That was exactly as good as I thought it would be, and yet I'm surprised at how much I liked it.

This book isn't the sort of fantasy to get your blood pumping. Nor is it extravagant in its worldbuilding, but the plot and characters are so masterfully written it feels like they more than make up for the softer magic system seemingly more distant conflict. 

This is primarily a story about the interpersonal and political relations between people, and you feel the weight of every word, said and unsaid.

Robin Hobb loves her description and setting the stage for a scene, and much of her writing is dedicated to showcasing this world through Fitz's eyes. I have been frustrated with this technique in other fantasy books, where it slow down the plot far too much for me to enjoy the story, but here it seemed more than fitting. There were only few times where I wished we could go faster, but Hobb is not that kind of writer. Everything is slow, until you feel the impact of it on you without even realising it.

It's a slow unraveling, but the use of Fitz's perspective and his limited understanding of the games others play with and without him always kept me on my toes. Poor lad, I wish he got a break somewhere but noooo. I do like that Robin Hobb, while constantly torturing the poor guy, seems to know enough not to elongate it. It's the perfect balance between too less to have an impact and too long to just turn into misery. For now.

The other characters are as fascinating as him, proving once again that just because you are in the mind of one character the entire book doesn't mean the other characters need to be flat. I seemed to have forgotten that since it's been so long that I've read from a single, first person perspective in fantasy. Patience, Verity, Burrich, all are flawed adults who are as multifaceted as Fitz is growing up to be. 

In conclusion, I get the hype. And also mom pick me up I'm scared.