Briefly Noted: ‘The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince”
“You have to make choices. Magic very much as opportunity costs. I think you have to have that in a fantasy because if the magic comes without consequences, without cost, it is like a story where you have a magic ring that gives you an infinite number of wishes, there is no story.” – Robin Hobb – BuzzyMag Interview
The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince, by Robin Hobb (Subterranean, February 28, 2013), 184 pp.
Robin Hobb (aka Megan Lindholm) is releasing the fourth installment, a novella, in her Farseer series next month. The book has a great title and a wonderful cover, so fantasy lovers who’ve been reading the series since it began in 1995 with Assassin’s Apprentice (followed quickly by sequels in 1996 and 1997) have every reason to expect another great tale after a rather long wait.
The other two novels in the original trilogy are Royal Assassin and Assassin’s Quest
From the Publisher:
“One of the darkest legends in the Realm of the Elderlings recounts the tale of the so-called Piebald Prince, a Witted pretender to the throne unseated by the actions of brave nobles so that the Farseer line could continue untainted. Now the truth behind the story is revealed through the account of Felicity, a low-born companion of the Princess Caution at Buckkeep.With Felicity by her side, Caution grows into a headstrong Queen-in-Waiting. But when Caution gives birth to a bastard son who shares the piebald markings of his father s horse, Felicity is the one who raises him. And as the prince comes to power, political intrigue sparks dangerous whispers about the Wit that will change the kingdom forever…Internationally-bestselling, critically-acclaimed author
“Robin Hobb takes readers deep into the history behind the Farseer series in this exclusive, new novella, ‘The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince.’ In her trademark style, Hobb offers a revealing exploration of a family secret still reverberating generations later when assassin FitzChivalry Farseer comes onto the scene. Fans will not want to miss these tantalizing new insights into a much-beloved world and its unforgettable characters.
For an overview of the original trilogy’s first three novels written in 1998, click here.
Katharine Mills, the author of that review, catches the Farseer flavor nicely when she writes that the “Setting and character are richly detailed, beautifully brought to life and never treated as mere backdrop. In particular, the exploration of FitzChivalry’s Wit bond with the wolf reveals an ability to create even non-human characters that is impressive and delightful.”
From Publishers Weekly
“Hobb (a pen name for fantasist Megan Lindholm) pulls off the difficult trick of telling multiple tales simultaneously and well, adding depth to her fictional world without sacrificing a human connection to it.”
Malcolm R. Campbell is the author of contemporary fantasy novels, including a new adventure coming in March, “The Seeker.”
Did you read the earlier books? What did you think of them?
I’m aware of them, but at the time I didn’t buy them. Now I wonder if I should go back and do it. Still thinking about it.
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