Royal Assassin

by Robin Hobb

Book Overview

"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...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553573411
• ISBN13: 9780553573411
• Release Date: February 1997
• Publisher: Spectra Books
• Length: 688 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 4.8" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

good series

This series is pretty amazing. Will not be able to put down any of them. This is the second book in the series.

Hobb is a wonderful crafter

Fitz is having fits - and the kingdom seems to be seeing the start of entire rupture. He must choose to either stay with his King as a King's man or go on his own - but truly - does he have a choice? Hobb certainly has a way of bringing light to things - there but just not seen by a reader. This book has everything - a love story, hatred, revenge, loyalty, political intrige, honor, and working for the better of a people. A great lesson can be learned by seeing the dedication some will take to see out that others can live better. Hobb does a great job of seeing through hardships and comming out the otherend - beat and broken, but knowing what one must do. Fitz is only getting better , as a character, every book I read. Do yourself a favor and read The Farseer Trilogy.

Better than anticipated

My first foray into Robin Hobb's literary world was the book Fool's Errand--> at the recommendation of George RR Martin's website. It (of course) was very good. In fact, it was jolly well enough to compell me to read the originating Farseer trilogy. The first book (Assassin's Apprentice) was OK-- a 3.5 star effort-- a good start to a series.<p>Royal Assassin, however, is a different beast. Whereas Assassin's Apprentice was a good, but not great, beginning, Royal Assassin is the consummate trilogy midpoint. A 5-star effort in every sense (think: "Empire Strikes Back" kind of mid-trilogy effort), leaving disappointment only in it ending & heaving empathic protagonist-despair. <p>Both expected, of course-- being the calling card of a trilogy-- but also excellently implemented.<p>Are there hairs to split? Of course. The Fool is, perhaps, way too heavy with the ranting which, empathetically, is a huge stepdown from his portrayal in book 1; Regal, a pleasant villain, is portrayed as both amazingly vainglorious and treachoroulsy thorough-> a good character point, but, in my eyes, left slightly lacking in portrayal; Molly, accurately--to fault-- painted in puppy-dog/first-love love eyes... but these are minor quibbles.<p>Again, though, the book is a good read, solid read. It is a strong step forward from its predecessor and left me wanting more. Those are sure signs of an investment well made.

A True Adventure Story!

Robin Hobb's Royal Assassin is a wonderful example of true adventure and fantasy. Hobb has a spectacular imagination and a talent for writing. This second book in the Farseer Trilogy links the young Fitz to the new, grown up FitzChivalry. The plot is not overly intense but is full of new and unique ideas. The story is so creative that the turn of each page brings a new suprise. Hobb's style of writing really makes the reader more involved in the book. He writes not only the actions and events that occur for the characters, but the feelings and emotions as well. Each character's personality is developed enough for the reader to understand yet leaves room for the reader's own imagination. Each character is unique in it's personality making the story even more interesting. I especially enjoy the action scenes in this book. The description of what is happening flows so easily and with just the right emotion. I find myself reading faster yet understanding it all. As a reader, I am much more involved in the story and the characters. I find myself hating the antagonist, Prince Regal. I pity the honorable Burrich, the father-like stablemaster and worry about the king-in-waiting, Verity, in his struggle to save his lands from both invasion from the Outislanders and curruption from within Buckeep itself. It isn't often that I find a book that is so involved and well-written. I would also recommend the first and third books of Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy; Assassin's Apprentice and Assassin's Quest. Enjoy!

captivating, well written, interesting plot, ie.a great book

This book is definitely the greatest book within the Farseer Trilogy - the first was too short, and the third became a bit far-fetched and strange at the end. This book really is brilliant and it DOES keep you turning the pages - you find yourself really sympathising with Fitz and every thing he suffers you suffer too - this may sound stupid, but it is true, and it is all too rare in writing these days. The first-person perspective makes the story-telling extremely personal, and especially at the end of this book and the beginning of the next is the use of first-person perspective brilliant. I cannot stress how great this book really is - it is an unbelievable read, and although not Shakespeare, it is certainly a lot of fun. Much deeper than Eddings and more captivating than Raymond E. Feist or Tolkien, get this book now.

Well done: how to make an assassin a sympathetic character

I read this book first, then read Assassin's Apprentice to see where it started, then finally Assassins Quest with bated breath. Glad I picked it up."Royal Assassin" is a lovely play on words, best understood once the story is over, as is the premise that "Chivalry ain't dead" which, while never uttered, provides the foundation for the protagonist's existence. That sense of irony is ever present throughout the series, and is beautifully complemented by Hobbs' use of adjective given names: Shrewd, Desire, Verity, Constance, Regal, etc. The measured development and revelation of each character's flaws and motivations is a beautiful example of how to write a book that startles you with plot twists, all of which ultimately make sense. The hardest character to reach is Regal, which is a shame, since he is a believable self-justified villain. Hobb's system of magic is easy to grasp, and does not require too great a suspension of disbelief to incorporate, since so few people in the book actually practice the Skill or the Wit. Her ability to demonstrate the suspicions and superstitions of commoners is admirable. Most compelling, however, is her ability to get inside the "coming of age" problem with a stark realism that most cannot achieve. Hobb is also able to address intimate relationships, love, and marriage from a very human, and often humorous perspective, a skill that is rarely displayed in the fantasy genre. The setting is rich with vivid depictions of life in a medeival castle. You can smell the stew cooking in the kitchen, and taste the warm bread that Fitz wheedles from Cook when it is fresh out of the oven. You also appreciate the plain difficulty of getting things done, even for one endowed with the Skill. And you empathize with the archetypical ailing king, whose hold on life and his kingdom are both weakening, and who nonetheless battles to impose his will on the events shaping his kingdom.Best of all, Fitz is an imperfect protagonist, who must rely on tenacity and his various friends to achieve his goals and survive in the deadly environment of court intrigue. The only problem with reading this book is that most contemporary fantasy pales in comparison. Robin Hobb has raised the bar.