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10th out of 1,113 books
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Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy #1)
by
Robin Hobb
Paperback, 480 pages
Published
1996
by Voyager
(first published 1995)
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I find a lot of fantasy authors are in love with the internalized conceptions of their worlds. This can lead to great nuanced detail supporting imaginative storytelling... but the flipside can be a creation that fails to translate that vision to the actual page, to the audience.
Assassin's Apprentice illustrates this point fairly well. Robin Hobb has clearly lovingly created the world of the Six Duchies, and this love is echoed through the tale's device: born a bastard son to the king...more
Assassin's Apprentice illustrates this point fairly well. Robin Hobb has clearly lovingly created the world of the Six Duchies, and this love is echoed through the tale's device: born a bastard son to the king...more
It's been awhile since I read a book I just didn't want to put down. Every time I had to (darn that real life interference) I found myself obsessing about what would happen next. Why so crazy about this story? FitzChivalry, the main character. I was drawn into his world and his life from the very beginning. Robin Hobb did an amazing job of bringing him to life, so that he wasn't just a character in a book, he was a person and his well-being and growth mattered to me. Things didn't always go his ...more
Ugh. Ugh ugh ugh. I didn't care for this series at all. The bad guy is SO bad, stomping around twirling his virtual Snidely Whiplash mustache, sneering and jeering and (literally) kicking puppies, and yet the supposed "wise mentor" in the book keeps insisting mysteriously that there is more to him that meets the eye...well, guess what, there ISN'T, he's just as bad as he seems, and that pretty much saves you the trouble of reading the whole book right there.
As some may know, I'd read Ship of Magic in December of last year, and I wasn't that overly impressed with it. Based on that book, and some of Hobb's short stories I'd read, I was more than willing to pass over any of her other stuff.
But then Dawn literally forced me to read this book, and so I did. I was leery going in, as I expected it to be a long and generally unenjoyable slog, but since I was also assured time and again that Farseer was generally much better than the Liveship ...more
But then Dawn literally forced me to read this book, and so I did. I was leery going in, as I expected it to be a long and generally unenjoyable slog, but since I was also assured time and again that Farseer was generally much better than the Liveship ...more
The poor bastard. How much punishment can one person take.
If he was to be trapped in the body of his Wit-dog he would probably look like this - 'an old dog gone gray about the muzzle and it was horribly crippled in its hindquarters and its head was askew someway on its body and it moved grotesquely. An arthritic and illjoined thing that crabbed sideways and sniffed at the floor to pick up the man's scent and then raised its head and nudged the air with its nose and tried to sort him from t...more
If he was to be trapped in the body of his Wit-dog he would probably look like this - 'an old dog gone gray about the muzzle and it was horribly crippled in its hindquarters and its head was askew someway on its body and it moved grotesquely. An arthritic and illjoined thing that crabbed sideways and sniffed at the floor to pick up the man's scent and then raised its head and nudged the air with its nose and tried to sort him from t...more
I've had the second in this series for years but put off getting the first. While I rathered enjoyed reading the Liveships books, the handling of the storyline/s and character development left me every dissatisfied and reluctant to read anything else by the author
If I'd known this book was a first person account of the narrator growing up, I would never have picked it up even if it was just $2 at a book fair.
But this is just the sort of fantasy I used to love, and obvious...more
If I'd known this book was a first person account of the narrator growing up, I would never have picked it up even if it was just $2 at a book fair.
But this is just the sort of fantasy I used to love, and obvious...more
Leippya
rated it
Recommends it for:
people who like political fantasy
Recommended to Leippya by:
Phylia
Shelves:
fantasy
This is a series I've been afraid to start for a long time, as I've seen people with tastes similar to mine get completely lost in these books. This didn't happen to me...... at first. I have several issues with the beginning of the book. The first is probably that the hero is so young at the beginning, so he is stup... I mean, naive, like all kids his age, but because as a reader we're smart enough AND we know the title of the book, we can see everything coming from a mile away. It's boring. Al...more
This review refers to the whole Farseer Trilogy:
I read The Farseer Saga years ago and it is still one of my favorite epic fantasies. Its main strengths are its simple writing style and excellent characterization.
Robin Hobb's prose is lovely — straightforward and simple. It never calls attention to itself (and therefore away from the story). The characters are complex and believable. Fitz is my favorite fantasy "hero" and someone I came to really care about. He'...more
I read The Farseer Saga years ago and it is still one of my favorite epic fantasies. Its main strengths are its simple writing style and excellent characterization.
Robin Hobb's prose is lovely — straightforward and simple. It never calls attention to itself (and therefore away from the story). The characters are complex and believable. Fitz is my favorite fantasy "hero" and someone I came to really care about. He'...more
This series demonstrates what a truly gifted writer can do with the constraints and conventions of the fantasy genre. It has all the required elements - dragons, quests, magic, etc - but combined in a dark and unsettling way. Hobb's heroes, fated to attempt epic feats, falter and are left prematurely aged, scarred, and bitter; true love goes unrequited; her characters are morally and sexually ambiguous; and both dragons and magic are dirty, unglamorous, and hazardous to your health.
...more
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I only read this book out of acute boredom (my EX housemate stole the internet modem leaving me to take the long walk into college to get some much needed broadband fun) and boy am I glad. It was much more than I expected and I loved it all, love the characters - Fitz our hero, Burrich the cold but warmhearted father figure, Verity, everyone! Its not exactly an epic in the sense that the hero goes on adventure to fulfill some prophecy or save a girl etc. its just Fitz living his life as best as ...more
And now, my extremely guilty pleasures. (The heat you feel radiating towards your face is actually me, white-hot with embarrassment)
Here's the truth: I used to crouch into subway corners, hunched over, pressed against the throng of rush hour bodies, lost in Robin Hobb's universe. I'd miss my stops.
I've read all of her Farseer trilogy, all of her Liveship books, all of her Tawny Man series. I broke my cardinal rule of sci-fi/fantasy reads and actually bought a 1st editio...more
Here's the truth: I used to crouch into subway corners, hunched over, pressed against the throng of rush hour bodies, lost in Robin Hobb's universe. I'd miss my stops.
I've read all of her Farseer trilogy, all of her Liveship books, all of her Tawny Man series. I broke my cardinal rule of sci-fi/fantasy reads and actually bought a 1st editio...more
This book made me realize a number of things:
1. I like the idea of killing people for fun and profit
2. You can't trust your uncle
3. I like men who whine a lot and play with dogs
4. I would like to read people's minds, but I do not want them to read mine
5. Poison is an interesting topic, and discussing it with strangers online can lead to tragic relationships with gay Nazis who live in other countries
If you keep these things in mind, you will be...more
1. I like the idea of killing people for fun and profit
2. You can't trust your uncle
3. I like men who whine a lot and play with dogs
4. I would like to read people's minds, but I do not want them to read mine
5. Poison is an interesting topic, and discussing it with strangers online can lead to tragic relationships with gay Nazis who live in other countries
If you keep these things in mind, you will be...more
Ok, here's the deal. I downloaded this book to my Kindle on a whim. Just looking for a bit of sci-fi/fantasy to test out my new book-reading device.
It took 10-20 pages. I almost gave up on it. But then I got hooked on the nature of the core character. Kinda Harry Potter-ish in that the hero is archetypal in character.
There are bits of the book that seem indulgent. Some of the narrative around describing scenes and backstory seemed unnecessary, but I appreciated the auth...more
It took 10-20 pages. I almost gave up on it. But then I got hooked on the nature of the core character. Kinda Harry Potter-ish in that the hero is archetypal in character.
There are bits of the book that seem indulgent. Some of the narrative around describing scenes and backstory seemed unnecessary, but I appreciated the auth...more
Поредната книга, която ми бе препоръчана от приятелка... Е, какво мога да кажа аз освен това, че тя все някак успява на налучка десетката и да ми препоръча нещо, което бих харесала. Е, ще си кажете каква десетка, след като съм дала само 4 звезди на книгата? Мдаа, ама за мен това всъщност са 4.5+ звезди.
"Тайните на занаята" ни въвежда в един фантастичен свят, който на пръв поглед би породил завист у всяко днешно общество със сплотеността на хората, с предаността и вярата на на...more
"Тайните на занаята" ни въвежда в един фантастичен свят, който на пръв поглед би породил завист у всяко днешно общество със сплотеността на хората, с предаността и вярата на на...more
Buku ini berkisah tentang Fitz, anak di luar nikah dari Pangeran Chivalry--putra mahkota keluarga Farseer. Keluarga Farseer adalah keluarga raja yang menguasai daerah Enam Duchy (Six Duchies)–enam daerah yang masing-masing dipimpin oleh duke atau duchess. Pada usianya yang keenam, Fitz dipisahkan dari ibunya dan dikirim ke istana. Kedatangan Fitz menjadi berita hangat di kerajaan. Alih-alih mengakui Fitz, Pangeran Chivalry mengundurkan diri dari kedudukannya sebagai calon raja dan pergi dari ist...more
This book was so good! Three-dimensional, realistic characters (though with a few villains thrown in for good measure), adventure-full plot, expressive writing, interesting ethical dilemmas. Ahhhhh. This is the kind of fantasy I need more of. The concept of "Forging" is interesting and I look forward to further exploration of it in the sequels. Also liked the author's ambiguity about royal's relationships to their names (Regal, Chivalry, etc.).
P.S. I do wish the author w...more
P.S. I do wish the author w...more
The prince's illegitimate son is dropped off at the King's residence at the age of six - unnamed and unloved. He is immediately dubbed Fitz (meaning bastard) by his father's stablemaster, Burrich. Thus begins the life of a boy hated (and feared) by all. Everyone in Fitz's young life betrays him or tries to kill him. The things they do to him are unconsciounable (sp?).
A few of the people of Buckkeep have psychic abilities - called the Skill. Fitz doesn't appear to have this but he...more
A few of the people of Buckkeep have psychic abilities - called the Skill. Fitz doesn't appear to have this but he...more
First Review in February 2006:
First, a short blurb on the storyline (so skip to the next paragraph if you haven’t read the book, and don’t want it spoilt). Fitz is a royal bastard (as in born outside of wedlock). At age five his mother’s family deliver him to the royals and abandon him. The boy looks just like his King-in-Waiting father, but this doesn’t win Fitz any favours. His father, and his wife, abdicate and move away from the castle, leaving Fitz to be tended by the stable mas...more
First, a short blurb on the storyline (so skip to the next paragraph if you haven’t read the book, and don’t want it spoilt). Fitz is a royal bastard (as in born outside of wedlock). At age five his mother’s family deliver him to the royals and abandon him. The boy looks just like his King-in-Waiting father, but this doesn’t win Fitz any favours. His father, and his wife, abdicate and move away from the castle, leaving Fitz to be tended by the stable mas...more
Robin Hobb, Assassin's Apprentice (Bantam, 1995)
Once you get past the (to be expected with books these days) complete incongruity between the cover art and the book's descriptions of its characters, this is one fine debut novel. I spent way too much time flipping between passages in the book and the cover trying to figure out what planet the artist was on when he took those words and turned them into that cover. But that's just me.
Fitz, at the age of (approximately) six, is b...more
Once you get past the (to be expected with books these days) complete incongruity between the cover art and the book's descriptions of its characters, this is one fine debut novel. I spent way too much time flipping between passages in the book and the cover trying to figure out what planet the artist was on when he took those words and turned them into that cover. But that's just me.
Fitz, at the age of (approximately) six, is b...more
This is a very peculiar book. I'm not used to such an introspective narration in fantasy, and it lessened the experience a great deal for me. The world building was very well done, but considering you can only see everything through the eyes of the narrator, the whole concept loses some of its excitement. And while Hobb's writing is good in itself, the format she chose to write the book in is quite puzzling. It's a memoir, told from an unknown point in the future, and it kind of makes you a lot ...more
One of my all-time favorite series. I love it so much I have first edition hardbacks. Lovely, touching, dramatic. It has everything.
Robin Hobb costruisce un affresco elegante e coinvolgente. I Sei Ducati non bucano la pagina e in questo bisogna ringraziare l'autrice: spesso ho avuto l'impressione nel fantasy che gli autori calcassero la mano sull'ambientazione mortificando atmosfera, trame e personaggi. Elementi che invece la Hobb orchestra in modo magistrale. Curiosa ed azzeccattissima la scelta di utilizzare la prima persona al passato: è lo stesso protagonista che ormai anziano (ma noi non sappiamo come ci è arrivato alla...more
12/26/2003 - 10/10
book 1: excellent start ot trilogy. great detailed characters with a majorly page-turning plot.
The Farseer trilogy is one of the best fantasy series I've read...right up there with George R.R. Martin. The characters were excellent...very detailed and extremely well drawn. The characters are very human - you can see them evolve and can come to care about them very easily. The main character, Fitz, was especially good. He was very rough around the edges during his coming of ...more
book 1: excellent start ot trilogy. great detailed characters with a majorly page-turning plot.
The Farseer trilogy is one of the best fantasy series I've read...right up there with George R.R. Martin. The characters were excellent...very detailed and extremely well drawn. The characters are very human - you can see them evolve and can come to care about them very easily. The main character, Fitz, was especially good. He was very rough around the edges during his coming of ...more
I always figured I'd like Robin Hobb. Generally glowing reviews of just about everything she had written led me to try the Liveship Traders series a few years ago. While Hobb clearly writes well, I was disappointed with the early scenes and grew impatient at about page 80 because there was another book I'd been dying to read.
Flash forward to 2009, I decided to give Hobb another chance, this time starting at the beginning with "Assassin's Apprentice." I'm glad I did. Althoug...more
Flash forward to 2009, I decided to give Hobb another chance, this time starting at the beginning with "Assassin's Apprentice." I'm glad I did. Althoug...more
To preface this review, I have a love/hate relationship with a lot of traditional adult fantasy. Between bad experiences and bad Goodreads reviews, I have become a little nervous about trying new authors. My current list of red flags for back cover blurbs includes: protagonists of royal descent, court intrigue, stupid place names, stupidly named magic systems, stupidly named ancient artifacts, any mention of the fate of the world. This understandably limits what I can find at the public library ...more
heumm vu le titre je m'attendais a un truc du genre Assassin's Creed, mais au lieu de ça je me suis retrouvé dans un univers semi-fantastique/semi-médiévale avec mini-quête , magie , guerre et piraterie .
un petit coup d'oeil a la critique sur GoodReads et c'est comme toujours entre 4 & 5 étoiles ou seulement une ( Felicia Day lui en donne 5 <3 xD ) , pas de milieu et ça ne veut dire qu'une chose c'est un jolie univers que R.Hobb a mis en place et comme pour tt les livres de ce genre...more
un petit coup d'oeil a la critique sur GoodReads et c'est comme toujours entre 4 & 5 étoiles ou seulement une ( Felicia Day lui en donne 5 <3 xD ) , pas de milieu et ça ne veut dire qu'une chose c'est un jolie univers que R.Hobb a mis en place et comme pour tt les livres de ce genre...more
I have been aware of this series for a while because it is often mentioned as a favorite of Fantasy readers, but hesitated to read it due to preoccupation with other Fantasy series that are available. It was only when Peter Orullian recommended it to me that I began taking a serious look at it.
This book does somethings well, and others not as well. An important aspect to me is the prologue/opening scene of a Fantasy novel, and this one does deliver a good one overall. Fitz tells us ...more
This book does somethings well, and others not as well. An important aspect to me is the prologue/opening scene of a Fantasy novel, and this one does deliver a good one overall. Fitz tells us ...more
From a technical standpoint there are many issues with the Farseer Trilogy. Hobb/Ogden relies far too much on tell-not-show, she doesn't spend nearly enough time fleshing out the very complex (and intriguing) concept of "Forging," the omniscient jester trope is overused, and her protagonist winds up being a lone voice in the wildnerness, which is an odd conceit given that many of his struggles are poignant and devastating.
Having said that, the premise and concepts behind the...more
Having said that, the premise and concepts behind the...more
A solid fantasy book, but I don't think I can give it more than three stars. I would imagine that some people would like it a lot though.
The writing starts out being fairly ornate, in a ceremonial way, but becomes plainer after the first fifty pages or so. It settles in a style similar to Brandon Sanderson's (in Mistborn) but a little more formal and lacking the awkwardness. So I was satisfied with the style, although it didn't draw me in.
The last fifty pages or so are quite ...more
The writing starts out being fairly ornate, in a ceremonial way, but becomes plainer after the first fifty pages or so. It settles in a style similar to Brandon Sanderson's (in Mistborn) but a little more formal and lacking the awkwardness. So I was satisfied with the style, although it didn't draw me in.
The last fifty pages or so are quite ...more
uh...ok
what a...nice story
to all those thinking to read this book, let me give you a basic rundown of what to expect. this book centres around the life of a man/boy named fitz. this is a trilogy and it is written in first person, written as if the main character were writing it himself almost like a journal. if that makes sense. anyway, the first part of these describes fitz's childhood and it goes on like that for a while describing how terribly lonely fitz is and how painfu...more
what a...nice story
to all those thinking to read this book, let me give you a basic rundown of what to expect. this book centres around the life of a man/boy named fitz. this is a trilogy and it is written in first person, written as if the main character were writing it himself almost like a journal. if that makes sense. anyway, the first part of these describes fitz's childhood and it goes on like that for a while describing how terribly lonely fitz is and how painfu...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes & Nobl...: Looking to borrow Assassin's Apprentice | 1 | 4 | Dec 01, 2011 06:15pm | |
| Goodreads Librarians: Audiobook - Progress listed as pages instead of percent | 3 | 31 | Sep 09, 2011 09:17pm |
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Robin Hobb is the author of three well-received fantasy trilogies: The Farseer Trilogy (Assassin’s Apprentice, Royal Assassin, and Assassin’s Quest), The Liveship Traders Trilogy (Ship of Magic, Mad Ship and Ship of Destiny) and the Tawny Man Trilogy (Fool’s Errand, Golden Fool, and Fool’s Fate) Her current work in progress is entitled Shaman’s Crossing. Robin Hobb lives and works in Tacoma, Washi...more
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“When you cut pieces out of the truth to avoid looking like a fool you end up looking like a moron instead.”
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“Don’t do what you can’t undo, until you’ve considered what you can’t do once you’ve done it.”
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