Whatever the author of the site has said about the Farseer Trilogy, I agree with it completely.

I also agree with the comment below on how this series influenced the genre...you can see where GRR Martin borrowed many of the things for his series; maybe its a coincidence, but the similarities are definitely there. But this is more like a blend of classic LOTR-esque, post-modern earthsea as well as the realistic gritty fantasy such as Song of Ice and Fire. That's more accurate than to say its Robert Jordan minus the gratuitous length, though it still does not describe it completely.
People speak of "magic system" as if its a catchphrase they picked up from reading too much trashy fantasy, but to be honest, the fantasy elements in the series are minimal.
The characters are not exceptionally fantastic in the way they would make you worship them, they are just humans and have their own flaws as human beings. The plot is almost entirely devoid of deus ex machina, as the description aptly says.
People who like clichéd stories where the good guys always triumph and never get beaten, bullied and ridiculed will find this series extremely frustrating, as will those who crave for world-building fantasies with extremely shiny heroic and worship-able characters, and stories that are convoluted with several POVs.

This simply isn't that sort of a story. Its just not.

This series is an interesting read, a good deal more sentimental in tone than what I am used to reading (Martin, Abercrombie and the like) and is probably more akin to Robert Jordan (except the books don't drag to the same extent). The magic system is both fresh and logical, but I am not sure if the world-building is entirely sensible. The real star of this series is the Fool, who is at once mysterious and heart-breakingly honest.

A word of warning, the Soldiers Son is utterly unenjoyable. Do not read.

The books in this series and all related are pure drivel the story is quite simple, the solutions are obvious and the characters tend to be morons. So these should be classified as books to avoid instead of you recommending them it kind of ruined any hope of me finding good recommendations on this site.

The whole series made me yawn and at times want to skip pages of mindless drivel, however I have a problem of finishing what I start.

The story is about a boy that was unlucky to be born a bastard and got involved with politics, weak kings were in charge so they screwed things up even more. The boy now a man shows some signs of maturity at the end of the first series and then negates all in the second series.
Overall a sadistic story at times that the author shuld have never been alowed to publish.

It does not mean that you are a good author if you can string words together in a pleasant way. It also means you have to be a good plotter.

A brilliant series of books - the assassin trilogy especially! I find most fantasy literature lacking in the originality, depth and skilful characterisation that these novels have in abundance. I have just started reading the second part of George R R Martin's series and I have to say, as much as I am enjoying them, the influences from Hobb are fairly apparent and quite numerous. The more I read, the more it seems that Martin has taken motifs or ideas from the Farseer universe/storyline and wholly transplanted them into his books with little alteration. Not too surprising as I am sure these books were heavily influential on the genre as a whole, seeing as they noticeably deviated from many of the standard archetypes of fantasy literature (wizards, elves, dragons.. oh wait, well most!) and displayed, so it seemed to me, a more mature and adept writing style than many of her contemporaries writing within the fantasy genre. I would especially recommend to any Robin Hobb newbs the Farseer Trilogy and the Liveship trilogy, they are most addictive reading

I strongly agree with Inka's sentiments. Despite being a thoroughly depressing storyline in general (Fitz's level of self-pitying is quite astounding! I almost quit the books a few times because its just over the top), it could have ended really well in the Fools Fate with some kind of conclusion including the Fool (possibly even leaving the story open for future adventures...). As others have expressed, it simply seemed like Hobb gave up in those final 10 or 20 pages.

It was too much of a fairytail ending; not something I would have expected from a story like this.

Oh and spoiler alert:
The final line of the last book 'I was content' - That made me laugh so much; he basically had everything he ever wanted and still wasnt happy...; merely content! What a frustrating character Fitz is eh...?

I read the Farseer & Tawny trilogies. I found this series to be incredibly frustrating. Hobb created a decent world. I liked her magic system. She did a good job with character development. Then she just goes and blows it by completely ignoring any and all logic. Personally, I think she just doesn't grasp how a man thinks. I must have yelled out loud at Fitz a half dozen times for his sheer stupidity. The moping and whining and feeling bad for himself. The way she goes on and on describing his feelings was just too over the top. I about gagged when she talked about the absolute hopelessness and fear he endured because he got a beat down in a dungeon. Boo freaking hoo! This is the same guy that goes into a crazed stupor when he's fighting?

Had Fitz spent any time at all mastering his magic gifts instead of ignoring and discarding them, he wouldn't have had any conflict or turmoil in his life. How about a skill suggestion to his Uncle Regal? How about rolling up to the stone quarry with Verity and using a little Wit to wake the dragons instead of letting his king sacrifice himself?

In the end I liked the world Hobb built and I thought her characters were diverse and detailed. I thought the build up was good, but then the climax was a let down. She spent like two sentences describing the end fight with the Pibolds in the first two Tawny Man books. The more I had to read about Fitz or the Fool's feelings, the more I was reminded of Stephanie Meyers dribble... (I suspect my wife skilled suggested me to read them.)

People complaining about the bad ending of Farseer. You really have to also read the Tawny Man trilogy. It is just a continuation of Farseer and has the most beautiful ending I've ever read. The Liveship Traders trilogy is also somewhat related. I've read almost every single book mentioned on this entire site and Robin Hobb is the best. I really doubt G Martin will manage to put together a good ending to his series (if he manages to finish it at all.)

I read the Farseer trilogy and loved it. The ending was great, appropriate and satisfying. Then I started Tawny man and liked the first two books as well. What bothers me is that I think Hobb completely lost her nerve when writing the ending of Fools fate. I mean what the hell, Fitz and Molly?? Burichs fate was sad and all Fitz could think about is how it would affect his relationship with Molly. He didnt even know Molly, 16 years had passed! It was never ment to be. For me the main theme of the books was the Fitz/Fool relationship. Hobb had a chance to create something unique, something that is not often seen in fantasy literature (love that knows no boundaries) but I think she chikened out. I never expected a happy ending but I expected something more than this lame cheap thing! Why spend such much time in writing about something and then blow it off like this? Perhaps Hobb was afraid of creating a controversial ending and gave us this typical, living happily ever after one. It just does not fit and I feal cheated.

I only read the first trilogy, but it was very, very good.

I can't believe I have read so many bad things about this series on here. Yes there is a lot of sorrow and pain in the book but this only highlights the small delightful parts. Hobb has created a very believable world with detailed characters and relationships. Her writing is by far the best I have came across and unlike the Song of Ice and fire series I wanted to read more. Ive read through the Farseer and Twany Man trilogy twice and it is still undoubtedly my favourite story. These books may not have your typical fantasy hero or happy ending that you know you're going to get with most other fantasy books but provides a world and events that fill your with vivid images and deep routed feelings. highly recommended

The proper way to read this is:
The Farseer trilogy
Liveship Traders trilogy
The Tawny Man

A lot of people skip the live ship traders trilogy until after the end, but it should properly be read in the middle. When you start the liveship traders trilogy you will be confused because it goes on a complete tangent, but it definitely occurs before the tawny man and will fill in some crucial gaps of the series.

I felt the series was pretty good, I read up until the last book when I finally couldn't take Fitz any more. I guess I'm just so used to the whole protagonist rules the world scenario but I just snapped when he gave up his daughter for the king. Seriously? Grow a back bone man.

I find the whole six books most wonderful but cannot understand why she has not received any of the important awards for the genre.

These are some of the best books I have read and as a whole series probably in the top 3.

On another note the foreshadowing in these books makes every bit of deus ex machina only appropriate in my opinion.

As others have said, the book really entices you at first.

Then you're 30 pages from the end of the book and wondering "How can she finish this appropriately in only 30 pages?"

The answer is, she didn't. It was absolutely horrible.

"Hmm...I don't feel like writing anymore. Let me just have it all end in 4 pages instead of writing another 100 like I should have."

I refuse to ever read another book by this author. And to think, I paid full kindle price for the books a couple of summers ago too.

This was the series that got me into fantasy novels, and still my favourite to date. I love the 'realsim' of the suffering protagonist, and love that it's not all peachy at the end.

However, to those who prefer the typical happily ever after, read the Tawny man series as well (direct continuation of the Farseer trilogy).

This was a really great series. I can't remember the last books I was so into. It must have been A song of ice and fire i think. I love the way she writes and how she dives into the character's mind. Also the description of the world is very detailed. A wonderful world, complex characters 11 out of 10 for this book!

Hobb is a rare writer who's words fly off the page to create a wonderful world that can make the reader literally see, feel and taste the adventure of her characters. Reading the first chapters of Assassin's Apprentice I knew I was hooked. Unfortunately after the first two books and the beginning of the third, the luster was gone. I just didn't want to participate in the story that was unfolding. Give me angst, give me sorrow, give me pain - it makes the story more realistic. But these books have no balance, it's one depressing story line after another.

Read it, thought it build up nicely, good writing as well, a lot of suffering in there for the protagonist, as there should be to make the ending sweeter..
But beware, no such ending comes ! I do not say this to spoil it for those who have not read it, but to warn them, this book left me feeling cheated and angry.. Im so pissed off, that i have endured 3 books with nothing but suffering, and have gotten nothing in return..
If i could get back the time i have used reading these books i would ! I vow to myself to never read another hobb book, she's a sadistic time-waister !

Okay, I thought this ended with the first three books...would like to find out if something better happens for Fitz. Should I read on?