Royal Assassin (The Farseer Trilogy, Book 2)

"Fantasy as it ought to be written . . . Robin Hobb's books are diamonds in a sea of zircons."--George R. R. Martin

Fitz has barely survived his first hazardous mission as king's assassin. Battered and bitter, he vows to abandon his oath to King Shrewd, remaining in the distant mountains. But love and events of terrible urgency draw him back to the court at Buckkeep, and into the deadly intrigues of the royal family.

Renewing their vicious attacks on the coast, the Red-Ship Raiders leave burned-out villages and demented victims in their wake. The kingdom is also under assault from within, as treachery threatens the throne of the ailing king. In this time of great danger, the fate of the kingdom may rest in Fitz's hands--and his role in its salvation may require the ultimate sacrifice.

Praise for Robin Hobb and Royal Assassin

"[Robin] Hobb continues to revitalize a genre that often seems all too generic, making it new in ways that range from the subtle to the shocking."--Locus

"[Royal Assassin] reaches astonishing new heights. . . . The Farseer saga is destined for greatness--a must-read for every devotee of epic fantasy."--Sense of Wonder

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675 pages

Average rating: 8.57

23 RATINGS

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5 REVIEWS

Community Reviews

E Clou
May 10, 2023
8/10 stars
I love the main character Fitz and the supporting characters, especially The Fool and Night Eyes. The intrigue is interesting as well. Unfortunately, the bad guys are too one-dimensional and the book should have been trimmed down a bit.
Libbylibbyleee
Mar 03, 2023
9/10 stars
Second book is a little slower than the first one in the buildup but the conclusion is amazing and intense.
BarelySpicy
Feb 25, 2023
10/10 stars
Ahhh I loved it so much, Robin Hobb's brilliant writing and story had me reaching out to this book and read it nonstop. I strongly recommend this trilogy
Karengsmith
Dec 30, 2022
10/10 stars
I don't think I have cried so much at the end of a book since the 6th harry potter book. this book was absolutely amazing, heartbreaking, and just entirely frustrating to feel so helpless. thus is the credit to robin Hobb who does such a fantastic job pulling these emotions from you.
without giving away too much, I have never hated an antagonist as much as I hate this one. he is slimy as he is fickle and I hope, against all hope that he gets what is coming to him in the next book. I am well aware of the fact that this is long series but surely at some point, he will get what is coming to him.
if you haven't tried this fantasy series then I would urge you to. yes it is long and yes it seems like forever to get to the meat of the plot but when it comes together, it is the most amazing thing you will have read in a lifetime.
nvanalfen
Jul 19, 2022
9/10 stars
A powerful followup to the first book. Hobb doesn't disappoint. Her magic system is perfectly balanced between power and limitation, and her world continues to grow more and more interesting. Fitz, Nighteyes, the Fool, and all of the protagonists really drew me in. And Regal. Oh my gosh. I have never felt such hatred towards a fictional character as I do with Hobb's villains. The characters are so well designed that they feel real. After reading this book, I decided that I needed to read everything that Robin Hobb has written.

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