Recently I heard some reviews stating this as a modern classic of fantasy; after finishing the book, I cannot help but agree. Fitz is a brilliant character, with much nuance in his personality and ethics, and the reader becomes completely sympathetic to his struggles. His relationships to other characters, both positive and negative, are both deep and believable; the cast throughout the whole book are well-constructed, and characters both male and female are deep and well-written. The book's descriptions are lavish and beautiful, without bogging down the story; the dialogue is well-written with clear subtext and intent behind every word; the magic system is innovative and fundamentally intriguing, a novel take I've never seen before. The plot itself is brilliant, full of depth and politicking without reaching the absurd complexity of the ASOIAF political layout, and I found myself hooked throughout. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, and will be reading the rest of the trilogy in future. ( )

Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb has been on my Kindle for a very long time. The SFF KIT January challenge--Epic Fantasy--was all the encouragement I needed to read it. it definitely met the description as Hobb has created a world of magic and fantasy and mystery with "Boy," the bastard son of the King-in-waiting at the center of it. He moves into a precarious position at the court, learning to navigate with sometimes begrudging help from others. I was pulled in and wasn't sad I woke up early this. morning to finish it. It is the first of a trilogy and I hope to get to the next two sooner rather than later. ( )

The first half of this book was a slog for me. A lot of setup as our main character, Fitz, recounts his childhood from age 6 to 12 in painstaking (and laughably unrealistic) detail. I was ready to abandon this until the plot finally started going somewhere and then I was hooked. I wouldn't say all the setup in the first half is necessary, but you are rewarded for making it through with thrilling twists in the plot. A few revelations I totally saw coming, others were just plain shocking to me (I was flabbergasted when the wine Fitz and Rurisk drank was poisoned and Rurisk died. I had to read it again to make sure I read it right.). There really aren't a lot of lovable characters (hence the GoT comparisons) but most are sufficiently three-dimensional. What really stood out to me in this book was the (eventual) plot, the world building, and the political machinations.

Sometimes books start great and then lose steam. This is the opposite and it left me wanting to give it four stars, even though on balance I think it should be three.

My other criticism is that it seemed like the author was trying to create a world with some gender equality (e.g. the firstborn inherits whether male or female) but I think overall she failed. Molly, Patience, Jonqui, Kettricken, and various queens of the past have interesting parts to play in the story, but I think this fails the Bechdel Test. And I was annoyed that every duchy was ruled by a duke. Out of six, you'd think at least one would have a duchess worth a mention.

Oh and, Esperanza, if you're reading this review, take note: YOU DO NOT WANT TO READ THIS BOOK. DOGS ARE HARMED. REPEAT: DOGS ARE HARMED. ( )

This novel is about Fitz, a bastard son of the heir to the throne of the Six Duchies, who grows up in the keep and has to find his own way. Initially mocked and shunned, he tries to carve out a path for himself and finds some friends, but also powerful enemies. And while he is talented in the Skill, a kind of telepathic magical system, he also possesses another aptitude that he must disclose because it is not approved of by society.

I don't exaggerate when I say that this was the best book I have read in ages, for several years at least. I loved it so, so much!
The world-building, the characters, the narration, the pace. And the dogs!
In the end I could not stop sobbing. My emotions about this story just overwhelmed me because I felt so connected to Fitz. ( )

I struggled a little bit with this read. I really enjoyed the characters and the world building but I struggle with the writing style and how this story was told. It was a book that kept me guessing but It was not a book that plot engaged me. I thought the wold was super fun and hope in future books this world gets fleshed out this world. I did not feel super connected to these characters and felt like the world was not fleshed out as much as i wanted to. I wanted to love it but I did not. I will still give book 2 another chance and just hope i grow to love the character and the world building. ( )

I struggled a little bit with this read. I really enjoyed the characters and the world building but I struggle with the writing style and how this story was told. It was a book that kept me guessing but It was not a book that plot engaged me. I thought the wold was super fun and hope in future books this world gets fleshed out this world. I did not feel super connected to these characters and felt like the world was not fleshed out as much as i wanted to. I wanted to love it but I did not. I will still give book 2 another chance and just hope i grow to love the character and the world building. ( )

Loved this first installation of a non-formula fantasy! The character building is incredible and I found myself easily feeling empathy for Fitz and cheering him through his trials and tribulations.

Four stars because not much of a main plot was flushed out in this first book. I realize this is part one of a trilogy, but as exciting as it is to follow Fitz around, I'd like to see something more solid on the horizon. The end of the book is essentially the same as its chapter endings - were I reading the novel as it came out, I'd be QUITE frustrated by the lack of conflict resolution!

That aside - highly recommend. Very well-written - absolutely awesome characters and some solid world building that draws the reader in completely. And after all, isn't that what reading fantasy is all about?!! ( )

(can't remember)

Wow. 4 stars.
A fantastic fantasy. So completely it’s own world.
The descriptions, in particular of the Mountain Kingdom, are breathtaking.
The characters are so real, and I can’t think of a main character in recent years that I’ve been so attached to as with Fitz.
The magic and political structures are both so complex and explained, but there’s clearly more to be explored.
I’m just going to thank Lexapro for seeing me through the ending because I’m sure I would be a blubbering mess otherwise.
My only complaint is that the pacing was a little slow, but I think that is explained mostly because the world, politics, and magic system needed to be fully introduced, and we’re watching young Fitz grow from a 6 year old boy to a 14 year old … boy? Man?
It’s stellar. I don’t think I can add anything to this discussion as the book has been out since the 90’s. So I’ll just say I loved it and look forward to reading Royal Assassin next. ( )

2.75

Decent, if a bit slow. Given the page count, the characters should have been much better developed; the last quarter or so is also sloppy and rushed.
Overall enjoyable, but not good enough for me to pick up the next book in the series. ( )

so really I give it a 3.5 I really wish we could give half stars...

This book was a great start to an epic story. ( )

4.5. ( )

One of the best fantasy novels I've read. Hobb's writing is both beautiful and thorough, and takes the classical Arthurian values and tropes into an entirely new direction that makes every act and dialogue something to reflect on. Extra points for the creation of a fantasy world whose "darkness" and gritty qualities aren't reliant on sexual violence like so many other authors of the genre. ( )

What I loved about Assassin’s Apprentice!
The first person narrative in fantasy is what I prefer, and Assassin’s Apprentice didn’t disappoint in that regard. I enjoy getting close to one character and following him or her throughout the story. I think this is what kept me reading. The happenings in the world built intrigue and interest. I wanted to learn more, yet my perspective remained limited like that of the narrator.

I’m interested to see where the rest of the series takes the premise of “The Skill” and “The Wit.” They’re powerful forms of telepathic magic that seem related, but the remainder of the series will tell.

Robin Hobb did a great job of setting up the world, and as the first in a series, that’s critical. Set in a typical fantasy medieval world, a few unique traditions make it original. Other unique elements include telepathic magic and the red ships / forged ones that build quite a bit of mystery and intrigue that keeps you pressing through.

What could have been better?
The naming tradition within the royal family irritated me quite a bit. It seemed a cheap way to develop a character without really putting in the effort to developing and showing the character traits.

When the forged ones came into play, my initial thought was “Oh, no! Zombie Zone…” followed by a dramatic eye-roll. However, I pressed forward, and I’m still not certain if they are zombies or something else. I worry that if they are, it will make me put the series down immediately. We shall see.

As I mentioned in the summary, many threads were started but not completed. Namely, I’m still wondering how the magic sways the overall story? Also, what happens with the red ships and forged ones? I really don’t feel closure at the end of this novel. Granted, Jacqueline Carey’s Kushiel Series is my measuring stick for all fantasy series. In those, every book wraps up a complete story, yet I still want more and more of the main characters after reading each one.

All-in-all
It’s worth the read, but I wouldn’t rave about it like so many of the other reviews. I can’t say if it would be better through audio or reading, but the audio was enjoyable. Unfortunately, even though there is a complete arc here, I don’t think it’s the end of the story–hence, a series, I’m sure.

Check out my full review here: Susan's Review of Assassin's Apprentice ( )

I stopped reading at about page 150. I cannot for the life of me understand why this book has such high ratings. ( )

4.5/5

Wow! I could not put this book down.

I absolutely love Fitz’s story. There is so much emotion and pain felt through him as a narrator. The magic system was really interesting, but get unexplained. Hopefully the second book in the series goes more in depth with it.

I also didn’t “love”the ending, but maybe it’s meant to set up a better book 2. I felt that it was too rushed, and more consequences could have been had. Super excited to continue this series though. ( )

I didn't dislike this book but I don't have any distinct feelings about it. It took forever to get going. The whole thing feels like a prequel with an excruciatingly slow build up of endless training montages. I can't help but feel it'd have been more engaging if we'd had some of this interspersed with Fitz actually in some action.

It took a long time to get through it. Each chapter is essentially a different event along Fitz's slow journey from childhood to teenage assassin. This made it feel quite disjointed to me, and because of this never felt like I got to actually know Fitz in any particular moment before we're onto the next jump in his life. The same is true of the other characters, it's all so sporadic. I hate overly long novels and lingering on too much detail, I much prefer concise economic writing, but the structure of this just didn't give me enough opportunity to get fully on board with the story.

Fitz also never has any real sense of direction and he never really makes any choices ... Even the dilemma at the end of the book didn't really come with many choices he could really make himself to effect the outcome. Stuff just seems to happen to him rather than ever making anything happen himself. This is largely due to his circumstances but again... It didn't make for an engaging character for me.

I am interested to read book 2 to see if there is some pay off for an entire novel of set up for Fitz as an Assassin! I also felt like there was a lot of mystery set up over his parentage - who was his mother, why did his father sleep with her when everyone said it was so out of character? This was left deliberately vague. ( )

Takes a little while to kick off, but takes you on an amazing journey. ( )

It has been a long time since I have read this and it was wonderfully nostalgic to go back and reread it, but part of the reason I had put off re-reading this for so long is the story of Fitz is so heart wrenching. ( )

Good, not great -- worth reading if you like fantasy stuff, otherwise skippable. ( )

I was very disappointed by this book. I was hoping for an interesting magic system in a detailed fantasy world with compelling characters. Instead, I was given a nebulous magic system, in an under elaborated world, with an *incredibly* whiny main character. There are a couple redeeming characters, but ultimately, the only reason I'm sticking with this series is because I'm a completionist and I keep hoping that something interesting will happen or some incredible twist will be revealed. Though I know neither of those things will actually happen. ( )

I had read a Robin Hobb book way back in high school and remember liking it a lot. And for some reason, I never read anything else by her. So I was agreeable to reading this book for book club.

I admit, I skimmed this. It took me a long while to get into the story, and between that and a fast-approaching deadline, I probably didn't give the book the attention it deserved. The plot was a bit slow and plodding at points, and it wasn't until really toward the end that I started enjoying the story.

I will at some point continue on to the second book, but I'm not sure when. ( )

Not bad. Robin Hobb writes great prose but I felt like not much happened in this book. The story follows Fitz, the illegitimate son of the hier to the throne, through his childhood as he struggles to make sense of his place in the world and his status as a prince's bastard. The book didn't seem to have a real overarching plot, and just followed Fitz's growth, which was alright but I often wondered where the story was going. I really enjoyed the character of the Fool who did not have nearly enough screen time. ( )

Well written book which came highly rec'd. I think that was the problem; my expectations were too high. Though I did enjoy it, it was a little too much like a chore when reading, rather than a book I couldn't put down. I can see why others like it but felt it a little slow for my own personal tastes. ( )

I dont know why, this book felt so perfect in the time I read it, I was a bit depressed, and there is a scene where the main character gets in to the same mood, I related a lot to that scene, and it wasnt the main plot of the whole book, yet it resonated a lot with me, and for that I love it. Also assides from personal opinion, I like that this book was a true "Apprentice" experience, there was no aspect of epic fantasy like saving the world or what ever, it is the experience of how the protagonist grew up, learned a dark trade and did his first task. Incredible book. ( )