Assassin's Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy)

by Robin Hobb

Paperback, 480 pages

Published March 18, 1996 by Voyager.

ISBN:: 978-0-00-648009-9

(18 reviews)

Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father's gruff stableman. He is treated like an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz's blood runs the magic Skill--and the darker knowledge of a child raised with the stable hounds and rejected by his family. As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz is growing to manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom.From the Paperback edition.

24 editions

Alyanorne reviewed Assassin's Apprentice (The Illustrated Edition): The Farseer Trilogy Book 1 by Robin Hobb

Review of "Assassin's Apprentice (The Illustrated Edition): The Farseer Trilogy Book 1" on 'Goodreads'

1 star

1) I found none of the characters likeable, including the main character.
2) The book dwadles around with several different false starts. I coudn't decide what it was about--a bastard who must find his place? A boy with a secret power that could doom him? An assassin? A zombie apocalypse?It's normal for books to have multiple threads, but these were not juggled well.
3) This book would have been best if it started with the last story arc in the book. I might have lied in point 1, because I did like Verity a bit, and Fitz' work involving him was the most interesting. There was court intrigue, kingdoms' futures at stake, and Fitz had to use his wits to get him out of it (for the most part. Let's not talk about him needing saving in the end).