Assassin's Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy, Book 1) | 
 enlarge | Author: Robin Hobb
Creators: Michael Whelan, John Howe
Publisher: Spectra
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
Buy Used: $1.51
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Avg. Customer Rating:  338 reviews
Sales Rank: 8728
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 464
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 3.9 x 1.1
ISBN: 055357339X
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780553573398
ASIN: 055357339X
Publication Date: March 1, 1996
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Condition: Standard used condition.
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Product Description
Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father's gruff stableman. He is treated like an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him sectetly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz's blood runs the magic Skill--and the darker knowledge of a child raised with the stable hounds and rejected by his family. As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz is growing to manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom.
Download Description
Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father's gruff stableman. He is treated like an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him sectetly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz's blood runs the magic Skill -- and the darker knowledge of a child raised with the stable hounds and rejected by his family. As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz is growing to manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 333 more reviews...
 Not quite there.... August 13, 2008
Although I somewhat enjoyed this book, it was really too slow of a pace for me. I'm almost done with the second installment, and it's actually better than the first one, IMO. I agree with a lot of the reviews where they gave 3 stars. There are lots of character development (75%) and not enough action (25%). I can see where a lot of people compare this to GRR Martin's Song of Fire & Ice, but it really doesnt even come close. This book has like the child's version for Song Fire&Ice series. I'd recommend it if you have no other options and want to be occupied with yet another fantasy series. I would definitely suggest Brian Sanderson's Mistborn series over this one (since I've just finished both serie's 2nd book).
Since these were some of her earlier books, I'm going to try to go through each of the series until her latest works, which received great reviews.
 Innovative page turner July 13, 2008
I've just finished the Farseer trilogy and decided to weigh in on the first book so everyone knows what they're getting into. This book was pure genius. The author goes through great pains to describe all of her characters, and does it by never shifting viewpoints from the main character! That means that you get first person perspective from the most important character in the series for all 3 books. There were some times when the character development dragged and seemed a bit excessive but in the end the vivid pictures she painted for them was well worth it. I found myself growing very attached to FitzChivalry and hoping he would eventually succeed. I've never seen such a "normal" hero in all of my time reading fantasy. Fitz isn't a large or strong man. He doesn't have the ability to shoot fireballs from his hands or light from his eyes. He cannot foretell the future. His unique ability is the special relationship with his wolf (known as the Wit) and his ability with the Skill. The full potential and capability of what one can do with the Skill is still a mystery to me. It was seldom used by Fitz in direct defense of his life and never fully mastered throughout the series. FitzChivalry was definetly the most unique protagonist I've ever read and this epic trilogy ranks in my top 3 favorite of all time.
Hobb's strengths lie in her ability to make you empathize with her characters. I grew so deeply attached to them all and felt a strong longing for more after I sat the last book down. Fortunately the Tawney Man series is filling that void for me (the next trilogy involving the same characters - at least the ones that make it out alive). I warn you, this series will consume you once you pick it up. It will leave you yearning for even more information but it will not disappoint. It smacks of early George Martin (without the senseless destruction of all the characters you love) and makes Robert Jordan's work seem almost tepid. The only problem I had with this series is the actual binding of the book. I'd recommend finding a hard cover set, or even a kindle version of the trilogy because the cheap paperback reprints are bound so poorly that you nearly have to bend half the book all the way back to read some of the words in the fold (the words are not properly centered on the page and are so left justified that you have to put a lot of pressure on the spine to read first or last word of every sentence).
excellent fantasy June 30, 2008
This was a great fantasy book. The best I've read since the first time through George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. Well written, and easy to fall into the story. I immediately purchased the following two books in Hobb's Farseer Trilogy.
Wow who would've thought?! June 24, 2008
I'm a pre-med college student which by definition means I'm often divested of free time to read books for leisure. Book series such as the Lord of the Rings, the Dark Tower, and Song of Ice and Fire are three that come to mind which help keep my imagination alive. After reading this debut and seeing the rave reviews for the other 8 books in this fantasy world it's safe to say I can add a 4th to the list above.
This book is character-centric about a protagonist named Fitz who pretty much is as close to a good-but-flawed figure I've ever read in fantasy. Also, this deals more with court intrigue like Song of Ice and Fire rather than high fantasy with elves and trolls. Other reviewers elaborate much more effectively so I'll end with how slowly the books starts off but really picks up after our main character begins learning his deadly trade. The end seemed rushed but since this story is now complete (unlike GRR Martin..) I just drove straight to Borders today to pick up the rest of the books in this sure to be an awesome series.
The beginning to one of my favorite stories ever June 18, 2008
I read it years ago, and just noticed I never wrote a review. There are 9 books in this world, this is the first of the first three. Nothing I can say will do it or the rest of the series justice. Be prepared to become attached to characters as you never have before. You will be pulled in to one of the greatest epic fantasies I have ever had the joy of reading. It is deep, tragic, moving, and exhilarating beyond description, so I'll stop my mere rambling and tell you to just buy it and the rest of the books in the series and get to reading them!
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