A review by cupnoddles
Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

The emotional depth of this book is really touching. The plot, the setting, the world-building, all of that was good, too, but mostly I was here because the characters were so fully realized, multi-faceted, and interesting. Fitz is, more than anything, profoundly lonely throughout this book. It hurt a lot to see the ways in which he tries to claw his way out of this, only to be denied at nearly every turn.
Fitz and Burrich's relationship I found particularly difficult: it's hard to see Burrich's own self-denial over the Wit leech into the way he treats Fitz; the whole "saving you from your perversion" hit hard, since it's an attitude many queer people have had to face.
I had moments of genuine dismay over just how unfair things are for Fitz. I wanted to shout: It's not fair! You don't deserve that! Most of all, Fitz, don't believe that you deserve that! 

I was also really impressed with the way Hobb portrayed royal bastards in this novel. I felt like there was a level of thought and nuance here that I've seldom seen otherwise. Fitz is/is not royal, is/is not an heir, is/is not a threat, depending on what's convenient or what's deemed necessary by those around him. But any attempt or assertion by Fitz to fully be one or the other, is fully rebuked. He's forced to occupy a liminal identity. I think (hope) this will be explored further in the next books. 

Finally I felt a huge fondness for the (albeit fewer) woman/girl characters in this book. They don't fall into easy boxes. They're written so distinctly and so differently. They're people! How refreshing. 

I'm really looking forward to exploring the Farseer series further!
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