Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb's bookshelf

Robin Hobb is the second pen name for Margaret Astrid Lindholm Ogden (the first one being Megan Lindholm) - she has divided the names between genres (Lindholm for contemporary fantasy, Hobb for Medieval fantasy). I have read The Farseer Trilogy (1,5 books in Estonian :D) (Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin and Assassin's Quest) and the first book from The Liveship Trilogy (Ship of Magic).

In The Farseer Trilogy she tries to figure out whether one should work towards one's own happiness or the greater good. Should you sacrifice your own needs for the sake of others? Throw away your life for the kingdom?

The whole story is set in a royal household, from the point of view of Chivalry's bastard son - FitzChivalry. I should point out that the royal family member's name represents their nature. We have two opposite characters on the "good" side: Fitz who couldn't see the big picture and Verity who goes on a fatal quest to save his people (he is the King-In-Waiting/later King, even though Chivalry was above him in the line, he gave up his claim to the throne once he found out about his son born outside marriage). On the "bad" side we have Regal who'd do anything for personal gain and pleasure and can't think too far ahead in the future.

In many ways it's an amazing book. You can really relate to it, since there are no 100% good nor bad characters. Everyone has their flaws and that makes it real. The magical realm leaves so many possibilites for what can happen... so you're prepared for anything. Yet usually what comes out isn't what you were expecting... That goes generally for fantasy.

On with it. The liveship book was really hard to get started with. It was one of those books that started with a looooong introduction. I didn't understand a thing (the English-part didn't help either, I though I was misunderstanding text). I'd say pushing it was worth it. I fell in love with the book once I'd gotten used to it. The problem lays in the fact that some people don't really care about finishing the book if the beginning is hard and not too exciting. (A different case entirely is Roger Zelazny who starts with a bang - you have no idea what's going on and you're just thrown into the story which, by the way, is fascinating)

So at first I put the book on my bookshelf and left it there. Only 6-7 months later I finally finished it... and I can't wait for more!

PS. As of Christmas 2008 I am the owner of Liveship Trilogy book 2!