Scan barcode
grets_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Death, Grief, Infertility, Rape, Addiction, Animal cruelty, and Child abuse
kirstym25's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
booksthatburn's review against another edition
emotional
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ASSASSIN’S APPRENTICE follows Fitz through his childhood and adolescence, as he learns to be an assassin for the king, and what he’s actually willing to kill for.
The worldbuilding is layered, with things explained as Fitz is told them, supplemented by insights from his older self. This leads to a gradually filled-in impression of a complex setting where details are conveyed as they are necessary, and even more is implied through the narrative. This style lends clarity. He discusses both how he felt at the time, as a child and then a teenager, and what he thinks about those events now that he’s an adult. This becomes especially important during sections such as his time under Galen, as the dissonance intensifies between events as they happened and how he was being conditioned to perceive them. There are several moments where something he does as he’s telling the story is juxtaposed with some assertion made by his younger self, showing how something must have changed in the meantime (presumably to be covered somewhere in the trilogy).
One of my favorite things is his complex relationship with Burrich. How they are to and with each other changes throughout the story. Even when it's changing for the worse, it makes sense, and it's nice to see Fitz's growing understanding of Burrich as a person with his own internal world separate from Fitz. How Fitz views Burrich is often a great proxy for how Fitz is growing and changing, flavored by the dissonance between how Fitz is and how Burrich wants him to be.
There’s a lot of care in the narration, partly due to the balance between Fitz’s memories and his older self’s reactions to and commentaries on the memories, and partly due to what I can best describe as a lack of voyeuristic interest. One of the background plots involves raiders pillaging the coast, and, other than a few scenes where Fitz has to directly fight someone as a result of the raids, there are few descriptions of the kind of violence which accompanies such raids. Said violence is canonically happening, and Fitz frequently discusses the effects he’s observing on the people and the Kingdom which stem from the raids, but in a way that makes sense for his character. This is just one example of how the narration gives the impression of the complexity (and sometimes violence) of Fitz’s world, but does not unnaturally bend his character to direct the story towards it, nor does it shy away when appropriate.
A great start to the series, I'm ready to read the next one.
The worldbuilding is layered, with things explained as Fitz is told them, supplemented by insights from his older self. This leads to a gradually filled-in impression of a complex setting where details are conveyed as they are necessary, and even more is implied through the narrative. This style lends clarity. He discusses both how he felt at the time, as a child and then a teenager, and what he thinks about those events now that he’s an adult. This becomes especially important during sections such as his time under Galen, as the dissonance intensifies between events as they happened and how he was being conditioned to perceive them. There are several moments where something he does as he’s telling the story is juxtaposed with some assertion made by his younger self, showing how something must have changed in the meantime (presumably to be covered somewhere in the trilogy).
One of my favorite things is his complex relationship with Burrich. How they are to and with each other changes throughout the story. Even when it's changing for the worse, it makes sense, and it's nice to see Fitz's growing understanding of Burrich as a person with his own internal world separate from Fitz. How Fitz views Burrich is often a great proxy for how Fitz is growing and changing, flavored by the dissonance between how Fitz is and how Burrich wants him to be.
There’s a lot of care in the narration, partly due to the balance between Fitz’s memories and his older self’s reactions to and commentaries on the memories, and partly due to what I can best describe as a lack of voyeuristic interest. One of the background plots involves raiders pillaging the coast, and, other than a few scenes where Fitz has to directly fight someone as a result of the raids, there are few descriptions of the kind of violence which accompanies such raids. Said violence is canonically happening, and Fitz frequently discusses the effects he’s observing on the people and the Kingdom which stem from the raids, but in a way that makes sense for his character. This is just one example of how the narration gives the impression of the complexity (and sometimes violence) of Fitz’s world, but does not unnaturally bend his character to direct the story towards it, nor does it shy away when appropriate.
A great start to the series, I'm ready to read the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Violence, and Medical content
Moderate: Cursing, Pregnancy, Ableism, Sexism, Misogyny, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Excrement, Drug use, Child abuse, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Child death, and Death
Minor: Miscarriage and Rape
anna_23's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Violence, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Infertility
kiandrareadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, and Death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
alisylvi's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
poetskings's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
rorikae's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
'Assassin's Apprentice' by Robin Hobb starts the Farseer Trilogy that centers on Fitz, the bastard son of the country's prince. Fitz is brought into the castle under the tutelage of the stableman but soon begins to train as an assassin. Through his life in the castle, he is thrown into multiple situations utilizing his skills, both those of the assassin and the magical abilities he possesses.
Having read the Mad Ship trilogy by Robin Hobb first, this story is a bit more typical of high fantasy though still speaks to Hobb's character building. It's especially impressive when considering that it was her debut novel.
I found that the story itself was rather basic for a fantasy novel though I hope that the next book in the series may introduce more complex plot lines, especially since this book centered on Fitz's childhood and upbringing. I think the strongest part of the story is the characters. Fitz is instantly likable and even in places where the story itself was slow, I was still compelled to read on because of my care for Fitz. His connection with the dogs that he encounters in the story was one of the strongest ways that I felt his character was built up and those were the relationships I was most invested in.
If you are interested in a solid first book in a classic fantasy style, Assassin's Apprentice is a good option though so far I have enjoyed the other books I have read by Robin Hobb more.
Having read the Mad Ship trilogy by Robin Hobb first, this story is a bit more typical of high fantasy though still speaks to Hobb's character building. It's especially impressive when considering that it was her debut novel.
I found that the story itself was rather basic for a fantasy novel though I hope that the next book in the series may introduce more complex plot lines, especially since this book centered on Fitz's childhood and upbringing. I think the strongest part of the story is the characters. Fitz is instantly likable and even in places where the story itself was slow, I was still compelled to read on because of my care for Fitz. His connection with the dogs that he encounters in the story was one of the strongest ways that I felt his character was built up and those were the relationships I was most invested in.
If you are interested in a solid first book in a classic fantasy style, Assassin's Apprentice is a good option though so far I have enjoyed the other books I have read by Robin Hobb more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent
emsavors's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, and Drug use
Moderate: Infertility and Infidelity
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts
jcakelover's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, Grief, and Drug abuse