Assassin's Quest (Realms of the Elderlings #3) by Robin Hobb - Restarting October 11th 2020

[Sarah Elizabeth]

King Shrewd is dead at the hands of his son Regal. As is Fitz—or so his enemies and friends believe. But with the help of his allies and his beast magic, he emerges from the grave, deeply scarred in body and soul. The kingdom also teeters toward ruin: Regal has plundered and abandoned the capital, while the rightful heir, Prince Verity, is lost to his mad quest—perhaps to death. Only Verity’s return—or the heir his princess carries—can save the Six Duchies.

But Fitz will not wait. Driven by loss and bitter memories, he undertakes a quest: to kill Regal. The journey casts him into deep waters, as he discovers wild currents of magic within him—currents that will either drown him or make him something more than he was.

[GridGirl]

Chapters 1&2:

(view spoiler)[
And just when I thought things couldn't go worse for Fitz.... I'm glad he's not half wolf anymore, but I don't like that he won't have contact to anyone from his old life anymore from no on. I don't think it's a very smart decision to go after Regal right now. After all, Fitz is the only now who could search for Kettricken or Verity without anyone noticing, because nobody knows he's still around. (I actually somehow though it was mentioned that he'd follow Kettricken... In the last book maybe?)
(hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

Prologue-Chapter 2
(view spoiler)[ I knew there would be consequences bot not so big ones . Fitz is literally a human wolf during the prologue, I felt really bad for Burrich and Chade. I bet they must have felt responsible for it.

Now I'm not sure he's going to go near Regal immediately, I bet he'll get sidetracked and go toward Verity instead
(hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

Chapter 3-5
(view spoiler)[
Damn, so many inner monologues and description. It's even slower than book the books before

Anyhow, things should get interesting now that Will knows that Fitz is alive

Also, am I the only one who thinks Molly isn't with a guy but with their child?
(hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

Chapter 6-8
(view spoiler)[So Fitz declined the invite to learn about the Wit. Bad call.
Then he got separated with Nighteyes, another bad call.
Then a bunch of monologues and skill dreams...again. (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

I haven't even had a chance to properly start this yet (oops) 8'D

Hopefully will get to this sometime today <3

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Natalie!!!!!

[Natalie]

Bookbuyer wrote: "Natalie!!!!!"

Book!!!!!

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Natalie wrote: "Bookbuyer wrote: "Natalie!!!!!"

Book!!!!!"

Missed you! *hugs* I haven't seen you in a couple of days. Been busy?

[Natalie]

Missed you too! <3

Haha, yeah XD Had a busy weekend with Christmas shopping and such, plus with how dang hot and humid it's been lately I've honestly just been having "naps" that last for 5+ hours because the weather just completely takes it out of me... oops? 8'D

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Natalie wrote: "Missed you too! <3

Haha, yeah XD Had a busy weekend with Christmas shopping and such, plus with how dang hot and humid it's been lately I've honestly just been having "naps" that last for 5+ hours..."

See it's the opposite for me. It's cold so I tend to sleep. :P

[Natalie]

Bookbuyer wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Missed you too! <3

Haha, yeah XD Had a busy weekend with Christmas shopping and such, plus with how dang hot and humid it's been lately I've honestly just been having "naps" that l..."

I do that both when it's really hot, and when it's really cold 8'D

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Natalie wrote: "Bookbuyer wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Missed you too! <3

Haha, yeah XD Had a busy weekend with Christmas shopping and such, plus with how dang hot and humid it's been lately I've honestly just been ha..."

Extreme temperature of any kind makes one sleepy.

[Natalie]

Bookbuyer wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Bookbuyer wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Missed you too! <3

Haha, yeah XD Had a busy weekend with Christmas shopping and such, plus with how dang hot and humid it's been lately I've hones..."

YEP. And this time of year the weather is nuts in NZ. It gets unbearably hot ;u;

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Natalie wrote: "Bookbuyer wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Bookbuyer wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Missed you too! <3

Haha, yeah XD Had a busy weekend with Christmas shopping and such, plus with how dang hot and humid it's been..."

I always find that so strange. You guys being hot when we are cold. It's weirder than time zones to me. :S

[Haris]

So, my day was me being stuck home with a snowstorm brewing outside and cutting off my electricity.
Bad side: I was terribly bored
Good side: most naps I ever had

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Haris wrote: "So, my day was me being stuck home with a snowstorm brewing outside and cutting off my electricity.
Bad side: I was terribly bored
Good side: most naps I ever had"

That's good/bad! ^-^

[Haris]

Damn it, thought it was Santa chat. You're messing with my thread! :D

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Haris wrote: "Damn it, thought it was Santa chat. You're messing with my thread! :D"

lol I am! I will chat anywhere any time. :P

[Haris]

haha no worries :D, This is more fun then the current book I'm reading

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Haris wrote: "haha no worries :D, This is more fun then the current book I'm reading"

Aww. Not a good book?

[Haris]

Bookbuyer wrote: "Haris wrote: "haha no worries :D, This is more fun then the current book I'm reading"

Aww. Not a good book?"

It's this one. Constant inner monologues and descriptions while the plot hardly proceeds. For example the 9 chapters I read so far could be written in 1 if the author didn't write any of those weird monologues

[Anna 'Bookbuyer']

Haris wrote: "Bookbuyer wrote: "Haris wrote: "haha no worries :D, This is more fun then the current book I'm reading"

Aww. Not a good book?"

It's this one. Constant inner monologues and descriptions while the ..."

:( That's annoying

[Natalie]

Haris wrote: "Bookbuyer wrote: "Haris wrote: "haha no worries :D, This is more fun then the current book I'm reading"

Aww. Not a good book?"

It's this one. Constant inner monologues and descriptions while the ..."

Are you serious? DAMMIT *is just barely into the second chapter because busy*

So basically I have many ramblings to look forward to? :P

[Haris]

Natalie wrote: "Haris wrote: "Bookbuyer wrote: "Haris wrote: "haha no worries :D, This is more fun then the current book I'm reading"

Aww. Not a good book?"

It's this one. Constant inner monologues and descripti..."

Oh yeah, you know how book 2 ended. Fitz is a mess and he questions everything and is angry and annoying.

[Haris]

Chapter 9-11
(view spoiler)[
So Fitz almost killed Will but had to bail, that was interesting. And Verity skilled ordered to look for him, finally Fitz has a set goal.

And I was right! Molly wasn't with a man but pregnant! And Burrich helped her, him treating her like a mare made me laugh a lot
(hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Haris wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Haris wrote: "Bookbuyer wrote: "Haris wrote: "haha no worries :D, This is more fun then the current book I'm reading"

Aww. Not a good book?"

It's this one. Constant inner monologu..."

Ugh @_@

[Haris]

Natalie wrote: "Haris wrote: "Natalie wrote: "Haris wrote: "Bookbuyer wrote: "Haris wrote: "haha no worries :D, This is more fun then the current book I'm reading"

Aww. Not a good book?"

It's this one. Constant ..."
I didn't say it's a bad book per se. It's just slow

[Natalie]

I think all the books in this series are... which is why you need short and sweet novels to break it up sometimes ;D

But they ARE worth it... just takes a while to get there... :P

[Haris]

Natalie wrote: "I think all the books in this series are... which is why you need short and sweet novels to break it up sometimes ;D

But they ARE worth it... just takes a while to get there... :P"

I LOVED the first two books. Like they're one of the most interesting books I read all year. But this one is still slower compared to them

[Natalie]

Chapter 3: (view spoiler)[It’s good to see that Fitz has a purpose again - even if said purpose is (at this stage at least) just ‘kill Regal’ 😛

I’m hoping that he manages to complete that task... though more importantly I want him to be able to make it to Verity and help him through whatever the hell is going on right now! Glad to know for certain that Verity is alive - even if he’s clearly not having a good time right now - and hopefully that means that something positive is coming... eventually ._.

And of course Fitz is still pining over his lost love, Molly. I’m still sure that the ‘person she could put above all else in life’ that she ‘left him for’ was a child that she wanted to be able to keep safe from the court... and especially Regal :| (hide spoiler)]

Look! I made progress! 8’D

[GridGirl]

Chapters 2-11:

(view spoiler)[
Oh my god, I actually thought Fitz was going to do something very stupid... I think it's bad enough that he's searching for Verity now. I think he should be with Molly right now, not with his King and especially not in the arms of another girl.
Also, I'm not blown away by that reveal that Molly is/was pregnant and Burrich is with her. That's exactly what I expected to be honest. Molly would have picked different words if she was with another guy. She would have told Fitz how caring he is and that he's always there for her to hurt him. And when Burrich said he needed to be with "someone" who needed him, I was pretty sure he was talking about Molly.
Also, how incredibly stupid was Fitz to be fooled by Will in this way? And how did Verity not notice that Will messed with his mind when he talked to Fitz? Also, what exactly was Fitz's plan when he went into the castle to kill Regal?
Or a one-sentence-summary of the above: Why is Fitz stupid?

Also, did someone else think that Fitz and Nighteyes parted ways really abruptly? I mean, I don't really care for the wolf (I know, I'm a monster), but everything was really quick suddently...
And is anyone up to date how old Fitz is? I just can't tell anymore at this point.

(hide spoiler)]

Also guys, sorry that my updates are not very consistent, but it's just hard with audio books to stop to write an update when you're on the bus and know you won't get off for another 15 minutes or something to write the update. I'll do my best to write updates whenever I can :)

[Haris]

GridGirl wrote: "Chapters 2-11:
"

(view spoiler)[Isn't it weird to you too? He acts like a freaking old man when he's actually just around 20 years old.

And what have you against Nighteyes :P (hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

Chapters 12-14
(view spoiler)[
Why is Fitz being sidetracked so much. He needs to find verity, learn the Wit but no, he guards sheep :|
Like if you want some quick bucks why don't you just steal from some guards or something. I mean they're Regal's people and he's already killing them lol

Burrich's talks with Molly have a weird vibe for me. Though after book 2 I don't like Molly at all so idc
(hide spoiler)]

[GridGirl]

Haris wrote: "GridGirl wrote: "Chapters 2-11:
"

Isn't it weird to you too? He acts like a freaking old man when he's actually just around 20 years old.

And what have you against Nighteyes :P "

(view spoiler)[
Actually I think he acts more like a 5-year-old.... For example his behaviour with that girl. It was super cringy and I can't believe what he almost did. He's so stupid...

Nothing in particular, I just can't really connect that much to him. Also, I feel like the way the narrator reads his voice in the audio is brilliant (he sounds exactly like what I would imagine a dog would sound like life he could speak), but it just somehow gets on my nerves...


(hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

Natalie wrote: Look! I made progress! 8’D

Just saw it! Keep it coming :D

[Haris]

Chapters 15-18
(view spoiler)[I'm glad he's finally on the way to get to Verity, it was just sidetrack after sidetrack before. Anyhow, all his sexual tension with Sterling is kinda interesting to me, maybe he's just missing Molly or there is something more.

Anyhow, can't believe he got caught that easily. I must say that Fitz is the most awful assassin I've ever seen. (hide spoiler)]

[Haris]

Chapter 19-21
(view spoiler)[
So Fitz escaped, but he freaking judges Nighteyes for killing a guy to save him. WHAT THE FUCK?! Why is he pretending that he didn't kill anyone in his life

And I'm so sorry for Kettricken, she lost her baby :(
But I'm glad they're back in the picture. This book is nothing without the Fool and Chade
(hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Chapter 6: (view spoiler)[Huh. I guess it’s about time that Fitz got to meet someone else who was bonded to an animal, but I did NOT expect that at ALL O.o

It’s so intriguing to have the Wit referred to as something else, and have those who have that skill be said to be of the ‘Old Blood’... whatever that means. I wonder what the true name of the skill is, if it was only labelled Wit by those who feared it, rather than those who had it.

So weird to find out that all of Fitz and Nighteyes conversations have essentially been broadcast to those with the Wit, and that there is apparently some secret community of people with Old Blood, hidden in plain sight... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 9: (view spoiler)[Well. Fitz assassination attempt went about as well as I expected... especially given how early in the novel he attempted it 😛 I’m just impressed he managed to do as much as he did honestly, though wow I did not think that Will had gotten so damn good at the Skill o.O

Meh. Fitz survived and lives to try again! Even took out two of his previous tormentors ;D

Wonder if those poisons he left in Regal’s chambers will do anything... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 19: (view spoiler)[Just when you think that Fitz might actually get a break... nope ._. Just a been chased through a winter tundra by a pack of hounds, and wit-bonded hound and human, and a bunch of soldiers on horseback. And while he DID manage to get away (this time at least) he didn’t get away without injury... because now he has a damn arrow in his back that he can’t take out without risking bleeding to death. Ouch o.o; (hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Managed to make a lot more progress than I expected! 😁

[Haris]

Natalie wrote: "

Yeah, ikr :D
Fitz is the most useless assassin I've ever seen :D

[GridGirl]

Chapters 12 - 17:

(view spoiler)[
I feel like Robin Hobb had a lot of ideas for where all of this might be going, but she couldn't decide which ones to pick for the book so she just threw them all in there and made most of them lead nowhere. Regal's assassination, for example. Overall I'm not very happy how all of this is going. Also, Fitz was not willing to give Burrich's earring for a horse, but it was no problem to give it to the smuggler? Fitz would have travelled a lot more safely if he went on his own by horse, so this would have been the smart decision. He's just getting himself into bad positions all the time because he's making dumb decisions. It feels like he never really grew up throughout the books. I just don't like dumb characters.
Also, wasn't that ferret the cutest thing ever? 😍

(hide spoiler)]

[GridGirl]

Haris wrote: "Natalie wrote: "

Yeah, ikr :D
Fitz is the most useless assassin I've ever seen :D"

I completely agree....

[Haris]

Chapters 22-27
(view spoiler)[Wow so much reading and... I'm freaking confused?! Is the Fool a girl or guy LOL

And Fitz being on a skill road and him behind in a state that I can mostly describe as being a high weed smoker is sure... confusing again

And who the fudge is kettle!
(hide spoiler)]

[Natalie]

Oh definitely. I don’t know how he made it so far as an assassin honestly XD

[Natalie]

Chapter 28: (view spoiler)[Oh wow, there was a LOT in this chapter... the three remaining members of Regal’s coterie are on the trial of Fitz and co, and appear to have also followed Fitz into the city through that pillar thing, and Fitz and Kettle have gone after those they left behind to make it that much harder for them to follow (the idea is for them to make it IMPOSSIBLE for them to be followed, but honestly with Will in the gang I’m sure they’ll turn up again soon :P) and on top of that we have confirmation about some of Kettle’s past! She was a member of a coterie who killed one of her own in a temper and was banished for it. But WHY was she in a temper to begin with, I want to know. And was it that one coterie that Fitz was attempting to find with no luck that she was a member of? Or some previous one? And why did all he others vanish, was it as said in the poem/song that Kettle had recited earlier in he novel? And if so, what does that MEAN exactly? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 31: (view spoiler)[Okay, that is seriously suspicious. If elfbark really does both block someone’s skill ability and stunt it (or potentially get rid of it altogether), why is it that Chade gave it to both Verity and Fitz? Surely the master assassin and poisoner would know of this side effect? What the HELL is going on here?! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 36: (view spoiler)[Well that didn’t go as I expected with Fitz attempting to raise the Elderlings... how long have they been away for a second wave of Regal’s men to catch up already? I’m also pretty suspicious about that wave of Skill that Fitz felt before Verity stepped through the pillar. I don’t think that it was Verity he felt to be honest, and I’m wondering if blood (or life?) is what was needed to raise the Elderlings from stone, and whether that man who was impaled on the ‘boar tusk’ of one did more than just DIE as a result of his wounds... (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 39: (view spoiler)[Well would you look at that, Fitz did it. He managed to wake the dragons. And all it took was Will (and a good portion of Regal’s army) going after him and there being s giant battle that led from the quarry to the forest where all the sleeping dragons lay. And with a little blood, and some Wit-bonding like magic, voila! Dragons ready to take on the army facing Fitz and Nighteyes, and ready to take on the Red Ships too ;D (hide spoiler)]

Finished! (view spoiler)[I did wonder when that ferret was going to finally take out Regal ;D Pretty hilarious that Fitz went to all that trouble of making Regal a more productive member of society only for the ferret to kill him off... and then for Chade to suddenly not be seen without ‘his’ ferret, when it was mentioned that his one died, well... I guess we know where the ferret went after taking out Regal 😂

I really liked how it all tied together at the end, with finally actually having Fitz’s writing as a part of the story itself, rather than Jose short portions at the beginning of each chapter. I love that he now has a ‘son’ from Starling now too XD And Nighteyes is getting old and fat apparently? 😛 I hope Nighteyes won’t die too soon (although if he does, I hope it is of old age!) - after all, there’s still more of the Elderlings realm to go through ;D (hide spoiler)]

Been pushing myself through this because I really wanted to complete it soon so I could read some other books before the end of the year and I didn’t feel I could really read them until I’d finished this... well, SUCCESS! XD

[GridGirl]

Congrats on finishing the first trilogy, Natalie! You were super quick! I feel like I won't get a lot of reading done until the 27th because of the holidays and in Germany the 24th is actually our Christmas Day with presents and stuff, so I'm already busy with all my presents and eating :D

[Haris]

Damn it Natalie, I kept reading slowly so you could catch up!
XD

I'll read it soon as well and still comment (though will post every 3 chapters as well)

[Natalie]

Hehe, oops? I’m off work at the moment and I was hiding from family for a bit and then I just got really sucked in and didn’t want to put it down because I wanted to know what was next and just one thing led to another and all of a sudden I’m done. My bad 8’D still super keen to read both of your comments as you go through ;D

[Haris]

I can't read your review 'cause of spoilers but I gotta ask, how was the book for you?