Book Review: Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb

 

Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb - 4.5 Stars (Book 2 in The Farseer Trilogy)

Video to come!

Y'all, last year Assassin's Apprentice was a book I challenged myself to read to start the HOBB journey in support of my special friend Chrissie! Hobb is her favorite author and she is always reading her friend's favorite books so I wanted to continue the tradition this year by reading book 2 in this series for Chrissie's birthday month! A full vlog is coming tomorrow August 2nd!

So, the review: 

Royal Assassin, the second book in the Farseer Trilogy, is a masterful continuation of the saga that began with Assassin's Apprentice. The story picks up right where book 1 left off, following the life of FitzChivalry Farseer, a royal illegitimate child and trained assassin, as he navigates the treacherous politics of the Six Duchies. 

In book 1, Fitz was just a child in his training. We follow Fitz in his coming of age journey in his teenage years in book 2. 

One of the standout features of Royal Assassin is Hobb's ability to create such a rich and immersive world. She has such an attention to detail where each sentence really matters. I recommend if you read this series, you must take your time. This was a book over 600 pages and it took me about 2 weeks to go through it over time, even with the audiobook. I wanted to try and understand each part the best I could, especially since I am not always a high fantasy reader. 

Hobb draws readers in with medieval-like settings of Buckkeep Castle and its surrounding regions. The backdrop of political intrigue, magic and looming war provides a compelling and dynamic environment for our characters. 

Fitz, as the protagonist, is a deeply complex and sympathetic character. We really see him struggle with loyalty, and the burdens of his training. You really grow to love and feel for Fitz in his story. We see mentor relationships grow, a love interest develop and a very interesting dynamic with characters like the Fool in this book.

The plot is very intricate and well-paced with a great balance of action, intrigue and character development. We see several storylines such as the threat of the Red Ship Raiders, internal power struggles within the Royal family and Fitz's own personal journey. 

The magic system in this book was also developed and discussed a bit more as Fitz learns more how to use it and how it works exactly. The Wit, a telepathic bond with animals, and the Skill, a form of telepathic communication and influence, add layers of complexity. Fitz's struggle to control and understand these abilities is a compelling subplot that adds depth to his character and the overall story. I personally love the Wit and seeing the bond with animals Fitz has.

Overall, this book is a richly crafter and emotional fantasy story that builds on themes of loyalty, duty and sacrifice with skillful storytelling. Fans of epic fantasy will love this and I am excited to read the next book in the trilogy to see what happens next.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6555259408
Amazon Series Link: https://amzn.to/3A1xicI

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.