"The Inheritance" is a story set in the Bingtown area, which was also the setting for the Liveship Traders Trilogy. I really like the main character, and enjoyed the 'tale within a tale' aspect of the story. I think our lives are greatly affected by how our parents and grandparents perceive themselves. This story addresses that idea.

Customer Rating:
Summary: My heart may stop, but my eyes don't skip a beat
Comment: A line from 'The Inheritance' by Robin Hobb- "My heart near stopped in my chest, but I found myself going on without it...", which was exactly my response to this wonderful short story. `The Inheritance' may be short, but what it lacks in word-count it makes up for in grippingly taut and well-crafted story. When it ends almost as soon as it's begun you'll undoubtedly feel the same longing for Bingtown society that it stirs in you as I did, but that's not to say it isn't the perfect length, because it is. For a short story it's the perfect length and effortlessly encapsulates in its small number of pages that familiar climactic moment of character development in all of the previously bestselling works by this author.

Bearing that achievement in mind therefore, it's even more surprising that this story never feels condensed or thin or lacking in any way when compared to Hobb's hugely successful novels. Perhaps if you go into this story with great expectations you'll be disappointed, but if instead you begin with an open mind and a joyous appreciation for the minutia of life and completely engaging style that are just a couple of Hobb's trademarks, then undoubtedly you'll finish this story with the same feeling of well-being that I did. While there may be a small unfulfilled feeling that this story can't provide the wealth of detail as that of a Liveship Traders novel, `The Inheritance' can only be described as purely reminiscent of those larger works by this talented author and in the end that's hard to argue with. For a short story by Hobb I could not have wished for more. I recommend this short story whole-heartedly.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Great little story
Comment: Set in the same world as the Liveship Traders series this short story is well crafted and stays true to the previous books. The only reason why I gave it 4 stars is I thought the ending was a bit abrupt. I highly recommend Robin Hobb's books!

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: We got our money's worth
Comment: Anyone expecting the traditional grandeur that Robin Hobb is associated with wasn't being realistic when they bought this short story. For $.49, you're not going to get the polished skills of a fine editor.

Ms. Hobb herself tells us what to expect. While I do agree that the main character isn't as appealing as Ms. Hobb thinks she is, the rest of the story is very appealing. It's comforting to step back into Bingtown, even if it's only for a few seconds, and hear a wizard wood pendant talk. And Ms. Hobb is correct when she says that we are often formed by how our parents, etc., view themselves. Anyone that knows me would say that I am a product of my mother...certain aspects, anyway. The main character never had a strong sense of self, but when she realized her potential, she quickly grew into it. Too often we never get the chance to realize our potential until we are far along in years. This was an interesting example of someone who had the opportunity to set herself right while she still had a long life ahead of her.

It's a short story. A very short story. For what it was advertised to be, I think Ms. Hobb did a commendable job.

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: Drama in a satchet
Comment: A jewel cask is the only item of Lantis inheritance left for Cerise to claim. But a cousin's greed defiles even that. And so a de-robed ring (shorn of its stone), a Trader's robe, a clutch of anger, one grubby old pendant and a rucksack are all that escort Cerise's toss from what she knew as home into the hands of a randy tenant with a pregnant wife. But the pendant is more than a piece of wood. Its river magic awakens to create a deliberation to the story that sets an enthralling passage. Impressive dialogue well paints characters of this almost-Cinderella (no run along a dreamy lane). With the sting of her grandma's loss barely cold, the simmer of her anger still unsettled, our heroine embraces Bingtown and a strangely awakened blaze for vengeance. Anticipation of retribution is almost impossible to calm in this suspenseful drama of unquestionably grand style.
Eugen M. Bacon
Author, Amazon Shorts (Tempest)

---

Customer Rating:
Summary: A Satisfying Morsel
Comment: I'm a big fan of Robin Hobb, so I decided to try this "Digital Locker" short story. I wasn't disappointed. You can read the entire snippet in ten or fifteen minutes, and I was engrossed throughout.

This isn't a novel, or even a novella; don't expect deep characterizations here. The story essentially explores themes regarding the true nature and essence of the legacies left by our parents/grandparents. Hobb uses this story to drive home the message that the material items we receive from our family are less important than the sense of self and identity they forge into us.

The story could be told in just about any fashion, but the Bingtown setting dovetails nicely into Hobb's prior writings.

---