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Assassin's Apprentice

(The Farseer Trilogy #1)

Robin Hobb (Goodreads Author)

4.17 · Rating details · 275,717 ratings · 12,969 reviews

alternate cover for ISBN 0006480098

Fitz is a royal bastard, cast out into the world with only his magical link with animals for solace and companionship.
But when Fitz is adopted into the royal household, he must give up his old ways and learn a new life: weaponry, scribing, courtly manners; and how to kill a man secretly. Meanwhile, raiders ravage the coasts, leaving the p ...more

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Mass Market Paperback, 460 pages

Published March 1996 by Voyager (first published May 1995)

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Nov 07, 2010 Mark Lawrence rated it it was amazing

I haven't read a lot of fantasy in the last decade, so the fact I've read 12 of Robin Hobb's books in the last 5 years says a lot about how much I enjoy reading her work. The adventures of Fitz through three trilogies account for a big chunk of that reading.

Robin Hobb can write a first person story with rare skill. She shows you a world though Fitz's eyes and makes it matter, makes it vital. Some elements of Hobb's fantasy are fairly old school, but written with a modern style and a literary ski ...more

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Oct 04, 2021 Rick Riordan added it · review of another edition

It took me three tries to read this excellent fantasy. I had to be in the right frame of mind, because I found it by no means a page-turner until I was about halfway through. Hobb has crafted a believable, intricate fantasy world in all its gritty, mundane, medieval detail, so you can smell the stables and taste the gruel along with experiencing the wonders of magic and courtly skulduggery. It is an enormously comprehensive autobiography of one Fitz, the bastard son of Prince Chivalry of the Six ...more

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Jan 03, 2020 Emily (Books with Emily Fox) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks

(3.5) I finally got around to reading this popular Fantasy series that has been on my TBR for literally forever... and I'm pretty underwhelmed.

I liked Hobb's writing, I enjoyed the world and magic system but this has to be the most chill, less action-driven book about an assassin's education ever.

Things did end up picking up a bit in the last 100 pages and I am planning on reading the whole trilogy to give it a proper shot. It was... kinda relaxing I guess? lol ...more

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Jul 29, 2015 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-all, own

Reread this AGAIN because I am going to read all of the books up to date that are out!!! Hmmm.. guess I should show y'all my cool bookshelf of the books and some of my dragon figurines. Ah, maybe later 😘 Okay, well here it is...

These were the lessons in my assassin's primer. And more. Sleight of hand and the art of moving stealthily. Where to strike a man to render him unconscious. Where to strike a man so that he dies without crying out. Where to stab a man so that he dies without too much
...more

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Jan 17, 2018 Petrik rated it really liked it · review of another edition

My journey into The Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb has finally begun and it’s off to a great start.

You can skip the next paragraph if you want to go straight to the review, this is just a long introduction that I need to make before writing my review.

It’s not an overstatement to say that The Realm of the Elderlings is hands down my biggest gamble of all time in the history of book buying; I bought it without using my brain, after all. You may call me shallow, my interest in this series s ...more

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May 09, 2020 Muhtasin rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 301-400-pp, fantasy, read-in-2020, 4-star

Assassin's Apprentice (Farseer Trilogy,#1 Realm of the Elderlings #1)

Enjoyed the book, and admired the unique world Hobb has created. Hobb crafts a beautiful world with depth. You come to understand this world and feel its woes as much as any character. However, people who like action-packed fantasy, they may not like this book.

Don’t do what you can’t undo, until you’ve considered what you can’t do once you’ve done it.

Not Bad... ...more

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May 04, 2018 Virginia Ronan ♥ Herondale ♥ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-series

”Most prisons are of our own making. A man makes his own freedom, too.”

So this was my first Robin Hobb and I’m positively surprised! =) I mean after reading all those raving reviews I already expected that “Assassin’s Apprentice” would be a good book, I definitely wasn’t prepared for the train of feels that occasionally hit me though. Well, truth be told, that’s actually a bold understatement.

For a book that started out so slowly there certainly were a lot of intense and awesome scenes that had ...more

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Jan 21, 2009 Felicia rated it it was amazing

Shelves: epic-fantasy

One of my all-time favorite series. I love it so much I have first edition hardbacks. Lovely, touching, dramatic. It has everything.

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Feb 01, 2022 ELLIAS (elliasreads) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2022-books, i-own

I'll give you my two cents:

gorgeous. gorgeous. girls. read robin hobb.

this was fucking wicked!!!

4 BIG BEAUTIFUL STARS
Twitter | Bookstagram | Youtube | ...more

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Mar 24, 2010 Kaion rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, unfinished

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's heir, Fit ...more

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Dec 22, 2008 A. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: nerdy badasses

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 12, 2019 jessica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

first and foremost, i need to praise robin hobb. with the literary world constantly fawning over the likes of george r.r. martin, brandon sanderson, patrick rothfuss, etc., it is so refreshing to read an epic/high fantasy written by a woman. you go, girl!

there is so much to love about this book. i will admit, this is a very foundational book. its quite slow, as there is a lot of page time dedicated to the development of characters and the building of the world in which they live. but this is don ...more

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May 29, 2017 Samantha rated it liked it · review of another edition

Bullet points for this review because although Robin Hobb likes to ramble on.. I do not.

A Summary of this book:
-- Fitz's life sucks
-- lots of winding and turning and taking an especially long time to get to the point
-- lots of predictable plots but not knowing exactly how we'd get there

While the writing is good, the story in this one is just ok. Nevertheless, I'm going to read on as planned because I'm reading this trilogy simply to get to her other trilogies. I do feel I'll get more and mo ...more

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Mar 08, 2014 Sean Barrs rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I feel so sorry for Fitzchivalry because he had such a rough start to life. The boy is despised for the simple fact that he exists. He is a royal bastard, and his dishonourable conception means that his father’s name is forever sullied; that much so that he was forced to abdicate the throne; thus, half the royal Farseer court already hates Fitz because he is, supposedly, the reason why the popular Prince had to retire from court life. Poor, poor, Fitz, he was hated from the very beginning.

He w ...more

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Sep 06, 2021 Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Wonderful start to a series with incredible character writing

What a wonderful start to a series. If I were to rate this book on plot alone I would probably give it 3/5 stars. If I were to rate this book on character building, I would probably give it 10/5 stars.

Robin Hobb makes you truly understand who all these characters are, and gets you to deeply care about them more than perhaps any other book I have ever written. While the plot is somewhat dull compared to other big-time fantasy books, it ...more

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Sep 30, 2020 Adina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-sf

3.5*

Finally I am up to date with my reviews.

Assassin's Apprentice is the first volume in the Farseer Trilogy. The trilogy is part of a larger series called the Realm of the Elderlings. Based on my book feed, the author is much loved among the fantasy lovers and her books are considered classics of the genre.

The trilogy should come with the following warning: This is a character driven series and if you want an action packed adventure story look elsewhere. Also, it is a bit depressing since the ...more

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Jul 17, 2015 Sean Gibson rated it really liked it

It hasn’t been that long since I cracked the virtual spine on a new fantasy series, but it has been a while since I began one that felt like this.

(Um, Sean? Can you maybe, I don’t know, define what “this” is, on account of the fact that empathetic internet is, as of yet, at least still a few years away?)

“This” is fully realized, well written and conceived, and faithful to some of the most tried and true fantasy tropes while simultaneously standing one very big one on its heads (namely, and I don It hasn’t been that long since I cracked the virtual spine on a new fantasy series, but it has been a while since I began one that felt like this.

(Um, Sean? Can you maybe, I don’t know, define what “this” is, on account of the fact that empathetic internet is, as of yet, at least still a few years away?)

“This” is fully realized, well written and conceived, and faithful to some of the most tried and true fantasy tropes while simultaneously standing one very big one on its heads (namely, and I don’t think I’m spoiling anything that’s not in the title of the book here, that our main character, Fitz, is being trained to be an assassin, a line of work that is not generally considered sympatico vis-à-vis being a heroic paragon of virtue).

As much as anything, this is a coming of age story, and it’s paced accordingly. You know how, growing up, your life is marked by milestones (first sleepover, staying home alone the first time, first kiss, driver’s license, first time you manage to kill a dracolich in a game of 2nd edition AD&D (an event that likely transpired long, long before your first kiss)) that break up an otherwise monotonous cycle of school, chores, hanging out with friends, exploring the wondrous things that can happen when you spend time alone with a bottle of Jurgens contemplating the shower scene in National Lampoon’s Vacation, etc.? That’s basically what reading The Assassin’s Apprentice is like, but that’s neither a critique nor an indicator that it’s in any way boring. Monotony generally implies boringness, but I would argue that all of those repetitive activities you undertook growing up incrementally formed your character (or, at least, chafed your most sensitive parts, depending on how frequently you indulged in thoughts of an in-her-prime Beverly D’Angelo). So it is for Fitz, and watching him undergo his journey—slow and painful though it can occasionally be—is a delight.

Hobb builds her world methodically, brick by brick; she manages to deftly balance driving the story forward while highlighting the unique features of the world, and never once do you feel as though you’re on world-building data dump overload. Her writing is a delight, and she conjures a feel reminiscent of some of the fantasy luminaries I enjoyed working my way through when I really started to get into reading fantasy late in high school (the two who come foremost to mind, in terms of making a tonal comparison, are David Eddings and Raymond Feist).

Would I have liked a little bit more action here and there, a little more with the swords and the heroics and magic fireballs? Sure. But, that’s true in real life as well. Who doesn’t love fireballs? Nonetheless, I’m more than sufficiently hooked to continue on, to see if Fitz can remain a sympathetic character as he moves from apprentice assassin to the master assassin, to explore more of this intriguing world, and to go dig out my old VHS copy of Vacation.

(And, hey—how can you not love a book that starts off with a man sleeping with animals in the first 10 pages? Just sleeping, people—no funny business. Get your minds out of the gutter, you filthy perverts.) ...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Gene rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Probably the most depressing fantasy trilogy I read (and this includes Thomas Covenant). Recommended for when you are too cheerful and want to lower your mood in the hurry. The bad guys are bad with no redeeming qualities (and doing bad things just because they are bad). The good guys have all the bad luck imaginable - and then some; they also love acting out of character.

This is still entertaining read which kept me until the end.

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May 19, 2017 James Tivendale rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This will just be a casual review as I know that the majority of fantasy fans on my friends list will have read/ at least know of this book.

This was an interesting reading experience for me. It only took me about 5 years to finish! I tried it 3 times and couldn’t get further than the 30% point. I attempted it in it’s paperback and audiobook form but to no avail. That being stated, I still knew it wasn’t a bad tale, so I put it back on the shelf for another time in 1, 5, 10, or 20 years when I wo This will just be a casual review as I know that the majority of fantasy fans on my friends list will have read/ at least know of this book.

This was an interesting reading experience for me. It only took me about 5 years to finish! I tried it 3 times and couldn’t get further than the 30% point. I attempted it in it’s paperback and audiobook form but to no avail. That being stated, I still knew it wasn’t a bad tale, so I put it back on the shelf for another time in 1, 5, 10, or 20 years when I would give it another go.

I always found the start a bit dull and it couldn’t keep my interest. Apart from Fitz and his pup Nosey, nothing about the characters or the world really enticed me to continue. Recently, I’ve been suffering from insomnia and if I’m being truthful I started listening to the Audiobook of this again hoping it would put me to sleep. It didn’t. I’d listened to half the whole narrative in one night and it was like I was reading a different book. It was a blessing come from hardship as I was really enjoying it. At that point, it was a win-win. Either I could sleep, or I could carry on listening to this great story.

A young boy is left at the gates of a castle and a soldier is told that he is the King-in-Waiting Prince Chivalry’s bastard child. This happens when he is 5 years old and we spend Assassin’s Apprentice following in Fitz’s first-person footsteps for approximately 10 years. After the first 30%, names such as Shrewd, Regal, Verity, Chivalry, Patience and such stop being confusing and I could truly distinguish who was who, their differences, allegiances, motives and it was an awesome feeling. Chances are, most of the ensemble have a problem with this Royal Bastard turning up and Fitz doesn’t have many allies. My favourite characters were father-figure Burrich, honourable Prince Verity, the Fool, and the assassin master Chade. The best parts, however, are probably Fitz’s use of the Wit. This is a very rare skill which allows wielders of such talents to communicate with animals. The second highlight for me was Fitz lessons and training exercises/ tasks assigned to him by Chade. We don’t see too much magic in Assassin’s Apprentice but in addition to ‘the Wit’ there is also the mysterious ‘the Skill,’ which we find out more about as the tale goes on. Some of ‘the Skill’ lessons in the second half of the narrative were pretty harrowing to read.

Although it has it’s slower, more thought-provoking sections, and occasionally Fitz has a ‘woe-is-me-the-world-hates-me-moments (which of course they do) some of the action segments, dramatic confrontations, and political what-the-hell-is-going-on?-intrigue are top-notch.

I won’t say much more apart from that I finished reading this in 2 days and will 100% be carrying on with this series as soon as I can. Once again, this is a classic example of that if you don’t enjoy a book, put it back on the shelf because an older/uglier/wiser/cleverer you in the future might find it exceptional. ...more

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Jan 19, 2017 Melanie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: magic, read-in-2017, audible, fantasy

What unexpected, and much needed, joy this book brought me! I know this is a fantasy favorite among so many people I trust, but I never expected it to be as perfect as it was! Fitz and his journey was an absolute joy to read about, and I cannot wait to continue on with this world. Like, I need the next book now.

This story is a slow burn, that's for sure, but learning about the main protagonist, Fitz, and his back story made the slow pace still really enjoyable. Fitz is a bastard of the king in ...more

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Sep 08, 2018 William Gwynne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourite-series, favorites, fantasy, reviewed

I now have a YouTube channel that I run with my brother, called 'The Brothers Gwynne'. Check it out - The Brothers Gwynne

My review of this AMAZING book is now on BookNest.

Assassin's Apprentice BookNest

“Very little worth knowing is taught by fear.”

I read Assassin's Apprentice late last year, and how amazing it is that I did. This is the book that introduced me to my now second favourite author of all time. I blitzed through three trilogies in this world in less than a month! That is testamen ...more

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Sep 23, 2014 Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-fantasy, all-time-favorites

07/19 : 1.99$ today on kindle! ← I never do that, but that's FITZ. Be serious.

Funny that I thought I would be able to objectively review this favorite of mine. SERIOUSLY? I was way too conceited. Because the truth is...

Why?

◘ Because I'm (way) too much involved in Fitz's story to analyze it. I mean, I could pretend, of course, but really? I found myself crying or being out of breath in anticipation so many times that I'm pretty sure my opinion is grandly biased.

Take this, for example : "And the ...more

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Dec 18, 2018 Dana Ilie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommended to Dana by: Simona

Shelves: fantasy

Why has it taken me this long to read Robin Hobb? Truthfully, I am not quite sure. Fears aside, I took the plunge, and can assuredly say it was well worth the wait!
For the sake of clarity, I started with the first of the various series which make up the books set within the Realm of the Elderlings. This meant starting with Assassins Apprentice, the first installment in the Farseer Trilogy.
I have really fallen in love with Robin Hobb’s style of writing. It has so much substance and sophisticatio Why has it taken me this long to read Robin Hobb? Truthfully, I am not quite sure. Fears aside, I took the plunge, and can assuredly say it was well worth the wait!
For the sake of clarity, I started with the first of the various series which make up the books set within the Realm of the Elderlings. This meant starting with Assassins Apprentice, the first installment in the Farseer Trilogy.
I have really fallen in love with Robin Hobb’s style of writing. It has so much substance and sophistication which I think high fantasies can sometimes miss. Having said that, she does not over complicate her writing, leaving more room for the plot to mature. I think she really excels in both her descriptions and her speech. When she describes the town, the court, even the hustle and bustle of where the trading ships dock, it is with such vibrancy and color that it carries through and inspires my own imagination. Likewise, Hobb has a very tight grip on the speech used within her works. Not once did I feel that there was a conversation which was stilted or unrealistic. I think this is also a tribute to her brilliant characterization, with the cast of characters all fully fledged beings in their own right.
One of the advantages of this novel was that whilst things were suggested, or links made, it was not necessarily obvious which thread was going to be fully followed. Even halfway through, I was still unsure which direction the novel could be heading. What also surprised me about this novel was that it was very self contained. There are definitely areas from which sequels and parallel series can spring, yet the book can also be read completely by itself. Most firsts in a series are quite slow, with the initial book used to set up and establish the rest in the series, but I did not find that here.

One can expect so much from an author’s first novel, especially one titled after the two words that have become the salt and pepper of fantasy fiction through the decades. And yet, somehow, Robin Hobb takes these tropes that used to make fantasy great, and, with much confidence and palpable pleasure, creates such a captivating story that, when it is over, can result in a serious case of “book hangover”. This is what happens when characters in the hands of a talented author come to life and form a relationship with the reader. It is difficult to move forward to other stories and other worlds, much like saying goodbye to old friends. Thankfully, this is only the beginning of a long series that has set the bar high from the first book. This is the definition of great fantasy, a debut novel called Assassin’s Apprentice.

My first foray into Robin Hobb’s world was a roaring success. It is so refreshing to find more women who are challenging the stereotypes of a genre which is so often favored by males. Assassin’s Apprentice was way better than anything I had expected. I wasn’t bored a second of it, even the courtly intrigues where interesting enough to keep my attention. Hobb writes with such naturalness that I could not help but be pulled in by the narrative she employs, and I cannot wait to delve further into the series. ...more

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Aug 21, 2017 Warda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

“Be your blood, boy, and ignore what anyone else thinks of you.”

I'm officially part of the Hobb fandom, hallelujah! This book was one of the most joyful slow-burners that I've read. Think 'The Name of the Wind.' It's about our precious Fitz, a bastard, who has been brought up by someone who used to work closely with his father. It is narrated by Fitz himself and we follow his life closely from childhood till his young teenage years.

The writing is quite simply, stunning. From page one I was hook ...more

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Jun 26, 2022 Lisa of Troy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Maybe just the wrong time to read this?

A six-year old boy is dropped off on the doorstep to the royal family. He is the illegitimate son of a prince. He has no name. What is to become of this boy? Who will he turn into? What is in a name?

The beginning of The Assassin’s Apprentice immediately had me hooked. It is incredibly moving and heartrending. Also, I really enjoyed the fantasy. It is what I would describe as realistic fantasy. The author doesn’t go too far into worldbuilding and doesn’t bor ...more

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Jul 21, 2018 Helen 2.0 rated it really liked it

Shelves: rogues-thieves-assassins, fantasy-epic, brs-done, royalty

Men cannot grieve as dogs do. But we grieve for many years.

Wow. This book really got under my skin.

At its core, Assassin's Apprentice is a story about loneliness - about a lonely boy, the bastard son of the former crown prince, growing up in a kingdom that does not want him. Fitz grows up among servants and soldiers in the king's palace, working in the shadow of his grandfather and uncles as a stableboy. Working with dogs, he discovers a talent for the Wit, a mental ability that allows him to sense beings around him and forge emotional bonds with them. Eventually Fitz is recruited to train as a royal assassin for King Shrewd.

The plot progression is slow, and certainly doesn't follow common plot structure guidelines. Robin Hobb takes her time describing the settings of each scene, as well as the nuances of each character and their standing to others in the book. As a result, her fantasy world comes to life in gorgeous detail across the pages. Descriptions of the kingdom and culture were vivid and will stay with me even if I do not continue this series.

The author's writing also shines in the dialogue she creates; although Fitz is a quiet, reserved boy, he is often wrapped up in conversation by the servants and nobles of the castle. Every character's inner personality and motivations are subtly revealed in their speech, and each line of dialogue is packed with meaning beyond the spoken words. One of my favorite lines came from Fitz's mentor, Chade, speaking of becoming the king's man:

"It doesn't have to be that bad," Chade said quietly. "Most prisons are of our own making. A man makes his own freedom, too."

Wise and moving dialogue like this was a dime a dozen in this book.

So while the book was a slow read with little danger or excitement, I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much had Hobb cut some of the imagery and dialogue.

I do have one complaint, which took one star off my rating. Fitz, as a protagonist, is very passive. Although he is often described by other characters, as well as the narrator, as a catalyst, Fitz generally does not drive the plot. Rather, the plot drives him. Much of the book features him reluctantly reacting to a problem at hand or observing the actions of others. That lack of initiative made it difficult to see how Fitz would become a legendary hero in later books. ...more

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Apr 13, 2020 Edward rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reviews, favorites, fantasy

*2nd read - Beautiful book. The illustrated edition is stunning.*

Assassin’s Apprentice was my first read of Robin Hobb and I just don’t know why it has taken me so long to get to The Farseer Trilogy, I really have been missing out! Hobb’s writing and prose quickly captivated me, as did the story of Fitz, a royal bastard without friends or family to care for him.

“When you cut pieces out of the truth to avoid looking like a fool you end up looking like a moron instead.”

Fitz is our protagonist an *2nd read - Beautiful book. The illustrated edition is stunning.*

Assassin’s Apprentice was my first read of Robin Hobb and I just don’t know why it has taken me so long to get to The Farseer Trilogy, I really have been missing out! Hobb’s writing and prose quickly captivated me, as did the story of Fitz, a royal bastard without friends or family to care for him.

“When you cut pieces out of the truth to avoid looking like a fool you end up looking like a moron instead.”

Fitz is our protagonist and sole POV within Assassin’s Apprentice. He is a young royal bastard who is thrust into a world of mistrust, royal courts and politics, and the only way he can prevent himself from being a threat to the new king is to become invaluable to him.

Although this is a story dealing with the growing up of a young boy, many dark themes are present and it is indeed a very harsh world that Fitz endures. Fitz is a fantastic character. I instantly resonated with him and loved seeing how he changed over time during Book 1. He also has a very strong affinity with animals and his attachment to these enhanced the reading journey even more. Let’s be honest, we all love a character who adores animals don’t we?

“Too late to apologise, I've already forgiven you.”

As Fitz is growing up, and as he begins a life of learning the art of assassination, we meet a host of secondary characters. These characters are a testament to how great a wrier Hobb is, as I was able to love some and to really really hate others. They are written superbly, namely Chade, King Shrewd, Burrich, Verity and Regal. Oh, and the Fool. Yes there are many great characters and they each stand on their own within this story. Together, they bring the world of the Six Duchies to life and spring Fitz into an altogether difficult life.

“Very little worth knowing is taught by fear.”

One strength of this book I found is actually how slow it is. It floats along, with beautiful description, fantastic world building and really makes you get to grips with the characters and their inhibitions. Some people may say it is too slow but it really wasn’t for me. I loved being able to get to know Fitz and I feel if it was an intensely fast paced book I would have missed all of the subtleties of Hobb’s writing.

There is a strong theme of magic within Assassin’s Apprentice, through Skills and Wits and these both were written intriguingly. I’m usually not a massive fan of deep magic systems but I wanted to find out more about both of these, so I am looking forward to seeing how the next book builds upon this.

“One can only walk so far from one's true self before the bond either snaps, or pulls back. I am fortunate. I have been pulled back.”

5/5 - There is a lot to write about Assassin’s Apprentice because it contains so much. It isn’t a fast paced book, but I felt that this made me enjoy it even more. Can’t wait to read the next one. ...more

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Jan 15, 2017 Mary ~Ravager of Tomes~ rated it liked it

Shelves: 3-star, year-2017

Assassin's Apprentice is the story of Fitz, who arrives at Buckkeep barely more than a child. He is branded early on as the bastard of Prince Chivalry Farseer, eldest & deceased son of King Shrewd Farseer. And so begins the slow & steady descent of our main character into a life fraught with hardship after hardship.

Which brings us around to one of my main struggles with this story. The first 80-85% of this book is a slow trudge through Fitz's childhood, exploring the many brutal ways in which he ...more

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Mar 05, 2017 Samir rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Robin Hobb is an author which was on my radar for a long time and I was planning to read her books earlier but reading is a fickle and seductive mistress often taking us on an unplanned journeys and sometimes during those journeys we cross paths with people who manage to persuade us to follow their direction and just like that, I ended up in the Realms of the Elderlings, on a new adventure starting with the Assassin’s Apprentice.

This tale starts with our main character, Fitz (age 6), being brou Robin Hobb is an author which was on my radar for a long time and I was planning to read her books earlier but reading is a fickle and seductive mistress often taking us on an unplanned journeys and sometimes during those journeys we cross paths with people who manage to persuade us to follow their direction and just like that, I ended up in the Realms of the Elderlings, on a new adventure starting with the Assassin’s Apprentice.

This tale starts with our main character, Fitz (age 6), being brought to the Farseer’s army outpost by his maternal grandfather and given to a soldier, who is told that he is King-in-Waiting Chivalry's bastard son. The soldier brings him to the commander of the outpost, Prince Verity, who orders that he be given into the care of Burrich, Chivalry's stablemaster and right-hand man. Before Burrich takes him to Buckkeep, the capital of the Six Duchies, his father abdicates from his position and retires to the Withywoods with his wife Patience so he never got the chance to meet him.

Burrich is left with the task of raising him and being a stablemaster he teaches him how to take care of animals. During his time with animals he discovers he can bond telepathically with them and that is the form of magic called the Wit, an ancient magic which Burrich forbids him to practice. The Wit is very much similar to the Skill, a magic system practiced by the royal family, which gives them ability to share thoughts and strength.

We follow the rest of story through a first person POV, so we pretty much see and feel the world and characters through the eyes and mind of our main protagonist thus creating a strong bond with him and that is something really important to me when reading; I need a character I can root for and Fitz is just that kind of character, not only did I root for him, he also managed to evoke a strong emotional empathy in me and that shows a great skill Hobb has in characterization.

This is a slow paced book and I know that can be off putting for some readers who demand explosive action on every page because “nothing is happening” otherwise but in this case the pacing is suitable for the story because this is a character driven story with very strong emphasis on character development which was superbly done.

The prose feels simple yet beautiful and often reminded me of Rothfuss’s writing and if I had to guess I would say that Hobb influenced him very much.

I was completely mesmerized with the magic of this book. It is a beautiful coming-of-age tale which captivated my mind and made me realize why is it deemed a true classic and a pure fantasy gem.

With the first quest completed, I’m ready for the next one and eager to find out what fate lies ahead for Fitz in the Royal Assassin.
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Dec 10, 2021 Luffy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-star, fantasy, review-worth-reading, best-of-2021

Assassin's Apprentice has a shine to it. It is a dull kind of shine, like light passing through amber. It is a confident piece of fiction. Fantasy, no less. And it was released when the stampede to write the next Lord of the Rings had abated.

I thought that this was a mighty tale. When I had read all but the last two chapters, excluding the footnote of an epilogue, I realised that the book would appear in my top 20 books read, of all time, and of all genres.

I usually recoil on myself and refuse t ...more

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About Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb

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** I am shocked to find that some people think a 2 star 'I liked it' rating is a bad rating. What? I liked it. I LIKED it! That means I read the whole thing, to the last page, in spite of my life raining comets on me. It's a good book that survives the reading process with me. If a book is so-so, it ends up under the bed somewhere, or maybe under a stinky judo bag in the back of the van. So a 2 st ...more