This one has it's ups and downs but I really enjoyed it overall. It was fun to come up with theories now that I know more about the world. I found myself going really slow in order to not miss any details. The only complaints I had throughout the books were that I just couldn't believe that the very obvious antagonist would get away with all that and I didn't care for the romance plotline (which at least was concluded well). Sometimes Fitz is very irritating, but I also think that there are reasons for his (sometimes very stupid) behaviour. All of the characters felt very real and I can't wait to see what Hobb has in store for them next.

update: decided to upgrade the few Fitz&Fool books that I didn't already give 5 stars to. I compared them to each other rather than to all books I read and if I'm being honest, nothing I have read in the last decade or so has captured my heart as much as Fitz & the Fool and the books surrounding those two and their supporting cast. Gave this one 4.5 stars originally, but who am I kidding?