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Book Review By Mercy Falconer
Fool's Errand - The Tawny Man 1 by Robin Hobb

Assassin Fitz, son of the Farseer kings, is brought out of his self-imposed exile/retirement to track down missing Prince Dutiful. Dutiful has vanished after making an illicit mind-bond (known as 'the Wit') with a hunting cat, and it's feared he has been coerced or kidnapped by a ruthless band of Witted folk calling themselves the Piebalds. Fitz, who has kept his own Wit-bond with a wolf secret for decades, is chosen as the perfect hunter to bring back the missing Prince. He is accompanied on his quest by the mercurial and enigmatic Lord Golden, who used to be known only as the Fool. Fitz poses as Lord Golden's servant to fool the conspirators among whom they search for the Prince, but in the end it is only his Wit-bond with his wolf Nighteyes, and the fierce loyalty and love of true friends, that saves the day.   


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - cynical or dry-wit
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past
Spying & Investigations Yes
What is main char. doing? - unraveling a conspiracy
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 40 %
Animal Story Yes
Kind of animal - wolf

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
If magical mental powers: - can talk to animals

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - 40's-50's
Has magical powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can talk to animals
Eccentric: Yes
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an above average amount
How sensitive is this character?
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
Terrain
A substantial portion of this book takes place on a non-Earth planetary body: - humans in a primitive/fantasy society
Planet outside solar system? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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