Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Synopsis
Assassin’s Apprentice is a coming of age story of an illegitimate child of a crown prince. While his father was revered by the people, Fitz is forever haunted by the way he is seen by the people: lowborn and a disgrace. Unfortunately, a royal, illegitimate child is a danger to the throne, so Fitz must always either fear for his life, or somehow make himself indispensable to the crown. By serving as the king’s assassin he hopes to secure a future for himself free of being hunted.
Plot
I very much enjoyed this story and eagerly look forward to reading book 2. What’s interesting about Robin Hobb’s writing style is that she doesn’t write like a typical fantasy author. There is less focus on plot and world-building than I am used to. The story is more character-driven than plot-driven, which I found refreshing to see in a fantasy story.
*Side note: It’s worth it to check out the illustrated edition! There are only a few pictures, but they are gorgeous!*
Writing Style
This may sound like an odd comparison, but it felt almost like reading Great Expectations. It reads like a classic, and like Great Expectations, Assassin’s Apprentice really dives deep into the mindset of the main character as they struggle growing up in a harsh world, and are suddenly thrust into something much bigger than themselves. The only downside is that most for the story is very slow and very mellow–sometimes downright depressing. Yet, there are moments here and there that are so tender and pure, it makes the sadness worth it. And don’t think that the slow pace means there is no action or adventure. The last few chapters were a crazy rollercoaster ride and I was glued to my book until I reached the end.
Characters
I loved and hated the characters in this story because they acted so much like real people. First of all Fitz… Oh my goodness, this kid can’t catch a break, but there is something so pure, earnest, and seeking that just makes you root for him. It’s very sad because so much of the story he feels disregarded, unworthy, and unloved, even though there are a few around him that love him very much. They just suck at showing it, and he has no other conclusion to jump to then to assume that nobody cares. As for the other characters, there were many I was pleasantly surprised to develop a fondness for. Patience, for instance. She was not a character I suspected I would care for, but I ended up loving her and her eccentricities.
Final Word
Overall, this was a beautiful work of fiction that I will certainly be adding to my bookshelf. If you’re interested in a character-driven story with a little bit of magic, intrigue, and revenge, I highly recommend this book.