Rating: 
Summary: A breath of (partially) fresh air
Review: Robin Hobb is halfway out of the trap of modern fantasy novels, which tend to be saccharine, passionless affairs, with the obligatory talking animals/objects, like endless regurgitations of Anne McCaffery works without her spark of originality.As the title suggests, Hobb's novel is a darker one in tone, centering on a royal bastard raised to be an assassin for the crown -- connected enough to move freely through the corridors of power, but an ultimately expendable branch of the royal family tree. The work is written with a devotion to detail, and the chilly fishing and farming nation is brought to vivid, even shiver-inducing life. The menace that faces the community -- a mysterious curse that strips residents of all morality and ability to relate to other humans, turning them into something worse than animals -- is both unique and genuinely horrifying. However, Hobb is only half out of the previously mentioned trap: Characters in the series are either good people (if sometimes forced to do bad things for the sake of the greater good) or flat-out bad. It's a fairly simplistic characterization common to most fantasy novels of the last 10 years, and is all the more frustrating because Hobb seems to be capable of better. Likewise, the fairy dust approach to magic, including talking dogs (and apparently, in a related series, magical ships), is an unwelcome note of Disney into a series that is at its strongest when it is dark and uncompromising. Finally, the series ends as so many fantasy novels do now -- incompletely. The mysteries that form the center of this work are not resolved here, and are set up for resolution in one of the later novels. Readers hoping for a complete-in-one-sitting story should look somewhere else. Recommended for fantasy readers looking for something with a bit more teeth, but who aren't ready to jump into the deep end with Glen Cook's Black Company or George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. Mildly recommended to readers of Cook or Martin looking for something to tide them over while waiting for more from those two authors.
Rating: 
Summary: A diamond in a field of zirconium
Review: I rarely give any book 5 stars, but Hobb's "Assassin's Apprentice" gets them. I am so tired of badly written, unoriginal claptrap from all those would-be Tolkiens that litter the field of high fantasy that the friend who leant me "Assasin" had to pick at me for months. I'm glad I gave in! Hobb succeeds not because of her original universe or even particularly original plot, but because of her fabulous character development. I haven't read characters as engaging since Lois McMaster Bujold. And it's thought provoking as well. I found myself examining anew what it meant to be loyal, to serve that to which you've devoted yourself, and to be true to your calling, even when it seems directly at odds with what you desire. Very impressive, and not to be missed.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Read
Review: This book is an excellent read! What am I saying? The whole series of The Farseer, Liveship Traders, AND The Tawny Man trilogies are excellent.
I had won an ebook from the community library and Assassin's Apprentice and Royal Assassin was downloaded onto it. It took me awhile before I decided to read them. Too long! If I had realized what good books they were I would have pounced on them as soon as I saw they were available to me! I couldn't put the books down! It was also such a relief to see that the story continued (when I was done with Royal Assassin)in other trilogies (well not the Farseers in the Liveship Traders). I was a little disappointed in the final book in the Tawny Man trilogy. I didn't want some parts to end the way it did.. But it did have a good ending. But I do recommend reading this books. It is so amazining how Robin Hobb creates these worlds. I wish I could have at least a 1/4 of the imagination that comes up with all these wonderful stories.
Rating:
Summary: Magical Writing From A Magical Writer !!
Review: My brother bought me this book well over a year ago. He had never read the book but bought it for me because the cover art was awesome. This book sat on my shelve for over a year and I finaly decided to read it. WOW!! Words cannot describe the experience I had exploring the book. I have read others reviews and have to agree with most of them. I dont know how to explain the writer but that no other author has kept my attention as Robin Hobb has. Please keep in mind that this is my first Hobb book and Ms. Hobb could write about an ant crawling across the sidewalk and somehow make it very interesting!!
The story does not have a ton of action such as wars, clashes and tons of murder. This book is about everyday people living in an everyday King and Queen era. Not like all the other fantasy books out there where man meets woman, marry, have kids, win the war and they live happily ever after. No, its about a young boy born a bastard, Fitz, living in the Kings and Queens days learning the hard way as we all do about the struggles of life. Its as simple as that. Just like our world. How many people do you know that dont have enemys of some kind?? or struggle with life at some time or have never ran into a string of bad luck??Ive read alot of reviews and many people say that what the author did to this poor kids was grueling. NO. Hobb just wrote a realistic story, thats all. Heck, I even think the ending was very good!! He received his recognition just as we all do. I dont know about anyone else, but all my bosses dont come up and reward me for doing a good job. Its expected of me and I know it. Its my job. Just as it was for Fitz. In my mind, Fitz is a hero, he is silently recognized and rewarded from his leaders for it as well.
After reading the story, one thing sticks out in my mind about the madmen in the "red ships" invading the coasts of Buckeep and forging people. Forging is something that Hobb really does not explain as to how the raiders of the red ships perform this trick to the towns people so you will have to use your imigination. (Could these red raiders be todays politicians that somehow traveled back in time to perform their corruptions on the six duchies??). LOL. These forged people seem so much like the people in our worlds of today. Their main goal (the forged people)is the greed to survive with no remorse for any other and if that means to kill one another so be it. Just like todays world.
I am reading the second book (Royal Assassin)and so far so great. I highly recommend this book!!
Rating:
Summary: Engrossing -- medieval story with a dark-side
Review: I picked this book on a lark -- I just wanted to try a new writer. What a reward from Robin Hobb! This medieval fantasy has a real dark gothic element to it -- a bastard child is trained to be an assassin. He senses dark magical powers within himself yet cannot master the skills to use them. In a twisted way, he is loyal, and even to love (perhaps), the people who use him in the worst way. I think the characters are well-filled and realistic; characters have varying shades of evil and good, sometimes all at once. The author really captures the quirks of human nature -- and the coincidence of one action having far-reaching effects. And the Fool adds an element that someone or something is controlling events beyond everyone's perception. Governments are portrayed in a cynical light -- heroes presented to the masses are actually traitors in secret. Rulers turn blind eyes to treachery -- out of true political blindness or simply waiting to fight some battle on another day. Very interesting. I am definitely going to read the next book in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Great Story, Amazing Details
Review: Wow. At first I was unsure whether or not to start another potentialy trashy fantasy series, there are just too many bad books out there. But I was wonderfully impressed by this book, and the two that follow it. They are very rich in detail and the imagery is fantastic. Not only that but you dont have to wade through those cheesy tawdry sex scenes like so many fantasy authors love to pepper their stories with (Goodkind comes to mind). Bottom line, if you have the time to start a great series than I would highly recommend this one. If not, find the time.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: I really like Robin Hobb. I actually read the Liveship series before these, so at first I was a little bit disappointed, I really loved how she follows different characters in the Liveship series. Here it's all about what Fitz thinks, feels and how he can whine sometimes. But they're still SO good.
She writes characters with depth, different reasons and real thoughts. These people feel more real than my friends in real life. I'm serious! These people have so much depth and I would love to have all of them around me in real life. But this is the next best thing. She also has a way of describing and explaining things that really put you RIGHT into the books, without long desciptions that makes you skip a page. You really feel like you're there... Love them.
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliantly detailed, well written fantasy
Review: Robin Hobb is a great writer. She really captures the essence of her protagonist. She does so in a way that I have rarely if ever seen in a fantasy writer. Even the greats don't quite draw the picture in my mind that Hobb manages to create, detailing the whims of her Fitz. I really enjoyed this part of it. Of course, the story itself, as can be seen through the fact that there are three books here making a whole piece, is a bit slow in this volume. It builds slowly, following the raising and teaching of Fitz as he grows, only occasionally sending him anywhere of note. If you're looking for a kick in the pants, action-packed fantasy book, you're not quite there yet with this volume, however, you must keep in mind that the story has just begun. This is the beginning and with subsequent books, you'll be able to see the real purpose of Hobb's story. Definately recommended for fans of rich detail and wonderful characters in a fantasy setting
Rating: 
Summary: Don't expect any twist or surprise or, actually anything...
Review: So, this is book 1. I gave it a try.
Chapter 1 is ok..., I thought there must be something going on, or something to happen....
Chapter 2,... nothing,..3,...4....Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Rating:
Summary: Good start to the series
Review: Like others, I too read this book based on the recommendations of it on this website. After reading it I must say that I will be reading more from this author. The story is told from the first person viewpoint of Fitz, the (...) son of Prince Chivalry, next in line for the throne of the 6 Duchies. Basically this first book is a big setup for the rest of the series. We see Fitz trying to adjust to court life, his training as a noble, and his training as an assassin. We're introduced to many characters around the castle, as well as the harrowing attacks on the coast by Red Ship raiders. I've read others comparing this book to Martin's, and even Tolkien (huh?). I would say that its difficult to compare to Martin mainly because this is written in first person while GRRM writes in third person. Both do focus more on the politics of their respective realms, and both have very little, if any, of what would be described as "magic." I would give Martin the edge only because I tend to like epic fantasy more. Overall, I would recommend this to any fantasy reader. Its well written, and it tweaks the traditional fantasy conventions enough that you'll come back for more. I know I will read at least the rest of the series.
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