altheaann

Beginning immediately after the events of 'Fool's Errand,' 'Golden Fool' sees Fitz finally return to Buckkeep - but still under the identity of Tom Badgerlock, servant to Lord Golden. He's supposed to be secretly teaching Prince Dutiful the Skill - but his own command of that magic is unreliable. Meanwhile, personal issues beset him at every turn - Fitz must manage his own personal grief and loss while simultaneously trying to balance his responsibilities to the Prince with those he has to his adopted son, Hap (who is doing none too well at his apprenticeship since he fell for a girl whose parents hate him). He's also having trouble with his own relationships with both the minstrel Starling and the hedge-witch Jinna. He's still trying to protect the daughter he's never met from her Farseer heritage - but is this really the wisest move? The Witted Piebalds are still threatening all those who bear the beast magic with exposure - and Fitz suspects that even the Prince's friend, Civil, may be false... Not only that, but Fitz' spying reveals that there is more of a mystery concerning the OutIsland clans and their reasons for betrothing their Narcheska to the Prince than was guessed... what are their real motivations?
Meanwhile, even as Queen Kettricken seeks to attain peace and stability for the Six Duchies, the Bingtown Traders seek to lure her into their war against Chalced with rich gifts and bizarre tales of dragons.
Hobb, in this book, does an excellent job of portraying a sympathetic character who yet has flaws, through that character's own perspective.

(I would highly recommend reading the Liveship Traders trilogy before this book - it's not 100% necessary - but there are some bits that gain much more significance if you've read those first....)