While you enter the book with the expectation of wild adventure, Assassin's Apprentice is a more mild form of the assassin storyline. Fitz has some growing up to do in the beginning, as well as progressing as a character before he can be all that the title claims he will be. I enjoyed Fitz's childhood days, but throughout the book I couldn't help but notice the lack of female characters. We have two minor female characters who I liked, but I would've liked it more if their presence wasn't as peripheral.
The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'In a faraway land where members of the royal family are named for the virtues they embody, one young boy will become a walking enigma.
'Born on the wrong side of the sheets, Fitz, son of Chivalry Farseer, is a royal bastard, cast out into the world, friendless and lonely. Only his magical link with animals - the old art known as the Wit - gives him solace and companionship. But the Wit, if used too often, is a perilous magic, and one abhorred by the nobility.
'So when Fitz is finally adopted into the royal household, he must give up his old ways and embrace a new life of weaponry, scribing, courtly manners; and how to kill a man secretly, as he trains to become a royal assassin.'
Fitz grows up in the stables under the purview of his father's right hand man, Burrich, and develops a bond with the animals there- a bond that goes beyond the mundane. He can see, smell, and act through his link to the animal, which happens to be a magical taboo. While there are many animals featured in the book, it didn't precisely win me (for a slightly spoilery reason).
The villains featured in this book reminded me more of the Harry Potter type than the A Game of Thrones type. In other words, they're pretty dang mean and conniving, but it isn't as over-the-top as some books take it. There are scenes I read while wincing and peering through my eyelashes, though, as I wasn't sure if the violence would stop or continue. Funny how I never read A Song of Ice and Fire like that- I guess I anticipated the gore.
An interesting piece of dialogue:
"When you cut pieces out of the truth to avoid looking like a fool, you end up sounding like a moron instead."~Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb, page 209 Kindle edition
Assassin's Apprentice begins innocently enough, but builds complexity from those humble roots. In some ways, it's more a coming of age novel than it is your typical epic fantasy, but I devoured every word regardless. If you don't mind a slower start in your fantasy books and like some political machinations as the book progresses, I recommend Assassin's Apprentice for your next read.
Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars for an exceptional coming of age fantasy!
Content: Ages 16+ for some scenes where the violence gets pretty M-Rated.
Page Count: 480 pages
