This is not a Realm of the Elderlings book. Different world, different characters and a different magic system. I thoroughly enjoyed this series. It has the same depth of character as her previous works and the same pacing. It has a “nature versus encroaching civilisation” theme that seems to borrow heavily from the way natives, and nature itself, have been treated in the real world. This is a great stand alone series. Don’t let the bad reviews fool you.

I am a big fan of Robin Hobb and so I bought this book after finishing Fools Fate. It was different to her previous series and as far as I know it is not connected in anyway but I found it very interesting and engaging. I preferred her other series perhaps a little more but I enjoyed it a lot nevertheless. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes Robin Hobb and her style of writing. The main character Nevare is very identifiable and his perspective is maintained throughout the entire book.