Hugs to all of you. :mrgreen:
I agree with you on many things, Rodia. I like how Hobb takes her time as well. You and I have different experiences with Tawny Man however. When I read Fool's Errand, it was like seeing an old friend again. There was about a year in between my reading of Farseer and Tawny Man. I had to wait a little bit for Golden Fool too. I LOVED Farseer. I think the first person narrative really helped pull me into caring for Fitz. Unlike you, ench, I never found him annoying, well except maybe when he was being an idiot or doing something I didn't agree with. So, discovering his character once again in Tawny Man was wonderful. He'd changed too. As the reader, you saw the world a little differently through his eyes now, except once in a while, you find glimpses of the old Fitz. But it wasn't just Fitz I was glad to read about again. There was Nighteyes, the Fool, Patience, Kettricken, Burrich... The Fool is one of the best characters in fantasy IMO. I like how Hobb doesn't write adventure/sword and sorcery fantasy (albeit those too have their merits), but she leans more toward "high" fantasy in a way.
Jae, both Farseer and Tawny Man made me cry. Let's see now.. Which scenes in particular... The last part of Assassin's Apprentice, the last part of Assassin's Quest and the last quarter of Fool's Fate. That's not to say I didn't cry in between however.
LOL. I think it's funny you had trouble with her bizaare magics, ench. That's what I enjoyed about Farseer. The Skill, the Wit, the Forging, the Prophet/Catalyst...
Peeg, I'm not sure I'd recommend Liveship. It's a departure from Farseer/Tawny Man. For one thing, it's written from different characters' perspectives. I didn't much care for the main female character, but the supporting cast was interesting. I enjoyed Liveship very much, but not asmuch as the other two series.
I'd recommend Marillier's Sevenwaters trilogy again. If any of you like Celtic-influenced fantasy, female protagonists, sadness (the kind pervasive throughout the Sil but not quite as depressing), love for the earth and nature, and romance, I'd say try reading Daughter of the Forest at least. It's a twist on the Seven Swans fairy tale.