Farseer Trilogy Book 1 - Assassin's Apprentice

[Janice, Moderator]

Phew! I'm glad I'm not alone, Suzanne. :)

[Margo]

Suzanne wrote: "I've read through Chapter 12. [spoilers removed]"

I think you may be right about that Suzanne! (view spoiler)[ Patience certainly has big plans for Fitz. I don't think there are enough hours in the day for for the poor lad :-) Do you think she is trying to make up for Chivalry's absense over the years? (hide spoiler)]

[Suzanne]

@Margo (view spoiler)[You may be onto something. It's as if she wants to turn him into another Chivalry. Whether as her son or as his replacement/heir? Either way, she's decided Fitz's fate. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Suzanne wrote: "@Margo [spoilers removed]"

She strikes me as a person who knows what's best for everyone!

[Peggy]

Finished ch 21. Summary: (view spoiler)[ Poison! Rurisk!! Nosy!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Peggy wrote: "Finished ch 21. Summary: [spoilers removed]"

I know!! I had to keep reading to the end. Thoughts tomorrow. Must sleep now. Nighty night 😴

[Janice, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: "Finished ch 21. Summary: [spoilers removed]"

I know, right?

[Peggy]

Janice wrote: "I finished! I'm wavering between 4 and 5 stars.

..."

I agree with all your comments.

I'm also wavering between 4 and 5, but leaning more towards 4.

A lot happened in those final chapters!

I hope (view spoiler)[ the relationship between Burrich and Fitz will develop in a good way again from here on.

I don't believe Regal will turn nice all of a sudden, but he might behave, especially with all the others dead. I like that the book had a proper ending, not a cliffhanger.

I'm sorry the Mountain Prince died. I really liked him, he seemed like a nice, sensible, caring, intelligent guy. I was hoping he would play a larger role in the next books, but that won't happen. I like the princess too though, and I think she and Verity will make a good match. (hide spoiler)]


So... when to read the next book? Early January perhaps? I think December is often a busy month for people, wrapping up challenges and having lots to do at work and so on.

[Sarah]

January sounds good to me, although maybe end of 2nd week so it gives us all time to get our heads around the new yearly challenge? Plus it's a much longer book that the first one.

[siriusedward]

Peggy wrote: "Finished ch 21. Summary: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I liked Rurisk.
:'(
(hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

That's fine by me too Sarah.

@siriusedward, can you please add spoilers to your post. I know it's not literally a spoiler, but I think much can be deduced from it.

[Janice, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: "A lot happened in those final chapters!.."

I thought the scene where (view spoiler)[Rurisk and Fitz drank the wine, not realizing it was poisoned. That was quite the twist. Sad that Rurisk died. Everyone thought he was play acting, but he wasn't. I'm glad, though, that Fitz didn't drink enough of it to kill him. Kettrickan was almost a victim of it too since Rurisk was insisting she drink some. What was the name of the old lady who assisted. She was pretty wise about the situation. While others immediately assumed Fitz had been the killer, she reasoned things out.

I think Kettrikan and Verity will be happy together, judging from Verity's comments to Fitz. (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Yes, the 2nd week of January will work for me as well for book 2. I'll set up the thread for it.

[Peggy]

Indeed Janice, I did not see that one coming! (view spoiler)[ I liked how Fitz went about it, obviously poisoning Rurisk's drink and still doing what he was supposed to do. That was clever! Unfortunately he had been duped. I wonder how he will do in the next book. By the end of this one he still seemed to have several severe side effects from the poison, and it had been weeks, if not months.

I liked that lady too. She was very rational about it. (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

Hopefully, (view spoiler)[Fitz will overcome the effects of the poison. But, Chade has some permanent scarring (both physical and emotional) from his years of being an assassin. Fitz's still quite young in this book, and yet he's remarkably wise. The hardships he's encountered and the duplicity he's been a victim to will only make him wiser. (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

I've set up the next thread, so we can plan when we're going to read it there.

I've changed the name of this thread too, so that we have consistent titles for the trilogy.

[Peggy]

Thanks Janice!

[Claire]

I really enjoy reading here and I am rereading myself (audio this time) but I can’t post too much. I am afraid I might spoil even intoa newt book without realizing:-)

[Sarah]

I hope there is a recap at the beginning of the next book.

[Margo]

Finally getting around to reading Janice and Peggys comments on the ending. Has anyone else finished yet?

I was another that could't decide between 4 and 5 stars so I enfded up withs 4.5 haha

I agree with all the comments so far. I enjoyed my second read better than my first (my health wasn't so good the first time round and I think I missed a lot of it).

(view spoiler)[ I loved the very last sentence "I wonder if, one day, I will send the boy to get of that (something) herb? Somewhere a friend says softly "No"."

I really got a sense of an old man looking back across many, many years to see events from his boyhood.

I had completely forgotten that Nosey was still alive! For many years I have held a grudge against Burrich for the murder of Nosey - I completely missed the fact that he didn't do it! But - I still don't understand how the connection between Fitz and Nosey got severed so suddenly. There must be a definite range for the Wit, unlike the Skill which seems to be unaffected by distance.

I think the fact that Verity is now aware of Regals treachery will make him a lot safer. I too am not sorry to see the end of Galen - he was a nasty peice of work!

Now they is only the Red Ship Raiders to worry about!
(hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

Good point Margo. (view spoiler)[ Fitz was indeed suddenly disconnected from Nosey, which we thought meant he died. But if Burrich would have just hidden him somewhere, there would still be that connection. It's not like Fitz felt like that cut-off every time he left Nosey to go to his lessons. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Janice wrote: "Peggy wrote: "A lot happened in those final chapters!.."

"

(view spoiler)[ The poisoned wine was a great scene. It also showed how much Regan didn't know about murder! Fitz would never have made such a basic mistake. Imagine Chades reaction if he did!! Regal underestimated the intelligence of everyone involved and could have caused the death of Kett., in which case the crown, and its lands, would no doubt passed to some cousin. He also failed to consider that Fitz might drink some of the wine, as he did, and thus show himself NOT to be the poisoner. What a mess! Poor Prince :( (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Peggy wrote: "Good point Margo. [spoilers removed]"

My thought exactly Peggy!

[Janice, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: "Good point Margo. [spoilers removed]"

Adding to Margo & Peggy's spoilers about the Wit - (view spoiler)[ I wonder how the connection was so abruptly cut. When Fitz had been sent to Forge by Galen, he didn't lose the connection with Smithy until Smithy died. So obviously distance isn't a factor. (hide spoiler)]

[Margo]

Good point Janice! Have we spotted a flaw in the plot? On the same subject (view spoiler)[ something Burrich said near the end made me think that also had the Wit. I think I will have to that bit my mind at rest (hide spoiler)]

[Peggy]

I had a suspicion like that too Margo, (view spoiler)[ but from earlier on in the book. Not sure if it was something he said or just a hunch.

I don't know if it's a flaw. Still two more books to go, so it may be explained ;-) If Burrich indeed knows a thing or two about The Wit, he may know of ways to fake breaking a bond? (hide spoiler)]

[Janice, Moderator]

It was almost like Burrich (view spoiler)[ witnessed someone close to him get lost in the Wit. He was close to Chivalry, but there's no mention of Chivalry succumbing to the Wit. So who? Or, did he almost lose himself? Does the story say how Burrich was separated from Chivalry? I get the impression that Chivalry wasn't at the castle when Fitz was dumped there. Yet, Burrich was. Or have I missed something?

Sorry if that sounds a bit disjointed. I'm super tired tonight. Headed to bed. (hide spoiler)]

[siriusedward]

Re : Janice,above post
(view spoiler)[
Thats a good Question,Janice?
How come Burrich was at the palace when Chivalry was out on a diplomatic mission?
We may never get the answer though..as Fitz was young and he may not recall. (hide spoiler)]

[Suzanne]

I finished the book yesterday.(view spoiler)[I LOVED that Nosy was still alive, and better yet, that he saved Fitz! I never did trust Regal, and since he's still alive, I've no doubt he'll be up to his old tricks again soon. Fitz and Verity had better watch out! It's nice to see Burrich and Fitz's relationship getting better, but Burrich still allows The Wit to come between them. Like Fitz, I don't understand it, because so far it has helped both Burrich and Fitz. I wonder what role The Skill will play in the next book(s). Fitz needs more training and without a Skill Master, what will they do? (hide spoiler)] Looking forward to the next book!

[Peggy]

Glad you enjoyed the book too Suzanne. Will you read it with the rest of us in January?

[Margo]

Glad you enjoyed it Suzanne. I agree with all you say.