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

Sep 03, 2015 Katie Ziegler (Life Between Words) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

One of the things I've heard about Robin Hobb is that her books tend to have a slow build. The big difference between this book and the first is that it's about twice as long. The slow pace of the book at first makes you wonder if it will be worth the 600+ page investment. Let me tell you right now: it is. I really wasn't sure at first. This second installment of the Farseer Trilogy had a VERY slow start. I don't know if it was the Olympics distracting me, or the book itself, but it took me abou One of the things I've heard about Robin Hobb is that her books tend to have a slow build. The big difference between this book and the first is that it's about twice as long. The slow pace of the book at first makes you wonder if it will be worth the 600+ page investment. Let me tell you right now: it is. I really wasn't sure at first. This second installment of the Farseer Trilogy had a VERY slow start. I don't know if it was the Olympics distracting me, or the book itself, but it took me about two weeks to get through the first half of this book and about two days to get through the second half. The end totally redeemed the beginning.

Like the first book, this is a character driven story, which partly accounts for the slow pace. The first half of the book is spent getting to know even better the characters we became acquainted with in the first book. The characters you love, you REALLY love - like Burrich (right now my fav) and Fitz (who I don't find nearly as whiny as some people do...but what do I know?) and the Fool (who we get to know much better than in the first book, but who remains somewhat of a mystery. I can't wait to get to know him better). And the characters you hate, you REALLY hate. Particularly Regal. I HATED Regal - and I consider it an accomplishment of any author who can inspire in me the kind of hatred I feel for a character such as I felt for Regal. I hated him like I hate Umbridge from Harry Potter. Which makes sense - in some ways they're similar characters. Both selfish beyond imagining. Both ambitious at the expense of everyone and everything around them. Both ruthless, spiteful, petulant, and hateful. And both take pleasure in torturing and bringing pain to others. It's hard to read characters like that, but they also make the story unputdownable.

Overall, I really, really, really loved this book despite the slow start. It may just be that I need to get used to this, if it's truly Hobb's MO. And I will say that the slow pace at the beginning made the end all the more exciting and satisfying because it sets everything up so well. So in the end, I don't know if it should be considered a fault. I need to think on that - for now I knocked off a star, but I may readjust my rating to 5*, because ultimately, I have been so, so impressed with this series.

I'm nervous because I hear the conclusion to this series is disappointing. BUT, I will decide for myself once it's done. I've also heard that when you move on in the series, the third book becomes stronger in retrospect because of everything that happens following, which is really interesting. Anyway...I guess we'll just have to see! ...more

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Jun 14, 2016 Julie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Although this one was a little slower getting started than the first. I ended up loving this one so much more. I am completely blown away with Hobb as a writer. I can easily see why so many others rave about her. I can't wait to pick up the final book in this series as well as all of her other books. I would HIGHLY recommend this series to anyone who enjoys adult fantasy as well as an incredible character driven story. ...more

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Oct 31, 2015 Huda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Full review on the blog ➡ https://thesleeplesscorner.wordpress....

Amazing sequel.

This book built upon my love for the characters and the world.
There was so much political intrigue and deception, which I loved.
Fitz and Burrich are my favourites.
Robin Hobb's writing was phenomenal.

Now I'm off to start the last book to see what happens next, especially with how this one ended. :) ...more

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Oct 16, 2016 Christina Pilkington rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Although there were parts of of this book where the plot dragged on in the middle, Hobb does an amazing job of developing all the characters from the first book in the series and and creating an incredible ending that makes me hungry for the final book in this series.

I listened to this book on audio, and I'd highly recommend it. The audio narrator did a fantastic job in embodying the voice of Fitz. Even though there were times when I felt my attention wandering in the middle of the book because ...more

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Dec 01, 2015 Jennifer rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy, adventure

My biggest problem with this book is that in the middle there, Fitz gets so bogged down in his own personal problems that I wanted to stop reading. I'm just not interested in a teenage boy moaning about how he can never be with his one true love. However, the ending made up for my dislike, picking up the pace again and pulling together a bunch of threads I thought we'd dropped.

I'm not really sure how to talk about the rest of my issues with this book without giving away spoilers, but honestly, m ...more

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