Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb
Let’s talk about Fitz. Robin Hobb does a very good job of having Fitz grow and learn throughout the story. She writes him to be real. Fitz, I just love the way he was handled. He’s a victim of circumstance he’s labeled as a bastard a destiny of sorts that defines him, hence, the name he’s given. We are given his situation of being a bastard as he’s left on the Kingdom’s doorstep at the age of five. You see the people and royalty at Buckkeep label him as well as remind him constantly that he is a bastard. It breaks my heart to see Fitz deal with that kind of animosity. However, that’s all part of his journey, and he finds a way to feel more than what he is made to believe.
As Fitz continues to grow into his adolescent years, the King realizes they could use Fitz as a pawn for their political gains. To also keep an eye on his motives and behaviors they make him into an Assassin’s Apprentice. Here Fitz has a whole new responsibility of proving himself worthy enough to be something more than just a bastard.
The story was not meant to be fast paced, which was an aspect I enjoyed immensely. It felt like a simmering pot of warm, hearty soup. Every ingredient was important, and certain scenes were meant to add the right amount of flavor to the world and the characters. I felt like I was reading episodes of Game of Thrones, but of course much more tame and civil than the TV show. (Love the show by the way. I have not yet read the books, but will hopefully get to them soon. I’m really drowning in books right now.)
All in all, this is my new favorite series I can’t wait to dive in to Hobb’s other books. I hear the whole Elderlings books, specifically the Liveship Traders trilogy, are amazingly well written. I can’t wait to get into the whole series!
reminiscent books 