Book by Robin Hobb
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 as 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 amazon page
Read this book if you love:
- traditional epic fantasy
- underdog heroes
- supernatural connections and magic
My Review
It’s been a while since I’ve read this book, so I’m reviewing the plot as I write this.
What I loved:
First off, I love the mythology of naming of things that Robin Hobb puts into his Book. While its a bit odd to get used to at first, it sets up the many layers that characters take on as they fill out their nominal destinies.
Second, as a person who has studied psychology, I find the Forging fascinating. As soon as the ultimatum came out, I knew it would be creative. I don’t want to give anything away to those who haven’t read it, but I can’t help but sit an ponder what happened exactly to the people forged by the raiders.
Third, the action didn’t let me down. And while there were a few instances where I had to reread certain passages to understand just what Robin Hobb was trying to write, (sometimes purposely elusive while other times just confusing) there were some places where I guessed the secret well in advance. What this reveals to me is that Robin Hobb doesn’t take the reader for granted, and I really appreciate that. Nothing spoils writing for me like laying everything out completely for the reader or trying to remind them of things already mentioned. Robin Hobb describes everything in what seems like just enough words, never going so far as to bore the reader with description, but enough to indulge my desire to know what new countries, experiences and people are like.
What I didn’t love:
Having said that, there’s one thing I’m not a fan of: while I know it really works to build up the characters, and sets up the story-line through the rest of the series, Assassin’s Apprentice has not only a really slow start, but also several slow build ups in the rest of the book. In many ways, I don’t care about the central character’s build up as much as the other circumstances in the book that aren’t actually resolved, or the history of more interesting characters, like Fool. As I haven’t finished the series yet, I can only hope that the resolution eventually comes, but for the time being, I have to be satisfied with the action held within.
Lastly I would say, if you’re a fan of fantasy and intrigue, I would definitely recommend this book to you. I’d love to see how it continues.
My Analysis
POV:
1st, past, Fitz Chivalry
Genre:
External: Action – Adventure: Conspiracy
Global Values: Death / Life
Core Need: Survival
Core Emotion: Excitement
Internal: Worldview – Maturation
Global Values: Failure or Success
Core Emotion: Admiration or Pity
Controlling idea: You have a gift to offer no matter what role you’ve been assigned.
Other:
Violence: medium-high.
Gore: death, but it doesn’t dwell on it..
Romance/Sex: flirting, and references to sex.
Series: The Farseer Trilogy, Book 1 (Part of the Realm of Enderlings World)
Reality Clover: Sci-fi / Fantasy – Past
Reference:
Website: http://www.robinhobb.com/blog
Finally, she held up one that was like a silver bit of net with a blue stone caught in it. She made a face over it, then nodded reluctantly. “That man has taste. Whatever else he lacks, he has taste.” She held it up to my ear again, and with absolutely no warning, thrust the pin of it through my earlobe.
I yelped and clapped a hand over my ear, but she slapped it away. “Don’t be such a baby. It only stings for a minute.” There was a sort of clasp that held it behind, and she ruthlessly bent my ear in her fingers to fasten it. “There. That suits him, don’t you think, Lacey?”
“Quite.” Lacey agreed over her eternal tatting.
Patience dismissed me with a gesture. As I rose to go she said, “Remember this, Fitz. Whether you can Skill or not, whether you wear his name or not, you are Chivalry’s son. See that you behave with honor. Now go and get some sleep.”
Robin Hobb, the Assassin’s Apprentice
HC Fitzpatrick 