Farseer Trilogy Book 1 - Assassin's Apprentice

[Peggy]

The poll showed that several people are interested in reading the Farseer Trilogy together, consisting of Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin and Assassin's Quest.

We can use this thread to decide on when to start, and to discuss the actual books. Everyone's welcome to join in!


Starting date for the first book is October 22.

[Peggy]

So, any preferences for when to start?

I'm still waiting for my books to arrive (I ordered them secondhand and they're coming from abroad, so it can take a week or 2) but I can get started from middle of October or November or anytime after that.

I was thinking to have about 2-3 months in between books, but we can see when we go along and decide on a date for the next book when we finish the previous one.

[Sarah]

I'll probably join you from the second book.

[Jenn]

I have all three as ebooks, loaded and ready to go just say the word 😃

[Janice, Moderator]

I vote that we start Assassin's Apprentice later part of October. I have the audiobook and am ready to roll with it.

[Fiona]

I don’t own any of the books yet, but that won’t be a problem. I would say we could start at the end of October.

[Claire]

I m ready. I read them all, but now want to do the audio and in English.

[Margo]

I have all 3 on audio and I am good to go. Late October sound good. I vote that we do one every second month - that worked well for the Demon Cycle. Of course we need some flexability. December can be a busy month!

[Suzanne]

Late October sounds good to me, too!

[Peggy]

Late October sounds good, especially as the Broken Trilogy looks to start at the end of November, so those who want to can combine the buddy reads.

[Cherie]

I do have the first book on my TBR list, but I think I have to pass up this one for the Broken Trilogy because of the start date. In reality, I like the sound of the Robin Hobb books over the other, but for me, it is going to come down to doing any buddy read vs my remaining ZZ Challenge tasks. I have really enjoyed doing the Demon Cycle buddy reads with Sarah and Margo and Peggy. Maybe I can catch up later.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I'm going to end up missing this one. It's the only series in the poll that my library doesn't carry any of the books for. I'm not a huge fantasy fan, so I don't want to purchase all three books. Hope you guys love it though. It has great reviews.

[Peggy]

Cherie wrote: "I do have the first book on my TBR list, but I think I have to pass up this one for the Broken Trilogy because of the start date. In reality, I like the sound of the Robin Hobb books over the other..."

Being in YLTO is tough! ;-)

Yeah, join us for the others! I guess we'll start the second book in January, so if you finish the ZZ challenge you could read the first book and then join us for the second. I think the first book is also less than 500 pages, so manageable.

[Peggy]

How about starting on the 22nd? That should give everybody time to finish it before The Tattooist of Auschwitz, which I think several of us are also participating in.

[Janice, Moderator]

That sounds good to me. I'll update the Buddy Read Calendar (and hopefully not delete it by accident this time).

[Margo]

22 October? Just to be clear.....

[Peggy]

Yes, October :)

[Janice, Moderator]

I put November didn't I? Off to fix... October!

[Suzanne]

I've marked it on my calendar and I've already picked up the kindle version of the book!

[Saar The Book owl]

I'll jump in for the 2nd one. That I stopped midways. The first one I allready read.

[Saar The Book owl]

Is there a date for the 2nd, so that I can write it down.

[Peggy]

We haven't planned it yet, Saar. I think we'll do so right after finishing the first book. If we use the Demon Cycle schedule (which was good) we would start the second book about 2 months after finishing the first, so early January probably.

[Peggy]

When we came back from grocery shopping on Saturday there was a note in the mail that the mailman had a package but we weren't home, so he bought it to the post office where I could pick it up from today onwards. It didn't say where it was from, but I think it's my Farseer books! (lol, I will be so disappointed if it's something else!).

But the post office opens after I've left for work and closes before I'm back, so I wouldn't be able to pick it up until Friday (which doesn't really matter, as I don't need them in the next 3 weeks, but you know, it's a package! It's books!). My partner has the day off today so he has offered to pick it up for me, yay!

[Peggy]

So... Rob just texted me that he went to the post office (they didn't even drop it off at our regular one, but one further away) and there they told him they don't have it and he should come back tomorrow. So, Friday it is then.

[Peggy]

Finally, I have the books! I ordered them online secondhand and it said they were in very good condition, which they're not, but I'll just assume that means they are/were well-loved ;-)

[Claire]

Peggy wrote: "Finally, I have the books! I ordered them online secondhand and it said they were in very good condition, which they're not, but I'll just assume that means they are/were well-loved ;-)"

You will love them. I can hardly wait to reread.

[Sarah]

I will be watching the discussion to help bring things back to memory. I remember some of it but not the finer details.

[Margo]

I remember the characters quite well but not the plot details. It's been awhile!

[Janice, Moderator]

I will start tomorrow but I likely won't get much read and it will be easy to catch up.

[Margo]

I finished one of my other books yesterday so I will probably start this tonight :-)

[Peggy]

I have about 2 hours to go in my current book. I'll take Assassin's Apprentice with me on the train tomorrow.

[Lisa]

I read this trilogy last year (and loved it) but I'm not going to reread it at the moment as I have so many other books that I want/need to get to. However, I will probably join in this discussion from time to time.

[Janice, Moderator]

I've read to the end of Chapter 2. So far, I'm really enjoying the story. At first, I wasn't sold on the narration, but I was quickly drawn in.

Chapter 1 - Newest History. (view spoiler)[ How could a grandparent raise a child for 6 years and then just cast him off like a sack of potatoes? Burrich seemed to treat him kindly at any rate. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 2 - New Boy, (view spoiler)[ I wonder what skills Fitz learned as a result of running with the beggar children in the town. It was pretty harsh that Burrich killed Nosey because of the bond the boy and the dog had. It was stressed that he treated the situation with reluctance and regret. But still, I felt betrayed by him. It's interesting that Burrich and Fritz blame each other for their loneliness. (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Glad you're enjoying it already Janice.

I didn't get to the book today. I slept about 2.5 hours last night, so I used the train time on the way to work to doze a bit. On the way back I first had a bunch of emails to answer, and then when I finally was ready to pick up my book for the last 30 minutes of the train ride, I came upon a former colleague whom I hadn't seen for about 1.5 years, so we used the time to catch up.

Hoping for a better day tomorrow!

[Margo]

I also listened to the first two chapters last night. I read this six years ago. I don't reread ofter but this i want to read later books in series and, I'm told, there are references to things that happen in the early books that I am very hazy on. I didn't realise that so many of Robin Hobb are interconnected. After this trilogy I read the Rainwild Chronicles. It worked for me but do like to things in order so I"m starting again from the begining!

Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[ I agree with Janice! How not to be a grandparent :O That poor child and his poor mother. I think Hobbs gets across the childs sense of confusion very well - and his helplessness (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 2 (view spoiler)[ What Burrich did was unforgivable! Nosey was Fitz only bit comfort in a cruel world. Fitz was ripped away from his mother, his father shows on interest in him and now this......despicable! (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

If I enjoy this trilogy I'd also like to read them all in the correct order.

[siriusedward]

I finished the book and enjoyed it a lot.

[siriusedward]

I definitely want to read the next book.

[Janice, Moderator]

Chapter 3 - 5

(view spoiler)[Fitz never seems to be treated harshly. You read a lot of stories where bastard children are mistreated. For the most part, Fitz is overlooked and ignored.

The king has noticed him and has decided to use him and wants to garner his loyalty. He's probably wise in his decision. Left alone and ignored, ill feelings will fester and he could grow up hating his circumstances. I shouldn't be surprised that his idea is to turn him into an assassin, after all the title is The Assassin's Apprentice.

There seems to be a lot of stress on his name. Burrich says he should name himself. I think Fitz feels a sense of loss in that there's nobody to name him and he opts to keep the name Burrich gave him when he first arrived. In spite of losing Nosey, Fitz does seem to have some feelings of love for Burrich. That only makes sense since he's the closest thing to a father that he has.

I thought the King's method of testing the boy's loyalty was quite cruel. Fitz was really broken hearted. What I don't understand is why did he take the king's knife? He refused to nick something from the king because it would be disloyal, but after the king owned up to the fact that he devised the test, Fitz took the knife right in front of him. Was he telling the king that he would always be open with him, that he would never do something behind his back, but with his full knowledge? (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Janice - re narration : is yours read by Paul Boehmar? That's what I have. I also got used to the narration but it's not the best. He is VERY posh!!

[Suzanne]

I read chapters 1 and 2 yesterday. It didn't take long to get absorbed into this novel!

Chapter 1 - (view spoiler)[I found it odd that Fitz didn't seem to mourn the loss of his mother. My daughter can't stand me leaving her to go to store, LOL! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 2 - (view spoiler)[I was fascinated with Fitz's ability to mentally connect with Nosey. I believe Burrich called it "The Wit," and said it must have come from his mother. I can't help but think the author will draw on this further for the story. Poor Fitz - now his dog is taken away and his friends. I hope things pick up for him. (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "Janice - re narration : is yours read by Paul Boehmar? That's what I have. I also got used to the narration but it's not the best. He is VERY posh!!"

Yes, Paul Boehmar is the narrator of my edition. I'm getting used to him.

[Margo]

Suzanne wrote: "I read chapters 1 and 2 yesterday. It didn't take long to get absorbed into this novel!

Chapter 1 - [spoilers removed]

Chapter 2 - [spoilers removed]"

@Suzanne Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[ I know that feeling! It goes to show what a miserable life he has had that he is can adapt to the new life so easily. It is not exactly a warm welcome for him :( (hide spoiler)]

[siriusedward]

re : Chapter 1 (view spoiler)[ I could not connect with Fitz because of the blank memory. It seemed very unreal to me.Took some time to get into the story . "Boy" "NewBoy" "Fitz" .All seems rather sad to me. (hide spoiler)]

Ch.2 (view spoiler)[ It took me some time to warm upto Burrich but I do like him..and I don't thim he could ever kill an animal so mercilessly ,even for the good of Fitz,Chivalry's son.He seems to love animals a lot. (hide spoiler)]

But on the whole,her writing seems good,doesn't it?
And Fitz's reactions seems believable.I liked him in the book.

[Peggy]

I managed 12 pages! It's off to a really good start though. I like the writing and I'm already intrigued by Fitz' situation.

[Margo]

Chapter 3 (view spoiler)[ A horse, combat training and a new bedroom - all in the same day. I had forgotten that the weapons trainer is a woman! It is surprising in the context of the story.
I never thought I'd long for Burrich and his stable! Fitz new room seems cold and scary. Is there even a grate for a fire? Seems a person really is better off to stay benight Shrews radar :o (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

siriusedward wrote: "re : Chapter 1 [spoilers removed]

Ch.2 [spoilers removed]."

Re your Chapter 2 spoiler - (view spoiler)[ But he did kill the pup. While I agree that he seems empathetic and loves animals, there was the issue with the "wit" that allows Fitz to connect telepathically with an animal. I'm not sure of the word that he used, but it was similar to abomination. If it was just the two of them, I think he might have let it go. But Fitz's position in life is precarious and he did it to protect him.

Still, I was angry. I was thinking that Fitz should have stayed angry longer than he did, but then it was months for him and only hours for me. (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Chapter 6 - 8

This section seemed a little slower to me. (view spoiler)[ We learn more of the court intrigue and Fitz's place in it. We learn that his existence is far more precarious than we realized in the earlier chapters.

When he went to the town to run errands, a woman seemed to recognize him, and called out something that sounded like a name. Could it be his mother? If it was, you'd think that he would recognize something about her like her voice. I wonder if we'll ever find out.

It was surprising that Chivalry died. It sounds like he may have been assassinated because there's some doubt about him falling off a horse.

The fool is far more "with it" than anyone gives him credit for. He seemed to talk gibberish and then spoke quite lucidly. I'm not sure what the message was. I wondered if the narrator was over-acting that section, or if the fool didn't give the message clearly. I'm mystified.

Fitz goes on his first assignment. He was to accompany the old curmudgeonly woman (can't think of her name) as the reason that he should go on the journey with Verity. You had to feel sorry for him.

There are a lot of characters to keep track of in the story. (hide spoiler)]

[Suzanne]

I agree with Janice on the Chapter 2 spoiler. (view spoiler)[I believe Burrick's position would require that he put animals down for various reasons - including if they are a danger to humans. In this case, he understood the danger to the boy and sought to eliminate it. It doesn't mean Burrick doesn't love animals, though. But he doesn't put them at the same level as humans. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3: (view spoiler)[This seemed like a longer chapter than the other two. I was also surprised that the weapons trainer was a woman. That should be fun. It seems like Fitz is given more purpose in life and he seems to fall comfortably into his new role - even if he still misses his old friends and sneaks out to see them. The King's interest in Fitz sparks my interest in him. Is the King just using Fitz? Or is there a possibility for affinity between the two in the future? (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Suzanne wrote: "Chapter 3: [spoilers removed]"

I think that the king (view spoiler)[ is quite calculating and uses people like pawns. I don't really think that it means anything to him that Fitz is his grandson. He seems to only care about whether or not Fitz will be a threat. He's applying that saying about keeping your enemies close.

I could be wrong. It would be nice for Fitz to have a relationship with his grandfather. (hide spoiler)]