Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

Assassin’s Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy, #1)

by Robin Hobb

‘Fantasy as it ought to be written’ George R.R. Martin

The kingdom of the Six Duchies is on the brink of civil war when news breaks that the crown prince has fathered a bastard son and is shamed into abdication. The child’s name is Fitz, and he is despised.

Raised in the castle stables, only the company of the king’s fool, the ragged children of the lower city, and his unusual affinity with animals provide Fitz with any comfort.

To be useful to the crown, Fitz is trained as an assassin; and to use the traditional magic of the Farseer family. But his tutor, allied to another political faction, is determined to discredit, even kill him. Fitz must survive: for he may be destined to save the kingdom.

Reviewed by inlibrisveritas on

4 of 5 stars

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This was a book I was supposed to have finished back in 2019, but due to stress and a whole host of issues, I could never get myself to focus on it long enough to make any sort of actual progress.

So here were are months after I was supposed to have it finished and I finally sat down with this book to attempt it again...and I finished it one sitting. The slower pace of the book is a bit daunting at first, but I love the way the story itself progressed. It sort of turns aside all of the obvious tropes that plague fantasy featuring assassination, and instead leans into showing us how the people themselves work. There are no unknowable shadowy figures because even the most mysterious of players are still given plenty of time to be fleshed out in a realistic and human way.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 9 April, 2020: Finished reading
  • 9 April, 2020: Reviewed