by Robin Hobb
- Fiction
- Fantasy
- Magic
Assassin’s Apprentice is an epic fantasy fiction novel by Robin Hobb (Margaret Astrid Lindholm Ogden). The story follows a young boy named Fitz, a royal bastard, raised in the castle stables with only his strange connection to animals for comfort. When the king realises Fitz could be of use to the crown, he decides to have him trained as an assassin. But with the Six Duchies teetering on the edge of civil war, Fitz must fight to survive.
I really enjoyed this book—it has that quintessential old-school medieval fiction feel. The fantasy elements are quite subtle at first, with hints of two types of magic (the Wit and the Skill), but these start to play a more prominent role later in the story.
I honestly didn’t know what to expect going in. A lot of people had recommended it, but I’d heard such mixed reviews that I wasn’t sure what I’d be getting. I’m really glad to say I was pleasantly surprised.
Hobb’s writing is easy to follow, and the story moves at a great pace—not too fast that it feels rushed, but quick enough that you’re never bored. Time in the story flows nicely, and it’s easy to get immersed.
Fitz is a genuinely interesting and relatable character, and since the whole story is told from his perspective, it’s refreshing to see things through the eyes of a bastard boy raised among animals. Prince Chivalry is Fitz’s father, but Burrich, the stablemaster, steps in as a real father figure and takes responsibility for raising him. Fitz also forms a bond with Chade, his mentor in the assassin’s arts, which adds even more depth to his development.
There are plenty of other interesting characters too—like Molly, who I’m really hoping gets more development in the next books.
I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or classic fantasy. If you like authors like Samantha Shannon, Brandon Sanderson, or even Ken Follett’s historical novels, this will definitely be your kind of book.
All in all, this was a really engaging read, and I’m genuinely excited to dive into the next two books in the Farseer Trilogy (Royal Assassin and Assassin’s Quest). I’m looking forward to seeing not just how Fitz grows into his role, but how the characters around him evolve too.
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