Assassin's Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy #1)

[Trisha]

This thread is to discuss Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb, the first book in the The Farseer Trilogy.

Pages: 435 pages

Length: 1 Month (September)

Participants: Kathelijne, Dominique, Marleen, Alison, Allie, Heather, Raviteja.

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.


Happy Buddy Reading!

[Marleen]

I’m looking forward to start this! I picked up a really pretty illustrated edition from a thrift store and it’s been waving at me from the shelves. Heard such good things about Hobb’s writing! I also heard we might need tissues for her books 😭

[Allison]

Crud. Forgot I signed up for this. I’m also reading Game of Thrones at the moment. I’ll need a “palette cleanser” in between these two fantasies.

[Raviteja]

haha, September is gonna be a strong fantasy month for me too. Along with this book, I will be reading Blood of Elves (Witcher #1), The Great Hunt (Wheel of Time #2) and The Dragon Republic (Poppy War #3). Hoping to manage these without needing that palette cleanser :D

[Allison]

Ooooh. Good luck lol.

[Raviteja]

Allie wrote: "Ooooh. Good luck lol."

Fingers crossed 🤞🏻

btw, when do you all plan to read? I will try to read the book around the same time.

[Michelle]

I might also join in possibly. I've read this book long ago and I loved it. I haven't planned many books this month, only one buddy read, so after I finish that one I might join this one if a copy is available. I remember loving this book when I read it earlier. however, I need to make notes since I don't want to read all Hobbs book right after each other and I need to remember previous books to read later ones :p

[Dominique]

Raviteja wrote: "Allie wrote: "Ooooh. Good luck lol."

Fingers crossed 🤞🏻

btw, when do you all plan to read? I will try to read the book around the same time."

Around mid-month for me

[Marleen]

Yes, same for me I think.

[Kathelijne]

Hi everyone! Excited to start this, I'll make sure to start mid-month too.

[Allison]

Cool! I’ll hold off too then.

[Heather]

I'm looking forward to starting this one! I've not been participating in the last few, unintentionally, due to a cross country move. So packing and moving took lots of time. I'll probably pick up this one in the next week or two.

[Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!*]

Marleen wrote: "I’m looking forward to start this! I picked up a really pretty illustrated edition from a thrift store and it’s been waving at me from the shelves. Heard such good things about Hobb’s writing! I al..."

Please tell me it's not this edition:



I can't imagine someone giving that up; it's the kind of edition that only a fan would buy in the first place. If it is this one, great find!

[Marleen]

Marc *Dark Reader of the Woods* wrote: "Please tell me it's not this edition..."

It is! I couldn’t believe it was there either…

[Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!*]

Maybe the original owner died . . .

[Luci]

Hey all, I'm joining this buddy read as I just started reading this book yesterday, my first from the author!

So far I'm very intrigued as to how it will develop, I'm really liking the characters' portrayal.

[oshizu]

I just dropped in this thread to gush over this trilogy.
Robin Hobb is by far my very favorite fantasy author.

If you're interested in learning more about the Wit, there's a short (184-page) prequel to the Farseer Trilogy: The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince

[Raviteja]

oshizu wrote: "I just dropped in this thread to gush over this trilogy.
Robin Hobb is by far my very favorite fantasy author.

If you're interested in learning more about the Wit, there's a short (184-page) prequ..."

Thanks for reminding me, Oshizu.

I forgot about this book and moved through the first three chapters of The Assassin's Apprentice. I had put it on hold and will resume it after I finish the prequel.

This is my first Robin Hobb book and I hope she becomes one of my favourites :)

[Dominique]

Raviteja wrote: "oshizu wrote: "I just dropped in this thread to gush over this trilogy.
Robin Hobb is by far my very favorite fantasy author.

If you're interested in learning more about the Wit, there's a short (..."

Starting today, heard so many good things about this trilogy.

[Alison]

I am going to start this by Friday/Saturday! :)

[Raviteja]

I've read The Wilful Princess and the Piebald Prince and I loved it. While the plot "felt" simple at most parts, the storytelling is quite good and it does well to establish an emotional connect. I was very looking forward to read The Assassin's apprentice as I finished it.

[Raviteja]

Chapter 15 - By far the best chapter in the book imo.

(view spoiler)[
With this chapter, my love and respect for Burrich grows many fold.
1) Fitz reminds me of Kvothe (from The Name of the Wind) but less arrogant, proud. He is a very much like-able character.
2) I guess amongst all, the Fool is definitely the most mysterious character, one whose backstory I would like to read about. He reminds me of Wit (from Brandon Sanderson's Stormlight Archive series and his universe, Cosmere). All he does seems to be with some good purpose.
3) So far, one other thing I loved is the way they started and portrayed the relationship between Fitz and Lady Patience. That awkward start with mismatched expectations to understanding each other slowly was one of those I loved. At this point, I am more disappointed not to see more of her.
4) Fitz thoughts of shame, feel a lot more extreme. I only wonder if Galen actually did something with skill to make him think/feel so!
(hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

I also started this book 2 days ago, so I'll definitely join. So far I've finished the first 3 chapters. I need some time to get into the book I feel ;)

[Raviteja]

Chapter 17
(view spoiler)[
I will not go to this bride you have chosen for me, to this woman I scarce recall, in a litter like an invalid or a witling.

The hate for Wit users runs very deep! (hide spoiler)]

[Raviteja]

Chapter 21
(view spoiler)[
So Regal seems to be playing his own game. But the only question is, to what end?

My best guess is that he will have Fitz kill Rurisk, may be catch him in the act, blame it all on Verity and be the king instead? (hide spoiler)]

[Alison]

I finished the book yesterday and here are my thoughts:

(view spoiler)[ I really enjoyed this book and it was the first one I have read of Robin Hobb! It reminded me of David Eddings/Robert Jordan type of fantasy...and The Eye of the World is on my "to read" list for next year! I read it a long time ago and wonder how it will be in my reread?

I really liked Robin Hobb's world building in this first of the trilogy and look forward to reading the next 2 books! She takes her time and is slow in introducing us in the beginning to the characters and the "lay of the land" but I think that was to our advantage...I wasn't confused at all and became invested in the characters!

Poor Fitz...I felt for him and his loneliness and wished that he was somewhat more enfolded into the family! Every time he talked about being alone/his loneliness, I couldn't help but feel for him...his birth wasn't his fault and his isolation was heart wrenching!

I did not like Regal from the start and felt that he had his own agenda and Galen was part of it! This proved to be correct...Regal was plotting and manipulating from the beginning so he could become King...

I loved Verity and also loved the fact that he could use the Skill and was strong in it...I have a feeling he will be Fitz's teacher in the future?? The section of the book where Verity talks about how Galen isn't very good in the Skill and doesn't use it properly and the reveal that Galen interfered with Fitz's ability to use his Skill properly was one of my favorite parts! I am happy that Verity's marriage with Kettricken seems to have worked out and to be a happy one. I am sure we will see more of Kettircken and her Aunt Jocanti in the next book??

I also loved Patience's character and wish we had more of the backstory of her and Chivalry's courtship/abdication and the real feelings of Chivalry toward Fitz. That came through a bit when Fitz had conversations with Rurisk but I still wanted more...

Chade was a great mentor for Fitz and really did look out for Fitz and his well-being. I loved Chade as "Lady Thyme"!

And finally we have to talk about Burrich...who was like a father figure to Fitz. He was a complicated character and I have to wonder why he was so against Fitz using the Wit? Was it because people have gone mad from bonding with the animals? It doesn't seem like Fitz is going to use the Wit to the point of madness...it seems like the Wit is an asset to him. Burrich was loyal to Fitz and I believe loved him...I was glad to see that he didn't die in the end!

@Raviteja...I agree with you that Fitz reminded me of Kvothe in The Name of the Wind (and that is one book I did not finish due to a library hold coming due...I need to get it again and start on that series!) I also agree that the Fool reminds me of Wit from "The Stormlight Archive" series. Can the Fool foretell the future? Do he and Fitz become more bonded as the series goes on? The Fool seems just as isolated/lonely as Fitz and I think that will inevitably lead to a closer relationship between the two.

One final thought: So So sad that all the dogs Fitz bonds with are ill-fated! The final couple paragraphs of the book were very poignant!
All in All, A good start to this trilogy...I am looking forward to the next books!
(hide spoiler)]

[Raviteja]

Alison wrote: "I finished the book yesterday and here are my thoughts:"

I finished it today.
(view spoiler)[
I enjoyed this very much. This book focuses mainly on building the world, establishing the characters while moving through the small plot. I think it does the job well. Here is my review. I haven't discussed the events/characters in details and Alison, in the above post, did a great job with it.

@Alison,

I agree with your thoughts on the plot and the characters.
If you had read The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince, it gives some backstory about why Wit magic was hated. I do not think Burrich was worried about Fitz going mad, but I thought it had more to do with the current world's hate for Wit. We could even see it in Chapter 17 when Verity mentions it.

I believe the Fool sees hears what happens around and sees patterns? I am only guessing that he might have been aware of what Regal was doing on the other side and has warned Fitz before he left for the wedding. I expect the Fitz-Fool relationship to evolve further as we move through the story.

I think Fitz always ends up in a complicated position and because of it, his pets which were strongly bonded with him get pulled into those situations and meet their ill fate. But I hope he gets that one pet that stays with him.

I was very tempted to continue reading book 2 as soon as I finished this, but I held myself back. I look forward to reading Royal Assassin with you all next month. (hide spoiler)]

[Marleen]

I had too much on my plate this month for this book, but I’m going to try to read it in October.

[Kathelijne]

Read chapter 1-6!
(view spoiler)[
It was a slow start but I'm finally getting into it!
That poor Fitz... I feel so bad for him (already). (hide spoiler)]

[Kathelijne]

Raviteja wrote: "I've read The Wilful Princess and the Piebald Prince and I loved it. While the plot "felt" simple at most parts, the storytelling is quite good and it does well to establish an emot..."

Would you recommend reading this one first? Because then I'll put my read on hold :)

[Heather]

I just started this book earlier this week. I'm enjoying it so far!

[Raviteja]

Kathelijne wrote: "Raviteja wrote: "I've read The Wilful Princess and the Piebald Prince and I loved it. While the plot "felt" simple at most parts, the storytelling is quite good and it does well to ..."

Hmm, I do not really find it a prerequisite for Assassin's Apprentice. The plot particularly deals with Wit magic and the reason why it was hated. There is no strong impact on the plot of Assassin's Apprentice but it is a good story to read :)

[Marleen]

I started this last week and am very slowly making my way through, savoring the story. I probably won’t finish before this thread is archived (which is fine, I was very late in starting), so I thought I’d just leave my thoughts so far here. Currently read the first 11 chapters. (view spoiler)[I really like Fitz as a character, and enjoy watching him grow up. Loving the different side characters too, especially Burrich and Chade. I had a feeling Lady Thyme was Chade in disguise when she first showed up haha. The Forging situation is horrific, those poor people! Very curious to learn more about the “power” that Fitz seems to have, connecting to other people and to animals. Is it the same thing as the Skill Chade keeps mentioning or something else? (hide spoiler)]