I finally read the ominously named
Assassin's Fate by Robin Hobb. I'd put off starting it after it came out, because it's what I knew would have to be the end of a saga I started reading 20 years ago and have read and reread during that time. I won't drop spoilers about it, in case anyone else wants to read it but hasn't gotten to it yet.
Robin Hobb is an interesting enigma--a popular and critically well regarded fantasy writer who has never (to my knowledge) gotten a Hugo or Nebula award. I can't recall her ever being nominated for one. It might be because she writes fat epics that aren't complete in one volume (though individual books from series can and have won hugos). She's written some standalones by Meghan Lindholm (is that her real name or another pen name) in what I'd describe as a more "literary" style, but Meghan Lindholm seemed to fly under peoples' radar even more than she did as Robin Hobb.
Maybe Hobb has a shot at a Hugo now that they have a "series" category. I think her 22 year Fitz/Fool epic deserves one.
I also enjoyed the last book in Marie Brennan's Lady Trent series, which came out this year.
And April Daniels's
Dreadnought was really fun too. I don't generally dig superhero stuff, but I enjoyed the story and character immensely.
I always feel like an imposter in these threads, as my tastes in SFF aren't as literary as everyone else's