 is mostly the same, although probably a different order, although Fool's Fate would likely be up there for me too.
Thanks! What would your order be?
All 16 I'm not sure, but I've thought all day and can say 1. Assassin's Fate, 2. Fool's Fate, 3. Mad Ship, 14. Assassin's Quest (although I'm also very curious when I get to a reread how it will feel different), 15. Dragon Keeper, 16. Dragon Haven.
@@RedFuryBooks yeah that's a good list. And I couple agree more about your last two 😊
I'm only up to book one of Live Ship I have a long way to go but I'm excited and I've loved all the books up to this point!
YEAH!
Oh I soooooo agree with you! Robin Hobb has completely ruined every fantasy book I have read since finishing RotE. NOTHING else has the depth or ability to embed itself into my brain like her books. I am in love with her characters - Fitz, Fool, Nighteyes, Kettricken et al. Hardly a day goes by without me thinking of them and when I can read the books again (3 times so far.)
I am so jealous of anyone reading them for the first time now - that will never be me again.
The only other authors whose books have stuck with me nearly as much, are Joe Abercrombie and John Gwynne. (Though I am reading the Greenbone Saga and I think it may join them.)
Robin Hobb has been a curse and a blessing!!!!!!
Man, now i just want to read them all again
Yeah I can't wait for my re-read!
Reading the live ship series now. It really is phenomenally written. Excited to see how it wraps up.
It wraps up so so so good!
As someone who is in the middle of Assassins quest, I really appreciate that you said other people have felt that it's super slow. I was getting really bogged down by the book and it's just SO much TRAVELLING! I've had times where I need to put the audio book onto 2.5x speed to get through so much Yada Yada. I absolutely loved the first two books (why the hell woukd I be reading the third if I didn't) but it's motivating to know that live ship traders is a banger. Huge book series always turn me off, but I definetly agree that this being a COMPLETED series is really exciting, and the fact that it's broken up by trilogies and quartets is very nice. I'll power through assassins quest, and I'm looking forward to liveship traders!
Enjoy, Liveship Traders is something SPECIAL!
A very thorough review of the series.
Another top-quality video from Matt. Thank you! My favorite booktube channel about fantasy
Thanks so much, you are too kind!
Its funny because the 3rd book of the 1st trilogy is actually one of my favorites of the entire series lol. Shows how different each of our experiences with these books are ;D
That's awesome. Which did you dislike the most?
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews Hmm good question, on my first read it was the first book of liveships, because I found it to be very slow back then. But on a re-read I like it a lot more. Right now I'll have to say my least favorite is maybe the second book of Tawny Man, or the first book of Fitz and the Fool... But it's close, I like most of the books... :D
I agree, yes there's a lot of traveling that seems to slow down plot development, but still so much happens in that book, and it's part of Hobbs writing still that it isn't purely plot driven, but gives space for the characters and the huge emotional engagement of the series.
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews unfair question, I didn't "dislike" any of the books.
I get the criticism on pacing, but as I've said that's needed for the space for the character development and the emotional impact of the books, let's face it, they're traumatic as it is, if the pace of that trauma was quicker it would be overwhelming.
Rain wilds are my least liked of the series, but I still thoroughly enjoyed them.
And while it was possibly the best stand alone tale (trilogy/tetrology) the Fitz narrative was the big complexion for me, so the combined trilogy if Fitz trilogies totally outdoes liveships.
The best trilogy is the last, but as I said in another comment, it needs the foundation of at least the other two Fitz trilogies to work.
Really likes this and the malazan videos. Can’t wait to get to this series
Thank you!
I m left with the "fitz and the fool" trilogy and i m already mourning . I started with the liveship trilogy and i loved it. I have to say that i fully back your book ranking and having 2 of the last 3 books in the top five is definitly something that makes me happy.
Yeah what an incredible series!
The final trilogy is amazing, in my opinion it lifts the whole narrative of Fitzs story to another level.
Great job. A lot of what you say is exactly what I want to tell my friends to recommend the series. A few more spoilers than I would have liked, but good enough that I would share this. Thanks.
Thanks Sean!
Love these videos! Would love to see a similar video on the Banished Lands ir The First Law
I might do it for First Law. Banished lands doesn't quite have enough books in my opinion to really break it down like that.
Your channel is one of the highest quality on fantasy booktube. You deserve way more subscribers but I know your channel is going to blow up.
That's super nice of you to say - thank you!
Love this series, Hope you do more!
Thanks! The First Law is next!
Excellent overview. Thank you for doing this.
You are most welcome! Have you read them before?
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews I have read everything except Rainwild Chronicles. My favourite individual books are the first two Liveship books and favourite trilogy overall is the Tawny Man trilogy. Unfortunately I was a bit underwhelmed by the last trilogy, especially the final book.
I hate to call Robin Hobb underrated but it's staggering the amount of fantasy fans I meet that have never read her. I always recommend her as highly as you do even though I haven't finished the whole RotE series. I know without a doubt the rest will be just as amazing.
Yeah it always shocks me as well. Happy reading to you for the rest of the series!
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews We can only keep recommending them highly and hope they heed our words! Cheers.
Massively underrated. ROTE is my favourite series.
She should be as well known as grrm
I went in with zero expectations for the Rain Wilds Chronicles and really enjoyed them. The only negative was the cheesy romance.
I'm glad you loved it!
Fair comment, while it's the weakest in the series, it's still well worth reading.
I didn't mind the romance angles (there was definitely more than one, in fact it's one of the main themes for the 4books)
And I think having that back ground on what happened/who the people of kelsingera are, benefits when reading (the amazing) final trilogy
I am currently jumping between Wheel of Time and Tawny Man triilogy and man, you are right. Hobb's character work is so good that I am even more frustrated with WoT's characters now (they are kind of annoying at times, which is a common criticism from what I hear). It's like putting a lightbulb next to the sun, even if it's bright it's still pales in comparison. Abercrombie is probably the only one that can go toe to toe with her.
Yeah very well said!
Oh, man. How had I not watched this video before? You did such an amazing job.
It’s been a few months since I finished the Realm of the Elderlings and I’m still experiencing post-series hangover. I can’t start another fantasy series just yet, it’s just that dark certainty that nothing will come close to it. Kinda like not wanting to watch anything after Better Call Saul or Breaking Bad.
Thanks so much! Yeah I definitely got in a bit of a fantasy hangover after this one as well!
I just finished Assassin’s Quest, and it was my absolute favorite of the Farseer trilogy! My second five-star book of the year!
I have only read 'The Farseer Trilogy' so far. And for me the first book was pretty average, but the second book was soo good !! It expanded the world and Nighteyes my love !! And then again 3rd book was dragged out a lot. So overalll Farseer did not end up being a fav but it definitely showed the potential Robin Hobb has.
I am sucker for Nautical fantasy and pirates !! Cannot wait to read Liveship books this year !!
Yeah if you like nautical you are going to absolutely love Liveship.
I'm starting the third in The Rainwild Chronicles and i'm very much enjoying this subsaga! It has very interesting themes and you know, dragons! And the third of the first trilogy is my fav of that trilogy 😂, unpopular opinión here.
Hi Matt! Love your channel. A little bit off topic but you have said in this video that you love Fitz realistic portrait as a teenager. And i know that you have tried reading Stephen King and you enjoyed it but didn't loved it. As a major Stephen King fan i would advise you to try to read a book where Stephen writes from the perspective of a child / teen. Its one of his best traits i leave here some suggestions:
- Needful Things
-IT
-Dark Tower (some parts)
-Pet Semetary
The Long Walk
The Shinning
Among a lot of others that have child characthers even if not the main one
His portrait of child innocence is a master work.
Still, even though i have different opinions on the Stand and 11/22/63 i love your reviews and the points you make are fair. Keep up the honest feedback and i hope you keep growing :)
Thanks! I'll actually be starting Dark Tower in a month or two, really looking forward to it!
Raul Araujo I agree with you about SK's writing. His opening chapter of The Regulators as he describes a perfect summer morning in small town America is so beautiful. Makes me want to go there. Until chapter two starts...heheheh.
I’m about to finish Golden Fool and have placed a limit on myself to only read a chapter a day for the rest of the RoTE series because I know I’ll only be able to experience it once and want to savor it. Robin Hobb is seriously GOAT!
Am I foolish to think about trying to pair this with WoT? Like reading Farseer then 3 WoT, Liveship then 3 more WoT, etc... both high on my TBR but unsure how to attack them and avoid burning out on either. Also very quickly becoming one of my top booktubers, keep it up!
Yeah this is totally doable! Enjoy!
Finished assassins apprentice last week. I ain't gonna lie..1st person in high fantasy is...odd. but I'm a huge fan of character first stories. My only thoughts at the end of book 1 were... "poor fitz"
Yeah it takes a bit of getting used to! But the 2nd trilogy is 3rd person.
You’re how I imagine Burrich to look lmao
Burrich to me looks more like the guy who played Mance Rayder in GOT.
Matt's more a Brashen Trell imo
Hey Matt can you answer this if you have time
So I just started reading Farseer, Im 150pg in the assassins apprentice, and I rly dont like how slow it is, or lack of action. I know Hobbs strength is the characters, but I dont find characters nor story exciting, its boring actually.
Even tho her writing style is excellent, its not for me.
Does it get better or should I drop the series?
This series probably isn't for you.
Although I will say that the 2nd trilogy, which has virtually nothing to do with the 1st trilogy, might be up your alley. It's 3rd person perspective and WAY heavier on the action.
It's called "Liveship Traders"
I can’t wait to begin this series one day,I heard you love pirate stories,can you list your fav pirate books and pirate fantasy books?
I was so discouraged to hear that Hobbs is the best character writing in fantasy of all time. I first read her books over 20 years ago and I’ve read all 9 of the Fritz books every 5 years or so because I love her characters so much that miss them over time and so visit them again and again. Meanwhile I read other series and want to find this level of character depth again but in 20 years I’ve never succeeded. Now I’m beginning to feel I never will, and that makes me sad. I guess I’ll have to keep revisiting Fitz to get my fix 😢
Pray for more books about Bee!
@@daveevans873 That would be great!
@@maargenbx1454 I'm a huge Bee fan, such a good character.
A fiercely independent little mite that totally could have saved herself
Liked this review/overview of ROTE,
TH-cam needs more Robin Hobb championing,
There's total over kill of channels pretty much dedicated to ASOIAF or LOTR, yet so little on ROTE.
Time we build a ROTE community to rival ASOIAF.
To start with, I'm highly biased, ROTE is my favourite book series.
I read it fairly recently 2021/2022.
I hadn't heard that there's a general criticism of the third farseerer book, totally unfounded in my opinion, so much happens in it, I have to dispute this point.
The big draw for me was boy with wolf friend, (growing up that was my thing, littlest hobbo, white fang, adventures of natty gann, etc.)
I nearly skipped the liveship trilogy. Magical talking ships and pirates not generally my thing, so glad I did read it. And although my big live of ROTE is Fitz's story, I think your probably right, that in Terms of stand alone trilogy/tetrology liveships is the best.
However, the final trilogy, Fitz and the fool, blew me away, but it needed the rest, in particular the two other Fitz trilogies as foundation.
It's a magnificent work.
Bee is such a good character, now my favourite literary character (she stole that from nighteyes)
It's fair comment to say the plot is slow going at times, but it needs that space for the character writing and the levels of emotion the books induce.
I don't mind admitting that there was times I blubbed my eyes out, certainly in the last trilogy.
It's such a great ending to Fitzs story, I didn't know what time expect, but in hindsight it's exactly right, and well foreshadowed (eg the carving the fool leaves Fitz at the end of tawny man)
While it's more than a satisfactory end to the series, I hope beyond hope, we get more books following Bees life.
She's too good a character to leave there, Robin/Megan/Margret did say on her blog that she'd started another book about Bee, but it was at the start of COVID and the book revolved around a blood plague, and Robin/Megan/Margret found it too close to what was happening at the time, and abandoned it.
I deeply hope she changes her mind on that.
Have you read any of the short stories linked to ROTE?
"Words like coins" is particularly good.......
Im pretty sure its the pre story to Jinna the hedge witch from tawny man, but with a name change, shes mirrifen in the short.
(The short came out in 2009 in a book called "a fantasy kedley" edited by yanni kunznia) So some time after tawny man trilogy, but in my head cannon its jannis backstory
I love assassins quest. First reader here
Once upon a time I thought that I wouldn't like The Farseer Trilogy. I thought I will jump over to Liveship traders because it sounded more interesting. I read the Farseer trilogy and at first the royalty having name sounding like My Little Pony characters turned me off. I perservered and learned later that it is tradition among nobles to name their children after virtues in the hope of instilling such virtues to their name. I finished it and I love it and Hobb really does write really well that other authors feel eh at times.
As for the Liveship Traders, I only finished the first book. I just want to say that I hate Malta way more than Kyle. A whole lot more.
I want you to check back in after you are done with Liveship and tell me your thoughts on Malta and Kyle!
Omg please tell me you kept going and didn’t stop after Ship of Magic! Malta’s character arc is worth it, I promise!
Keep reading, Malta has one of the best character arcs ever written, I want to say more, but no spoilers so I won't.
Just finished the series, avoided all spoilers, my biggest surprise getting into ROTE on the internet is the hate for the rain wild chronicles! It's my third favourite of the 5.
Also I think a big "pro" to do with the liveship traders is complex female characters. Most fantasy do "femme fatale" "wise wizard" "well meaning princess" or "prostitute" and that's about it. The 4 vestrick women were complex and believable. Also, I love some fantasy in a tropical setting given every other book is in a temperate environment. Bit of an odd take but I loved it!
As a con ...the narration is terrible on audible...
Fully agree, liveship has many great female characters without falling into fantasy tropes or coming across as feminist/diversity agenda pushing.
And it covers a spectrum of different female characters all very individual, yet brilliant character portrayals and development.
I coudn't agree more, "Realm of the Elderlings" is a great series. But did you read Hobb's "Soldier Son" trilogy? Whille intriged at the beginnig I had to force myself to finish the last book.
No, I actually haven't. I've heard so many comments similar to yours that I have avoided it!
I wish I had watched this before starting Royal Assassin and wanting to look things up online and finding a bunch of spoilers 😭😭😭
And another thing, have you read the piebold prince?
Another good read about how the farseers became witted from Hobbs
Do I have to read Rain Wild Chronicles to understand what's going on in the last Fitz trilogy? Or can I just read all the Fitz books back to back?
You really should read Rain Wild.
You could miss it, but, although the weakest in ROTE series still worth reading, there's no bad books in the whole ROTE series.
You'll have better understanding if some of Fitzs experience in the final trilogy if you've read it.
While it gets knocked, or rather cited as the least good series within ROTE, it's still well worth reading, and very much enjoyable.
Don't read too much into it being the least good of a series that is exceptional.....
Third book in the Farseer trilogy is the best one of the three. Don't @ me!!
Totally agree, I don't understand the knocking of it. So much happens, not to mention its the pinnacle of the trilogy.
Yes I agree. I kinda forgot but book 3 of Farseer was a big disappointment. I loved the first two like crazy and then book 3 was a major step down. This made me delay picking up Live Ship.
Yeah completely. Upon finishing the series you are going to look back on it fondly - but yeah I didn't enjoy it at the time nearly as much as the others.
@@MattsFantasyBookReviews Yeah and tbh I think I would have enjoyed it more the first time if I wouldn't have had such high expectations after the first two books!!!
Is Rain-Wild skippable?
No, you really should read it. Makes the final trilogy all the better.
can you suggest similar books ? ive finished it and i feel empty ! i really need a similar story (help)
If you haven't, read piebold prince, it's set much earlier, but gives you a good fix of the old blood
Make a similar video on wheel of time spoiler free. Thanks
Maybe - but I feel like a lot of people have done similar things for that series.
You can 100% skip the rainwild chronicles and everything still makes sense
Hi again, Matt. I don’t know why I don’t see my message to you « I think you forgot to include Magali Villeneuve in "Artwok By"... »
I don't control you or anything, but the illustrated anniversary edition of the « Farseer trilogy » was illustrated by Magali Villeneuve and you use that artwork in your video... Don't you have an obligation to mention the names of the artists when you use their creations?
Personally, I would add her name to avoid problems, but, of course, the decision is yours...
Thanks so much, I'll edit in. I thought I got everyone!
Just finished Assassin's Quest last night and OMG was it slow. I still think Hobb is great - her writing style so buttery smooth - but OMG was it slowwwwww.
Yeah that one is painfully slow. The next book gets the pace back up though!
Tried to read this series so many times but it’s just too slow for me
Yeah that's a common complaint.
5:35 mm apart of hermione granger, no wise teen come to my mind.
Maybe because I try to don’t read modern young adult books.
The geek furioso, the most popular spanish booktuber, basically became popular making funny and histrionic criticism about how shitty the genre is.
And curiously, analysing his videos, most of the books done by women were terrible. Males were of better quality.
I wonder why.
LOL, that's really funny.
I just finished book 1 of "Assassin's Apprentice," and he is constantly getting abused, used as a tool, and then thrown away. But he's still going to those people who used him and tried to kill him, and he doesn't do anything about it. In a realistic character, that's bullshit. He's like 16-17, bro. If I were in his place, I would try my best to destroy the Six Duchies.
Then you don't at all understand childhood abandonment, and it's psychological impact on a young person
No women? Really? Hmm.
What do you mean "no women"?
Oops, sorry about that - I watch the videos through my Xbox but I write comments using my iPhone. This comment was supposed to be in response to the “Top 10 Fantasy Characters” video!!! I could not help but notice that every single one of them was male.
@@janeb9698what? I'm going to have to find this video and write "what no Bee Farseerer" all-over it