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Assassin's Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy, Book 1)

Assassin's Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy, Book 1)

List Price: $7.99
Your Price: $7.19
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A story that feels real
Review: I am a very big fantasy reader, and assassins are one of my favorite characters to read about. That said, this book is not your average, predictible fantasy, and not about a typical assassin.
Fitz was just such a real character. He had a real personality, and actually feelings. He reacted to situations in a way that eveyone can relate to, and his problems, while certainly not normal, can translate well into everyday lives. He, and all of the characters, were true. They were just like real people, and that's one of the things that makes this book unique.
Another thing that I enjoyed was the writing style. Mostly, when you read a book from the first-person perspective, you feel part of the story, sometimes even too close to really see clearly. With the Farseer books, that's not the case. There's almost a feeling of detachment, of floating over the story as it happens, while being part of it at the same time. I have no idea how Robin Hobb managed this, but I'm very glad it worked that way. It's almost spellbinding.
The story was well thought out, and not clear cut, like some books. There was no; the good guys win, the bad guys go away; sense. The plot unfolded in a more true-to-life way, letting you really get into the story more.
The best thing about this book is the way you just can't put it down.
All in all, a truly different, likable, enthralling book. I am eager to read the next.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: COMPARABLE TO LOTR
Review: This book , and the trilogy is wonderful. I had just finished Return of the king (book 3 in Lord of the rings), and i was looking for a good book. I thought i would never find a book that was good, after reading LOTR, but i found it!!! These books were wonderful, Mrs. Hobb is a awesome storyteller, and she leaves you in suspence so you die, if you dont drive to the bookstore, to get the sequel, within the few days of finishing the last one.... This is a must read, it wasnt "fantasy fantasy" with wizards and Elves, and magic rings. But it was a book that you got to know, and you cherished it. You get to bond with the chracters, and his friends (nosy!!). Your insane or just downright unaprecitive, if you dont like these "will be classics".

Have fun reading these!!!! They are Aweseome.......... i also recomand Elaine Cunninghams Elfshadow... part of the Forgotten Realms Seris, now theres a Juicy book.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Decent book, hard to get into main character's head.
Review: I am on the third book of this installment. So that must say something. Assassin's Apprentice is written in first person, which, initially, bugged me. (Chronicles of Amber is 1st as well, but this one seems to get into the character more)
The book is written from the perspective ofa boy name Fitz, but when reading you can tell it is penned by a woman. The boy character is too full of feelings an emotions that, as a man, I know we (men) just do not have. Not to say that this takes away from the story. It does help, but it is far fetched to believe a young man thinks this way. Regardless. The story seemed longer than it really is. There is a lot of just standing around and not doing anything while the character sorts through his feelings. He rehashes many of the same things over and over again and it begins to get tedious. The background story of the castle and its inhabitants is well worth the read. The ending is not really an ending, but leads you to the next book. Overall, not a bad book, but not the best fantasy I have ever met. The protagonist seems too willing to accept things as he is told they are, instead of branching out on his own. If someone told me I was a powerful person in a specific type of magic, but I couldn't use it because peeople simpy told me I could not, I would most definitely at least TRY to use the magic and see how much of it I could control. Heck I would try until I succeeded, but Fitz tried once and then gives up with a shrug. Hard for me to empathize with such a character.
I will finish the series, but will move on to other tales from other writers from here.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Dark and Depressing
Review: Hamlet, MacBeth, Othello...nobody can do tragedies like Shakespeare, until now that is. For that is what Robin Hobbs Assassin series is, classic tragedy. If you like a story where there is no happy ending, where the protagonist is always getting the sharp end of the stick then these books are for you. But be advised if you are looking for a little lighthearted adventure, romance and an eventual triumph at the end then stay away, you will come away depressed and disappointed.
Taken from his mother at an early age FitzChivalry (translates as son of Chivalry) is mentally and physically abused, sexually repressed, brainwashed into unquestioned loyalty to the throne and then trained as an assassin, a tool, of that same throne. The fact that he is related, although a bastard, to the powers that use him seems to be immaterial.
Do not misunderstand this to be a criticism of the works as literature. The writing style is superb. The world Ms. Hobbs creates is imaginative and interesting. However if you are looking for a story that leaves you feeling good you might want to try her Liveship Traders series. The only reason I can see for these books being a must read is if you want to proceed with her Tawny Man series. I have just finished the first installment of this trilogy, Fools Errand, and was pleasantly surprised. It is much less dark and foreboding, so far that is. However, it is not possible to truly understand and appreciate the story line without first reading the Assassin series.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Overwhelming.
Review: I read The Farseer Trilogy again, and it's drained me. It's such an awesome book, it takes something out of you. It's, well, exquisite. One of the few fantasy books I read, so it must be unique, 'least to me. I don't think any fantasy book can be compared to it (LOTR is a Classic and must be treated as one).

(...But then, I've never read much fantasy, so perhaps I'm not experienced enough in fantasy to pass a judgement. Whatever. This is what I think about it now.)

I do love it. It's the only book that has brought tears to my eyes that weren't because of sadness. It was out of a sort of... triumphant pride. Those little battles fought, those little victories won, that sort of thing. And, and an admiration-- Verity's "vast love and vast loyalties". Fitz, and the sacrifices he made, the many, many sacrifices he made. Many, and great. It pains me. It makes me cry. Then. The Cleansing of Buck, the courage of Duke Brawndy's daughters, that grin of the boy who had tears running down his face as he sailed away from the fire he had set.

Fitz has been carrying many burdens since young. Perhaps some might think that all that suffering experienced might help him mature a little faster, but I feel that Robin Hobb has created an entirely realistic character to star in her book, who has his moments of immaturity and impulsiveness, and who also has made a few wise decisions. I have no idea how she found the heart to put him through so much pain, but the ending, I suppose, is a happy one. Happy compared to the rest of his life, that is.

This is an awesome book, overwhelming in all its emotion. It's obvious Hobb has put her heart and soul into creating such a novel. Perhaps, sometimes, a little too much of it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Overwhelming.
Review: I've read the Trilogy again (For about the third time; but I've read the first book about four times, the second about thrice (it pains me, because it's in the second book where there's the most strife, I think), and the last book six times), and it's drained me. It's such an awesome book, it takes something out of me. It's, well, exquisite. I don't have much of a liking for fantasy novels (too fluffy, too boring, too bubblegum *shrugs*), so it must be unique, to me at least. I don't think any fantasy novel can be compared to it. (LOTR is not fantasy-- it is a Classic, and must be treated as one.)

I do love it. It's the only book that has brought tears to my eyes that weren't all because of sadness. Oh, yeah, I cried at the deaths and all, but a lot of those tears were out of a sort of... triumphant pride. All those little battles various people fought, all those little victories, all that courage shown. And then the final victory-- the journey's ended. Also because of an admiration-- Verity's "vast love and vast loyalties". Fitz's great loyalty, the sacrifices he made, the many, many sacrifices he made. Many, and great. It pains me. It makes me cry. The Cleansing of Buck, the courage of the daughters of the Duke of Bearns, that grin of the boy who had tears running down his face as he sailed away from the fire he himself had started.

Yeah. It's an awesome piece of work.

(For first-timers: Be aware that it starts of a little... slow, yes. But after that, it gets disgustingly good, you wouldn't want to put it down. And I do mean it. I read the last two books in the same night because I couldn't stop. Was a bit taxing on my health. But well worth it.)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Positively wonderful
Review: I have a small fetish for reading about assassins (Don't even ask) so naturally I picked up the book at learned more about it online. Robin Hobb is such an amazing author. Her talent for creating abilities regarding the Wit and Skill mirrors her immense imagination. By trial and error, FitzChivalry realizes his place and gaines knowledge, making friends in the least predictable places, such as with Molly, the Fool, and especially Chade. You will quickly take sides against many characters, and will learn to dislike them as much as Fitz does, as Robin conveys emotions extremely well. I remember crying at two parts in this book. (Hey, I'm female...) Characters like Rusrick and Verity are very unforgettable-they'll stay around your mind. For those people who can't bear the first chapter or so, please stick with it, I promise you won't regret it, especially with the fast pace ending.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Refreshingly Good
Review: A story about a boy and his dog. Well, it starts out that way. Fitz ir of royal blood, but he was born on the wrong side of the sheets. He also is remarkably good with animals, an aspect of his limited magic. Left in the charge of his father's right hand man, his adventures begin.

He has the wit, a type of beast magic that is frowned upon that his guardian tries to keep him from using it. His grandfather sees some use for him, and thus begins his secret lessons in the diplomacy of the knife.

Hobb does a very good job, writing from the perspective of a person that is not sure who or what he is. He goes through ups and downs and responds as well as he can.

His grandfather's kingdom, the six duchies, is the backdrop on which the story of his youth is painted, and plays an important role in the shaping of events.

Hobb's writing is very good technically, and the story is very original. If you enjoy reading, this is an excellent book.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Simply Average
Review: I must say that I am new to fantasy books. I started with Lord of the Rings and I guess I am spoiled. I loved Lord of the Rings and I just can't review fantasy books without some reference to it. I've also read works by C.S. Lewis that I thought were good. However, this book was not necessarily boring but I just couldn't get attached to the main character. I don't particularly understand the "Skill" or the "Wit" and I am not really interested in assassins. I can't decide if I wish to continue in this series. I have the other two books but I just can't seem to care what happens to the character. Perhaps I will come back to it someday but this particular story was not interesting to me.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A must for book lovers!
Review: I have read this series over and over. More times than I can count, and not once has it lost its ability to pull me into the story. So much so that I find myself feeling and relating to the characters. You are drawn into the depths of Fitz's life. His joys and sorrows, triumphs and losses. Robin Hobb is truly a master of her art. I doubt I will ever tire of this world of hers. I still end up feeling lonely when I finish the series. Like I've lost a good friend. If you want a really good book that entertains and makes you think, this is it. Bravo Robin!!


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