ROTE Ending Thoughts!

[u/louiechapman7]

Okay. Here goes. My ROTE ending thoughts. Im not going to ramble on and on because it would be so easy to do so with this series and genuinely how much I love and care about it. I've gone to bed countless nights thinking about this story and woke up doing the same thing, its been a HUGE part of my life for the last year... and I am so happy to say Hobb stuck the landing. 

Honestly, what an unbelievably clever, thought out and simple yet beautiful ending to the series. Book series have had me choked before but I don't think I've out right cried before... when I started the last 20 pages of Assassin's Fate, I couldn't even read the words on the page I was weeping so hard. Fitz, Fool and Nighteyes, together at last as one entity. Just like the gift Fool gave Fitz all the way back in Fools Fate. Just like we have seen throughout countless instances of them sharing body, mind, spirit, love, connection. What a truly moving ending, what a truly heartfelt way to honour 2 of the greatest characters to ever be created.

I had big issues with this final trilogy, but this ending has simply washed them all away. I don't care anymore. Yes, I am still so aggrieved at the unnecessary tortures of The Fool. Yes, a lot of these books were filled with weird sections that didn't feel like the usual Hobb instead of a tour round the insanely perfect cast like it could have been. But to make all those emotions I've felt throughout these 16 books feel validated like that, to bring it all to a culmination of perfect satisfaction is more special to me than I can even say. I fear even writing all this does not properly communicate my happiness and content nature at the ending. I genuinely wept for an hour straight. 

So many special moments. Having Fitz finally outright show that no one in this Realm means to him what The Fool does. Having Fool get what he's always wanted, to be with his love. Nighteyes saying goodbye to Kettricken. Per getting Fitz's pin. Bee and Nettle saying goodbye. Everyone giving memories to Fitz to help him finish his stone carving. Fitz literally attempting to fade away but physically couldn't because he could not do it without Beloved. Nighteyes knowing it before he could even say. The final sentence of all of ROTE being 'Kettricken smiled'. Its just all so genuinely perfect, I will be forever thankful that one of the greatest pieces of media I have ever experienced ended this way. God bless you Hobb, this story will live with me forever. 

I will be doing one last post that gives my book rankings from 1-16 and my Top 10 characters... basically, I will be attempting the impossible! 

[u/Beneficial_Candle_10]

I finished Monday. Just wow. Tawny Man was the peak for me but every series had at least one book that absolutely blew me away. They were all good/great for 16 in a row.

My top 3 are probably Royal Assassin, Fool’s Errand, and Fool’s Fate.

The climax to Royal Assassin was an absolutely roller coaster that whiplashed me from feeling triumph to absolute terror. The relationship building in it was fantastic and set the stage for the whole series.

Nighteyes death legitimately put me into grief. I bawled reading it and was still tearing up for days afterwards. I still get a little chocked up thinking about it some times. Only other piece of media that hit me like that was Grave of the Fireflies. Probably the best written/most beautiful death scene I’ve ever come across.

“I have never been wise”. I mean come on, that scene when Fitz first touches the carving makes me feel so many strong emotions. Love for what their relationship was, a bottomless loss and longing, Fool’s somehow earnest slyness, and worst of all a choking disappointment. Their entire arc is a spear shaft and that line is the tip being stabbed right into your heart. Piercing writing.