Royal Assassin (Farseer Trilogy, #2) in Hobb-A-Long Read-A-Long

Jul 28, 2016 Zezee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

As posted on Zezee with Books.

My thoughts:

The plot in this installment is much richer. Fitz is now a young man developing more meaningful relationships that will have greater impact on his standing at court, and his actions carry greater consequences in his life and that of those who are close to him.

The threat of the Red Ships is more palpable as they strike more frequently and Verity expends his energy in protecting the kingdom’s shores, and Regal is gaining more influence at court as the king ...more

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Jun 05, 2016 Alreem rated it really liked it · review of another edition

4.5

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Aug 01, 2017 Laura rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-books, 2017-reads

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I really really really loved this book. It is how fiction is supposed to be. A book that you fall into, that completely encompasses you and makes you forget about the world. This is definitely a book to be read by people who have enjoyed George R.R. Martin, I would even go as far to say that I have enjoyed this book and the series (so far) more then GOT, mainly due to there being less characters to keep track of.
I don't usually particularly like books that are written from a first person perspe I really really really loved this book. It is how fiction is supposed to be. A book that you fall into, that completely encompasses you and makes you forget about the world. This is definitely a book to be read by people who have enjoyed George R.R. Martin, I would even go as far to say that I have enjoyed this book and the series (so far) more then GOT, mainly due to there being less characters to keep track of.
I don't usually particularly like books that are written from a first person perspective but this one is still well rounded and rich. You may not get the same insight into characters thoughts and feelings (I would love to know what's going on in Regal's head) but I think the Fool and Chade give clarity to situations when Fitz is being narrow minded and stubborn.
I also love that this book did not end with a happy ending, it means I have a reason to read the last instalment of the series to find out whether good does indeed triumph over evil. I have seen other reviews who have said they hated the fact that Regal has been able to get away with so much especially as we essentially know his flawed character now from Assassin's Apprentice but Robin Hobb does address this throughout the book. I have highlighted a particularly pertinent observation from Chade on this. Regal is the quintessential younger cosseted child, everyone just thinks he is a spoilt brat who needs chastisement but that essentially he is good. This book addresses so much of human behaviour and family behaviours (ie a parents love for a child even if he is doing terrible things, how those terrible things might be put down to lack of discipline or drink/drugs, how parents have a lot of influence over their childrens behaviour, how a scenario that may seem very straightforward to those who are harmed can be spun effortlessly to seem the complete opposite). Fitz clearly points it out later in the book that none of the nobles seriously think they have anything to fear from Regal they just think he is a spoilt child, they cannot fathom that he would kill his own father, brother and sister in law. It is an alien thought to them. I think this is very close to true human nature, no one wants to think the worst of another human being and killing your own family has to be one of the most reprehensible crimes that exist so we look for explanations of behaviour and choose the one that fits our ideals of someone.
I also love the character of Fitz. I believe we see him grow a lot in this book from a child into an adult who is wrangling with the responsibilities that have been thrust upon him. His frustration at not being able to master the Skill yet his cautious joy in being able to use the Wit and bonding to his wolf Nighteyes. I especially like how Hobb has given the illegitimate assassin the Wit as his main magical power, it sits beautifully with Fitz's character of an outsider. Fitz is showing us that being a bastard who assassinates people and uses a magic that is seen as being dirty actually doesn't make you a bad person, in fact he has more honour and integrity in his little toe then Regal has in his whole body. He is the ultimate anti-hero. Fitz does moan a lot about circumstances that are out of his control but again I think this is very true to human nature. I am late 20's now and lot's of people moan about how difficult their lives are. No one is ever happy with the situations they find themselves in, its the ultimate grass is always greener scenario.
His love of Molly also comes to fruition and to its ultimate demise, something which is also very true to life.
I find this book so amazing because it does feel real, the scrapes Fitz gets himself into aren't easily overcome and tied up neatly by the end of the book with Fitz getting exactly what he wants, he has to sacrifice constantly, balance different relationships and compromise his own happiness.
I look forward to immersing myself into the final book of the series to see how Fitz develops further. This is fantasy but with enough recognisable to be completely relatable. ...more

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Jun 22, 2016 Ana Clara rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2016, high-fantasy

This book had everything to be great. A lot of interesting things happened, there were a few plot twists I didn't see coming, people spitting on each other's faces, all a novel needs. But there were so many things that seemed specially written to frustrate the reader on purpose. Like they would never happen in "real life" or what real life in this fantasy world would be, but Robin Hobb wanted us to be nervous and frustrated so they happened anyway.
The sheer refusal from both Verity and Fitz to j This book had everything to be great. A lot of interesting things happened, there were a few plot twists I didn't see coming, people spitting on each other's faces, all a novel needs. But there were so many things that seemed specially written to frustrate the reader on purpose. Like they would never happen in "real life" or what real life in this fantasy world would be, but Robin Hobb wanted us to be nervous and frustrated so they happened anyway.
The sheer refusal from both Verity and Fitz to just DO SOMETHING to stop the kingdom from going downhill was unnerving. More, it was outraging. They had already underestimated Regal at the end of the last book, and yet, through this entire installment, they do it again. Fitz thinks he's so smart, a man, but honestly he is the worst of all. They keep refusing to even discuss the things that are happening fully, and when they finally make decisions, those decisions are the dumbest decisions I've ever seen. They honestly just sit down and wait for Regal to do everything he wants. There were so many things they could've done to counteract Regal's actions (like putting a few spies here and there, to say the least) and yet they stood and let everything happen.
How Fitz never understood anything the Fool said, even though some of his messages were obvious...
And Shrewd's disease was the worst part of it all. It just dragged.
I took a long time to read this book because I had to read two chapters and then put it down. I felt exhausted.
It seems like I hated it. I didn't. I hated these elements, and they made me angry because I've read Ship of Magic, I know Hobb's characters can be better written than this. The main character being super dumb is never a good plot device, and nor is his refusal to do anything about it.
But I did enjoy it. I enjoyed the story a lot, and Ketricken is honestly my favorite. I hope everything works out for her. And for the Fool, I love him too.
I hope the next book is better, character's decision making wise. There are still a lot of mysteries to be solved, and I wanna now how it all ends. ...more

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Jun 11, 2016 Charles rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book is immediately darker than the first book in the series. Following on from Assassin's Apprentice, we have a sequel in which the consequences of the early work are still being felt deep here. I plan on producing a full review at some point but I needed to express that I found this book infinitely better than the first, and the first was brilliant in itself. ...more

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