Assassin's Quest (Farseer Trilogy)
“An enthralling conclusion to this superb trilogy, displaying an exceptional combination of originality, magic, adventure, character, and drama.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
King Shrewd is dead at the hands of his son Regal. As is Fitz—or so his enemies and friends believe. But with the help of his allies and his beast magic, he emerges from the grave, deeply scarred in body and soul. The kingdom also teeters toward ruin: Regal has plundered and abandoned the capital, while the rightful heir, Prince Verity, is lost to his mad quest—perhaps to death. Only Verity’s return—or the heir his princess carries—can save the Six Duchies.
But Fitz will not wait. Driven by loss and bitter memories, he undertakes a quest: to kill Regal. The journey casts him into deep waters, as he discovers wild currents of magic within him—currents that will either drown him or make him something more than he was.
Praise for Robin Hobb and Assassin’s Quest
“Fantasy as it ought to be written . . . Robin Hobb’s books are diamonds in a sea of zircons.”—George R. R. Martin
“Superbly written, wholly satisfying, unforgettable: better than any fantasy trilogy in print—including mine!”—Melanie Rawn
King Shrewd is dead at the hands of his son Regal. As is Fitz—or so his enemies and friends believe. But with the help of his allies and his beast magic, he emerges from the grave, deeply scarred in body and soul. The kingdom also teeters toward ruin: Regal has plundered and abandoned the capital, while the rightful heir, Prince Verity, is lost to his mad quest—perhaps to death. Only Verity’s return—or the heir his princess carries—can save the Six Duchies.
But Fitz will not wait. Driven by loss and bitter memories, he undertakes a quest: to kill Regal. The journey casts him into deep waters, as he discovers wild currents of magic within him—currents that will either drown him or make him something more than he was.
Praise for Robin Hobb and Assassin’s Quest
“Fantasy as it ought to be written . . . Robin Hobb’s books are diamonds in a sea of zircons.”—George R. R. Martin
“Superbly written, wholly satisfying, unforgettable: better than any fantasy trilogy in print—including mine!”—Melanie Rawn
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Community Reviews
Assassinâs Quest by Robin Hobb
Four stars for a sweeping epic. I highly recommend this classic trilogy but be warned it takes a commitment from the reader to make it through the entire trilogy!
Spoilers.
Gone is the almost claustrophobic setting of the first two books where Fitz rarely leaves Buckkeep. This story spans a much greater distance and epic journey.
Fitz is not the sharpest knife in the drawer â that much hasnât changed from the first two books in the trilogy. This is a character trait that usually drives me mad in most books, but thatâs because authors usually try to convince the reader that main character isnât dumb as a post â usually be having the other characters fawn and praise him. Not so with Fitz, both Chade and Burrich in the first part of the book and many others as the story progresses point out the characterâs flaws.
Fitz as always is the Catalyst as the Fool (whose real name is never revealed!) often calls him and never the true driver of the action. Never the hero. He botches nearly everything he touches and in the end saves the day almost by sheer luck.
The story opens where book 2 left off. Fitz has been resurrected from the dead and must recall that he is human. It is a long task that Burrich takes on with patience of a saint.
Once he finally comes to himself, Fitz wastes his one advantage, the fact that everyone believes him dead, before charging forward with an ill-conceived and poorly executed attempt on Regalâs life. After that he is running for his life. He is captured no less than three times and Robin Hobb never spares our characters any grief or torture.
The main flaw with this book is that it is massive! Much happens from the beginning when Fitz awakens still believing himself a wolf and the end when Verity finally wins back his Kingdom and defeats the Red Ships.
Mostly, Fitz travels, meets various people who point out his flaws including his continued drug addiction (Elf Bark which in the first two books was used without a hint that it was problematic is revealed as very dangerous perhaps even disastrous in book three) . Fitz continues to trust people when he shouldnât and reveal secrets that threaten those he loves. Time and time again he fails to put the pieces of the puzzles together. At one point Verity states something offhandedly that was obvious to the reader (at least me) but completely missed by Fitz. By how easily Verity comes to realize it, I think we are meant to find Fitz a little lacking in the perception skills!
It is a long journey told in great detail. Dragons are not even mentioned until about 70% through the book â they are never foreshadowed and so their appearance is a little too abrupt. Not surprising, since a dragon appears on the cover, but still some foreshadowing would have served the story better.
It is riveting and the writing continued to draw me in, though perhaps like George RR Martin, Robin Hobb likes to torture her readers a bit.
Four stars for a sweeping epic. I highly recommend this classic trilogy but be warned it takes a commitment from the reader to make it through the entire trilogy!
Spoilers.
Gone is the almost claustrophobic setting of the first two books where Fitz rarely leaves Buckkeep. This story spans a much greater distance and epic journey.
Fitz is not the sharpest knife in the drawer â that much hasnât changed from the first two books in the trilogy. This is a character trait that usually drives me mad in most books, but thatâs because authors usually try to convince the reader that main character isnât dumb as a post â usually be having the other characters fawn and praise him. Not so with Fitz, both Chade and Burrich in the first part of the book and many others as the story progresses point out the characterâs flaws.
Fitz as always is the Catalyst as the Fool (whose real name is never revealed!) often calls him and never the true driver of the action. Never the hero. He botches nearly everything he touches and in the end saves the day almost by sheer luck.
The story opens where book 2 left off. Fitz has been resurrected from the dead and must recall that he is human. It is a long task that Burrich takes on with patience of a saint.
Once he finally comes to himself, Fitz wastes his one advantage, the fact that everyone believes him dead, before charging forward with an ill-conceived and poorly executed attempt on Regalâs life. After that he is running for his life. He is captured no less than three times and Robin Hobb never spares our characters any grief or torture.
The main flaw with this book is that it is massive! Much happens from the beginning when Fitz awakens still believing himself a wolf and the end when Verity finally wins back his Kingdom and defeats the Red Ships.
Mostly, Fitz travels, meets various people who point out his flaws including his continued drug addiction (Elf Bark which in the first two books was used without a hint that it was problematic is revealed as very dangerous perhaps even disastrous in book three) . Fitz continues to trust people when he shouldnât and reveal secrets that threaten those he loves. Time and time again he fails to put the pieces of the puzzles together. At one point Verity states something offhandedly that was obvious to the reader (at least me) but completely missed by Fitz. By how easily Verity comes to realize it, I think we are meant to find Fitz a little lacking in the perception skills!
It is a long journey told in great detail. Dragons are not even mentioned until about 70% through the book â they are never foreshadowed and so their appearance is a little too abrupt. Not surprising, since a dragon appears on the cover, but still some foreshadowing would have served the story better.
It is riveting and the writing continued to draw me in, though perhaps like George RR Martin, Robin Hobb likes to torture her readers a bit.
Show more
Assassinâs Quest by Robin Hobb
Four stars for a sweeping epic. I highly recommend this classic trilogy but be warned it takes a commitment from the reader to make it through the entire trilogy!
Spoilers.
Gone is the almost claustrophobic setting of the first two books where Fitz rarely leaves Buckkeep. This story spans a much greater distance and epic journey.
Fitz is not the sharpest knife in the drawer â that much hasnât changed from the first two books in the trilogy. This is a character trait that usually drives me mad in most books, but thatâs because authors usually try to convince the reader that main character isnât dumb as a post â usually be having the other characters fawn and praise him. Not so with Fitz, both Chade and Burrich in the first part of the book and many others as the story progresses point out the characterâs flaws.
Fitz as always is the Catalyst as the Fool (whose real name is never revealed!) often calls him and never the true driver of the action. Never the hero. He botches nearly everything he touches and in the end saves the day almost by sheer luck.
The story opens where book 2 left off. Fitz has been resurrected from the dead and must recall that he is human. It is a long task that Burrich takes on with patience of a saint.
Once he finally comes to himself, Fitz wastes his one advantage, the fact that everyone believes him dead, before charging forward with an ill-conceived and poorly executed attempt on Regalâs life. After that he is running for his life. He is captured no less than three times and Robin Hobb never spares our characters any grief or torture.
The main flaw with this book is that it is massive! Much happens from the beginning when Fitz awakens still believing himself a wolf and the end when Verity finally wins back his Kingdom and defeats the Red Ships.
Mostly, Fitz travels, meets various people who point out his flaws including his continued drug addiction (Elf Bark which in the first two books was used without a hint that it was problematic is revealed as very dangerous perhaps even disastrous in book three) . Fitz continues to trust people when he shouldnât and reveal secrets that threaten those he loves. Time and time again he fails to put the pieces of the puzzles together. At one point Verity states something offhandedly that was obvious to the reader (at least me) but completely missed by Fitz. By how easily Verity comes to realize it, I think we are meant to find Fitz a little lacking in the perception skills!
It is a long journey told in great detail. Dragons are not even mentioned until about 70% through the book â they are never foreshadowed and so their appearance is a little too abrupt. Not surprising, since a dragon appears on the cover, but still some foreshadowing would have served the story better.
It is riveting and the writing continued to draw me in, though perhaps like George RR Martin, Robin Hobb likes to torture her readers a bit.
Four stars for a sweeping epic. I highly recommend this classic trilogy but be warned it takes a commitment from the reader to make it through the entire trilogy!
Spoilers.
Gone is the almost claustrophobic setting of the first two books where Fitz rarely leaves Buckkeep. This story spans a much greater distance and epic journey.
Fitz is not the sharpest knife in the drawer â that much hasnât changed from the first two books in the trilogy. This is a character trait that usually drives me mad in most books, but thatâs because authors usually try to convince the reader that main character isnât dumb as a post â usually be having the other characters fawn and praise him. Not so with Fitz, both Chade and Burrich in the first part of the book and many others as the story progresses point out the characterâs flaws.
Fitz as always is the Catalyst as the Fool (whose real name is never revealed!) often calls him and never the true driver of the action. Never the hero. He botches nearly everything he touches and in the end saves the day almost by sheer luck.
The story opens where book 2 left off. Fitz has been resurrected from the dead and must recall that he is human. It is a long task that Burrich takes on with patience of a saint.
Once he finally comes to himself, Fitz wastes his one advantage, the fact that everyone believes him dead, before charging forward with an ill-conceived and poorly executed attempt on Regalâs life. After that he is running for his life. He is captured no less than three times and Robin Hobb never spares our characters any grief or torture.
The main flaw with this book is that it is massive! Much happens from the beginning when Fitz awakens still believing himself a wolf and the end when Verity finally wins back his Kingdom and defeats the Red Ships.
Mostly, Fitz travels, meets various people who point out his flaws including his continued drug addiction (Elf Bark which in the first two books was used without a hint that it was problematic is revealed as very dangerous perhaps even disastrous in book three) . Fitz continues to trust people when he shouldnât and reveal secrets that threaten those he loves. Time and time again he fails to put the pieces of the puzzles together. At one point Verity states something offhandedly that was obvious to the reader (at least me) but completely missed by Fitz. By how easily Verity comes to realize it, I think we are meant to find Fitz a little lacking in the perception skills!
It is a long journey told in great detail. Dragons are not even mentioned until about 70% through the book â they are never foreshadowed and so their appearance is a little too abrupt. Not surprising, since a dragon appears on the cover, but still some foreshadowing would have served the story better.
It is riveting and the writing continued to draw me in, though perhaps like George RR Martin, Robin Hobb likes to torture her readers a bit.
Show more
Assassinâs Quest by Robin Hobb
Four stars for a sweeping epic. I highly recommend this classic trilogy but be warned it takes a commitment from the reader to make it through the entire trilogy!
Spoilers.
Gone is the almost claustrophobic setting of the first two books where Fitz rarely leaves Buckkeep. This story spans a much greater distance and epic journey.
Fitz is not the sharpest knife in the drawer â that much hasnât changed from the first two books in the trilogy. This is a character trait that usually drives me mad in most books, but thatâs because authors usually try to convince the reader that main character isnât dumb as a post â usually be having the other characters fawn and praise him. Not so with Fitz, both Chade and Burrich in the first part of the book and many others as the story progresses point out the characterâs flaws.
Fitz as always is the Catalyst as the Fool (whose real name is never revealed!) often calls him and never the true driver of the action. Never the hero. He botches nearly everything he touches and in the end saves the day almost by sheer luck.
The story opens where book 2 left off. Fitz has been resurrected from the dead and must recall that he is human. It is a long task that Burrich takes on with patience of a saint.
Once he finally comes to himself, Fitz wastes his one advantage, the fact that everyone believes him dead, before charging forward with an ill-conceived and poorly executed attempt on Regalâs life. After that he is running for his life. He is captured no less than three times and Robin Hobb never spares our characters any grief or torture.
The main flaw with this book is that it is massive! Much happens from the beginning when Fitz awakens still believing himself a wolf and the end when Verity finally wins back his Kingdom and defeats the Red Ships.
Mostly, Fitz travels, meets various people who point out his flaws including his continued drug addiction (Elf Bark which in the first two books was used without a hint that it was problematic is revealed as very dangerous perhaps even disastrous in book three) . Fitz continues to trust people when he shouldnât and reveal secrets that threaten those he loves. Time and time again he fails to put the pieces of the puzzles together. At one point Verity states something offhandedly that was obvious to the reader (at least me) but completely missed by Fitz. By how easily Verity comes to realize it, I think we are meant to find Fitz a little lacking in the perception skills!
It is a long journey told in great detail. Dragons are not even mentioned until about 70% through the book â they are never foreshadowed and so their appearance is a little too abrupt. Not surprising, since a dragon appears on the cover, but still some foreshadowing would have served the story better.
It is riveting and the writing continued to draw me in, though perhaps like George RR Martin, Robin Hobb likes to torture her readers a bit.
Four stars for a sweeping epic. I highly recommend this classic trilogy but be warned it takes a commitment from the reader to make it through the entire trilogy!
Spoilers.
Gone is the almost claustrophobic setting of the first two books where Fitz rarely leaves Buckkeep. This story spans a much greater distance and epic journey.
Fitz is not the sharpest knife in the drawer â that much hasnât changed from the first two books in the trilogy. This is a character trait that usually drives me mad in most books, but thatâs because authors usually try to convince the reader that main character isnât dumb as a post â usually be having the other characters fawn and praise him. Not so with Fitz, both Chade and Burrich in the first part of the book and many others as the story progresses point out the characterâs flaws.
Fitz as always is the Catalyst as the Fool (whose real name is never revealed!) often calls him and never the true driver of the action. Never the hero. He botches nearly everything he touches and in the end saves the day almost by sheer luck.
The story opens where book 2 left off. Fitz has been resurrected from the dead and must recall that he is human. It is a long task that Burrich takes on with patience of a saint.
Once he finally comes to himself, Fitz wastes his one advantage, the fact that everyone believes him dead, before charging forward with an ill-conceived and poorly executed attempt on Regalâs life. After that he is running for his life. He is captured no less than three times and Robin Hobb never spares our characters any grief or torture.
The main flaw with this book is that it is massive! Much happens from the beginning when Fitz awakens still believing himself a wolf and the end when Verity finally wins back his Kingdom and defeats the Red Ships.
Mostly, Fitz travels, meets various people who point out his flaws including his continued drug addiction (Elf Bark which in the first two books was used without a hint that it was problematic is revealed as very dangerous perhaps even disastrous in book three) . Fitz continues to trust people when he shouldnât and reveal secrets that threaten those he loves. Time and time again he fails to put the pieces of the puzzles together. At one point Verity states something offhandedly that was obvious to the reader (at least me) but completely missed by Fitz. By how easily Verity comes to realize it, I think we are meant to find Fitz a little lacking in the perception skills!
It is a long journey told in great detail. Dragons are not even mentioned until about 70% through the book â they are never foreshadowed and so their appearance is a little too abrupt. Not surprising, since a dragon appears on the cover, but still some foreshadowing would have served the story better.
It is riveting and the writing continued to draw me in, though perhaps like George RR Martin, Robin Hobb likes to torture her readers a bit.
Show more
It was a wonderfully satisfying ending to the first trilogy by Hobb. Fitz suffers so many things and sacrifices so much for the good of the kingdom and family. I suspected who the Elderlings are, and I do like being right. I am so glad I picked up this trilogy and will have no qualms choosing the next Robin Hobb trilogy in the world of the Elderlings. What's not to love? I got magic, animal companions, found family, and in the end, legendary mythical creatures!
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