A re-read since it has been at least 15 years since I read this series. 
 This was the series that introduced me to Fantasy. Up until then I was only reading SciFi, after giving up on crime novels and adventure books. I still remember book one very well, but there was little of book three that made me remember that I had actually read it. I don't know if that has more to do with getting old and reading 50 books a year, than the story itself. 
 I am maintaining the four stars I gave it originally, it is still a fantastic series and a wonderfully enjoyable read. I did find this book bogged down a bit, in the last third, which was strange, it felt at times that Hobb didn't want to end the story herself. 
 Keen to get into the new Fitz and the Fool series, but I also haven't read Tawny Man series, so perhaps I should go there first. Or even back to Mad Ships. 
 Keen to get my daughter to read this series as I still think, all these years later, it is a classic fantasy read.