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Assassin's Quest (The Farseer Trilogy, Book 3)

Assassin's Quest (The Farseer Trilogy, Book 3)

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

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The best trilogy I've ever read.
Review: The book itself warrants an 8, but the entire series gets a 9.5 from me. The characterisation is superb, seen through the eyes of the main character. So superb was it that days after finishing the series, I still felt sad that I had left my "friends" behind. I identified very strongly with the characters, due to the first-person view, and it seemed as though I was there, and they were people I know. The descriptions transported me to that world, to the extent that I could smell the wares the peddlers were selling, and I heard the laughter of the people in the story, all in my mind of course. Hobb writes in a style that makes me want to imitate, and made me wish that the world she crafted exists. Even now, the characters seem so vivid in my mind. I really enjoyed the wolf, Nighteyes, in the story. One wishes one had a friend like that. Verity, too, is another of my favourite character. The downside though is the conclusion, which does not make sense and is too brief, giving the impression of hastiness. All said, I highly recommend the series.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Absolutely Fantastic
Review: From the very start of this trilogy, I was impressed and amazed by the author's writing skills and imagination. This book reminded me why I like to read fantasy novels. It also reminded me why I have stopped reading so many. Few fantasy novels today can compare to this series. Unlike the current crop of trash fantasy, the Farseer Trilogy was well written, imaginative and focused. It also had a real ending. It was not plagiary of others works, nor did it keep to the contrived and tiresome formulas that we keep seeing in today's fantasy novels. Thank you Robin Hobb. The people who gave this book poor reviews are simply poor unfortunate souls who have been conditioned to the current crop of poorly written, soap opera trash that plagues this genre. I enjoyed all three books thoroughly. I enjoyed reading about a character who did not save the world, but worked hard so others could do so. I enjoyed the fact that the "Bad Guy" in this novel was not some all powerful malevolent being, but simply a poor, confused and ambitious man. Keep up the good work. Some of us here still appreciate a well written and enjoyable story.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Quit your whining
Review: First of all, I just want to say that while it's been awhile since I last read this book, 4-5 months, I can still honestly say that while it was missing several of the elements that made the first two such outstanding and evoking stories, Assassins Quest nicely wrapped up the series to my sensibilities.

Throughout every book it was obvious that Fitz wasn't destined to some happily ever after. The first few pages in Assassin Apprentice was clearly written by an old man that is later fleshed out as living in a cottage with no grand hall, loveless and childless. What about this made you think he would win the day, the girl, and riches to boot.

The whole story is about Fitz tenacity and loyalty strengthening him through everything fate can throw at him, him no or minimal thanks or rewards. From the very begining he was made to be the unsung hero, except for the few close friends that have stood by him though hell and highwater, which weren't many.

As for the story lagging, most of this book was about Fitz finding himself after he was betrayed and left behind. He's no longer the Assassins Apprentice, no longer the Kings Man, so what is he? That is the first answer he needs to find. I found this quest and the answer he found to be the most endearing section of all three of the series. Having to go through some of the same soul searching myself it was even more potent. If this didn't touch you in some way I can only assume you've had all of lifes questions answered for you.

And now that I've turned this into less of a book review and more of a mud slinging match, I just want to say that whatever you've heard about this book, good or bad, you should read it and form your own opinions.

In the end, for all his brave stupidity, Fitz is still the most human hero I've even had the pleasure to meet.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: AN AWKWARD ENDING, STILL WORTHY OF YOUR INVESTMENT . . .
Review: Others have remarked extensively about how clumsy, awkward, and ultimately unsatisfying is Fitz's fate in BOOK 3 of The Farseer Trilogy, "Assassin's Quest." I agree, and yet I still urge you to read BOOK 3, and be honest: The very reason you (and I) are not satisfied with the ending is because Fitz was so intimately crafted in the first two books, we are (none of us) willing to yield him back to his author with anything short of the kind of sentimental triumphant conclusion to his long-suffering Quest for Self that would make _us_ feel better. It's the mark of Hobb's writing skill that Fitz's trials and emotions were rendered with such tender humanity that they cannot but become our own trials and emotions in the reading of him. This is no mean feat for a writer, so give Hobb some credit. Setting aside for the moment that I am unconvinced that Assassin's Quest is the last book in which he will endear himself to our hearts and minds, Fitz nonetheless belongs to his author. In the great tradition of Romantic Tragedy, Hobb's treatment of Fitz must remain unsentimental, and if we are chagrined that it does so at the expense of our being able to easily dispense with him, easily forget his life as being resolved, well . . . I call that really good writing. This is a tragedy, and Fitz a tragic hero - you won't fit him into a one-dimensional (anything) and his fate is no exception. But here's the test: How long has it been since you finished Assassin's Quest? And the ending still troubles you? Got under your skin, didn't he? Uh huh. Good writing.

I think when people criticize BOOK 3 as awkward they are almost exclusively referring to plot devices - which are discordant from all that preceded them; lack the wit (pardon the use of the word) so gracefully nuanced in the first two books; and appear hastily contrived, as though Hobb had lost interest in Fitz and wished to wrap things up with expediency. Fair enough. None of us can be certain but my guess is she got in over her head (a forgivable offense for any first-time writer). I suspect she created a character larger than her capacity to control, and Fitz's fate manifests in BOOK 3 as awkward and unsatisfying as a result.

Still, Farseer remains an exercise in really good writing for which I would argue the journey is more relevant than the novelty of its conclusion or the absence of action in any traditional sense of the word: Romp inside the minds of characters (and beasts) for 20+ years, and the abrupt appearance of Dragons are a footnote to the humanity of the tender emotions which preceded them. This is one of those times where the first two books in the series are so good they trump any unsatisfying conclusion in my opinion, and remain (however awkwardly) heart wrenching, unsentimental, original, and unforgettable.

Skye

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: ohhh that burns!!!!
Review: Now that you have read the first 2 books of the series you have no other choice than to read the third. No doubt the earlier books have grabbed your attention and will not leave you thinking of poor Fitz the (...) in such a way. My advice, don't read the book if you like predictable endings, if you have a girlfriend you left in a friends care, or if you have a thing for traveling minstrels. Other than that dig in. Oh yeah, if it starts to get boring start skimming it picks up after a page or so.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Do you really need a review at this point?
Review: You must read Farseer books 1 and 2 first to really enjoy this story. Like George RR Martin's outstanding Song of Fire and Ice series it's a gritty, well written and engrossing story of family, politics, magic, mayhem and violence that needs to read from the start.

If you've already read 1 and 2 why do you need a review of 3? You should be seriously addicted by this point and know Hobb is going to grab you and hold your complete attention for another 600+ pages. I think you'll find it meets even your highest expectations. Fitz will locked in your imagination forever.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Not so bad!!
Review: I was glad I did not listen to the negative reviews given about this book. Sure some characters changed in the last book. I guess the people who don't like the changes like things to be nice and predictable in there books. Maybe this book does not fit a formula that some readers have. I thought the book(s) were just fine. It is a fantasy after all! Give it a read and see for yourself..

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Slow Letdown
Review: I think the first two books of this series are great. In fact, I think they are some of the best fantasy that I have ever read. However, the third book does not compare to the previous two. It is about 200 pages longer than it needs to be. The quest for Verity drags to mind-numbing length and detail. Overall I was quite letdown. Lets face it though, as good as the first two books in the series are, there is no way you could read them and not read the finale.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Sounds like I'm jumping on the bandwagon here.
Review: Robin Hobb, Assassin's Quest (Bantam, 1997)

Homicide: Life on the Street was for many years the best show on televison, hands down. Brilliant acting, brilliant direction, compelling plots that spanned episodes (one of which went the whole series, from the very first to the very last episode) without ever degenerating into the world of soap opera. It was almost inevitable, really, that Homicide would jump the shark, and it did so by cutting a major plotline short; after Pembleton (Andre Braugher, one of film and television's brightest-shining lights) had a stroke at the end of one season, they opened the next season with his struggle to get back into the world after being released form this hospital. For one episode. After that, he was back to his old self with a few extra quirks, which seemed almost as if the scriptwriters had tossed them in as afterthoughts to make sure everyone remembered Pembleton had a stroke.

Assassin's Queststarts off by jumping the shark in the same way. Fitz, left at the end of Assassin's Quest the same way Pembleton was left at the end of season four of Homicide, spends the first few pages doing exactly the same thing. While he spends longer getting back into the ways of the world than Pembleton did, ultimately the thread is dropped (again, except for a few afterthought-like pieces). I got wary right about then. Five hundred pages later, Hobb started tying up all the series' loose ends, and everything got tied up far too neatly, almost to the point of deus ex machina. Another piont against the book.

The intervening five hundred pages, though, are prime Hobb, and while the book's two flaws above are major ones, they shouldn't necessarily keep you from having a fine time with this, especially if you've read the first two in the series. Fitz finally gets around to setting out after his two main objectives, the assassination of Regal and the finding of Verity, getting into various minor adventures along the way. All of which is quite fun and reminiscent of the first two books. What seems to be missing from book three is the intrigue. Granted, it's hard to have court intrigue when you're tramping through the woods, but it was part of what made the first two novels so pleasurable, and it feels like an empty space crying out for something else to fill it here.

It's good, but it pales in comparison to the first two in the series. ***

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Horrible.
Review: The worst book ending I can recall. See my reviews of books 1 and 2 (and PAY ATTENTION!!! Stop at book 1 for the sake of...) - it is with a resigned sense of duty that I write this one. I almost stopped reading book 2 a couple of times it was so awful, but I thought that maybe I was being overly-negative and hey, I already bought book 3 so money's already lost and may as well see if old Hobb can save the story in the end (remember, the 1st book wasn't so bad). WRONG. WRONG. WRONG.

This book deserves 0 stars. Let's imagine for a moment a very, very lazy writer. This writer is also very, very arrogant and does not respect her readers's intelligence (she knows something the reader doesn't, you see - she knows herself). And let's suppose this writer used up all of her (apparently) limited talent on one, first book. And hooray for it was a success. But alas the publisher wants to make more money - let's just write more books! And if we have to change established characters, settings, behaviors, and even history in order to enable some scant figment of story to continue to regurgitate itself on the page, well that's ok.

I WILL NEVER READ ANOTHER ROBIN HOBB BOOK AGAIN.


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