This conclusion of "The Tawny Man" trilogy also serves as a sort of conclusion to Hobb's other series, the "Farseer Trilogy" as well as the Live Ship" trilogy. The world she built in the "Live Ships" is the setting for both "Farseer" and "Tawny Man". "Farseer" deals with the youth and struggles of royal bastard Fitz Chivalry, taken in by his family's entourage as Royal Assassin. "Tawny Man" follows his career as an adult and explores his relationship with the King's Fool, a prophetic and other-ly being.

While the "Live Ships" at times strayed pretty far into the "Boddice Ripper" romance genre, the latter two trilogies have not done so as badly. They do make heavy use of that genre's technique of artificial conflict. Fitz has many secrets that he will not share, many conflicts caused by a sense of honor that makes no sense to the reader. We are tempted to pick him up, shake him, and say "talk to them!" about any number of deep misunderstandings.