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beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The pace is very, very slow, there is a lot of descriptive language and exposition to wade through, and even then, there isn't a whole lot of plot to be found, at least not at first. All these things considered, I can easily see why someone might get frustrated and give up.
But I found Assassin's Apprentice to be an absorbing, riveting, and immersive read - just what a good fantasy should be.
It also delivers in spades when it comes to political intrigue, which I also very much enjoy reading. The story is told from the POV of Fitz, who for
The other characters are well-developed too (even the villainous ones[
The plotting was overall excellent, although did find the ending
4.5 stars from me.
Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Eating disorder, Blood, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Alcohol, and Death of parent
Minor: Fatphobia, War, Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Xenophobia
inkysplodge's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Abandonment and Child abuse
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Drug use and Suicide attempt
lizziaha's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Murder, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Grief, Ableism, Misogyny, Alcohol, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Bullying, Infidelity, Infertility, Rape, Death of parent, and Eating disorder
kirstym25's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Death and Violence
clarabooksit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Bullying, Grief, Violence, Murder, Child abuse, and Abandonment
Moderate: Physical abuse, Ableism, War, Death, Animal death, Gaslighting, Rape, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Drug abuse
grimdark_dad's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Grief, Alcohol, Animal death, Death of parent, Blood, Death, Violence, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Physical abuse
emilywc's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Animal death, and Murder
dumpsterprince's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Animal death and Child abuse
alviol's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Animal death, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Injury/Injury detail
drlark's review
3.75
This is high fantasy in the classic sense -- a huge body of work (16 books!) immersing the reader in a new world with its own magic and history, so the reader has to be ready and patient to let that unfold at a gradual pace. I think Hobb does this quite well. Her writing is beautiful, and her development of the relationships between Fitz, Burrich, the Fool, Lady Patience, Chade, Verity, and others is expert. The relationships are what hooked me into this story because:
Oh my GOODNESS, the cruelty and ugliness of the villains in this book. And moreover, the blindness of the other characters to just how evil these people are, and the inability/unwillingness to stop them in their cruelty and ugliness -- it was upsetting, to say the least. Personally, I prefer villains with a bit more nuance. Villains who think they're doing the right thing. I prefer a kinder world. Of course bad things happen, and there's conflict, but... a little more kindness, please. And enough with the animal cruelty, ffs.
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Animal cruelty, and Emotional abuse