You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

Several of us will be reading Fool's Assassin in February. We can set a date closer to the time.

Are we still on for the next book in our journey? It's a bit of a chunkster, so I was thinking earlier in the month than later but I'm open to other options.

I'm in! I'm also in a buddy read ofva chunky book starting the 25th, and I think I'll need at least 2-3 weeks for that one, especially with my current reading pace. Starting somewhere in the second week of February will probably work.

Margo commented in the group read thread that she couldn't continue the read because of things that happpened at home. I hope she's okay. It might be a while before she responds here.

what Peggy said. Although I may start late on City of Brass. I am not next in line yet on the hold.

I am good with whatever everyone decides. Hoping Margo is able to join.

Hi guys, I've found a few minutes today to catch up a bit, I miss you after only a couple of days!

Peggy, so sorry about the group read. My aunt died and was buried yesterday. My mum and uncle are in poor health and this has obviously cause setbacks. The events of the past week have shown my I need more help so I'm working on that. My health is starting to suffer.

I still intent to read this series with you - events allowing - we have come so far together! If things get worse here I may disappear. Otherwise, reading saves my sanity. My comments might be a bit scarce tho. I had trouble getting hold of the 1st and 2nd books, audible would only sell me book 3.

The start date makes no difference to me as I'm doing a couple of rereads at the moment and I can easily them aside. They are both chuncky too!

I'm so sorry to hear that Margo. Big hug!

Don't worry about the group read, and please don't think you have to explain yourself. I just got a bit worried about you, that's all!

Also, if you'd rather start this a few weeks later, that would be fine for me too. We started this together and will finish it together :)

Thanks Peggy but I wanted to explain what's happening. I honestly don't mind when we start there's no knowing when these things will happen.

I'm doing the City of Brass read too but I'll be reading the ebook. Fool's Assassin will be audiobook so I can read them simultaneously. I'm fine with the second week of February. I'm hoping we can avoid the toppler.

Margo, I agree that reading helps us get through difficult situations, and you've certainly had your share. Hopefully the read will go uninterrupted. Hugs!

I'd like to join in too. Now I've caught up with you!

I'm re-reading The Shadow of the Wind in another buddy read at the beginning of February, but if I clear the decks and don't take anything else on, I should be able to read this one too.

Thinking of you Margo. All the best and hugs from me too ...

I'm glad you'll be joining us Annerlee. :)

Thanks Annerlee, I'm glad you're joining us :-)

I bought the audiobook today! Woot!

I am just trying to get my upcoming reading in line.
Are we still starting around February 5?

I think so Esther. I had 8th in my head but I'll probably start when I finish my current book, which could be a few days earlier or a few days later than the 8th.

I just have "2nd week" marked down, so I think any time next weekend is good.

I'll start when you all do. Things are a bit more quietened down a bit for me.

I'm going to start this tonight.

I will follow you probably tomorrow. I have a novella in progress. I expect to be done tonight.

It will be a few more days before I start. My current book is also epic fantasy and I want to finish it first.

Oh it's good to be back!

Prologue: noone sums up 13 books in as few words as Hobb :-D

chapter 1: (view spoiler)[ Loved the squabbling between Molly and Fitz, I guess they're an old married couple now! We are straight into the intrigue with mysterious messages and uninvited guests. And Tom in his germaleon pants - I image they'd look good on him, no good for mucking out in though LOL

(hide spoiler)]

I have just over 2 hours left in my current audiobook, so I'll finish it tomorrow and start our buddy read on Sunday.

Chapter 2 (view spoiler)[ Oh no, the messenger's been murdered and we don't know what she to say!

(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ Chades cryptic mind will be the death of him.

This may have been the last chapter but I'm a little worried about Mollys health. It is tough on both of them that she appears to be in in worse health than Fitz but that actually his life will probably shortened by skill healing.

(hide spoiler)]

Margo wrote: "Oh it's good to be back!

Prologue: noone sums up 13 books in as few words as Hobb :-D

Started this morning. I totally agree.

I am going to be so late starting this one... I will look forward to reading everyone's spoilers. I crowded to much into this month... lesson learned:)

Margo wrote: "Chapter 3 .."

(view spoiler)[Chade: indeed he will. Unless I missed something we did not know if he just fell or was pushed.

Molly: not sure what to think. She does not seem to age well.
(hide spoiler)]

Esther wrote: "Margo wrote: "Chapter 3 .."

"

(view spoiler)[ I bet he was pushed, or maybe someone caused him to slip like they did to Kettrickan when she was pregnant.

(hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4 (view spoiler)[ I really hope that Molly is pregnant but somehow I doubt it. Is it menapause or something more sinister?

It's about time we found out more of Chades backstory.

(hide spoiler)]

Margo wrote: "Chapter 4
"
I agee about Chade.

Chapter 5
(view spoiler)[ok.
Fool: so he kept in touch, sort of, but not with Fitz. I guess we will know why eventually.
Molly, I was sure she was slowly sinking in a Alzheimer-like decease but it does not look like it is. How????
So a baby. Well, this is going to be interesting. Somehow I doubt she will be a "normal" baby. (hide spoiler)]

chapter 6
(view spoiler)[overprotective much? not that I blame him really. (hide spoiler)]

I finished to the end of Chapter 3. It's taking me a bit to get used to the new narrator. He doesn't sound like Fitz to me. Maybe that will come.

(view spoiler)[ It didn't take long for there to be intrigue. So who was the messenger, what was her message, and who killed her? We know that the Fool sent her, but we need details.

I wonder if Molly was drugged or if she's sick. I think it's the latter since she continues to have dizzy spells. (hide spoiler)]

chapter 7
(view spoiler)[I cannot really picture FitzVigilant making it to Withywoods and fitting in. At least Fitz is not bulging on coming back to Buckkeep. Although I suspect that he may have too at some point. (hide spoiler)]

chapter 9 (view spoiler)[whatever Bee is she seem to react, badly to the wit. What s she exactly? is she skilled as well and it overwhelm her? (hide spoiler)]

Esther wrote: "Margo wrote: "Chapter 4
"
Chapter 5
..."

(view spoiler)[ Not a normal baby by any means! Human pregnancies don't last 2 years, nor to they have such dementia- like side effects.

Why isn't Nettle allowed to marry? Or is just that Dutiful won't let her marry Riddle?

(hide spoiler)]

Janice wrote: "I finished to the end of Chapter 3. It's taking me a bit to get used to the new narrator. He doesn't sound like Fitz to me. Maybe that will come.

It didn't take long for there to be intrigue. So..."

I like the new narrator and as it's been a while since we read the last Fitz book, that change didn't bother. What is doing my head in is that the audiobooks.com version is split into tracks, not chapters. I'm on track 10 which is chapter 5 but it's not like every chaptee has 2 tracks or anything that convenient. I will have to start giving chapter name to at least warn you all - I know I'm going to get it wrong 🙄

I finished my other book and will start this tomorrow. Looks like I'm not too far behind.

Margo wrote: "Esther wrote: "Margo wrote: "Chapter 4
"
Chapter 5."
.."
(view spoiler)[I was wondering the same thing. I guess it has t do either with her job or the fact the she may be in line for the throne. (hide spoiler)]

chapter 10
This is a surprise
(view spoiler)[I was not expecting the POV to change and especially not for Bee. So there was something wrong with her tongue. It is sad that nobody realized this as they thought her simple. What is she exactly? some kind of dreamer? some kind of prophet?

In the previous chapter I was fearing for Molly. Now that I had put that thought aside. Bang. I was not expecting her to go so soon.

Who is the butterfly? the fool? (hide spoiler)]

chapter 11
(view spoiler)[Well, Fizt had quite a chock when bee "revealed" herself. I think he handle it well. Nettle was determined to take control. Good intention and all, but i am glad she lost the battle and Bee did not move to Buckkeep. Not that managing her will be easy. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 13
(view spoiler)[Who the heck is Shun. While she may be in need of protection, she may be something else as well. Can she be so annoying and clueless if she has been around Shade and the like?

What is Shade game? Trying to get Fitz back n the game in a roundabout way? (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 15
(view spoiler)[Well, this was a nice introduction of Bee the dreamer. Not. So much for a first impression.

And the messenger, how strange. Who hurt her? they must be closeby (hide spoiler)]

Margo wrote: "Janice wrote: "I finished to the end of Chapter 3. It's taking me a bit to get used to the new narrator. He doesn't sound like Fitz to me. Maybe that will come.

It didn't take long for there to ..."

What do you use to listen to your audiobooks. I use the Audible App on iPad & iPhone. Mine shows the chapters the way they are in the book. But I don't go by that. I listen to the narrator and as soon as he reads the Chapter number and name, I write it down.

I've finished to the end of Chapter 6.

At first, (view spoiler)[I believed Molly that she was pregnant and I was annoyed at Fitz for thinking that she was suffering from dementia. That scroll (I presume it was a scroll) called "On The Aging of the Flesh" makes me happy that women aren't patronized in that manner in this day and age. It was almost laughable.

Gradually, I began to agree with Fitz and was sad that Molly was delusional about being pregnant. She's in her 50's and you wouldn't think she'd be in decline like that at her age.

Then, 2 years later, she went into labour, I wondered if it was a medical issue, but she was in deed having a baby. There was such a feeling of unreality about the whole thing. I wonder if the baby will survive and what they are going to name her. (hide spoiler)]

chapter 16-17
(view spoiler)[how on earth can you find that boy????? He could be anywhere. The fool has been moving around. Maybe he did not say more because Fitz knows the mother? And this would mean leaving Bee behind? (hide spoiler)]

Esther wrote: "chapter 6
[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[ I don't know what Chade was up to sending a trainee assasein to deliver a gift. Or was that just an excuse if he got caught? It may just have a message to Fitz to take care.

(hide spoiler)]

Janice wrote: "Margo wrote: "Janice wrote: "I finished to the end of Chapter 3. It's taking me a bit to get used to the new narrator. He doesn't sound like Fitz to me. Maybe that will come.

It didn't take long..."

The audible version wasn't available to me so I found it on audiobooks.com. They don't do as much formating.

Janice wrote: "I've finished to the end of Chapter 6.

At ..."

(view spoiler)[ I'd forgotten about that scroll! Maddening and belittling 😡

(hide spoiler)]

Margo wrote: "The audible version wasn't available to me so I found it on audiobooks.com. They don't do as much formating..."

Ah! That's probably the difference then. I did a trial membership with them and got 2 free books, but it was a couple years back and I didn't recall their format.

Yeah, I only go to them as a last resort but they do tend to sell me books I can't get anywhere else.

Esther wrote: "chapter 10
This is a surprise
I ..."

(view spoiler)[ NOOooo! Molly is dead 😭 Now I understand why the chapter wasn't told from Fitz POV. I wonder if it will switch back again?

I suspect Bee is a prophet. So, the child of the catalyst is a prophet! I can't help but wonder if that was influenced by the close relationships between Fitz and the Fool. All that talk about paths was like something he'd say. I think that you're right about the butterfly being the Fool.

I never considered that Bees lack of words might be due to a physical defect - nor did anyone else apparently! Thank god for those nasty little bullies.

(hide spoiler)]