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published 1997; hardback 1997, Spectra
FitzChivalry Farseer is back from the dead, and he's not happy.
Fitz's former life was devoted to duty, serving King Shrewd of the Six Duchies secretly as an assassin. He's determined that his new life will be different, but quickly finds that the entanglements of his former life are not so easily dismissed.
Fitz is summoned by King Verity to find him in the Mountains, where Verity is searching for the ancient race known as the Elderlings. Little is known of the Elderlings except that they promised to give aid to the Six Duchies in the time of the country's greatest need.
Fitz and his wolf companion Nighteyes are hounded (pardon the pun) almost every step of their journey by minions of Prince Regal, Verity's treacherous younger brother who has unlawfully assumed the throne. The ever-durable Fitz withstands beatings, starvation, and even an arrow in his back. He also endures the pain of being cut off from his loved ones: Chade, his mentor; Burrich, the closest person Fitz has to a father; and Molly, his lover who is pregnant with his child. Knowing that he could die during his quest, Fitz lets them go on believing that he is already dead and hopes that he can return to them when the quest is finished.
Along his journey, Fitz picks up two interesting traveling companions. Starling is a minstrel who will do anything and go anywhere to witness an event that she can make a song of to guarantee her fame and immortality. Kettle, an irascible old woman, is searching for two mystical figures called the White Prophet and the Catalyst. They join with Fitz, Queen Kettricken, and the Fool for the last part of the trip through the Mountains to Verity.
In a standard fantasy, the Elderlings would turn out to be a race of superintelligent dragons, maybe with some elves in tow. Well, whatever you think the Elderlings are, I can just about guarantee that you're wrong. The truth about the Elderlings, and what it takes to invoke their aid, is one of the most heart-wrenching plot twists I've ever read.
Surprisingly, the conclusion of Fitz's quest contains some unobtrusive but definite morals about the nature of sacrifice and love. Readers will be enthralled as the story rises to an agonizing emotional climax, then winds down to a sad but satisfying conclusion leavened with small touches of humor. This is a stunning end to a remarkable series.
Review by Sara Lipowitz
Reviewed March 16, 1997
ISBN 0-553-10640-6
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