The Robin Hobb Collection discussion
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Royal Assassin
Book 2 - Royal Assassin
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Royal Assassin Part 1 - Chapter 1 to 5
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i had many options of where this book would kick off. Fitz somewhere on a mission, or back in Buckkeep learning Skill from Verity or plundering the kitchen and feeling slightly sorry for himself.
anything, but this.
mysteriously ill and stuck in the mountains, suffering from some kind of fatigue epilepsy? i guess that connection with Verity at the end of book 1 cost him dearly?
Mod
so somehow Fitz is linked in with King Shrewd. if anyone i would have expected this to be with Verity, as that one already complained about the drowning dreams at the end of book 1.
but while sleeping fitz is making more uncontrolled connections? although it seems more like that, Fitz isn't just looking through Shrewds eyes or communicating with him, he seems partially in control of that conversation with the Fool?
and yet "So boy, there you are" the king seems to know that Fitz is around.
good start of a new book! very promising!
Hanne wrote: "anything, but this.mysteriously ill and stuck in the mountains, suffering from some kind of fatigue epilepsy? i guess that connection with Verity at the end of book 1 cost him dearly? "
I think from memory that he is still recovering from the effects of the poison from the last book.
Hanne wrote: "prologue: i have to say, i wasn't expecting this!i had many options of where this book would kick off. Fitz somewhere on a mission, or back in Buckkeep learning Skill from Verity or plundering the..."
I agree. I didnt expect it either! Burrich and the healer seem to agree the seizures are probably a result of either of the two poisons he took at end of last book( or possibly the attempted drowning) and if so he could heal when the poison completely works its way out. Lets hope thats how it is.
There was a LOT of recap of book 1 which was nice. I read so much, i forget important details or more importantly what the author wants us to know.
Hanne wrote: "and then chapter 1: even more mysterious.so somehow Fitz is linked in with King Shrewd. if anyone i would have expected this to be with Verity, as that one already complained about the drowning dr..."
Won't it be great when Fitz is able to connect back? When we can hear their discussions/thoughts with each other? Much better start than book one. Too much background info while Fitz just ran around.
If the King IS in this book more, you know who else we'll get to see a lot of? One of my favorite characters, the Fool. He's already giving out riddles and prophecies. Is this one of those "hedge magics"? They "attempt to predict the future." I remember there was a chapter heading on the Fool in book one. Ill reread it tonight and see if it mentioned it or if someone with better memory knows?
I just reread the section in book one on the Fool. It does not mention his particular magic but does say 1. He shows little sign of aging.
2. The gender of the Fool is unknown.
Good luck figuring out the fool. :)
Mod
i had many options of where this book would kick off. Fitz somewhere on a mission, or back in Buckkeep learning Skill from Verity or ..."
David Sven wrote: "Burrich and the healer seem to agree the seizures are probably a result of either of the two poisons he took at end of last book( or possibly the attempted drowning) and if so he could heal when the poison completely works its way out. Lets hope thats how it is."
That's what they were saying, poison possibly in combination with death, but i don't know I'm not convinced yet. It's clear that the skill can leave the body drained (a bit), so if you did it as forcibly as Fitz did at book 1, plus you seem to be linked to another bedridden guy - is it just poison? let's wait and see :)
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Yes, i also enjoyed the background recap. Just making sure i remember my Skills and Wits (although Rob had already explained it so i knew this time around :)
I did quite like the long introduction in book 1, because it was written so well. But aye, glad she didn't do that again here. I thought the prologue might be a recap only, but then she put a lot of new elements in there.
Mod
1. He shows little sign of aging.
2. The gender of the Fool is unknown."
The fool is in odd one. I guess she doesn't want us to know more yet, but i would suspect we'll get some more info on it.
The kind asks him to "remember forward", so maybe he dreams the future or something? I'm still sad that "Fitz fixes feists fits. Fat suffices" wasn't a prophecy. :)
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i'm just wondering who will be the one to push him down again.
and seems like it isn't just Fitz who changed, Kettricken has been busy too! :)
chapter 3: still love Verity! he will be the one to teach Fitz the Skill won't he? quite liked the parts with Patience, not having any patience and getting worried.
And then... he runs into Molly Nosebleed. didn't think that the one who would kick him while he's down, would be her. but i guess the word of sickness hasn't traveled much, so she doesn't know better?
Your mention at first seeing Verity again after his brother has tried to kill him and his nephew reminds me- We see the Prince's chosen justice- He chooses to leave Regal in the castle, not banish him, AND give him a group of nobles to assist him (keep him busy) with internal crises. So Regal will know everything thats going on in the Keep with his new duties AND he has a group of nobles , always known to be loyal to their king , not greedy in the least, not easily persuaded at all to become Regal's follower's rather than assistants. Actually why quibble over terminology- I don't see the justice here. And I expected more for the protection of Fitz. Well, I didnt expect it here, because he is always alone and being used.
Speaking of Fitz always being alone, Patience has shown how much she truly cares for Fitz by the "Molly situation". But for now it has left him feeling even more alone(as she is mad at him and he is not allowed to talk to her) , so its not surprising that Fitz has adopted a new pet/beast! He expects to have this wolf for two weeks at the most and turn him lose. Why do I know this is not going to happen? (For one reason because the wolf is on my cover! Lol Secondly, I already know how Fitz is with his animals, a little attachment anxiety)Yes, by now we know the difference between skill and wit. But Then someone does something that I didnt know you could do, especially under the Skill. I think as David warned us we will continue to learn about these two magics as we go along.
I knew this was coming, but didn't quite expect it so soon. I guess I would have expected this was a third book sort of line. I had not been born to be their tool. ...Did they think they could bend me to their will, use me however they would and I would never retaliate? No. A time would come. My time would come.
I can't wait. Kick arse Fitz.
I like to say arse like my UK friends. Do they say it in Australia too David?
Hanne wrote: I'm still sadT..."
Dont be sad Hanne! It was a prophecy. Im betting it was mostly unused English words that threw you off- but I could be totally wrong. Anyway it was a prophecy in that it let Fitz know the future. Although none of us understood it at the time I think it helped Fitz understand he was living through an important time and more importantly it let him know the Fool does see the Future(s). He thought he was speaking to a kitchen maid but he was speaking to the Lady of the house and saved her dog and therefore she offered him something that he wanted. Im sure you remember the rest. The prophecy was that( Fitz) would (fix) (Feist) the dog from his choking (fits) by putting (fat) down his throat to make it slippery and therefore Fitz could reach in and pull out the bone. Therefore it all (sufficed) worked well enough.
Candace wrote: "Why do I know this is not going to happen? (For one reason because the wolf is on my cover!"Cover spoilers. <3 Nighteyes.
Candace wrote: " The prophecy was that( Fitz) would (fix) (Feist) the dog from his choking (fits) by putting (fat) down his throat to make it slippery and therefore Fitz could reach in and pull out the bone. Therefore it all (sufficed) worked well enough. "
I totally never saw that when I read it. I think I had forgotten about that little prophecy and never went back to make the connection you did.
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Reading that my eyes are twice as large as they normally are. I'm half shocked, I so did not see that one!!
And i could re-read it 5 times, and i still wouldn't have. Thanks Candance, my faith in the fool is totally restored now. :D
That's why I wanted to tell you Hanne, restore faith in the fool! and this is still a "buddy read."(including other buddies too, of course)You're not the only OCD reader ROB. But you may be faster.
@Candace - yes we
Mod
Agree - and yet it makes sense.
Any other solution would give Regal only more power in the inland counties. Recall what Hands talked about in the inn, where people were against the king and Verity, but very pro Regal.
So what other choice does Verity have?
Candace wrote: "You're not the only OCD reader ROB. But you may be faster."Well I'm not OCD about reading so much as my reading schedule. Or any schedule really. I like to plan. I have a few other minor OCD things like my garage door. I never believe it's down and I have to check at least 3 times before I can drive away.
Rob wrote: " have a few other minor OCD things like my garage door. I never believe it's down and I have to check at least 3 times before I can drive away. "I'm OCD about lunch - I have to have it at least 3 times to make sure I've had it.
I better go make sure I've had breakfast before Hanne kicks us off for trashing her thread.
Mod
I have that with locking my flat door. I sometimes actually drive back to double check (how embarassing!)
David Sven wrote: "I better go make sure I've had breakfast before Hanne kicks us off for trashing her thread."
Hmm, have i ever done that?
i quite like the going off topic. it's unpredictable and sometimes very interesting :)
oo and btw candace, i think you're way ahead of me already. feel free to just make new threads for wherever you are. i'll catch up.
Hanne wrote: ""i quite like the going off topic. it's unpredictable and sometimes very interesting :) "This is not one of those times.
Mod
the wolf is on my cover too :)
i think that animal might stay a while. they're not as docile and following as the dogs are, so perhaps this one will play an even bigger role in the story.
(i wouldn't want to try anything to hurt Fitz when that one is around!)
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btw, I'm glad to see that so many of you missed the fat suffices prophecy, makes me feel better for sure!
Rob, so I guess this wolf is the 'dog' you warned me about?
I warned you about a dog?
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That doesn't sound even vaguely familiar. Lol.So I can't say that it was. Maybe.
I do love Night Eyes though.
Hanne wrote: "that should read 'love more' of course. but no edit option on the smartphone :("I didn't even notice the typo. Lol.
And I use my browser to do all but manage books on good reads from my phone, because the mobile app is still not very good. It is improving though.
Candace wrote: "Your mention at first seeing Verity again after his brother has tried to kill him and his nephew reminds me- We see the Prince's chosen justice- He chooses to leave Regal in the castle, not banish ..."I think that is why he instantly connects with the wolf.
Hanne wrote: "Candace wrote: "Won't it be great when Fitz is able to connect back? When we can hear their discussions/thoughts with each other? Much better start than book one. Too much background info while Fit..."
I too loved the prologue because Hobb starts from where she left us in the last book.
I think this a solid start from the last book by hobb, I have started today and don't want to stop reading :D.
I've just started... I'm listening to the audiobook version and looking forward to continuing the journey with Fitz.
Thanks Alfred. :-)
Candace wrote: "Your mention at first seeing Verity again after his brother has tried to kill him and his nephew reminds me- We see the Prince's chosen justice- He chooses to leave Regal in the castle, not banish ..."I felt the same was and was really upset with the King when he told Fitz that he extracted an apology from Regal. And then went on to say that an attack on his own is like an attack on himself. I wanted Fitz to get angry and shout out that he was attacked and that Regal was in a sense attacking Verity as well. But, it's supposedly okay for Regal to do it. That just really got me angry.
Also, when the King keeps asking if he is keeping his side of the bargain.... and Fitz answers that he is, but yet if it weren't for Patience, no one would even care if he ate or had clothes. I don't really see the king doing much for him at all.
I'm reading for more Hobb adventures.