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A review by erikachung182
Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
5.0
Video Review: https://youtu.be/IkjxGppFe60
When people said Robin Hobb's work was amazing, they weren't kidding.
I found myself being very emotionally invested in the characters of the book. So while the plot moved very gradually, I was fascinated about the growth and happenings of Fitz and all the people around him. The magic system and fantasy elements are not the main focus in Assassin's Apprentice. They're hinted at in the first half of the book, and introduced in the second half but not used on a large scale. And so, the book very much focused on the characters and world building. I didn't mind that things panned out that way since I cared so much to learn what would happen to Fitz as he grew up in this book.
The world building in this book had depth and breadth. I greatly appreciated the amount of detail that went into the development of the major kingdoms because it gave me a good understanding on the political landscape Fitz was operating in. From the dangers of the more fanatical elements of the world to the more human and political scenarios Fitz travelled across, I liked how I was able to follow along comfortably.
Lastly, I really enjoyed Robin Hobb's writing. One intimidating factor I find with extensive fantasy series is how dense the writing can be. But with Hobb's writing, I found the writing to be eloquent, detailed and easy to get into. There are parts where the writing is sophisticated, but interlaced with humour. I found this combination to be great, and illustrated Fitz's young age. Given the life Fitz lives, it's easy to forget he's still a young man in this book. But the strategic use of light hearted characters and humour, we're reminded that Fitz has an entire lifetime ahead of him.
Overall, I really enjoyed Assassin's Apprentice. I went into this thinking there'd be more magical and fantastical elements, so while I got something different, I'm not disappointed. But yes, taking a step back, it's clear Assassin's Apprentice sets the ground work for the bigger plot points to come. It sets up the magic system that's about to be utilized by the characters, and the consequences that comes with that power.
Favourite characters: Fitz, Patience and ALL THE PUPPIES!
When people said Robin Hobb's work was amazing, they weren't kidding.
I found myself being very emotionally invested in the characters of the book. So while the plot moved very gradually, I was fascinated about the growth and happenings of Fitz and all the people around him. The magic system and fantasy elements are not the main focus in Assassin's Apprentice. They're hinted at in the first half of the book, and introduced in the second half but not used on a large scale. And so, the book very much focused on the characters and world building. I didn't mind that things panned out that way since I cared so much to learn what would happen to Fitz as he grew up in this book.
The world building in this book had depth and breadth. I greatly appreciated the amount of detail that went into the development of the major kingdoms because it gave me a good understanding on the political landscape Fitz was operating in. From the dangers of the more fanatical elements of the world to the more human and political scenarios Fitz travelled across, I liked how I was able to follow along comfortably.
Lastly, I really enjoyed Robin Hobb's writing. One intimidating factor I find with extensive fantasy series is how dense the writing can be. But with Hobb's writing, I found the writing to be eloquent, detailed and easy to get into. There are parts where the writing is sophisticated, but interlaced with humour. I found this combination to be great, and illustrated Fitz's young age. Given the life Fitz lives, it's easy to forget he's still a young man in this book. But the strategic use of light hearted characters and humour, we're reminded that Fitz has an entire lifetime ahead of him.
Overall, I really enjoyed Assassin's Apprentice. I went into this thinking there'd be more magical and fantastical elements, so while I got something different, I'm not disappointed. But yes, taking a step back, it's clear Assassin's Apprentice sets the ground work for the bigger plot points to come. It sets up the magic system that's about to be utilized by the characters, and the consequences that comes with that power.
Favourite characters: Fitz, Patience and ALL THE PUPPIES!