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The Farseer Trilogy #2
Royal Assassin
The legend continues…
Regal’s treasonous attempt to usurp the Six Duchies throne from his half-brother Verity has been foiled.
Now, as Fitz recovers slowly from the foul poison administered to him, the King’s Fool prophesies:
Cover illustration by John Howe
Regal’s treasonous attempt to usurp the Six Duchies throne from his half-brother Verity has been foiled.
Now, as Fitz recovers slowly from the foul poison administered to him, the King’s Fool prophesies:
‘We are here, Fitz, you and I,
to change the future and the world…’
Cover illustration by John Howe
752 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1996
About the author
Robin Hobb
279 books106k followers** I am shocked to find that some people think a 2 star 'I liked it' rating is a bad rating. What? I liked it. I LIKED it! That means I read the whole thing, to the last page, in spite of my life raining comets on me. It's a good book that survives the reading process with me. If a book is so-so, it ends up under the bed somewhere, or maybe under a stinky judo bag in the back of the van. So a 2 star from me means,yes, I liked the book, and I'd loan it to a friend and it went everywhere in my jacket pocket or purse until I finished it. A 3 star means that I've ignored friends to finish it and my sink is full of dirty dishes. A 4 star means I'm probably in trouble with my editor for missing a deadline because I was reading this book. But I want you to know . . . I don't finish books I don't like. There's too many good ones out there waiting to be found.
Robin Hobb is the author of three well-received fantasy trilogies: The Farseer Trilogy (Assassin’s Apprentice, Royal Assassin, and Assassin’s Quest), The Liveship Traders Trilogy (Ship of Magic, Mad Ship and Ship of Destiny) and the Tawny Man Trilogy (Fool’s Errand, Golden Fool, and Fool’s Fate) Her current work in progress is entitled Shaman’s Crossing. Robin Hobb lives and works in Tacoma, Washington, and has been a professional writer for over 30 years.
In addition to writing, her interests include gardening, mushrooming, and beachcombing. She and her husband Fred have three grown children and one teenager, and three grand-children.
She also writes as Megan Lindholm, and works under that name have been finalists for the Hugo award, the Nebula Award, and the Endeavor award. She has twice won an Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Readers’ Award.
Robin Hobb is the author of three well-received fantasy trilogies: The Farseer Trilogy (Assassin’s Apprentice, Royal Assassin, and Assassin’s Quest), The Liveship Traders Trilogy (Ship of Magic, Mad Ship and Ship of Destiny) and the Tawny Man Trilogy (Fool’s Errand, Golden Fool, and Fool’s Fate) Her current work in progress is entitled Shaman’s Crossing. Robin Hobb lives and works in Tacoma, Washington, and has been a professional writer for over 30 years.
In addition to writing, her interests include gardening, mushrooming, and beachcombing. She and her husband Fred have three grown children and one teenager, and three grand-children.
She also writes as Megan Lindholm, and works under that name have been finalists for the Hugo award, the Nebula Award, and the Endeavor award. She has twice won an Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Readers’ Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 9,766 reviews
October 27, 2020
Hell yes for Fitz bond’s with Nighteyes and hell no for Fitz’s relationship with Molly.
I’ll elaborate on those two in a while. I’ll be honest here, throughout the first 75% of the book, I seriously thought this would’ve been a 3 stars read for me; that changed during the last quarter of the book, which was simply breathtaking. Like the previous book, Royal Assassin is still totally a character-driven book with a very slow pacing; sometimes even dragging to me who’s a fan of slow-paced books and I’m pretty sure any readers who're looking for tons of actions in their read will most likely be disappointed with this one. However, in my opinion the slow pacing was totally necessary in order to build-up the tension leading towards the last 100 pages of the book. The executions of the climax sequences were rewarding, intense, and incredibly compelling as I found myself keep on stealing time to read during my working hours.
Royal Assassin is a great book. As a sequel to Assassin’s Apprentice, it managed to build upon almost all the foundation that was laid in Assassin’s Apprentice. Both magic systems, Skill and Wit, receive a proper exposition that made the storyline much more engaging. Hobb’s prose are extremely immersive, her storytelling style has its way of pulling the readers deeply into Fitz’s perspective. Not only her prose is marvelous, I found myself deeply invested in the characters as Hobb slowly explore Fitz’s relationship with all the side characters. I mean it, every side characters receive tremendous development and it made all their personality felt real. Burrich, Lady Patience, Kettricken, The Fool, Verity, even the malicious Regal totally made the book worthwhile. However, any fans of the series will probably know which new character I’m going to talk about. Nighteyes, oh Nighteyes.
I can’t stress this highly enough, I’m only in the second book and I already thought of Nighteyes as a brilliant addition to the series. Ever since his first appearance as a cub, I was already hooked with his fate right from that moment. I absolutely love Nighteyes’s bonds with Fitz, it transcends any kind of relation, they aren’t simply friends, they are brothers, they are pack. The appearance of Nighteyes completely made Fitz a more intriguing character to read. It goes without saying that this wolf is the highlight of the book for me.
Picture: FitzChivalry Farseer & Nighteyes by chazillah
Royal Assassin was almost a 5 stars read for me, it had all the potential. However, pacing issue aside, there was one more reason that made me decide to take off a star from my rating: Molly. Okay, Molly isn’t a bad character per se, the thing that bothered me was how much the romance between Fitz and Molly was in the book. To sum up my experience reading their interactions: it was painful. At first, I was okay with it, and as far as romance goes, Robin Hobb seriously wrote it beautifully, but after a while, it just became extremely repetitive. I don’t know the exact number but my estimation is that there were 200 pages of Fitz thinking about Molly, or at least it felt that long.
Minor issues aside, I felt like all the side characters—especially Nighteyes—and the rewarding conclusions make up for the cons I had with the book wonderfully. Royal Assassin was overall another great installment in the Farseer trilogy and the Realm of the Elderlings series. Now it’s time for me to read the conclusion of this trilogy and see if it gets even better or not. I will, however, maintain my expectations as a lot of fans of the series mentioned to me that the third book in this trilogy is Robin Hobb's worst book in the entire Realm of the Elderlings series.
Picture: Royal Assassin by Marc Simonetti
You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest
I’ll elaborate on those two in a while. I’ll be honest here, throughout the first 75% of the book, I seriously thought this would’ve been a 3 stars read for me; that changed during the last quarter of the book, which was simply breathtaking. Like the previous book, Royal Assassin is still totally a character-driven book with a very slow pacing; sometimes even dragging to me who’s a fan of slow-paced books and I’m pretty sure any readers who're looking for tons of actions in their read will most likely be disappointed with this one. However, in my opinion the slow pacing was totally necessary in order to build-up the tension leading towards the last 100 pages of the book. The executions of the climax sequences were rewarding, intense, and incredibly compelling as I found myself keep on stealing time to read during my working hours.
“Thinking is not always...comforting. It is always good, but not always comforting.”
Royal Assassin is a great book. As a sequel to Assassin’s Apprentice, it managed to build upon almost all the foundation that was laid in Assassin’s Apprentice. Both magic systems, Skill and Wit, receive a proper exposition that made the storyline much more engaging. Hobb’s prose are extremely immersive, her storytelling style has its way of pulling the readers deeply into Fitz’s perspective. Not only her prose is marvelous, I found myself deeply invested in the characters as Hobb slowly explore Fitz’s relationship with all the side characters. I mean it, every side characters receive tremendous development and it made all their personality felt real. Burrich, Lady Patience, Kettricken, The Fool, Verity, even the malicious Regal totally made the book worthwhile. However, any fans of the series will probably know which new character I’m going to talk about. Nighteyes, oh Nighteyes.
“Wolves have no kings.”
I can’t stress this highly enough, I’m only in the second book and I already thought of Nighteyes as a brilliant addition to the series. Ever since his first appearance as a cub, I was already hooked with his fate right from that moment. I absolutely love Nighteyes’s bonds with Fitz, it transcends any kind of relation, they aren’t simply friends, they are brothers, they are pack. The appearance of Nighteyes completely made Fitz a more intriguing character to read. It goes without saying that this wolf is the highlight of the book for me.
Picture: FitzChivalry Farseer & Nighteyes by chazillah
Royal Assassin was almost a 5 stars read for me, it had all the potential. However, pacing issue aside, there was one more reason that made me decide to take off a star from my rating: Molly. Okay, Molly isn’t a bad character per se, the thing that bothered me was how much the romance between Fitz and Molly was in the book. To sum up my experience reading their interactions: it was painful. At first, I was okay with it, and as far as romance goes, Robin Hobb seriously wrote it beautifully, but after a while, it just became extremely repetitive. I don’t know the exact number but my estimation is that there were 200 pages of Fitz thinking about Molly, or at least it felt that long.
Minor issues aside, I felt like all the side characters—especially Nighteyes—and the rewarding conclusions make up for the cons I had with the book wonderfully. Royal Assassin was overall another great installment in the Farseer trilogy and the Realm of the Elderlings series. Now it’s time for me to read the conclusion of this trilogy and see if it gets even better or not. I will, however, maintain my expectations as a lot of fans of the series mentioned to me that the third book in this trilogy is Robin Hobb's worst book in the entire Realm of the Elderlings series.
Picture: Royal Assassin by Marc Simonetti
You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest
June 9, 2023
4.5
Big fan
Big fan
August 10, 2023
Ta seria jest tak dobra, tylko czemu ona ma aż tyle stron 🥹🫠
3.75
3.75
May 29, 2022
Check out my YouTube channel where I show my instant reactions to reading fantasy books as soon as I finish the book.
Absolutely perfect character development that would be impossible to surpass, and an amazing book on it's own right.
Robb Hobb is quickly turning into one of my favorite authors, and it's strange for me because the things she does well are things that I typically don't appreciate much in fantasy books. More than anything, I'm someone who really wants a huge engaging plot - and I don't care as much if character development isn't top notch. But this book figures out a way somehow to make literally every single character feel completely developed, with clear and compelling motivations, and makes you completely understand and sympathize with their motivations and behaviors - and that's true even for the characters that you hate. It ends up making the reader feel deeply attached to certain characters in a way that few (if any) books have done before.
Don't get me wrong, the plot is also extremely well done, but if the character writing were sub-par, this book wouldn't be a 5 star rating from me. But the way this book is written makes it intense and compelling, and I absolutely flew through reading it.
Absolutely perfect character development that would be impossible to surpass, and an amazing book on it's own right.
Robb Hobb is quickly turning into one of my favorite authors, and it's strange for me because the things she does well are things that I typically don't appreciate much in fantasy books. More than anything, I'm someone who really wants a huge engaging plot - and I don't care as much if character development isn't top notch. But this book figures out a way somehow to make literally every single character feel completely developed, with clear and compelling motivations, and makes you completely understand and sympathize with their motivations and behaviors - and that's true even for the characters that you hate. It ends up making the reader feel deeply attached to certain characters in a way that few (if any) books have done before.
Don't get me wrong, the plot is also extremely well done, but if the character writing were sub-par, this book wouldn't be a 5 star rating from me. But the way this book is written makes it intense and compelling, and I absolutely flew through reading it.
April 20, 2015
I will rant about this book, there's no doubt in my mind. I'm simply trying to gather my thoughts. Let's try with the first book, "Assassin's Apprentice," shall we?
I liked Book I. It was a beginning story, a training story. Young FitzChivalry is the bastard son of King-in-Waiting Chivalry and has to come to terms with a world that doesn't want him. King Shrewd, however, decides to train him as an assassin from an early age, and so begins young Fitz' journey into adulthood and the intrigues of the royal court. Book I works because Fitz is too young to understand half of what he's doing or to give any serious thought to it. He's learning to play a dangerous chess game against opponents who have far more experience, though usually less sense, than him. Therefore, we expect his failures to be on par with his victories, probably to surpass them even.
Book II suffers from trying to pull the same stunt twice to an older and more experienced Fitz. We tell ourselves Fitz would have learned from the ordeals in Book I, that he would try to forge his own identity, make his own decisions, be his own man for once. He doesn't. At no time did I feel him grow as a character, rather he was always complaining about how unfair life was to him, about what he wanted to do, never sparing a thought for others except occasionally and briefly. Fitz is always putting his urges, his desires, first, always at the expense of putting other people in danger. An assassin should know better.
So, yes, this turns Fitz into a selfish, little brat, but there's still worse to come. I've said it before and I'll say it again: heroes (and their entourage) needn't be stupid for villains to be smart. But this is what happens in Book II. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is dumb beyond the point of credulity, wielding feeble arguments to argue passivity. Of course, this only makes Fitz' character even dumber for going along with it all. Treason is brewing in the royal court and everyone seems to believe inaction is the best remedy. Some even go so far as claiming it's their only choice, a ludicrous thought. Peasants, soldiers, lords, all are easily duped by a web of conspiracy that can be seen from light years away. Not one character makes a sensible choice throughout the length of Book II and the author has utterly failed to convince me about the reasons why.
I suppose what angers me the most is how the author manipulates hope to lure the reader in. Hope that Fitz will become his own man, hope that things will turn out okay, hope that somebody will have the sense to kill Regal once and for all and thus put an end to his far-fetched charade. With every turn of page, every chapter that gets consumed by the reader, things take a turn for the worse; each successive title forebodes another dark, depressing chapter, and the reader's hopes slowly, but surely, ebb away. It's an incredibly depressing book, not so much for the plot itself, but because of how unbelievably the characters act. The author seems intent on convincing you that two plus two equals five when you know it to be four.
I tried to convince myself Book III would be better. I checked the one-star reviews to prepare for the worst and was not disappointed. Everything I've read points to a long and pointless read that turns productive towards its bittersweet ending that seems more bitter than sweet. There's apparently another trilogy about Fitz' exploits that tries to tie some, if not all, of the plot holes of the Farseer Trilogy, but I presently feel too deceived by this trilogy to entertain the notion of beginning another one, with the same dumb protagonist and written by the same author.
Originally, I gave this a two-star rating out of pity, more than anything else, but then "Rule of Two" came to mind. I gave that one a one-star rating on the basis of its incredible -in the true sense of the word- plot, but I think "Royal Assassin" is the first book I've read that not only has a plot that doesn't hold water, of any kind, but it is also way too depressing going about it. At this point in time, I wish I could erase this book from memory, commit it to some deep, dark corner of my mind and leave it there for all eternity.
Some time in the distant future I may gather the will to read the end of this trilogy. Or perhaps not. But if there's something Robin Hobb has helped me discover is what kind of fantasy I enjoy and what kind I don't. I've discovered I don't enjoy the kind of fantasy that puts its main character through a constant stream of endless suffering that furthers no plot or character development. Suffering for the sake of suffering itself is pointless. Worse, it's bad writing or, in any event, it makes for bad reading.
To close this rather long rant I leave you with this: In my world of reading/writing I praise subtlety over brutality, cunning over stupidity, strong characters that react to circumstance rather than being manipulated by the author's desires. Every writer sets him or herself with an endgame. Some, in trying to organise their way through to it, lose perspective of their characters, wondering more about getting character X to do action Y and less about why character X should do action Y in the first place. I won't say whether this is right or wrong, but I've always valued the latter over the former. So, my advice, for whatever is worth, is this: build strong characters, set your pieces, and only then play the game. Who knows, maybe the game will take you in unforeseeable directions...
I liked Book I. It was a beginning story, a training story. Young FitzChivalry is the bastard son of King-in-Waiting Chivalry and has to come to terms with a world that doesn't want him. King Shrewd, however, decides to train him as an assassin from an early age, and so begins young Fitz' journey into adulthood and the intrigues of the royal court. Book I works because Fitz is too young to understand half of what he's doing or to give any serious thought to it. He's learning to play a dangerous chess game against opponents who have far more experience, though usually less sense, than him. Therefore, we expect his failures to be on par with his victories, probably to surpass them even.
Book II suffers from trying to pull the same stunt twice to an older and more experienced Fitz. We tell ourselves Fitz would have learned from the ordeals in Book I, that he would try to forge his own identity, make his own decisions, be his own man for once. He doesn't. At no time did I feel him grow as a character, rather he was always complaining about how unfair life was to him, about what he wanted to do, never sparing a thought for others except occasionally and briefly. Fitz is always putting his urges, his desires, first, always at the expense of putting other people in danger. An assassin should know better.
So, yes, this turns Fitz into a selfish, little brat, but there's still worse to come. I've said it before and I'll say it again: heroes (and their entourage) needn't be stupid for villains to be smart. But this is what happens in Book II. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is dumb beyond the point of credulity, wielding feeble arguments to argue passivity. Of course, this only makes Fitz' character even dumber for going along with it all. Treason is brewing in the royal court and everyone seems to believe inaction is the best remedy. Some even go so far as claiming it's their only choice, a ludicrous thought. Peasants, soldiers, lords, all are easily duped by a web of conspiracy that can be seen from light years away. Not one character makes a sensible choice throughout the length of Book II and the author has utterly failed to convince me about the reasons why.
I suppose what angers me the most is how the author manipulates hope to lure the reader in. Hope that Fitz will become his own man, hope that things will turn out okay, hope that somebody will have the sense to kill Regal once and for all and thus put an end to his far-fetched charade. With every turn of page, every chapter that gets consumed by the reader, things take a turn for the worse; each successive title forebodes another dark, depressing chapter, and the reader's hopes slowly, but surely, ebb away. It's an incredibly depressing book, not so much for the plot itself, but because of how unbelievably the characters act. The author seems intent on convincing you that two plus two equals five when you know it to be four.
I tried to convince myself Book III would be better. I checked the one-star reviews to prepare for the worst and was not disappointed. Everything I've read points to a long and pointless read that turns productive towards its bittersweet ending that seems more bitter than sweet. There's apparently another trilogy about Fitz' exploits that tries to tie some, if not all, of the plot holes of the Farseer Trilogy, but I presently feel too deceived by this trilogy to entertain the notion of beginning another one, with the same dumb protagonist and written by the same author.
Originally, I gave this a two-star rating out of pity, more than anything else, but then "Rule of Two" came to mind. I gave that one a one-star rating on the basis of its incredible -in the true sense of the word- plot, but I think "Royal Assassin" is the first book I've read that not only has a plot that doesn't hold water, of any kind, but it is also way too depressing going about it. At this point in time, I wish I could erase this book from memory, commit it to some deep, dark corner of my mind and leave it there for all eternity.
Some time in the distant future I may gather the will to read the end of this trilogy. Or perhaps not. But if there's something Robin Hobb has helped me discover is what kind of fantasy I enjoy and what kind I don't. I've discovered I don't enjoy the kind of fantasy that puts its main character through a constant stream of endless suffering that furthers no plot or character development. Suffering for the sake of suffering itself is pointless. Worse, it's bad writing or, in any event, it makes for bad reading.
To close this rather long rant I leave you with this: In my world of reading/writing I praise subtlety over brutality, cunning over stupidity, strong characters that react to circumstance rather than being manipulated by the author's desires. Every writer sets him or herself with an endgame. Some, in trying to organise their way through to it, lose perspective of their characters, wondering more about getting character X to do action Y and less about why character X should do action Y in the first place. I won't say whether this is right or wrong, but I've always valued the latter over the former. So, my advice, for whatever is worth, is this: build strong characters, set your pieces, and only then play the game. Who knows, maybe the game will take you in unforeseeable directions...
January 28, 2021
Royal Assassin(Farseer Trilogy,#2 Realm of the Elderlings,#2)
This book makes it incredibly easy to emotionally drain oneself. As the second book of this series, this book has surpassed my expectations. Engaging characters. Interesting setting. Robin Hobb has a wondrous way to express complex emotions and internal struggles. As a fan of the slow-paced fantasy novel, I am certainly not disappointed.
Excellent Book
This book makes it incredibly easy to emotionally drain oneself. As the second book of this series, this book has surpassed my expectations. Engaging characters. Interesting setting. Robin Hobb has a wondrous way to express complex emotions and internal struggles. As a fan of the slow-paced fantasy novel, I am certainly not disappointed.
The man who must brag for himself knows that no one else will.
Excellent Book
April 17, 2019
Reread of paperback for Tome Topple. Changed my star rating from 4 to 5.
All the stars for Nighteyes as I am the wolf lover
I know I don't need to be listening to first time books on audio. I know, I know, I know. But I'm trying to save my eyeballs so I'm reading whatever they have on Overdrive and doing my re-reads through audible and Overdrive until I get them on audible. Why am I rambling about this?! Well, the reason is that I fought back and forth over giving this a 3 star or a 4 star. I mean I was trying to figure out if Nighteyes was the only reason I even enjoyed the book or what. Do I want to re-read it through my paperback later on. I DON'T KNOW! I'm so confused on how I feel about the book.
That ending though right?
Fin
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
All the stars for Nighteyes as I am the wolf lover
I know I don't need to be listening to first time books on audio. I know, I know, I know. But I'm trying to save my eyeballs so I'm reading whatever they have on Overdrive and doing my re-reads through audible and Overdrive until I get them on audible. Why am I rambling about this?! Well, the reason is that I fought back and forth over giving this a 3 star or a 4 star. I mean I was trying to figure out if Nighteyes was the only reason I even enjoyed the book or what. Do I want to re-read it through my paperback later on. I DON'T KNOW! I'm so confused on how I feel about the book.
That ending though right?
Fin
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
September 1, 2018
”Sometimes,” Chade observed, “It would be much easier to die for one’s king than to give one’s life to him.”
Well, if that isn’t the bitter truth then I don’t know! It’s been more than a week ever since I finished this book and my feelings are still all over the place. I swear the last time I felt as agitated as I am feeling right now was when I finished reading “The Kite Runner”. I’m sure by now you’re asking yourself what do “The Kite Runner” and “Royal Assassin” have in common? And the answer is easy: OUTRAGEOUS INJUSTICE!!! That’s what they have in common!!! *GRRRRR goes into grizzly bear mode*
If there is one thing that makes me really, really angry, one thing I just can’t stand than it is injustice! And this book was full of it! It oozed out of the pages, it dripped down into my heart, it poisoned me and made me so angry I hardly managed to refrain from throwing the book against a wall. I swear there were times my knuckles turned white because I was clutching that book so hard. ARGH!!!
My poor Fitz, my poor Verity!!! My poor King Shrewd and Fool!!! =(( It’s just not fair!!! IT’S. JUST. NOT. FAIR!!! I suffered with them throughout the entire book, I was frustrated, I was angry, I wanted to tear my hair out! I felt their pain and their helplessness and it killed me. So if you ever want to read a book that’s going to destroy you, just go ahead. “Royal Assassin” will leave you thoroughly broken and I’m sure somewhere in Washington State a woman named Robin Hobb is laughing her head off! Thank you Robin! Thank you for all the suffering and pain, can’t you at least give them a little break? No? Well, I tried and asked, can’t do more than that, right? T_T *sobs her heart out*
The characters:
This section is going to be extremely spoilery and very ranty (is that even a word?), because I need to get all those feelings off my chest. So if you don’t want to be spoiled you better leave now and don’t return again. Well, at least not until you read the book. *lol* This is a fair warning so the rest is up to you. ;-P
FitzChivalry:
”The same angry cold twisted and churned inside me, switching from anger to hatred to frustration and back to anger again, building to an unbearable pressure. They had no right to do this to me. I had not been born to be their tool. I had a right to live my life freely, to be who I was born to be. Did they think they could bend me to their will, use me however they would, and I would never retaliate? No. A time would come. My time would come.”
I still remember my review of “Assassin’s Apprentice” when I asked if Robin could be so kind to give Fitz a little break. Well, she didn’t. And boy how much my wish was ignored! Fitz’s life was already so complicated and horrible in the first book, but in “Royal Assassin” it reached an entirely new level of helplessness and cruelty. I swear everything he did was a mistake, every moment he as much as dared to take a little breath made his life even harder, every little action had repercussions and no matter what he did, he never won. He managed to avoid the worst, yes, but in the end he never succeeded to turn the tide in his favour. Well, until the tide completely swept him away and left him nothing but a broken shell to content with. Fitz was so unhappy and desperate it hurt to read about his struggle and the little happiness he found was taken away from him as well. It’s just not fair, it’s not fair to let a young boy suffer so much and I hate Regal for everything he did. My poor Fitz, my poor boy, I don’t know if he’ll ever recover from this. T_T *cries*
”Fitz? What will you do?”
Tears stung my eyes. I blinked, and it passed. “What I am told,” I said heavily. “When have I ever done otherwise?”
Verity:
”Shame to me, not you, to have ignored how ill you have been.” He had arisen silently. He set his glass of wine before me. “The damage you took was taken for me. I am appalled by what I allowed to befall you.” I forced myself to meet Verity’s eyes. He knew all that I tried to conceal. Knew it, and was miserable with guilt.
I still adore Verity but he had to make a lot of tough decisions in this book and I’m not sure if all of them were wise. I understood his need to help his people and I could relate to him feeling incapable and weak, but he did what he had to do in order to save them and this was already more than Regal ever did!!! As it seems Verity will always be caught between a rock and a hard place and I definitely don’t envy him his position. To be King-in-Waiting must suck big time and in the end his options were more than just limited. Still, to go and search the Elderlings was probably the biggest mistake he ever made and if he doesn’t find them soon the Six Duchies will go to hell. I really hope he has a good plan B because if not they’ll all be doomed in the next book. >_< You better make this work, Verity!!!
”I thought only to bring her swiftly home, and hope not too many heard of it. As if such a thing could be! And so today I think to myself that if ever the crown does come to rest on my brow, it will be in a most unworthy place.”
”For a moment I shared his bafflement that anyone could wish harm on these people, and shared, too, his fierce determination that not one more life should be lost to the Red-Ships.”
Burrich:
”I don’t envy you, Fitz. Sometimes all a man needs is to growl about his problems to another man. They’ve denied you even that. But take heart, I have faith you can handle them even if you think you can’t.”
Hmm… I still don’t know how I feel about him, but I think I liked him more in this book. We learned a lot of things about his past and I think I can understand him better. Still, to have the Wit must be horrible for him. I mean just to think about how much he resented Fitz for using it in the first book and now we find out that Burrich always had it too but decided to ignore it. It’s so ironic that Nighteyes called him “heart of the pack” because he obviously never wanted to be the heart of the pack. It was nice to see that Fitz and him got along so well though and considering everything that happened between them, it was good to know that Burrich still supported him and watched his back! =) Fitz certainly needed that additional help!
Lady Patience:
”But it was not the deed, but the intention that moved me. She had given up her quiet life, her orchards and gardens and woods, to come here, to a damp castle of stone on the sea cliffs, to a court full of folk she cared nothing about, to watch over her husband’s bastard.”
Patience truly surprised me in this one. I mean I always knew that she had come to Buckkeep to protect the illegitimate son of her husband but I never would have expected her to be so close to Burrich. I had no idea that they were lovers before Chivalry fell in love with her and their love story was so bittersweet that I couldn’t help but feel sorry for both of them. Burrich and his unfaltering belief in honour! *shakes head* They could have been happy together… *sighs* Lady Patience definitely deserved better than what she got and I have even more respect for her now. I really hope the end of “Royal Assassin” won’t have any repercussions for her. =S
”Burr?” she queried quietly. He did not even twitch. Very gently, she stroked his face. “You are so thin, so worn,” she grieved softly.
Regal:
”You who take the name to yourself of FitzChivalry Farseer need do no more than scratch yourself to find Nameless the dog boy. Be grateful I do not send you back to the stables, but suffer to let you abide in the Keep.”
I HATE HIM SO DAMN MUCH!!! I can’t even!!! That numpty, that tumshie, that huge and big FOOL!!! ASDFJKLMNÖ!!!! How is it even possible he’s still alive? And how is it possible that he’s so good at scheming and taking away the throne but doesn’t even think twice about his damn actions?!!? I mean WHAT NOW?!!! Awesome! You’re King-in-Waiting now, but what freaking kingdom are you going to reign?!! Your intrigues destroyed it and the Red Ships will do the rest!! How is it possible he got away with all this?!! HOW??!! URGH!!! This is so unfair! I swear by now I just have to read his name and I already see red and turn into a bull! If they ever manage to reveal his machinations, if they ever get a chance to catch that slippery eel, I’ll laugh my head off! I swear. So if you hear the laugh of a madwoman it most likely will be me! *lol* I’m waiting for his doom and I’ve got a lot of patience. *scratches hoof on the ground* XD
King Shrewd:
”I know how you serve me, even when you are brimming with anger at me. I could ask little more than what you have given me.”
Oh poor King Shrewd! There was nothing shrewd about him in the end. I hated to see how fast his health deteriorated and how much he suffered in this book. At some point I even started to share the Fools wish that he would have a peaceful and simple death. Unfortunately he had to suffer the entire book before he was finally allowed to go and the little that was left of his mind had to endure the betrayal of his own flesh and blood as well. No, King Shrewds life had a really bad end and no matter what he did, he didn’t deserve to die like that. >_<
Son of my son, blood of my blood. In my own way, I have loved you.
My king.
My young assassin. What have I made of you? How have I twisted my own flesh? You do not know how young you still are. Chivalry’s son, it is not too late to grow straight again. Lift up your head. See beyond all this.
The Fool:
”Batter away,” he suggested quietly. “New bruises will not show much atop the old ones. I can creep about unseen for a few more days.”
I think I love the Fool. <3 He grew on me and he’s such a mysterious and intriguing character that I couldn’t help but be fascinated by the little scraps we got of his past. He lived in another kingdom? With a mother and two fathers? And he can see the future?! There’s so much about him I still don’t understand but I’m sure he’ll play a role in all those books that are yet to come. It was nice to see his more serious side in “Royal Assassin” yet I still wish we wouldn’t have seen it. I felt so sorry for him because it was more than just obvious that he truly loved King Shrewd. I still don’t know what kind of relationship those two had but I guess it might have been like father and son. For all I know it could have been romantic though. *lol* I guess I’ll never know. I still have so many questions and I’m afraid they will have to wait until the end of the series. XD So for now I just hope that he’s still alive somewhere and that he gets time to grief his beloved king. >_<
”You fog me, bastard. You multiply the futures a thousandfold, just by your existing. Catalyst. From some of those fogs go the blackest, twisted threads of damnation, and from others shining twines of gold. To the depths or the heights, it seems, are your paths. I long for a middle path. I long for a simple death for a master who was kind to a freakish, jeering servant.”
Kettricken:
”Let us clench our jaws, and remove that which infects us, with as much resolve and regret as if we severed a maimed limb from a body. For such is what we do. Not vengeance, my people, but surgery, to be followed by healing. Do as I say, now.”
That woman was kick-ass and yes she made mistakes but she always tried to do what was best for her husband and her people! I could understand her insecurity and the way Regal undermined her so thoroughly made me angry enough to chew nails! It was undeniable that she was in a difficult position though. *sighs* I mean she was a new queen in a kingdom that was raided and destroyed by the red ships and she’s still so very young. Without Verity’s and the king’s support it wasn’t easy to secure her position as Queen-in-Waiting and I think considering all the mean attacks she had to endure she actually did great! Maybe she’s with the Fool now? I really hope Verity will come back and find her and I pray that their child is going to live through that harsh winter!! =((
Chade:
”Did you think you could lead two lives?” Chade’s voice was soft but not gentle. “We belong to the King, boy, King’s Men. Our lives belong to him. Every moment, of every day, asleep or awake. You have no time for your own concerns. Only his.”
I don’t know what to think about Chade. He’s a king’s man yet he’s still somehow responsible for everything that went wrong. At least considering king Shrewd. I mean I understand why he gave him the strong medicine and why he tried to ease his king’s pain but in combination with Regal’s drugs it was just too much. Why didn’t he try to get rid of Regal’s drugs? Hell, why didn’t he try to get rid of Wall-ass? I know Regal is off-limits, sadly! But he could have gotten rid of Wallace and used one of his own spies instead. That way the king might have still been lucid enough to make the right decisions. *sigh* And why didn’t he help Fitz when he was in the dungeons? Was to help him die really the only option?! To poison him again? To destroy his body again?! When will it have an end?
The relationships & ships:
FitzChivalry & Verity:
”Do you know how easy it is, Fitz, to follow a man you believe in?”
He looked up at last to meet my eyes.
“My prince,” I said quietly. “I believe I do.”
I still love their close relationship and I understand why Fitz follows Verity. Still, I really wish they would have been able to help each other more. I know Verity couldn’t do anything from the distance but poor Fitz had to pay for everything that went wrong and this just isn’t fair. =( He’s just a boy and was held responsible for every mistake Verity, Chade, Kettricken and Shrewd made. No matter what happened, Regal let him bleed and pay for it and I hated that Verity couldn’t help him. What also pains me is the fact that Fitz as well as Verity know that he’s using him for his own purposes but that they both have no other choice than to go with it. Verity feels so guilty for using Fitz and Fitz hates to be used like that but has no other choice than to do what Verity wants. In order to survive they both had to use each other and I think their strong and close relationship suffered under the onslaught of their needs. Let’s hope Verity survives his trip to the Elderlings, let’s hope Fitz will get a little peace. Let’s hope their friendship won’t die in the next book. >_<
Molly & FitzChivalry:
”Because on some nights threats are more obvious than others. Bad things happen, that make me take stock of what worse things could happen. On some nights, it is not the healthiest thing to be beloved of a bastard.”
Fitz and Molly… T_T Those two broke my heart! They love each other so deeply but they can’t be together because their circumstances won’t allow it. Fitz position was so horrible and I bled with him and Molly whenever they had another argument. I think the worst thing was that they both knew it wouldn’t work but they both still had hope and refused to give up. If Fitz would have taken her as his wife or would have acknowledged her as his lover, she would have been dead in a heartbeat. Urgh! Their situation was so awful! =(( I hated the way things ended between them and is it just me but is there actually a chance that Molly is pregnant? The way she spoke about her new “lover” almost sounded like she was talking about a baby and knowing Molly I’m pretty sure she would have never told Fitz that she’s pregnant. Not after their argument and certainly not if Regal could have ordered her death so easily. To move to the countryside would be her best option and I think a possible pregnancy would be the best reason for such a step. After all she has to ensure the survival of two lives if it’s really true. ;-) I guess only time will tell. XD
”How can I say I love you so much that I wish I did not love you, or at least could refrain from showing that I loved you, because my love puts you in such danger, and have those words be true?”
”Every time I think I have accepted it, I turn a corner and catch myself hoping again. But there’s never going to be anything for us, is there? Never going to be a time that belongs just to us, never going to be a place that is just ours.”
”I had no more right to her than she had to me. But I gave and took and I swear I shall never regret it. The memory of that night’s sweet awkwardness is the truest possession of my soul.”
Nighteyes & Fitz:
”Nighteyes, my brother. How do I thank you?
Stay alive. A pause. And bring me ginger cake.
You shall have it, I promised fiercely.”
Nighteyes and Fitz were the best!!! They are my new friendship OTP!! *lol* I loved their easy banter and Nighteyes was so clever and funny! Plus they were so close and I loved it! Nighteyes is the best friend ever and Fitz was very lucky to have him. Especially considering the ending. There is nothing Nighteyes wouldn’t do for him and this is true friendship! =) He didn’t even hesitate to adopt him into his mind. I love Nighteyes and I really hope we’ll see even more of him! XD
Conclusion:
“Royal Assassin” was an amazing fantasy book and even though I suffered so much I still loved every second of it. (Haha! I sound like a masochist now. *lol*) This book was not only heartbreaking but also suspenseful and ultimately left me with even more questions than I had before. I can’t help but wonder if this will ever have an end. XD If you’re searching for a fantasy series that has an amazing world building, awesome characters and will hit you with the feels: Search no more! You already found it! ;-P
Well, if that isn’t the bitter truth then I don’t know! It’s been more than a week ever since I finished this book and my feelings are still all over the place. I swear the last time I felt as agitated as I am feeling right now was when I finished reading “The Kite Runner”. I’m sure by now you’re asking yourself what do “The Kite Runner” and “Royal Assassin” have in common? And the answer is easy: OUTRAGEOUS INJUSTICE!!! That’s what they have in common!!! *GRRRRR goes into grizzly bear mode*
If there is one thing that makes me really, really angry, one thing I just can’t stand than it is injustice! And this book was full of it! It oozed out of the pages, it dripped down into my heart, it poisoned me and made me so angry I hardly managed to refrain from throwing the book against a wall. I swear there were times my knuckles turned white because I was clutching that book so hard. ARGH!!!
My poor Fitz, my poor Verity!!! My poor King Shrewd and Fool!!! =(( It’s just not fair!!! IT’S. JUST. NOT. FAIR!!! I suffered with them throughout the entire book, I was frustrated, I was angry, I wanted to tear my hair out! I felt their pain and their helplessness and it killed me. So if you ever want to read a book that’s going to destroy you, just go ahead. “Royal Assassin” will leave you thoroughly broken and I’m sure somewhere in Washington State a woman named Robin Hobb is laughing her head off! Thank you Robin! Thank you for all the suffering and pain, can’t you at least give them a little break? No? Well, I tried and asked, can’t do more than that, right? T_T *sobs her heart out*
The characters:
This section is going to be extremely spoilery and very ranty (is that even a word?), because I need to get all those feelings off my chest. So if you don’t want to be spoiled you better leave now and don’t return again. Well, at least not until you read the book. *lol* This is a fair warning so the rest is up to you. ;-P
FitzChivalry:
”The same angry cold twisted and churned inside me, switching from anger to hatred to frustration and back to anger again, building to an unbearable pressure. They had no right to do this to me. I had not been born to be their tool. I had a right to live my life freely, to be who I was born to be. Did they think they could bend me to their will, use me however they would, and I would never retaliate? No. A time would come. My time would come.”
I still remember my review of “Assassin’s Apprentice” when I asked if Robin could be so kind to give Fitz a little break. Well, she didn’t. And boy how much my wish was ignored! Fitz’s life was already so complicated and horrible in the first book, but in “Royal Assassin” it reached an entirely new level of helplessness and cruelty. I swear everything he did was a mistake, every moment he as much as dared to take a little breath made his life even harder, every little action had repercussions and no matter what he did, he never won. He managed to avoid the worst, yes, but in the end he never succeeded to turn the tide in his favour. Well, until the tide completely swept him away and left him nothing but a broken shell to content with. Fitz was so unhappy and desperate it hurt to read about his struggle and the little happiness he found was taken away from him as well. It’s just not fair, it’s not fair to let a young boy suffer so much and I hate Regal for everything he did. My poor Fitz, my poor boy, I don’t know if he’ll ever recover from this. T_T *cries*
”Fitz? What will you do?”
Tears stung my eyes. I blinked, and it passed. “What I am told,” I said heavily. “When have I ever done otherwise?”
Verity:
”Shame to me, not you, to have ignored how ill you have been.” He had arisen silently. He set his glass of wine before me. “The damage you took was taken for me. I am appalled by what I allowed to befall you.” I forced myself to meet Verity’s eyes. He knew all that I tried to conceal. Knew it, and was miserable with guilt.
I still adore Verity but he had to make a lot of tough decisions in this book and I’m not sure if all of them were wise. I understood his need to help his people and I could relate to him feeling incapable and weak, but he did what he had to do in order to save them and this was already more than Regal ever did!!! As it seems Verity will always be caught between a rock and a hard place and I definitely don’t envy him his position. To be King-in-Waiting must suck big time and in the end his options were more than just limited. Still, to go and search the Elderlings was probably the biggest mistake he ever made and if he doesn’t find them soon the Six Duchies will go to hell. I really hope he has a good plan B because if not they’ll all be doomed in the next book. >_< You better make this work, Verity!!!
”I thought only to bring her swiftly home, and hope not too many heard of it. As if such a thing could be! And so today I think to myself that if ever the crown does come to rest on my brow, it will be in a most unworthy place.”
”For a moment I shared his bafflement that anyone could wish harm on these people, and shared, too, his fierce determination that not one more life should be lost to the Red-Ships.”
Burrich:
”I don’t envy you, Fitz. Sometimes all a man needs is to growl about his problems to another man. They’ve denied you even that. But take heart, I have faith you can handle them even if you think you can’t.”
Hmm… I still don’t know how I feel about him, but I think I liked him more in this book. We learned a lot of things about his past and I think I can understand him better. Still, to have the Wit must be horrible for him. I mean just to think about how much he resented Fitz for using it in the first book and now we find out that Burrich always had it too but decided to ignore it. It’s so ironic that Nighteyes called him “heart of the pack” because he obviously never wanted to be the heart of the pack. It was nice to see that Fitz and him got along so well though and considering everything that happened between them, it was good to know that Burrich still supported him and watched his back! =) Fitz certainly needed that additional help!
Lady Patience:
”But it was not the deed, but the intention that moved me. She had given up her quiet life, her orchards and gardens and woods, to come here, to a damp castle of stone on the sea cliffs, to a court full of folk she cared nothing about, to watch over her husband’s bastard.”
Patience truly surprised me in this one. I mean I always knew that she had come to Buckkeep to protect the illegitimate son of her husband but I never would have expected her to be so close to Burrich. I had no idea that they were lovers before Chivalry fell in love with her and their love story was so bittersweet that I couldn’t help but feel sorry for both of them. Burrich and his unfaltering belief in honour! *shakes head* They could have been happy together… *sighs* Lady Patience definitely deserved better than what she got and I have even more respect for her now. I really hope the end of “Royal Assassin” won’t have any repercussions for her. =S
”Burr?” she queried quietly. He did not even twitch. Very gently, she stroked his face. “You are so thin, so worn,” she grieved softly.
Regal:
”You who take the name to yourself of FitzChivalry Farseer need do no more than scratch yourself to find Nameless the dog boy. Be grateful I do not send you back to the stables, but suffer to let you abide in the Keep.”
I HATE HIM SO DAMN MUCH!!! I can’t even!!! That numpty, that tumshie, that huge and big FOOL!!! ASDFJKLMNÖ!!!! How is it even possible he’s still alive? And how is it possible that he’s so good at scheming and taking away the throne but doesn’t even think twice about his damn actions?!!? I mean WHAT NOW?!!! Awesome! You’re King-in-Waiting now, but what freaking kingdom are you going to reign?!! Your intrigues destroyed it and the Red Ships will do the rest!! How is it possible he got away with all this?!! HOW??!! URGH!!! This is so unfair! I swear by now I just have to read his name and I already see red and turn into a bull! If they ever manage to reveal his machinations, if they ever get a chance to catch that slippery eel, I’ll laugh my head off! I swear. So if you hear the laugh of a madwoman it most likely will be me! *lol* I’m waiting for his doom and I’ve got a lot of patience. *scratches hoof on the ground* XD
King Shrewd:
”I know how you serve me, even when you are brimming with anger at me. I could ask little more than what you have given me.”
Oh poor King Shrewd! There was nothing shrewd about him in the end. I hated to see how fast his health deteriorated and how much he suffered in this book. At some point I even started to share the Fools wish that he would have a peaceful and simple death. Unfortunately he had to suffer the entire book before he was finally allowed to go and the little that was left of his mind had to endure the betrayal of his own flesh and blood as well. No, King Shrewds life had a really bad end and no matter what he did, he didn’t deserve to die like that. >_<
Son of my son, blood of my blood. In my own way, I have loved you.
My king.
My young assassin. What have I made of you? How have I twisted my own flesh? You do not know how young you still are. Chivalry’s son, it is not too late to grow straight again. Lift up your head. See beyond all this.
The Fool:
”Batter away,” he suggested quietly. “New bruises will not show much atop the old ones. I can creep about unseen for a few more days.”
I think I love the Fool. <3 He grew on me and he’s such a mysterious and intriguing character that I couldn’t help but be fascinated by the little scraps we got of his past. He lived in another kingdom? With a mother and two fathers? And he can see the future?! There’s so much about him I still don’t understand but I’m sure he’ll play a role in all those books that are yet to come. It was nice to see his more serious side in “Royal Assassin” yet I still wish we wouldn’t have seen it. I felt so sorry for him because it was more than just obvious that he truly loved King Shrewd. I still don’t know what kind of relationship those two had but I guess it might have been like father and son. For all I know it could have been romantic though. *lol* I guess I’ll never know. I still have so many questions and I’m afraid they will have to wait until the end of the series. XD So for now I just hope that he’s still alive somewhere and that he gets time to grief his beloved king. >_<
”You fog me, bastard. You multiply the futures a thousandfold, just by your existing. Catalyst. From some of those fogs go the blackest, twisted threads of damnation, and from others shining twines of gold. To the depths or the heights, it seems, are your paths. I long for a middle path. I long for a simple death for a master who was kind to a freakish, jeering servant.”
Kettricken:
”Let us clench our jaws, and remove that which infects us, with as much resolve and regret as if we severed a maimed limb from a body. For such is what we do. Not vengeance, my people, but surgery, to be followed by healing. Do as I say, now.”
That woman was kick-ass and yes she made mistakes but she always tried to do what was best for her husband and her people! I could understand her insecurity and the way Regal undermined her so thoroughly made me angry enough to chew nails! It was undeniable that she was in a difficult position though. *sighs* I mean she was a new queen in a kingdom that was raided and destroyed by the red ships and she’s still so very young. Without Verity’s and the king’s support it wasn’t easy to secure her position as Queen-in-Waiting and I think considering all the mean attacks she had to endure she actually did great! Maybe she’s with the Fool now? I really hope Verity will come back and find her and I pray that their child is going to live through that harsh winter!! =((
Chade:
”Did you think you could lead two lives?” Chade’s voice was soft but not gentle. “We belong to the King, boy, King’s Men. Our lives belong to him. Every moment, of every day, asleep or awake. You have no time for your own concerns. Only his.”
I don’t know what to think about Chade. He’s a king’s man yet he’s still somehow responsible for everything that went wrong. At least considering king Shrewd. I mean I understand why he gave him the strong medicine and why he tried to ease his king’s pain but in combination with Regal’s drugs it was just too much. Why didn’t he try to get rid of Regal’s drugs? Hell, why didn’t he try to get rid of Wall-ass? I know Regal is off-limits, sadly! But he could have gotten rid of Wallace and used one of his own spies instead. That way the king might have still been lucid enough to make the right decisions. *sigh* And why didn’t he help Fitz when he was in the dungeons? Was to help him die really the only option?! To poison him again? To destroy his body again?! When will it have an end?
The relationships & ships:
FitzChivalry & Verity:
”Do you know how easy it is, Fitz, to follow a man you believe in?”
He looked up at last to meet my eyes.
“My prince,” I said quietly. “I believe I do.”
I still love their close relationship and I understand why Fitz follows Verity. Still, I really wish they would have been able to help each other more. I know Verity couldn’t do anything from the distance but poor Fitz had to pay for everything that went wrong and this just isn’t fair. =( He’s just a boy and was held responsible for every mistake Verity, Chade, Kettricken and Shrewd made. No matter what happened, Regal let him bleed and pay for it and I hated that Verity couldn’t help him. What also pains me is the fact that Fitz as well as Verity know that he’s using him for his own purposes but that they both have no other choice than to go with it. Verity feels so guilty for using Fitz and Fitz hates to be used like that but has no other choice than to do what Verity wants. In order to survive they both had to use each other and I think their strong and close relationship suffered under the onslaught of their needs. Let’s hope Verity survives his trip to the Elderlings, let’s hope Fitz will get a little peace. Let’s hope their friendship won’t die in the next book. >_<
Molly & FitzChivalry:
”Because on some nights threats are more obvious than others. Bad things happen, that make me take stock of what worse things could happen. On some nights, it is not the healthiest thing to be beloved of a bastard.”
Fitz and Molly… T_T Those two broke my heart! They love each other so deeply but they can’t be together because their circumstances won’t allow it. Fitz position was so horrible and I bled with him and Molly whenever they had another argument. I think the worst thing was that they both knew it wouldn’t work but they both still had hope and refused to give up. If Fitz would have taken her as his wife or would have acknowledged her as his lover, she would have been dead in a heartbeat. Urgh! Their situation was so awful! =(( I hated the way things ended between them and is it just me but is there actually a chance that Molly is pregnant? The way she spoke about her new “lover” almost sounded like she was talking about a baby and knowing Molly I’m pretty sure she would have never told Fitz that she’s pregnant. Not after their argument and certainly not if Regal could have ordered her death so easily. To move to the countryside would be her best option and I think a possible pregnancy would be the best reason for such a step. After all she has to ensure the survival of two lives if it’s really true. ;-) I guess only time will tell. XD
”How can I say I love you so much that I wish I did not love you, or at least could refrain from showing that I loved you, because my love puts you in such danger, and have those words be true?”
”Every time I think I have accepted it, I turn a corner and catch myself hoping again. But there’s never going to be anything for us, is there? Never going to be a time that belongs just to us, never going to be a place that is just ours.”
”I had no more right to her than she had to me. But I gave and took and I swear I shall never regret it. The memory of that night’s sweet awkwardness is the truest possession of my soul.”
Nighteyes & Fitz:
”Nighteyes, my brother. How do I thank you?
Stay alive. A pause. And bring me ginger cake.
You shall have it, I promised fiercely.”
Nighteyes and Fitz were the best!!! They are my new friendship OTP!! *lol* I loved their easy banter and Nighteyes was so clever and funny! Plus they were so close and I loved it! Nighteyes is the best friend ever and Fitz was very lucky to have him. Especially considering the ending. There is nothing Nighteyes wouldn’t do for him and this is true friendship! =) He didn’t even hesitate to adopt him into his mind. I love Nighteyes and I really hope we’ll see even more of him! XD
Conclusion:
“Royal Assassin” was an amazing fantasy book and even though I suffered so much I still loved every second of it. (Haha! I sound like a masochist now. *lol*) This book was not only heartbreaking but also suspenseful and ultimately left me with even more questions than I had before. I can’t help but wonder if this will ever have an end. XD If you’re searching for a fantasy series that has an amazing world building, awesome characters and will hit you with the feels: Search no more! You already found it! ;-P
February 3, 2022
hi. i DEVOURED this bad boy immediately after the first one.
TOP. TIER. FANTASY!!!!
I'd die for Nighteyes, just saying.
4.5 STARS
Twitter | Bookstagram | Youtube |
TOP. TIER. FANTASY!!!!
I'd die for Nighteyes, just saying.
4.5 STARS
Twitter | Bookstagram | Youtube |
December 21, 2021
I’ve done it. I read 100 books this year. And what a book it happened to be the one that helped my finish the challenge.
Royal Assassin is the 2nd volume in the Farseer Trilogy and one of the few middle books in a series that does not suffer from the filler syndrome. As per the previous installment, I have to mention that not everyone will enjoy reading Hobb. Royal Assassin is a beautifully written, very slow, characters driven story. There aren’t many battle scenes, not much humor, on the contrary, there are so many bad things happening to the main characters that some might even found reading it depressing. It is all worth it though. As I said, Hobb can write so beautifully and the characters are complex and different. You get to befriend some and really dislike others. We spend a lot of time inside Fitz’s mind with his love for Molly and his hurts for many, many reasons. Yes, it can get repetitive at times but I realized I did not mind. The bonding between Nighteyes and Fitz is amazing; I could not wait to read more scenes between those two. The last 150 pages a way more alert and the ending has a cliffhanger of sorts.
The novel is narrated by Paul Boehmer and I thought he did a wonderful job to bring life to the characters. I cannot wait to listen to him narrating the last part.
Royal Assassin is the 2nd volume in the Farseer Trilogy and one of the few middle books in a series that does not suffer from the filler syndrome. As per the previous installment, I have to mention that not everyone will enjoy reading Hobb. Royal Assassin is a beautifully written, very slow, characters driven story. There aren’t many battle scenes, not much humor, on the contrary, there are so many bad things happening to the main characters that some might even found reading it depressing. It is all worth it though. As I said, Hobb can write so beautifully and the characters are complex and different. You get to befriend some and really dislike others. We spend a lot of time inside Fitz’s mind with his love for Molly and his hurts for many, many reasons. Yes, it can get repetitive at times but I realized I did not mind. The bonding between Nighteyes and Fitz is amazing; I could not wait to read more scenes between those two. The last 150 pages a way more alert and the ending has a cliffhanger of sorts.
The novel is narrated by Paul Boehmer and I thought he did a wonderful job to bring life to the characters. I cannot wait to listen to him narrating the last part.
August 1, 2019
"Wolves have no kings."
Minor spoilers may follow. After being poisoned in the Mountain Kingdom towards the end of Assassin's Apprentice, Fitz is a broken and crippled shell of his former self. He swears to himself that he will no longer be one of King Shrewd's men and will not return to Buckeep. The day before Burrich and Hands are set to venture back to the capital Fitz has a sort of fever dream. Without him truly understanding he finds himself Skilling and resurfaces in the King's body as he is talking to the Fool. He is made aware of an illness that ails the King and that all is not well in Buckeep at all. After this confusing but eye-opening exchange Fitz changes his mind and sets off with his comrades the following morning. The Red Ship armies and their forged soldiers are attacking settlements continuously and are getting scarily close to, as if somehow they are being drawn to, the capital city. It also soon becomes clear that Prince Regal has malignant ambitions and potential political turmoil is just around the corner.
“Are you sure you’ve not had a bad dream?”
“If I have, it’s lasted most of my life.”
To say that it took me four attempts to read and complete Assassin's Apprentice I had no such gripes with Royal Assassin. I raced through the 648 pages in under 4 days and loved every second. I fell back into the mind of FitzChivalry effortlessly. Hobb's characters are phenomenally well-crafted and the way that she's able to arouse my heart, my tears, and also my utter hatred of certain players is masterful. The way she makes me despise Prince Regal is as if he were personally treating me the way that he does "the bastard." My favourites to read about were the honourable King-in-Waiting Prince Verity, Assassin Master Chade, the eccentric and art-loving Lady Patience, and the warrior-like but often isolated Queen-in-Waiting Kettricken.
"Sometimes," Chade observed, "it would be much easier to die for one's king than to give one's life to him."
My absolute favourite scenes throughout the narrative are when Fitz converses with a wolf that he rescued from captivity, Nighteyes. We find out a lot more about the magic certain people can wield in this entry, especially The Wit (known impassionately to most as beast-magic), showcasing what Fitz and his companion can do together to help each other. Fitz uses Nighteyes senses sometimes, Nighteyes makes him aware when someone is following him, and likewise, Fitz helps his wolf hunt when he has wolf dreams. The Skill is also explained and utilised more frequently in Royal Assassin especially when Verity can speak to and follow the actions of Fitz when Fitz is fighting the raiders and vice-versa when Verity travels to the Rain Wilds in search of the Elderlings.
Although it does include some stunning action segments, a lot of Royal Assassin is about the quieter times, the thoughts and conversations characters share, beautifully massaging every word, statement, motive, agenda into our mind so then the action scenes hit much harder as we completely understand the consequences from all angles. An average day for Fitz would be a conversation with Burrich, with Patience, meeting the Fool, keeping Kettricken company, talking to Nighteyes, conversing with Verity, being summoned by the King, insulted by Regal, still infatuated with Molly and then meeting Chade is the assassin's hidden abode. It doesn't sound the most exciting when spelled out like that but I was hanging on every word and adored the entire reading experience.
Assassin's Apprentice followed Fitz over 10 years of his early existence. This narrative takes place over much less time. Perhaps a year or two. Fitz is a brilliant protagonist, extremely intelligent and he always knows much more about what is happening than anybody else can acknowledge, apart from Chade, but even from him, Fitz keeps a few secrets. We share Fitz's highs, lows, dreams, dramas and even his utter lucid, revenge-inspired madness at one point.
The last 100 or so pages are absolutely phenomenal. Due to the incidents taking place I was gripping my book with such intensity that I thought I was going to rip it in half. Eyes glued to the page, every word attacking a plethora of my emotions. Royal Assassin is an engaging and intense character-focused political fantasy masterclass. I'll be reading Assassin's Quest as soon as I can and if things continue this way then Hobb might have written what could become one of my top 3 fantasy series of all time.
Minor spoilers may follow. After being poisoned in the Mountain Kingdom towards the end of Assassin's Apprentice, Fitz is a broken and crippled shell of his former self. He swears to himself that he will no longer be one of King Shrewd's men and will not return to Buckeep. The day before Burrich and Hands are set to venture back to the capital Fitz has a sort of fever dream. Without him truly understanding he finds himself Skilling and resurfaces in the King's body as he is talking to the Fool. He is made aware of an illness that ails the King and that all is not well in Buckeep at all. After this confusing but eye-opening exchange Fitz changes his mind and sets off with his comrades the following morning. The Red Ship armies and their forged soldiers are attacking settlements continuously and are getting scarily close to, as if somehow they are being drawn to, the capital city. It also soon becomes clear that Prince Regal has malignant ambitions and potential political turmoil is just around the corner.
“Are you sure you’ve not had a bad dream?”
“If I have, it’s lasted most of my life.”
To say that it took me four attempts to read and complete Assassin's Apprentice I had no such gripes with Royal Assassin. I raced through the 648 pages in under 4 days and loved every second. I fell back into the mind of FitzChivalry effortlessly. Hobb's characters are phenomenally well-crafted and the way that she's able to arouse my heart, my tears, and also my utter hatred of certain players is masterful. The way she makes me despise Prince Regal is as if he were personally treating me the way that he does "the bastard." My favourites to read about were the honourable King-in-Waiting Prince Verity, Assassin Master Chade, the eccentric and art-loving Lady Patience, and the warrior-like but often isolated Queen-in-Waiting Kettricken.
"Sometimes," Chade observed, "it would be much easier to die for one's king than to give one's life to him."
My absolute favourite scenes throughout the narrative are when Fitz converses with a wolf that he rescued from captivity, Nighteyes. We find out a lot more about the magic certain people can wield in this entry, especially The Wit (known impassionately to most as beast-magic), showcasing what Fitz and his companion can do together to help each other. Fitz uses Nighteyes senses sometimes, Nighteyes makes him aware when someone is following him, and likewise, Fitz helps his wolf hunt when he has wolf dreams. The Skill is also explained and utilised more frequently in Royal Assassin especially when Verity can speak to and follow the actions of Fitz when Fitz is fighting the raiders and vice-versa when Verity travels to the Rain Wilds in search of the Elderlings.
Although it does include some stunning action segments, a lot of Royal Assassin is about the quieter times, the thoughts and conversations characters share, beautifully massaging every word, statement, motive, agenda into our mind so then the action scenes hit much harder as we completely understand the consequences from all angles. An average day for Fitz would be a conversation with Burrich, with Patience, meeting the Fool, keeping Kettricken company, talking to Nighteyes, conversing with Verity, being summoned by the King, insulted by Regal, still infatuated with Molly and then meeting Chade is the assassin's hidden abode. It doesn't sound the most exciting when spelled out like that but I was hanging on every word and adored the entire reading experience.
Assassin's Apprentice followed Fitz over 10 years of his early existence. This narrative takes place over much less time. Perhaps a year or two. Fitz is a brilliant protagonist, extremely intelligent and he always knows much more about what is happening than anybody else can acknowledge, apart from Chade, but even from him, Fitz keeps a few secrets. We share Fitz's highs, lows, dreams, dramas and even his utter lucid, revenge-inspired madness at one point.
The last 100 or so pages are absolutely phenomenal. Due to the incidents taking place I was gripping my book with such intensity that I thought I was going to rip it in half. Eyes glued to the page, every word attacking a plethora of my emotions. Royal Assassin is an engaging and intense character-focused political fantasy masterclass. I'll be reading Assassin's Quest as soon as I can and if things continue this way then Hobb might have written what could become one of my top 3 fantasy series of all time.
January 14, 2022
A big shout out to my fierce and loyal wolven brother Nighteyes. He is everything in this book.
Robbin Hobb knew how to grab your attention.
Intrigue, magic, conflicts, characterization.
The smell of danger hidden behind the political upheaval, a twist of fate.
She gave you a perfect world to immerse in.
After finishing Assassin’s Apprentice, I became so invested in the story that I saw Fitz as my son. Let’s ignore the fact that at my age I hardly can have a son as old as him, but the truth is I don’t care. It was lovely to see how my boy grew in the second book. I was heartbroken to witness the suffering he endured, but I was so proud to see what he had achieved.
I fell hard for Burrich.
I couldn’t help it, I have always loved the kind of grumpy man who is secretly soft in heart. He was the one who always truly cared for Fitz. It might be just a responsibility for him at first for his respect and loyalty to Chivalry, but you can tell how he grew attached to Fitz and tried his best to raise him as his son.
I’m afraid I don’t care for the relationship between Fitz and Molly. I appreciated Robin Hobbs's effort to make Molly seem to be a mentally strong character, but in my eyes she had too much drama in her.
I tried to understand her, but her constant and unnecessary drama really wearied me and nearly ruined the whole book.
I’m curious why it seems that epic fantasy writers can always depict a likable female protagonist (I love Kettricken) but can never make the one that matches with the male protagonist likable?
Overall, the magical and epic world Robin Hobb built up helped me ignore the weakness in this book, and I am looking forward to reading the next book.
Robbin Hobb knew how to grab your attention.
Intrigue, magic, conflicts, characterization.
The smell of danger hidden behind the political upheaval, a twist of fate.
She gave you a perfect world to immerse in.
After finishing Assassin’s Apprentice, I became so invested in the story that I saw Fitz as my son. Let’s ignore the fact that at my age I hardly can have a son as old as him, but the truth is I don’t care. It was lovely to see how my boy grew in the second book. I was heartbroken to witness the suffering he endured, but I was so proud to see what he had achieved.
I fell hard for Burrich.
I couldn’t help it, I have always loved the kind of grumpy man who is secretly soft in heart. He was the one who always truly cared for Fitz. It might be just a responsibility for him at first for his respect and loyalty to Chivalry, but you can tell how he grew attached to Fitz and tried his best to raise him as his son.
I’m afraid I don’t care for the relationship between Fitz and Molly. I appreciated Robin Hobbs's effort to make Molly seem to be a mentally strong character, but in my eyes she had too much drama in her.
I tried to understand her, but her constant and unnecessary drama really wearied me and nearly ruined the whole book.
I’m curious why it seems that epic fantasy writers can always depict a likable female protagonist (I love Kettricken) but can never make the one that matches with the male protagonist likable?
Overall, the magical and epic world Robin Hobb built up helped me ignore the weakness in this book, and I am looking forward to reading the next book.
February 13, 2016
Fitzchivalry really does feel sorry for himself. He is very whiney at times, and this is often misinterpreted as self-indulgent uselessness. But, in my opinion, that’s completely unfair. Resting on his shoulders is a whole host of burdens. They would, no doubt, overcome a lesser man. Every decision he makes is hindered by his obligations. Indeed, nothing is easy for Fitz; he is restricted by his position in the world. This doesn’t make him useless, but limited in the actual paths he can take. Sometimes he doesn’t really have a choice, so his inaction can be seen as hesitation whilst he tries to find the best path.
A touch of Romance in the chaos
Somehow amongst his vast duties to his King, which include being his personal assassin and a reservoir of magical strength for his son, Fitz manages to find romance. This is a feat in itself because Fitz is also magically bonded to a wolf, which demands a great deal of his already sought after attention. And to top it off, he is hunting down and killing those that have had their minds destroyed by the mysterious invaders. Then there’s the skill magic which is a constant drain on his mental and physical resources. So, the fact that he has actually managed to find love, in this quagmire of murder and court intrigue, is truly remarkable. However, this could never become serious in this moment of FitzChivalry’s life because he just has too much going on.
Therefore, what will lead him into love will, ultimately, lead him out of it. Fitz is a king’s man, and that must always come first. His honour demands it; the six duchies demand it, and his masters demand it. He has no choice but to give everything he has over to the Farseer reign; he has to because they have no hope of defeating the red ships without him. Fitz simply isn’t ready for the relationship he pursues, which, of course, he doesn’t really know. Not yet anyway. I guess he learns a lot through this novel and, as ever, develops into a better person. Life certainly isn’t easy for Fitz.
A king that could (should?) have been
A moment presents itself in this novel; it is a moment that would have changed Fitz’s life forever; it is a moment that would have changed the six duchies, and the nature of this story, forever if Fitz has given in to temptation. His honour and integrity are immortalised in this moment; it was at this point in the story that I realised the true nature of the protagonist. He is an assassin, but his personality is more suited to that of a noble knight. Fitz will always come through in the end, but it’s good to know where his loyalties lie. He will always have a role to play; he will always be truly loyal to the Farseer throne, but could never take it for himself. He is “sacrifice” not King. Something tells me there are the pale fingers of the Fool in all of this; he doesn’t want his catalyst, and his pack, tied down.
“Come, hunt with me, the invitation whispers in my heart. Leave the pain behind and let your life be your own again. There is a place where all time is now, and the choices are simple and always your own. Wolves have no kings.”
This novel was so much better than the first one, which says a lot considering I gave that five stars. I think this is mainly because Fitz has a much larger role to play. He can change things and has strong political opportunities of his own; he can, essentially, become more than he is, if he so chose. Fitz was too young to alter the fate of the Six Duchies before. Now, in this, he is much older. His voice has more weight and his actions have larger consequences. However, he may be older, but he still hasn’t fully developed his wisdom. When the chance comes for justice he almost loses everything; he will most certainly learn from this most reckless error.
I love the magic; I love the characters; I love the writing: I simply love it all.
The Farseer Trilogy
1. Assassin's Apprentice-An overwhelming five stars
2. Royal Assassin- A character defining five stars
A touch of Romance in the chaos
Somehow amongst his vast duties to his King, which include being his personal assassin and a reservoir of magical strength for his son, Fitz manages to find romance. This is a feat in itself because Fitz is also magically bonded to a wolf, which demands a great deal of his already sought after attention. And to top it off, he is hunting down and killing those that have had their minds destroyed by the mysterious invaders. Then there’s the skill magic which is a constant drain on his mental and physical resources. So, the fact that he has actually managed to find love, in this quagmire of murder and court intrigue, is truly remarkable. However, this could never become serious in this moment of FitzChivalry’s life because he just has too much going on.
Therefore, what will lead him into love will, ultimately, lead him out of it. Fitz is a king’s man, and that must always come first. His honour demands it; the six duchies demand it, and his masters demand it. He has no choice but to give everything he has over to the Farseer reign; he has to because they have no hope of defeating the red ships without him. Fitz simply isn’t ready for the relationship he pursues, which, of course, he doesn’t really know. Not yet anyway. I guess he learns a lot through this novel and, as ever, develops into a better person. Life certainly isn’t easy for Fitz.
A king that could (should?) have been
A moment presents itself in this novel; it is a moment that would have changed Fitz’s life forever; it is a moment that would have changed the six duchies, and the nature of this story, forever if Fitz has given in to temptation. His honour and integrity are immortalised in this moment; it was at this point in the story that I realised the true nature of the protagonist. He is an assassin, but his personality is more suited to that of a noble knight. Fitz will always come through in the end, but it’s good to know where his loyalties lie. He will always have a role to play; he will always be truly loyal to the Farseer throne, but could never take it for himself. He is “sacrifice” not King. Something tells me there are the pale fingers of the Fool in all of this; he doesn’t want his catalyst, and his pack, tied down.
“Come, hunt with me, the invitation whispers in my heart. Leave the pain behind and let your life be your own again. There is a place where all time is now, and the choices are simple and always your own. Wolves have no kings.”
This novel was so much better than the first one, which says a lot considering I gave that five stars. I think this is mainly because Fitz has a much larger role to play. He can change things and has strong political opportunities of his own; he can, essentially, become more than he is, if he so chose. Fitz was too young to alter the fate of the Six Duchies before. Now, in this, he is much older. His voice has more weight and his actions have larger consequences. However, he may be older, but he still hasn’t fully developed his wisdom. When the chance comes for justice he almost loses everything; he will most certainly learn from this most reckless error.
I love the magic; I love the characters; I love the writing: I simply love it all.
The Farseer Trilogy
1. Assassin's Apprentice-An overwhelming five stars
2. Royal Assassin- A character defining five stars
September 6, 2021
I started the Farseer trilogy 4 years ago (2017, it certainly doesn't feel like 4 years went by since then) and although I really enjoyed Assassin's Apprentice, I didn't continue this series. I was at a point in my life where I started too many series only to drop them/put them on hold. I knew I wanted to continue the Farseer one day, it was just a matter of when. I'm glad a few of my friends wanted to read it so we BR, and it was very helpful to me since I remembered close to nothing from the first book.
I'm happy to say that I very much enjoyed this book and it made me feel a lot of hate towards the bad guy (been a while since I hated a villain with passion). It was also full of plot twists I didn't expect and memorable secondary characters. It's not a perfect book but it made me wish I never stopped reading this trilogy. BRing this book has been very fun however and I'm certain, made me appreciate this book so there's that!
Let's start with Hobb's prose appreciation. She's a very talented writer with beautiful writing -for the most part (I'll get to that later). She also made me feel scared. Authors rarely manage to do that. Every time Fitz saw a white ship, I felt his terror. I also quickly loved Buckkeep again even if I barely remember anything about it.
Another highlight in this book for me was the secondary characters. Patience, Verity, Kettricken, Lacey, and most importantly, the Fool. You know an author is skilled when they don't add another perspective just to make you like characters/show you more things. To be clear, sometimes it is necessary to the story. However, sadly, many times it isn't. I loved them just like I loved Fitz and I'll remember them as one of the best secondary characters set I've yet to come across (without having their own chapters). They're certainly three-dimensional and easy to care about. And Regal, who I hated the man.. I'm looking forward to seeing what will Robb do with our secondary characters after that ending.
The pace of this book was certainly slow, I had a difficult time focusing while reading some chapters. Yet, I couldn't stop reading when we reading the last 30% of the book, the pace increased and the stakes became much higher. It made the first 2 parts worth it. Liking the characters also certainly helped.
Let's not forget Nighteyes!! The wolf is so selfless and cares immensely about Fitz.. I was so happy seeing more "caring" let's say towards him. He really needs that.
The thing that annoyed me the most was sadly Molly. I hated her arc completely. I have yet to come across a person who liked the girl. She's so annoying, my God. Fitz's scenes (and dreams) about her got really repetitive and didn't add anything to the story. He was so mature in some places, I was surprised to remember he's only 15 yo giving such wise advice. But when it came to Molly, he came a lovesick teen. And you know, it's normal but we did not need to read about them so much. Did I mention how annoying Molly is? Her mere existence irritates me. I do not look forward to seeing more of Molly. I hope I don't. She didn't add anything to the story, only showed how naive and stupid she is. I'm pretty sure if she had a different name, I would've hated her less. I mean Molly, how unoriginal is this name in fantasy?
Briefly, this book was a pleasant surprise, I didn't expect to enjoy it so much. The characters were well-written and the story if slow-paced, had a rewarding ending. I'm still not sure how I feel about a particular part of the ending but overall, it was good. I'm very worried about reading Assassin's Quest now because of the reviews. But at least I have the Liveship Traders trilogy to look forward to. I also hope to see some elderlings and dragons soon.
A very fun BR with Milica and Serge. It's an excellent book for group discussions.
December 24, 2019
I very much enjoyed this on audiobook and plan to finish the trilogy that way, as I think it would be much slower going on physical copy. This is much more of a character driven fantasy, focused on slow subtle moments between characters and an intricate web of interactions. And wow does Hobb love to make her main character suffer. But I’m glad I’m seeing Fitz grow up so that I can enjoy the entire Realm of the Elderling series with this as the foundation.
January 14, 2018
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
Often times, I'm a little hesitant when I pick up older Fantasy. I haven't read an abundance of older Fantasy books, but I have discovered from the few I have read that I'm not always a fan of the "Classic" feel. It can be tropey & predictable & even campy, but it really just depends so I never like to let my hesitations keep me from giving things a try!
Even after a 3 star beginning to the Farseer Trilogy, I'm really glad I continued on with the series.
Royal Assassin stepped up to fill in all the places where I wanted more from Assassin's Apprentice.
Yes, the pace is still slow. But I found myself 100% invested in what was happening in each & every scene.
Yes, Fitz is still a poster boy for suffering. But the foundation provided by the first installment created an attachment to Fitz's well-being that makes his suffering meaningful for character growth.
Yes, the setting is still largely at Buckkeep. But the political situation & Regal's continual scheming have developed into a formidable creature with many facets to address & thus, Buckkeep castle is an appropriate center point of the conflict.
The character development for both minor & major characters is off the charts in this installment. Lady Patience, Burrich, Molly, Chade, Kettricken, Verity, and The Fool experience some wonderful growth that expands on the social condition of Fitz's life.
Seeing him forge his relationships while balancing his promises of loyalty, the attacks of the Red Ship Raiders, the Forging of Six Duchies folk, and figuring out how his Wit and Skill will best serve the Realm was quite a treat.
I also want to mention that the addition of a character named Nighteyes is a huge plus & provides some extraordinary complexity to Fitz in ways I can't explain without spoiling parts of the book!
Whereas before I didn't feel myself fully connecting to the story, this time around I was totally engaged & on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen. Each scene felt immediately important to the overarching conflict or to developing a critical piece of characterization. This with the addition of a couple new characters makes for a narrative that feels complete & satisfying.
I've said it before, but I must say again just how excellent Hobb's writing is. Dialogue, description, action, you name it, she can write it masterfully. It flows like honey without being superfluous & I can say without a doubt it's one of my all time favorite writing styles among the many authors I've read.
And this may sound strange, but this book in particular has some of the most beautifully & tastefully written scenes of intimacy that I have ever read in my entire life. If all such scenes were written with this degree of skill I'd probably never find them intrusive (as I often do).
I knocked off half a star because I feel like by this point in the story I should be more familiar with the magic systems of The Skill and The Wit. There's plenty of experience with both forms of mental magic through Fitz, but I feel like they remain ill-defined as far as magic systems go. It doesn't feel detrimental to the story largely because of the First Person POV, we experience the magic in the same way Fitz does (without much of a clue). But I still wish I understood the fundamentals a bit better than I do after spending so much time in this world.
Altogether a splendid upgrade from the first novel. My investment in the characters & story has grown exponentially & I'm very much looking forward to seeing how this story pans out!
Often times, I'm a little hesitant when I pick up older Fantasy. I haven't read an abundance of older Fantasy books, but I have discovered from the few I have read that I'm not always a fan of the "Classic" feel. It can be tropey & predictable & even campy, but it really just depends so I never like to let my hesitations keep me from giving things a try!
Even after a 3 star beginning to the Farseer Trilogy, I'm really glad I continued on with the series.
Royal Assassin stepped up to fill in all the places where I wanted more from Assassin's Apprentice.
Yes, the pace is still slow. But I found myself 100% invested in what was happening in each & every scene.
Yes, Fitz is still a poster boy for suffering. But the foundation provided by the first installment created an attachment to Fitz's well-being that makes his suffering meaningful for character growth.
Yes, the setting is still largely at Buckkeep. But the political situation & Regal's continual scheming have developed into a formidable creature with many facets to address & thus, Buckkeep castle is an appropriate center point of the conflict.
The character development for both minor & major characters is off the charts in this installment. Lady Patience, Burrich, Molly, Chade, Kettricken, Verity, and The Fool experience some wonderful growth that expands on the social condition of Fitz's life.
Seeing him forge his relationships while balancing his promises of loyalty, the attacks of the Red Ship Raiders, the Forging of Six Duchies folk, and figuring out how his Wit and Skill will best serve the Realm was quite a treat.
I also want to mention that the addition of a character named Nighteyes is a huge plus & provides some extraordinary complexity to Fitz in ways I can't explain without spoiling parts of the book!
Whereas before I didn't feel myself fully connecting to the story, this time around I was totally engaged & on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen. Each scene felt immediately important to the overarching conflict or to developing a critical piece of characterization. This with the addition of a couple new characters makes for a narrative that feels complete & satisfying.
I've said it before, but I must say again just how excellent Hobb's writing is. Dialogue, description, action, you name it, she can write it masterfully. It flows like honey without being superfluous & I can say without a doubt it's one of my all time favorite writing styles among the many authors I've read.
And this may sound strange, but this book in particular has some of the most beautifully & tastefully written scenes of intimacy that I have ever read in my entire life. If all such scenes were written with this degree of skill I'd probably never find them intrusive (as I often do).
I knocked off half a star because I feel like by this point in the story I should be more familiar with the magic systems of The Skill and The Wit. There's plenty of experience with both forms of mental magic through Fitz, but I feel like they remain ill-defined as far as magic systems go. It doesn't feel detrimental to the story largely because of the First Person POV, we experience the magic in the same way Fitz does (without much of a clue). But I still wish I understood the fundamentals a bit better than I do after spending so much time in this world.
Altogether a splendid upgrade from the first novel. My investment in the characters & story has grown exponentially & I'm very much looking forward to seeing how this story pans out!
February 26, 2018
4.75⭐️
The things we go through for books...
The mental strain, people!
RTC
The things we go through for books...
The mental strain, people!
RTC
February 20, 2024
1.) Assassin's Apprentice ★★★★
[2024 reread] ★★★★
i really just love fitz a lot and i am really hard pressed to think of a character who i really am rooting for more than fitzchivalry. in this second installment in this first realm of the elderlings series, we get to see him truly becoming an adult and continuing writing his story about his time at the ancient fortress, buckkeep.
the red ship raiders are still (you guessed it) raiding the towns and villages on the coast of the six dutchies. verity, the king in waiting, is trying to do everything he can to keep the attacks from happening, but meanwhile, back in the castle, king shrewd is very ill and becoming more ill as the days pass. and regal is… being regal. all while fitz is still healing from what he did to him in book one (while also trying to be the best assassin he can).
but in this book we get to see so much more of the fool, which i loved. and we get to meet nighteyes, who has my whole heart actually. and we also get to see fitz navigate through love, which was really something i was not anticipating but it was sweet and really felt like first love to me.
and, as always, i loved every scene with burrich, chade, patience. i really mean it when i say that no one is writing a cast of characters like robin hobb. i absolutely cannot wait for assassin's quest.
trigger + content warnings: talk of loss of animals in past, talk of child abuse / abusive parents, talk of children death, grief, talk of medical conditions, seizures, blood, murder, mentions of rape, scenes of ravaging and pillaging, assault, cannibalism, animal abuse, poor care of elderly, loss of a grandparent, captivity, torture, brief suicide mention, talk of pregnancy, a lot of talk of disease, vomit, talk of miscarrying a child (i wont lie, this book was actually way darker than i remember - so please use caution and take care of yourself while reading!)
[2018 first read] ★★★★
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[2024 reread] ★★★★
i really just love fitz a lot and i am really hard pressed to think of a character who i really am rooting for more than fitzchivalry. in this second installment in this first realm of the elderlings series, we get to see him truly becoming an adult and continuing writing his story about his time at the ancient fortress, buckkeep.
the red ship raiders are still (you guessed it) raiding the towns and villages on the coast of the six dutchies. verity, the king in waiting, is trying to do everything he can to keep the attacks from happening, but meanwhile, back in the castle, king shrewd is very ill and becoming more ill as the days pass. and regal is… being regal. all while fitz is still healing from what he did to him in book one (while also trying to be the best assassin he can).
but in this book we get to see so much more of the fool, which i loved. and we get to meet nighteyes, who has my whole heart actually. and we also get to see fitz navigate through love, which was really something i was not anticipating but it was sweet and really felt like first love to me.
and, as always, i loved every scene with burrich, chade, patience. i really mean it when i say that no one is writing a cast of characters like robin hobb. i absolutely cannot wait for assassin's quest.
trigger + content warnings: talk of loss of animals in past, talk of child abuse / abusive parents, talk of children death, grief, talk of medical conditions, seizures, blood, murder, mentions of rape, scenes of ravaging and pillaging, assault, cannibalism, animal abuse, poor care of elderly, loss of a grandparent, captivity, torture, brief suicide mention, talk of pregnancy, a lot of talk of disease, vomit, talk of miscarrying a child (i wont lie, this book was actually way darker than i remember - so please use caution and take care of yourself while reading!)
[2018 first read] ★★★★
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December 28, 2018
The pace of Assassin's Apprentice was slow. In Royal Assassin, the pace of the story is even slower. Despite the slow pace, this book (and its predecessor) managed to stay my interest in the story. The world building in this book is done brilliantly. The author vividly depicted a life at the royal court, with colorful narratives and a carefully executed, suspenseful plot.
The characterization in this book remains a strength worthy to be praised. The characters in this book are believable. The author allowed her protagonist, Fitz, to make mistakes and suffer the consequences.
Fitz is a worthy hero. He ticks off some of the usual fantasy checkboxes by being a royal bastard and a wielder of special powers. But Hobb also cripples him—twice. First when his powers with the Skill are nearly burned out of him, and again when he’s forced to take two rounds of poison in rapid succession. He learns to manage the resulting weakness and seizures, but rarely overcomes them entirely.
The supporting cast is just as endearing. Burrich is honorable to the point of misery, Patience is flighty but genuine, the Fool is as quick-witted as he is loyal … It’s a good group.
I also want to share, that I found writings in this book a pleasure to read. Like in Assassin's Apprentice, Robin Hobb wrote beautifully and powerfully. Usually, I am not overly fuzzy about the quality of prose in a novel. But in the case of Farseer trilogy, I appreciate the excellent writings, because it enhanced the charm of the story.
All in all, a stellar read. And there’s so many directions the rest of this series can head off in. I have absolutely no idea what to expect next, and it’s written in a way that anyone can pick up the novel and not have to worry about not having read the first installment. I recommend this to all those Name of the Wind lovers out there. This is right up your alley.
In all sincerity, I could not find much to complain about Royal Assassin. In my opinion, this book is a solid sequel to Assassin's Apprentice. While the pace in this book may be slow, but in the last 50 pages, every plot device was triggered simultaneously, crescendoed to a mind-blowing conclusion that ended with a cliffhanger. At this point, I am eager to venture into the last book to this trilogy, Assassin's Quest, which will be the final chapter to this moving tale.
The characterization in this book remains a strength worthy to be praised. The characters in this book are believable. The author allowed her protagonist, Fitz, to make mistakes and suffer the consequences.
Fitz is a worthy hero. He ticks off some of the usual fantasy checkboxes by being a royal bastard and a wielder of special powers. But Hobb also cripples him—twice. First when his powers with the Skill are nearly burned out of him, and again when he’s forced to take two rounds of poison in rapid succession. He learns to manage the resulting weakness and seizures, but rarely overcomes them entirely.
The supporting cast is just as endearing. Burrich is honorable to the point of misery, Patience is flighty but genuine, the Fool is as quick-witted as he is loyal … It’s a good group.
I also want to share, that I found writings in this book a pleasure to read. Like in Assassin's Apprentice, Robin Hobb wrote beautifully and powerfully. Usually, I am not overly fuzzy about the quality of prose in a novel. But in the case of Farseer trilogy, I appreciate the excellent writings, because it enhanced the charm of the story.
All in all, a stellar read. And there’s so many directions the rest of this series can head off in. I have absolutely no idea what to expect next, and it’s written in a way that anyone can pick up the novel and not have to worry about not having read the first installment. I recommend this to all those Name of the Wind lovers out there. This is right up your alley.
In all sincerity, I could not find much to complain about Royal Assassin. In my opinion, this book is a solid sequel to Assassin's Apprentice. While the pace in this book may be slow, but in the last 50 pages, every plot device was triggered simultaneously, crescendoed to a mind-blowing conclusion that ended with a cliffhanger. At this point, I am eager to venture into the last book to this trilogy, Assassin's Quest, which will be the final chapter to this moving tale.
September 2, 2017
Starting a middle book of the series is never an easy endeavor, especially if you loved the first book because there are certain expectations and funny thing about expectations is that no matter how small they are, there is always a possibility they won’t be met. My only expectation for Royal Assassin was it to be at least as good as the Assassin’s Apprentice. This book didn’t just exceeded my expectations, it also solidified this series as one of my favorites and I have yet to read the conclusion and the following trilogies.
We continue with the Fitz’s story following the events from Assassin’s Apprentice; Fitz is recovering from those events in the Mountain Kingdom where he contemplates his future and after having a strong vision of a person he cares about, he decides to go back to Buckkeep and to continue serving King Shrewd and his son, King-in-Waiting, Prince Verity.
Upon his return he is immediately entangled in perilous events taking place inside and outside of the court. The main antagonist, Prince Regal, is plotting his way to the throne while the Red-Ship Raiders are continuing to represent a constant threat to the Six Duchies.
That is just the beginning of the tale and I’ll stop here because there is no point in revealing the whole story; that is for you to find out and experience yourself. There is an abundance of intricate schemes and plots woven into the story making it a compelling read. Hobb uses a lot of motifs to establish the overall atmosphere and to weave together the thematic complexities of the plot. One motif that prevails and has a great effect on the story and the characters is loyalty. Characters are often torn between what they wish to do and what they need to do and that is a great way to flesh out their emotions and inner thoughts making them more believable. Characterization is the strongest element of Hobb’s writing; relationships between characters are brilliantly done allowing us to truly get to know them. Emotions which manifest from those relationships are setting off the storyline and keep it moving making it a richer experience.
That leads me to the relationship and a character which is, for me, a highlight of this novel; a wolf named Nighteyes. Saved by Fitz from a life in cage when he was just a weak cub and giving him food and shelter, teaching him how to hunt so he could one day live on its own. Even though reluctant at first, Fitz forms a very strong and unbreakable bond with Nighteyes. It's wrong to think of Nighteyes as mere pet or a simple companion, he is way more than that, he is a quintessential part of Fitz's life, he gives him strength, he is loyal to the core and he makes him complete. They have a strong and mutually dependent bond. They are a pack.
“There is a place where all time is now, and the choices are simple and always your own. Wolves have no kings.”
This is a slow burn character driven fantasy with a carefully executed and suspenseful plot which turns in an absolute crescendo in the last quarter of the book and ends in a mind-blowing way which makes me very excited to continue this adventure.
Royal Assassin will appeal to readers who enjoy classic fantasy tales but also readers who enjoyed contemporary fantasy novels like The Name of the Wind. So, if you belong in any of those groups, I highly recommend that you give this series a try.
We continue with the Fitz’s story following the events from Assassin’s Apprentice; Fitz is recovering from those events in the Mountain Kingdom where he contemplates his future and after having a strong vision of a person he cares about, he decides to go back to Buckkeep and to continue serving King Shrewd and his son, King-in-Waiting, Prince Verity.
Upon his return he is immediately entangled in perilous events taking place inside and outside of the court. The main antagonist, Prince Regal, is plotting his way to the throne while the Red-Ship Raiders are continuing to represent a constant threat to the Six Duchies.
That is just the beginning of the tale and I’ll stop here because there is no point in revealing the whole story; that is for you to find out and experience yourself. There is an abundance of intricate schemes and plots woven into the story making it a compelling read. Hobb uses a lot of motifs to establish the overall atmosphere and to weave together the thematic complexities of the plot. One motif that prevails and has a great effect on the story and the characters is loyalty. Characters are often torn between what they wish to do and what they need to do and that is a great way to flesh out their emotions and inner thoughts making them more believable. Characterization is the strongest element of Hobb’s writing; relationships between characters are brilliantly done allowing us to truly get to know them. Emotions which manifest from those relationships are setting off the storyline and keep it moving making it a richer experience.
That leads me to the relationship and a character which is, for me, a highlight of this novel; a wolf named Nighteyes. Saved by Fitz from a life in cage when he was just a weak cub and giving him food and shelter, teaching him how to hunt so he could one day live on its own. Even though reluctant at first, Fitz forms a very strong and unbreakable bond with Nighteyes. It's wrong to think of Nighteyes as mere pet or a simple companion, he is way more than that, he is a quintessential part of Fitz's life, he gives him strength, he is loyal to the core and he makes him complete. They have a strong and mutually dependent bond. They are a pack.
“There is a place where all time is now, and the choices are simple and always your own. Wolves have no kings.”
This is a slow burn character driven fantasy with a carefully executed and suspenseful plot which turns in an absolute crescendo in the last quarter of the book and ends in a mind-blowing way which makes me very excited to continue this adventure.
Royal Assassin will appeal to readers who enjoy classic fantasy tales but also readers who enjoyed contemporary fantasy novels like The Name of the Wind. So, if you belong in any of those groups, I highly recommend that you give this series a try.
April 27, 2017
Proposed alternate title: FitzChivalry Farseer and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day (Year, Life, etc.)
On one hand, this feels like a three-star read: for an epic fantasy book (and series), not much happens, (certainly not much that feels very epic), there’s a paucity of truly intriguing villains (and no monsters), and the magic system is not particularly well defined. Plus, as suggested by the proposed alternate title above…man, poor Fitz just gets constantly pummeled in the giggleberries by life. And then it gives him a wedgie. And points and laughs. And then shoves a brontosaurus up his backside without even doing him the courtesy of lubing it up. (Side note: how much KY would be required to fully coat a brontosaurus? I bet no one has ever bothered to figure that out. Inexplicably, I might add.)
On the other hand…
There’s something extremely compelling, almost addictive, about the prose. Hobbs is a master stylist with a voice that’s perfect for the genre, and her affinity for detail not only makes the world feel realistic (in the sense of not doing anything unfair to the reader), but every time she describes food, my mouth starts watering (thank goodness Kindles are easier to clean than paperbacks). She’s also created a set of characters who, for the most part, are complex and interesting and don’t hew to typical fantasy stereotypes.
So, we’ll give it an extra star for that.
In all, an engaging series, and one I’m looking forward to continuing. I just hope the epicness ramps up a bit in the concluding volume…
On one hand, this feels like a three-star read: for an epic fantasy book (and series), not much happens, (certainly not much that feels very epic), there’s a paucity of truly intriguing villains (and no monsters), and the magic system is not particularly well defined. Plus, as suggested by the proposed alternate title above…man, poor Fitz just gets constantly pummeled in the giggleberries by life. And then it gives him a wedgie. And points and laughs. And then shoves a brontosaurus up his backside without even doing him the courtesy of lubing it up. (Side note: how much KY would be required to fully coat a brontosaurus? I bet no one has ever bothered to figure that out. Inexplicably, I might add.)
On the other hand…
There’s something extremely compelling, almost addictive, about the prose. Hobbs is a master stylist with a voice that’s perfect for the genre, and her affinity for detail not only makes the world feel realistic (in the sense of not doing anything unfair to the reader), but every time she describes food, my mouth starts watering (thank goodness Kindles are easier to clean than paperbacks). She’s also created a set of characters who, for the most part, are complex and interesting and don’t hew to typical fantasy stereotypes.
So, we’ll give it an extra star for that.
In all, an engaging series, and one I’m looking forward to continuing. I just hope the epicness ramps up a bit in the concluding volume…
October 27, 2024
So many tears 😭
Nighteyes 😭
Wolves have no kings 😭
'Stay with me' 😭
We are pack 😭
Robin Hobb, I see your game now.
Nighteyes 😭
Wolves have no kings 😭
'Stay with me' 😭
We are pack 😭
Robin Hobb, I see your game now.
March 7, 2022
Royal Assassin (Farseer Trilogy, #2), Robin Hobb
Royal Assassin the second book in The Farseer Trilogy is a fantasy novel by American writer Robin Hobb. Fitz has survived his first hazardous mission as king’s assassin, but is left little more than a cripple. Battered and bitter, he vows to abandon his oath to King Shrewd, remaining in the distant mountains. But love and events of terrible urgency draw him back to the court at Buckkeep, and into the deadly intrigues of the royal family. ... The king has been struck down by a mystery illness and his eldest son, Verity, is bound up in the defense of the realm. When Verity leaves the court in search of the mythical Elderlings, Fitz finds himself friendless apart from his wolf, Nighteyes, and the king's strange, motley-clad fool, exposed to Prince Regal's malign ambitions. He will be asked to sacrifice everything - his heart, his hope, even his life - for the sake of the realm.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز چهارم ماه فوریه سال2022میلادی
عنوان: آدمکش سلطنتی کتاب دوم از سه گانه فارسیر؛ نویسنده: رابین هاب؛ مترجم: سلمان ثابت؛ تهران، بهنام، سال1400؛ در دو جلد؛ جلد یک در520ص؛ جلد دو در475ص؛ شابک دوره9786226651752؛ شابک جلد یک9786226651769؛ شابک جلد دو9786226651772؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگانایالات متحده آمریکا - سده20م
از نخستین ماموریت خطرناک خود آدمکش پادشاه «فیتز» جان سالم به در میبَرَد و میخواهد عهد و پیمانی که با «شاه شرود» بسته بود را رها کند، و در قلمروی دور دست در کوهستان زنگی کند؛ با اینحال، عشق و چند رویداد این خیال «فیتز» را به چالش میکشند؛ تلاشهای «ریگال» برای تصاحب تاج و تخت پادشاهی سرزمین شش دوک نشین، ناکام مانده؛ حالا، همچنان که «فیتز» رفته رفته از مسمومیت زهر مرگباری که به کام او ریخته شده بود بهبود مییابد، دلقک پادشاه در گوش او زمزمه میکند: «فیتز» من و تو اینجا هستیم تا آینده و دنیا رو تغییر بدیم...؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 15/12/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
Royal Assassin the second book in The Farseer Trilogy is a fantasy novel by American writer Robin Hobb. Fitz has survived his first hazardous mission as king’s assassin, but is left little more than a cripple. Battered and bitter, he vows to abandon his oath to King Shrewd, remaining in the distant mountains. But love and events of terrible urgency draw him back to the court at Buckkeep, and into the deadly intrigues of the royal family. ... The king has been struck down by a mystery illness and his eldest son, Verity, is bound up in the defense of the realm. When Verity leaves the court in search of the mythical Elderlings, Fitz finds himself friendless apart from his wolf, Nighteyes, and the king's strange, motley-clad fool, exposed to Prince Regal's malign ambitions. He will be asked to sacrifice everything - his heart, his hope, even his life - for the sake of the realm.
تاریخ نخستین خوانش روز چهارم ماه فوریه سال2022میلادی
عنوان: آدمکش سلطنتی کتاب دوم از سه گانه فارسیر؛ نویسنده: رابین هاب؛ مترجم: سلمان ثابت؛ تهران، بهنام، سال1400؛ در دو جلد؛ جلد یک در520ص؛ جلد دو در475ص؛ شابک دوره9786226651752؛ شابک جلد یک9786226651769؛ شابک جلد دو9786226651772؛ موضوع داستانهای نویسندگانایالات متحده آمریکا - سده20م
از نخستین ماموریت خطرناک خود آدمکش پادشاه «فیتز» جان سالم به در میبَرَد و میخواهد عهد و پیمانی که با «شاه شرود» بسته بود را رها کند، و در قلمروی دور دست در کوهستان زنگی کند؛ با اینحال، عشق و چند رویداد این خیال «فیتز» را به چالش میکشند؛ تلاشهای «ریگال» برای تصاحب تاج و تخت پادشاهی سرزمین شش دوک نشین، ناکام مانده؛ حالا، همچنان که «فیتز» رفته رفته از مسمومیت زهر مرگباری که به کام او ریخته شده بود بهبود مییابد، دلقک پادشاه در گوش او زمزمه میکند: «فیتز» من و تو اینجا هستیم تا آینده و دنیا رو تغییر بدیم...؛
تاریخ بهنگام رسانی 15/12/1400هجری خورشیدی؛ ا. شربیانی
June 27, 2021
Full video review here: https://youtu.be/zNRKYZOeGfs
Wow what a followup and absolutely beautifully tragic story Robin Hobb has created here. Easily one of the best books I've read this year. Hobb improved on Assassin's Apprentice in damn near every conceivable way with this entry. It's full of great characters, tragic storylines, and absolutely gorgeous writing. The hype and praise is to be believed for this book, that was excellent.
Wow what a followup and absolutely beautifully tragic story Robin Hobb has created here. Easily one of the best books I've read this year. Hobb improved on Assassin's Apprentice in damn near every conceivable way with this entry. It's full of great characters, tragic storylines, and absolutely gorgeous writing. The hype and praise is to be believed for this book, that was excellent.
September 14, 2014
Buddy read with Alexa!
Come, hunt with me, the invitation whispers in my heart. Leave the pain behind and let your life be your own again. There is a place where all time is now, and the choices are simple and always your own.
Wolves have no kings.
After the harrowing experience in the Mountain Kingdom, FitzChivalry returns to Buckkeep and the Farseer court. Having barely survived his first real mission as a royal assassin, Fitz first vowed to renounce his oath to King Shrewd and abandon the shadowy world of intrigue completely, but his destiny eventually takes him back to the very place where his journey began, and back to the life of an assassin…
Royal Assassin is more of what happened in Assassin’s Apprentice. We have the same enemy raiding the shores of the Six Duchies, inflicting the same horrors on the same people. We have the same antagonist, leashed but not put down. We have the same protagonist taking his lessons from the same people and essentially doing exactly what he did in the first book. And except for a character or two, there is little new.
For the first seventy percent of this book (yes, seventy), nothing happened. The first book was also incredibly slow to get the plot moving, but really not this slow, and in that book it had a purpose: introduction of characters, plot and setting. In this one there is no excuse.
The book also includes a lot of horrible characters. Fitz himself has become less likeable; Molly reminded me of a combination of Nynaeve and Egwene from Wheel of Time (to those of you who haven’t read my WoT reviews, that is about as bad as it can get); Chade has apparently become a stupid old man who is unable to see that his loyalty to his king must come before his loyalty to other members of the royal family; and the Fool has become blinded by his devotion to the same king.
That does not mean that the book was completely horrible. Hobb’s writing is good, and at least some of the characters are interesting enough to read about. And while the first seventy percent were utterly and completely boring, the last thirty were the complete opposite, with intrigue and death and excitement around every corner. Another positive thing was Fitz developing his abilities with the Wit, and even finding a strong companion who was one of the most interesting characters of the book.
Overall though, this was in my eyes a rather typical case of second book syndrome. The first book was great and I hope the third one will live up to it, but Royal Assassin was unfortunately just not good enough.
Come, hunt with me, the invitation whispers in my heart. Leave the pain behind and let your life be your own again. There is a place where all time is now, and the choices are simple and always your own.
Wolves have no kings.
After the harrowing experience in the Mountain Kingdom, FitzChivalry returns to Buckkeep and the Farseer court. Having barely survived his first real mission as a royal assassin, Fitz first vowed to renounce his oath to King Shrewd and abandon the shadowy world of intrigue completely, but his destiny eventually takes him back to the very place where his journey began, and back to the life of an assassin…
Royal Assassin is more of what happened in Assassin’s Apprentice. We have the same enemy raiding the shores of the Six Duchies, inflicting the same horrors on the same people. We have the same antagonist, leashed but not put down. We have the same protagonist taking his lessons from the same people and essentially doing exactly what he did in the first book. And except for a character or two, there is little new.
For the first seventy percent of this book (yes, seventy), nothing happened. The first book was also incredibly slow to get the plot moving, but really not this slow, and in that book it had a purpose: introduction of characters, plot and setting. In this one there is no excuse.
The book also includes a lot of horrible characters. Fitz himself has become less likeable; Molly reminded me of a combination of Nynaeve and Egwene from Wheel of Time (to those of you who haven’t read my WoT reviews, that is about as bad as it can get); Chade has apparently become a stupid old man who is unable to see that his loyalty to his king must come before his loyalty to other members of the royal family; and the Fool has become blinded by his devotion to the same king.
That does not mean that the book was completely horrible. Hobb’s writing is good, and at least some of the characters are interesting enough to read about. And while the first seventy percent were utterly and completely boring, the last thirty were the complete opposite, with intrigue and death and excitement around every corner. Another positive thing was Fitz developing his abilities with the Wit, and even finding a strong companion who was one of the most interesting characters of the book.
Overall though, this was in my eyes a rather typical case of second book syndrome. The first book was great and I hope the third one will live up to it, but Royal Assassin was unfortunately just not good enough.
September 12, 2014
Buddy read with Markus! Who unlike me, wrote a coherent and thoughtful review you can read here.
----------------
752 pages.
This book was 752 pages long.
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!
Dune is less than 752 pages.
If you combine The Fellowship of the Rings and The Two Towers together, it's still less than 752 pages.
And in both cases, even with the comparable page count they managed to condense a LOT of story between their covers.
In this case we had 752 pages of filler. Very little happened, and the plot almost didn't move. You could have condensed the action in what? 200 pages? Here's a resume of what happens:
Fitz bonds with a new animal.
There's a "romance" angle that I hated.
Verity goes on a quest.
Regal is still the bad guy.
We still don't know anything about the red ships.
That's mostly it. There are plot lines here and there that are left unresolved, and the book ends with a very interesting twist. But most of it was insufferably boring and I only finished it because I was buddy reading it with a friend.
I will still read the next book, because I really liked the first one and I want to know what happens with the red ships. But I'm not sure I'll read anything else in the Elderlings series.
----------------
752 pages.
This book was 752 pages long.
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!
Dune is less than 752 pages.
If you combine The Fellowship of the Rings and The Two Towers together, it's still less than 752 pages.
And in both cases, even with the comparable page count they managed to condense a LOT of story between their covers.
In this case we had 752 pages of filler. Very little happened, and the plot almost didn't move. You could have condensed the action in what? 200 pages? Here's a resume of what happens:
Fitz bonds with a new animal.
There's a "romance" angle that I hated.
Verity goes on a quest.
Regal is still the bad guy.
We still don't know anything about the red ships.
That's mostly it. There are plot lines here and there that are left unresolved, and the book ends with a very interesting twist. But most of it was insufferably boring and I only finished it because I was buddy reading it with a friend.
I will still read the next book, because I really liked the first one and I want to know what happens with the red ships. But I'm not sure I'll read anything else in the Elderlings series.
October 31, 2017
[4.5 stars]
I got cheated, I thought that this is a nice boring story about a nice boy with a nice doggy who grows up to be a nice assassin in a nice castle. Well no one freaking mentioned all the angst and feels and the shit that goes down, and that spawn of Satan, Regal that needs to choke on a fish bone and die a most horrible death!!
Okay okay, let me take a breather and try to be coherent.. Obviously I loved this book to pieces (I mean I finished the almost 700 pages in 2 days), Robin Hobb has a way of writing plot and characters that despite the slowness it just gets under your skin and you can never stop thinking about it. I love that in a series, if it gets me obsessed then I call it a success.
Plot is clearer in Royal Assassin, the villains become more fleshed out (AHH JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT ASSHOLE!), and the characters get even more depth.. Can we talk about how amazing Patience is? or how awesome it is that Robin Hobb wrote her back in the 90s to be a reincarnation of Helena Bonham Carter before she even became THE Helena Bonham Carter, which is probably one of the reasons I love Patience so much. All her scenes are either hilarious or just punches you in the chest.
Burrich was another great surprise, I loved him in the second half of Assassin's Apprentice but in this book, this dude is made of glory. Fitz of course is a no brainer, I'm reserving my overflowing gushing till he grows up a little bit because currently he is still in the emo hormonal teenage phase (think Order of the Phoenix) although quite understandable considering all the trauma he went through.
The Fool? one word: MORE! I need more of him, we only get a glimpse of his past in this book, and it's just enough of a tease to make us ask more questions about him! No one knows anything about his age, his sex, or what/who he is, and he only opens up (barely) to Fitz (so I obviously ship it now) and we do see more of him here, he's no longer always acting like a..well fool for lack of a better word, there's a quiet intensity to him, and oh my god I just love him and can't wait to peel more and more of his character's layers.
The fool by HerrMagermilch on Deviantart
Of course there's a bunch more of characters, Kettricken (BAMF and quite the inspirational speaker) and Verity (heart throb and glorious generally speaking)..
In conclusion, I'll reserve my heartiest recommendations till I finish the third book, but so far I've been pleasantly surprised by where the trilogy is going so far, I'm enjoying it thoroughly (along with the audiobook to help speed things up) and I honestly didn't mind the slowness and the repetition because the characters are what made this behemoth a huge win for me!
I got cheated, I thought that this is a nice boring story about a nice boy with a nice doggy who grows up to be a nice assassin in a nice castle. Well no one freaking mentioned all the angst and feels and the shit that goes down, and that spawn of Satan, Regal that needs to choke on a fish bone and die a most horrible death!!
Okay okay, let me take a breather and try to be coherent.. Obviously I loved this book to pieces (I mean I finished the almost 700 pages in 2 days), Robin Hobb has a way of writing plot and characters that despite the slowness it just gets under your skin and you can never stop thinking about it. I love that in a series, if it gets me obsessed then I call it a success.
Plot is clearer in Royal Assassin, the villains become more fleshed out (AHH JUST THINKING ABOUT THAT ASSHOLE!), and the characters get even more depth.. Can we talk about how amazing Patience is? or how awesome it is that Robin Hobb wrote her back in the 90s to be a reincarnation of Helena Bonham Carter before she even became THE Helena Bonham Carter, which is probably one of the reasons I love Patience so much. All her scenes are either hilarious or just punches you in the chest.
Burrich was another great surprise, I loved him in the second half of Assassin's Apprentice but in this book, this dude is made of glory. Fitz of course is a no brainer, I'm reserving my overflowing gushing till he grows up a little bit because currently he is still in the emo hormonal teenage phase (think Order of the Phoenix) although quite understandable considering all the trauma he went through.
The Fool? one word: MORE! I need more of him, we only get a glimpse of his past in this book, and it's just enough of a tease to make us ask more questions about him! No one knows anything about his age, his sex, or what/who he is, and he only opens up (barely) to Fitz (
The fool by HerrMagermilch on Deviantart
Of course there's a bunch more of characters, Kettricken (BAMF and quite the inspirational speaker) and Verity (heart throb and glorious generally speaking)..
In conclusion, I'll reserve my heartiest recommendations till I finish the third book, but so far I've been pleasantly surprised by where the trilogy is going so far, I'm enjoying it thoroughly (along with the audiobook to help speed things up) and I honestly didn't mind the slowness and the repetition because the characters are what made this behemoth a huge win for me!
June 2, 2022
“The fight isn't over until you win it, Fitz. That's all you have to remember. No matter what the other man says.”
I continued to immerse myself in the world of the Six Duchies in Robin Hobb's Royal Assassin (Farseer Trilogy, #2). Fitz begins as a shell of his former self. As he is nursed back to (humanity), we see lots of his interaction with his wolf, Nighteyes (a big favorite), Chade, Prince Verity, Lady Patience and Kettricken. And then there is Prince Regal, who somehow remains unchecked. While I very much enjoyed this book, I was a little frustrated by bad choices that were made by a number of characters, and then not really questioned. Or it was somehow suggested that these bad choices were part of a plan within a plan that couldn't be revealed to Fitz. Despite any reservations I might have, I very much want to see where this goes. Also, I love the writing and the immersive storytelling, and so raced to the third book.
I continued to immerse myself in the world of the Six Duchies in Robin Hobb's Royal Assassin (Farseer Trilogy, #2). Fitz begins as a shell of his former self. As he is nursed back to (humanity), we see lots of his interaction with his wolf, Nighteyes (a big favorite), Chade, Prince Verity, Lady Patience and Kettricken. And then there is Prince Regal, who somehow remains unchecked. While I very much enjoyed this book, I was a little frustrated by bad choices that were made by a number of characters, and then not really questioned. Or it was somehow suggested that these bad choices were part of a plan within a plan that couldn't be revealed to Fitz. Despite any reservations I might have, I very much want to see where this goes. Also, I love the writing and the immersive storytelling, and so raced to the third book.
July 26, 2021
Royal Assassin begins just where Apprentice Assassin ended.
If you read the books you know what happened to Fitz. Suffice it to say, he didn't do so well on his first solo quest as an Assassin to help his King and King-in-Waiting, Verity. At least, the Six Duchies has gained a Queen-in-Waiting, Kettricken.
In the beginning, Fitz is not sure about himself. He was hurt during the events that happened a the end of book one and he's still recuperating. But Fitz must go back to Buckkeep not only because of his promise to his King but also because he wants to look for Molly, his friend.
When he gets to Buckkeep, King Shrewd is not himself. He looks sick. King-in-Waiting, Verity is trying to keep the raiders off the Six Duchies without much success. The one good piece of good news is that Molly is now working at Buckkeep. The bad news is that by him caring for her, he has painted a target on her back.
Fitz does make a new connection with an animal, NightEyes who becomes one of my favorite characters in this book (Just like I loved Nosy and Smithy).
In Royal Assassin, nothing really good happens to Fitz. He has the bad luck of being a bastard and having Regal as an enemy. His life is nothing but dangerous situations and people trying to kill him.
Despite things not going well for him, I did enjoy this book and so many of the characters have become dear to me, including Kettricken, Verity, NightEyes, The Fool, Patience, Lacey, and Burrich.
The ending of this book is quite sad in a way.
Cliffhanger: Yes
4/5 Fangs
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If you read the books you know what happened to Fitz. Suffice it to say, he didn't do so well on his first solo quest as an Assassin to help his King and King-in-Waiting, Verity. At least, the Six Duchies has gained a Queen-in-Waiting, Kettricken.
In the beginning, Fitz is not sure about himself. He was hurt during the events that happened a the end of book one and he's still recuperating. But Fitz must go back to Buckkeep not only because of his promise to his King but also because he wants to look for Molly, his friend.
When he gets to Buckkeep, King Shrewd is not himself. He looks sick. King-in-Waiting, Verity is trying to keep the raiders off the Six Duchies without much success. The one good piece of good news is that Molly is now working at Buckkeep. The bad news is that by him caring for her, he has painted a target on her back.
Fitz does make a new connection with an animal, NightEyes who becomes one of my favorite characters in this book (Just like I loved Nosy and Smithy).
In Royal Assassin, nothing really good happens to Fitz. He has the bad luck of being a bastard and having Regal as an enemy. His life is nothing but dangerous situations and people trying to kill him.
Despite things not going well for him, I did enjoy this book and so many of the characters have become dear to me, including Kettricken, Verity, NightEyes, The Fool, Patience, Lacey, and Burrich.
The ending of this book is quite sad in a way.
Cliffhanger: Yes
4/5 Fangs
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August 30, 2023
So I made the mistake of looking at the chapter titles list. I really shouldn’t have - especially the final ones. My world of suffering was made infinitely worse by the anticipation of it. What a wonderful, haunting, and awful book. Robin Hobb‘s prose and storytelling is sublime, making me feel everything, pain and love and heartache.
For large parts, it also made me feel uncontainable outrage. You see, false accusations and injustices are my weak spot. I simply cannot bear seeing beloved characters being their victim; it made for some gut-wrenching reading. Let it be known that Regal has become one of my most hated antagonists ever. (Mawyndulë comes to mind as well.) Fitz, in turn, has made it on my favorite heroes list. But, oh boy, does anything good ever happen to him? Hopefully in the final book of this trilogy something will.
“‘Molly Redskirts,‘ I whispered after her, but I could no longer see that Molly. Only what I had made of her.“
For large parts, it also made me feel uncontainable outrage. You see, false accusations and injustices are my weak spot. I simply cannot bear seeing beloved characters being their victim; it made for some gut-wrenching reading. Let it be known that Regal has become one of my most hated antagonists ever. (Mawyndulë comes to mind as well.) Fitz, in turn, has made it on my favorite heroes list. But, oh boy, does anything good ever happen to him? Hopefully in the final book of this trilogy something will.
“‘Molly Redskirts,‘ I whispered after her, but I could no longer see that Molly. Only what I had made of her.“
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