Ira Perkins's Reviews > Assassin's Apprentice

Why did I wait so long to begin this series?! Fantastic book, and the unforgettable characters in it have undoubtedly captured my heart!

Final Rating: 4.4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

So I finally took the plunge and picked up my first Robin Hobb book, Assassin's Apprentice, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension as I embarked on the journey of this lengthy series. Let me tell you, I was absolutely blown away by the depth of Fitz and Hobb's incredible characterisations! If you're looking for a reason to dive into this series, look no further than the unforgettable characters that will capture your heart and imagination from the get-go. While the plot and world-building weren't the most riveting, Fitz and his companions will mean you'll hardly notice. I can't wait to read more!

Plot Summary
Assassin's Apprentice, the first book in Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy, follows Fitz, the illegitimate son of Prince Chivalry Farseer. Raised at the royal court, Fitz is secretly trained as an assassin for the crown by the enigmatic Chade Fallstar. As Fitz learns the deadly arts, navigates court politics, and grapples with his magical abilities—the animal-linked Wit and the mind-manipulating Skill—he faces the growing threat of the Red-Ship Raiders. Amid betrayals, friendships, and a budding romance with his childhood friend Molly, Fitz strives to find his place in a world that tests his loyalty, courage, and humanity.

Characterisation: 7/5
Yup you read that right. The Characterisation in Assassin's Apprentice is so straight-up amazing, I'm giving it bonus points! Hobb's characters are just so incredibly well-done. Fitz, our main guy, is super relatable, with his vulnerabilities and growth making him feel like a real person you'd want to root for. I was all-in on his journey, and the way he struggled to find his place in the world really hit me in the feels. And the supporting cast? They're all fleshed out, with their own quirks, goals, and motivations, making every interaction a treat to read.

Beyond Fitz, there's a whole crew of memorable characters like Chade, the mysterious mentor, Burrich, the tough-as-nails hound master, and the enigmatic Fool, just to name a few. Hobb nails it with giving each of them a unique voice and making them feel like real people with their own hopes, fears, and flaws. The relationships between the characters are super complex and believable, with heartwarming moments of friendship and loyalty, as well as gut-wrenching scenes of betrayal and loss. Even the bad guys aren't just one-dimensional; Hobb dives deep into their motivations, making them feel more real and adding to the whole narrative. Overall, the characterization in Assassin's Apprentice is just top-tier, with a cast of unforgettable characters that'll pull you into their world and have you invested in their stories like never before!

“When you cut pieces out of the truth to avoid looking like a fool you end up looking like a moron instead.”



World Building: 3/5
The Six Duchies world in Assassin's Apprentice is pretty interesting and sets a decent stage for the story, but it didn't completely blow me away. The culture, politics, geography well thought out, but sometimes, I wished certain aspects were explored more to make the setting even more immersive. I really enjoyed the magic system of the Skill and the Wit - especially how Fitz relates to his various animal companions. It also is hinted in the book about these pretty awesome Elderlings, that I'm really looking forward to finding out more as the series opens up more. Overall, while the world-building in Assassin's Apprentice has its strong points and provides a nice backdrop for Fitz's story, there were moments when I felt that certain aspects could have been delved into more deeply to really bring the world to life.

“Don’t do what you can’t undo, until you’ve considered what you can’t do once you’ve done it.”

Plot: 3/5
The story follows Fitz, a royal bastard navigating the ins and outs of life at court. Honestly, while the story had some cool twists and turns, I found it a bit hit or miss at times. Some parts dragged, but it did pick up in certain places, keeping me intrigued enough to push through. It's a mix of politics, adventure, and a dash of mystery, which, while not always perfectly balanced, still made for an entertaining read.

Fitz's journey takes him through a variety of challenges, from learning how to survive at court to discovering and mastering his magical abilities. As an outsider in a world full of political machinations and power plays, Fitz often finds himself in difficult situations. There are moments where the tension and suspense had me on the edge of my seat, and other times when the plot felt a little predictable or slow. Nonetheless, the overall arc of Fitz's journey has its compelling moments and keeps you invested in his story.

“Very little worth knowing is taught by fear.”

Writing Style: 5/5
Hobb's writing in Assassin's Apprentice is seriously awesome. It's got a really smooth flow to it, and she's a wizard at painting a picture with her words. She knows how to make you feel like you're right there in the story with the characters, experiencing their emotions up close and personal. The prose is definitely one of the book's biggest strengths.

Her descriptions are vivid and captivating, allowing you to easily visualize the world of the Six Duchies and the characters within it. The dialogue feels genuine and engaging, further adding to the believability of the characters and their relationships. Hobb's writing style strikes a great balance between being fancy and easy to read, making it a breeze to get lost in the story without feeling bogged down by super complicated language.

But the one of the things that really stands out in Hobb's prose is her knack for conveying the emotional depth of the characters. She expertly captures the nuances of their feelings, from joy and triumph to despair and heartbreak, making it easy to empathize with their struggles and victories. This emotional connection adds another layer of immersion to the reading experience, making it even more enjoyable.... #TheFEELS!

“Nothing takes the heart out of a man more than the expectation of failure.”

Enjoyment: 4/5
Initially, I was pretty nervous about starting this book since it's the beginning of a super long series, which meant committing to a massive time investment. I kept wondering: will I enjoy it? Will it hook me? Sure, it had the usual first-book problem of a somewhat slow-paced story and world-building (gotta set the scene, right?), but man, the characters and writing just knocked my socks off. I'm seriously pumped to see how Fitz grows, how his friendships evolve, and how the wild mix of magic and politics will shape his journey. I couldn't be more stoked to have discovered a fantastic new series to dive into and really sink my teeth into!

Final Rating: 4.4/5 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

My favourite books of 2023 in preferential order
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕:
1. The Shadow of the Gods - (My Review)
2. The Grace of Kings - (My Review)
3. The Lies of Locke Lamora
4. The Forgetting Moon - (My Review)
5. The Justice of Kings - (My Review)
6. Kings of the Wyld - (My Review)
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗:
7. Morning Star - (My Review)
8. The Blade Itself - (My Review)
9. Red Seas Under Red Skies - (My Review)
10. The Escape Artist: The Man Who Broke Out of Auschwitz to Warn the World
11. Empire of the Vampire - (My Review)
12. Assassin's Apprentice - (My Review)
13. Golden Son
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑:
14. Leviathan Wakes - (My Review)
15. The Winter King - (My Review)
16. Gardens of the Moon - (My Review)
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑:
17. Deadhouse Gates - (My Review)
🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑:
18. The Song of Achilles - (My Review)
19. Red Sister - (My Review)
🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑:
20. Babel: An Arcane History - (My Review)