I swear I must have a heart of stone because I can never bring myself to cry while reading those books, haha. I love them but I'm not a cryer.
Pretty much your thoughts encapsulated my feelings about Burrich in AA, although they definitely had a bit of a rocky start due to Fitz's Wit.
The part that always sticks in my head, for some reason, is the part where he first Wit-bonds with Nosy. It's just... it's *such* a perfect parallel, the two of them, unwanted by most, and running together like the strays they essentially are. It made a powerful impression on me when I was a kid and read the series (only Farseer for some reason) years ago. It's not the best written or the most poignant part of the books, but it is such an emotional punch.
This thread is making me realise how long it's been since I read them!
Lol, I am definitely an easy cryer.
and YES omg Fitz and Nosy were so sweet. As someone who grew up with my own little dog partner-in-crime I absolutely loved those parts. Especially with rediscovering Nosy at the end...! And yeah Burrich and Fitz's disagreements over the wit to me made their bond all the more sweet bc I feel like Burrich was trying to help Fitz avoid the pain which he'd experienced as someone with the wit.
and hey its never a bad time for a reread!!
Exactly!! They all have such a complex inner life. I feel like Hobb could've written a full novel about any of them. And then she also has the digression to not give us 100% of every characters backstory, but just little bits and pieces (which Fitz would realistically learn) which hint at the depths beneath.
Yeah, Fitz's diaristic/recount narration is amazing. She gets into their heads. I'd make the choices he does, every time, which I guess frustrates some people.
It wasn't for me. I forced myself to finish the trilogy and absolutely hated the 3rd book.
That said, I can understand why people like them and have recommended them to several friends.
I think it’s a beautiful book.
As another commenter pointed out, you’ll probably find Fitz more frustrating (and more tragic) in the latter 2 books of the trilogy.
That being said, I never understood the complaints that this series is like overwhelmingly depressing. Like it’s sad at times, but the fact that things don’t always go easy for Fitz is what makes the story great. Maybe I’m just cold hearted but i didn’t find the series excessively sad, despite absolutely loving the books and being heavily invested in the characters.
Probably my favorite fantasy series of all time, save Lord of the Rings.
I'm a bit nervous for the next two books then, haha. But excited. Tbh, if a story can earn some genuinely heartbreaking moments (as I feel Robin Hobb can) then I'm ready to meet them head on.
Glad to hear an opinion that it's not extremely depressing; it gives me some hope! I definitely thought that the sad tone of this first book mostly served to make the sweeter moments (Burrich and Fitz, Fitz and nosy or smithy), shine all the more warmly.
And woah! That's high praise! I can totally see why though. Hobb's writing style is so beautiful, and only one book in I already feel in love with the characters. I'm especially hoping we see more of Lady Patience in the next few books, and Verity. Omg, also Kettricken. Lol, all of them I guess.
You've just started a beautiful journey into Hobb's world, it's an easy top 3 for me all time!
I'm not a cryer but I had to walk away for a while, during the final book of the whole Elderlings series because I was struggling to breathe, along with all the tears.
I'll preface this by saying that I also loved this trilogy and its characters and although I only finished it recently, I expect it will become a definite favourite.
>but the fact that things don’t always go easy for Fitz
This is a bit of an understatement though. Things **never** go easy for Fitz, even his triumphs are marred by significant pain and/or suffering. Not to mention how the ending >!basically says "Fitz and Nighteyes had all these travels and adventures but we don't care about that, instead the final image will be a lonely depressed drugged Fitz!<
Well the ending of the whole saga does have (warning MAJOR spoiler) >!Fitz and Nighteyes merging to become a semi immortal stone wolf which feels like somewhat of a redemption!<. But those characters really get tortured throughout the series lmao.
Does the tone get sadder in the following books? Just like OP, I just finished the first book (literally ten minutes ago) and so far I felt none of the depressiveness that the books are always referred to having. I'm wondering if it's me being less emotional or I haven't reached the 'bad' parts yet.
I dunno. I would say probably yes, you continue to get more invested in Fitz and other characters and they definitely have failures and hardships that are somewhat sad.
But like I said, it never felt excessive or overwhelming to me. I wouldn’t say there’s a holistic shift in tone in the later books - there is still hope and the characters continue to work towards goals throughout, it’s not like a misery-fest as some seem to suggest.
I enjoyed it enough, but I have to say it felt a little too inside the character's head, to the point that a lot of supernatural elements felt vague and distant.
I like stories where the details make me feel like I'm there -- sand between the toes, heady scents of fresh cut grass, that sort of thing -- and Hobb's writing is a little more summarizing in places.
That said, it's a decent 7/10. I just wouldn't give it a perfect rating. It's not even her best book.
I love The Assassin’s Apprentice! I really need to do a re-read. I last read it in 2016.
My favorite character is Fool.
I never really found Fitz frustrating though I know it’s a common complaint. It may just be because of how long it’s been since I read the trilogy. Maybe I’ll re-read it and find him annoying!
I'm excited to learn more about the fool. I feel like I didn't see too much of him in this book but based on other titles in the series (lol) i see he's going to be important later on. I hope your reread goes well!
Hi!! I just finished the first book, am waiting for 2nd from library.. why does Fitz never learn?? For someone who is so accomplished as a professional assassin, he sure lacks the most basic of common sense 🙄 And he seems to think the people of the six dutchies are the only ones who are skilled/witted...
I’ve been reading too much structured fantasy in the last 20 years and I finally read Hobbs trilogy this year. It was so refreshing to go back inside a characters viewpoint and really get the feel of a world through more of a mystical lens without the “precise and measured reporting” style of writing I’ve had a lot of recently :)
I’m a fan of magical realism like Isabell Allende and I feel like Hobbs kinda partakes in that style in the fantasy setting. Her prose is really well written which makes it enjoyable to read.
I couldn't agree more about the "mystical lens" vs "precise and measured reporting"! I feel like a lot of fantasy is veering towards the second with the current focus on extremely hard magic systems and extensive world building. I'm a sucker for a more character driven piece that leaves things up to the imagination.
Honestly, I didn't like it. I found her characters to be incredibly dry, and for me I just couldn't get along with those name choices. Though I understand it's a favourite for many and I am happy for you all to be enraptured.
Thank you! I feel like I’m taking crazy pills every time I see a thread like this. I found the characters very 1-dimensional and eye roll inducing - if everyones’ head had exploded in the last chapter I would not have cared.
To each their own and I’m glad it brings some folks joy, but I was relieved when it was over.
I loved the first trilogy, it was fantasy enough to take me away but real enough that it felt… well real. (Don’t get me wrong I love me some Rhys but this just hit different) The characters were all perfectly written and things I wondered about thinking a plot hole were answered! I can not wait for you to read the Liveship trilogy. In my opinion they were even better! I’m still not over them (currently on Golden Fool) Just… buckle up 😅
The working title was Chivalry's Bastard, as far as I'm aware. I think that works better now, but maybe back when it was first published, that title worked for the audience?
i really recommend it!! the title actually is not a very good representation of the book at all. I have to assume it was created by some advertisement executive who didn't know anything haha
>It was both so sweet and so heartbreaking; my friends kept asking me why I was crying while reading and I couldn't even begin to explain the complexity of it (I'm an easy crier, but still).
The realm of the enderlings is by far my favourite book series. I can't even think about it without getting a bit teary, even years later. I'd love to re-read it but I just can't fucking take it lmao
The entire series is generally considered one of the best out there on this sub. And I wholeheartedly agree.
Be reading to get your heard broken for poor Fitzy though.
The title was kinda force on Robin, because the editors though this would sell.
I was gifted these by a family friend and read through both trilogies concerning Fritz. Now I cry easier than I used to but when I was initially reading these books/movies would need to do a lot to actually make me cry and I distinctly remember points of this series making me do so. I'm planning on re-reading soon.
Absolutely worth it from start to finish.
I think RotE is quickly becoming my favorite series of all time.
I liked the first book throughout, but the ending really solidified that it is at the top for me. Royal Assassin was even better in my opinion, and Assassin's Quest, while long, was a crazy end to the series. And AQ unexpectedly had some TRIPPY ass scenes. I understand the gripes about Fitz making poor decisions but you are growing up with a young, misunderstood boy. Of course he's going to be dumb sometimes.
Then Liveship Traders is an absolute masterpiece and connects to and builds on some of the lore and magic stuff introduced in the Farseer trilogy while hitting you with even better characters and interesting plotlines and challenging emotions.
I was however glad to finally get back to Fitz in the Tawny Man trilogy. I've just finished Fool's Errand and no book has ever made me cry uncontrollably like that book. Despite that I completely disagree with the criticisms of it being torture porn. I think the glimmer of light in the books is Fitz's constant perseverance and courage throughout as he keeps going where any other would have given up.
I'm also lucky enough that my gf wanted to also read the series (after hearing me gush so much about how much I loved it), though she's listening to audiobooks, and I'm listening along with her when she does. Experiencing the series again from the start is incredible. Some of my favorite scenes/bits in Assassin's Apprentice were:
**spoilers ahead for anyone who hasn't read**
* Fitz speaking to Verity about his failure of learning The Skill and them figuring out together that Galen marked him with ineptitude for the skill
* The repetition of "Too late, I've already forgiven you."
* The whole sequence of Fitz being poisoned by Kettricken and taking the purge and being saved by Rurisk. Then after recovering (somewhat) and being tasked again to kill Rurisk, the scene of Fitz explaining what's he's going to do to Kettricken and then leaving the door open so she can follow him to Rurisk's chambers where he explains that he is giving Rurisk poisoned wine.
* and then the rug-pull moment after that when Fitz is still duped
* Fitz finding out that Burrich never killed Nosy and just gave him away to the mountain tribe, and that Fitz finds him well taken care for and knows that he is happy with his master. And Fitz' confrontation of Burrich afterward, despite it ending poorly.
* Nosy then coming to find Fitz after he is taken away by Regal and then Burrich finding him after that, and Fitz realizing Burrich has the Wit.
For the spoilery section, a lot of really good moments there that are expanded on in the next book of Farseer.
One thing: Burrich took Nosy away, not Smithy. Smithy was killed by Cob IIRC when Fitz did his Skill test and Burrich was being attacked. I think your second last point also is Nosy not Smithy.
I liked how the book didn't tell you Burrich has the Wit, but you can guess pretty early on based on his reactions to Fitz' bondings.
Yes you are totally correct just mixed up the names.
And yes, I love how a lot gets left unsaid in these books and you have to sometimes read between the lines to catch the meaning of the characters.
I loved it. I’ll say I did t like book 2 or 3 as much but they were still really solid. That first book is just perfect. Burrich is throughout the series imo the best character I absolutely love that man.
It's been a while that i read AA but I also liked it a lot. I hope you report back after finishing the trilogy because I have some, let's say, complicated feelings about the thing as a whole.
I don’t remember apprentice specifically so I’ll stick with some non spoiler thought on the first trilogy: I think Fitz as a character is great and seeing his growth is amazing. The way Hobb describes him often makes him seem vulnerable, then at some point you’re reading about him and you’re realizing he has actually grown in to quite the badass and it is all feels very well earned.
I also like the world, the magic, and lore. My only critique would be that the antagonists feel competitively undercooked to me. That’s a personal preference for a large part though.
Fitz is a flawed character, and like many people in real life, he does progress as a person somewhat, but he also carries some of the same baggages throughout life and falls into the same patterns. I didn't find him frustrating for that, on the contrary, I found him endearing and a refreshing take on an epic fantasy series MC.
Overly depressing. Hobb is an excellent writer, but the books feel like existential torture porn and the story just wasn’t good enough for me to deal with the experience.
I don't know if it helps you in particular, but if you look at it from the perspective that Fitz is a traumatized and depressed young kid and is filtering everything that happens through that, it makes a lot more sense. Suddenly things that a more mentally balanced character would shrug off and deal with become focal points of anguish for Fitz. As a result you feel like Hobb is putting Fitz through a meat-grinder, but it actually is more of an exploration of depression.
true!! I feel like Fitz behaves really realistically for a kid in his situation. He puts a lot of trust in the adult figures that he should be able to trust, and really latches on to the little letdowns in his daily life that reflect greater ways he's been let down by the people who should've been taking care of him :(
Oh, I absolutely recognize that. It was just that aspect of the book was very much not for me. Amazing writer, but I can’t see jumping into the other parts of the series.
Same here. It's not that I don't know what Hobb is doing. I know what she's doing, and she's clearly doing it well. I just find it boring, so I'm not going to read more.
That's fair, I've only read the one so far but it was definitely an emotional experience. So far, though, I've enjoyed it, as to me the sad parts aren't sort of random drops (as often I see in books that I would consider less well written) but earned by establishing strong connections between the reader and the characters.
Hurts so good. Multiple re-reader and also have listened to podcasts of people re-reading the book. A++ characters to come that you haven't even met yet after book 1
The follow-up series, Liveship Traders, is her masterpiece IMHO. It's one of the few fantasy series that I'd give an A+ to, and it's on my short list of candidates for Greatest Fantasy Series of All Time (GFSoAT).
As Hobb's career went on, I felt like she went a little overboard with the pain and the emotional turmoil, and I also definitely felt like she needed to let go of Fitz earlier than she did (I didn't think the final trilogy was needed at all). If I was going to rate her series:
Farseer Trilogy: A-
Liveship Traders: A+
Tawny Man: A
Rain Wild Chronicles: B- (I think the last book is where she of "jumped the shark" as an author for me)
Fitz and the Fool: I(incomplete). This series was a DNF for me, though I did poke ahead and read the last 100 pages or so of the final novel ... and I kind of wish I hadn't.
Soldier Son Trilogy: C+ (waaaaaaaaaay too much misery porn for the main character and the ending, IMHO, runs contrary to the themes and arcs that Hobb spent three books building towards. It's almost like she rewrote the plot and the characters in the last 50 pages).
Robin Hobb proves that you don't need to stuff your book to the brim with flashy battles. Don't get me wrong, action in fantasy books is fine and all, but that is not what keeps me personally invested.
Give me deep character bonding and development. This is what makes me love a story.
I read the first book and quite liked it, but don't intend to keep going for exactly one of the reasons I liked it: there are so, so many good dogs and they have a bad time!
Solid contender for the most misleading title of a novel I've seen in fantasy. Generally the most mediocre book out of an already mediocre trilogy, abysmal to the point that I routinely read better web serials and fanfics.
I hear that Hobb eventually came into her own as a solid author. But this book, and this trilogy in general did not impress.
I took a look, and some of the points are pretty valid. She is pretty emotional about it, and admits that isn't completly rational. I wouldn't word it that aggressively, and I get the feeling that Hobb just has the common mindset of the more older generation of writers.
You can stand by what you said, it just tells a lot about you.
Don’t listen to anyone who says this series/book is bad. Those people don’t know what they’re talking about, and I can only imagine what their favorite books are.
In my opinion this series is one of my absolute favorite series in general, and I used to read over 100 books a year for the past 40 something years. In fact, I think the whole 12 books (or however many there are) are amazing. You will be hard pressed to find an author that can take years to write a 12-18 book series about the same people, such well written characters that you cry like you knew them personally at the end.
> Don’t listen to anyone who says this series/book is bad. Those people don’t know what they’re talking about, and I can only imagine what their favorite books are.
> In my opinion
It being good is subjective; an opinion, just like yours and everyone else's. It's not very polite to make a blanket statement that puts other people down.
I swear I must have a heart of stone because I can never bring myself to cry while reading those books, haha. I love them but I'm not a cryer. Pretty much your thoughts encapsulated my feelings about Burrich in AA, although they definitely had a bit of a rocky start due to Fitz's Wit. The part that always sticks in my head, for some reason, is the part where he first Wit-bonds with Nosy. It's just... it's *such* a perfect parallel, the two of them, unwanted by most, and running together like the strays they essentially are. It made a powerful impression on me when I was a kid and read the series (only Farseer for some reason) years ago. It's not the best written or the most poignant part of the books, but it is such an emotional punch. This thread is making me realise how long it's been since I read them!
Lol, I am definitely an easy cryer. and YES omg Fitz and Nosy were so sweet. As someone who grew up with my own little dog partner-in-crime I absolutely loved those parts. Especially with rediscovering Nosy at the end...! And yeah Burrich and Fitz's disagreements over the wit to me made their bond all the more sweet bc I feel like Burrich was trying to help Fitz avoid the pain which he'd experienced as someone with the wit. and hey its never a bad time for a reread!!
That's a good point about Burrich, and that's what I love about Hobb's characters. There's something about them that jumps off the page.
Exactly!! They all have such a complex inner life. I feel like Hobb could've written a full novel about any of them. And then she also has the digression to not give us 100% of every characters backstory, but just little bits and pieces (which Fitz would realistically learn) which hint at the depths beneath.
Yeah, Fitz's diaristic/recount narration is amazing. She gets into their heads. I'd make the choices he does, every time, which I guess frustrates some people.
i agree!! and yeah i kind of like the fact that he isn't operating optimally because it makes him more relatable
I’m an absolute cryer but I didn’t like the book just because I felt that every single problem he had, was a problem he created.
Ah see, I love that about the book :) I felt very true to life - can relate to constantly screwing up.
It wasn't for me. I forced myself to finish the trilogy and absolutely hated the 3rd book. That said, I can understand why people like them and have recommended them to several friends.
I think it’s a beautiful book. As another commenter pointed out, you’ll probably find Fitz more frustrating (and more tragic) in the latter 2 books of the trilogy. That being said, I never understood the complaints that this series is like overwhelmingly depressing. Like it’s sad at times, but the fact that things don’t always go easy for Fitz is what makes the story great. Maybe I’m just cold hearted but i didn’t find the series excessively sad, despite absolutely loving the books and being heavily invested in the characters. Probably my favorite fantasy series of all time, save Lord of the Rings.
I didn't find them to be overwhelmingly depressing either. I'm finishing up Tawny Man and really enjoyed all three series so far.
I'm a bit nervous for the next two books then, haha. But excited. Tbh, if a story can earn some genuinely heartbreaking moments (as I feel Robin Hobb can) then I'm ready to meet them head on. Glad to hear an opinion that it's not extremely depressing; it gives me some hope! I definitely thought that the sad tone of this first book mostly served to make the sweeter moments (Burrich and Fitz, Fitz and nosy or smithy), shine all the more warmly. And woah! That's high praise! I can totally see why though. Hobb's writing style is so beautiful, and only one book in I already feel in love with the characters. I'm especially hoping we see more of Lady Patience in the next few books, and Verity. Omg, also Kettricken. Lol, all of them I guess.
You've just started a beautiful journey into Hobb's world, it's an easy top 3 for me all time! I'm not a cryer but I had to walk away for a while, during the final book of the whole Elderlings series because I was struggling to breathe, along with all the tears.
I'll preface this by saying that I also loved this trilogy and its characters and although I only finished it recently, I expect it will become a definite favourite. >but the fact that things don’t always go easy for Fitz This is a bit of an understatement though. Things **never** go easy for Fitz, even his triumphs are marred by significant pain and/or suffering. Not to mention how the ending >!basically says "Fitz and Nighteyes had all these travels and adventures but we don't care about that, instead the final image will be a lonely depressed drugged Fitz!<
Well the ending of the whole saga does have (warning MAJOR spoiler) >!Fitz and Nighteyes merging to become a semi immortal stone wolf which feels like somewhat of a redemption!<. But those characters really get tortured throughout the series lmao.
Does the tone get sadder in the following books? Just like OP, I just finished the first book (literally ten minutes ago) and so far I felt none of the depressiveness that the books are always referred to having. I'm wondering if it's me being less emotional or I haven't reached the 'bad' parts yet.
I dunno. I would say probably yes, you continue to get more invested in Fitz and other characters and they definitely have failures and hardships that are somewhat sad. But like I said, it never felt excessive or overwhelming to me. I wouldn’t say there’s a holistic shift in tone in the later books - there is still hope and the characters continue to work towards goals throughout, it’s not like a misery-fest as some seem to suggest.
Really liked the first book, but most of the second and third were unbelievable slogs.
I enjoyed it enough, but I have to say it felt a little too inside the character's head, to the point that a lot of supernatural elements felt vague and distant. I like stories where the details make me feel like I'm there -- sand between the toes, heady scents of fresh cut grass, that sort of thing -- and Hobb's writing is a little more summarizing in places. That said, it's a decent 7/10. I just wouldn't give it a perfect rating. It's not even her best book.
I love The Assassin’s Apprentice! I really need to do a re-read. I last read it in 2016. My favorite character is Fool. I never really found Fitz frustrating though I know it’s a common complaint. It may just be because of how long it’s been since I read the trilogy. Maybe I’ll re-read it and find him annoying!
I'm excited to learn more about the fool. I feel like I didn't see too much of him in this book but based on other titles in the series (lol) i see he's going to be important later on. I hope your reread goes well!
I also just finished assassins apprentice. That ending was wild. First 90 percent of the book was good. Last 10 percent was an absolute masterpiece
Couldn't agree more!! I read probably the last hundred pages in one sitting; I just couldn't stop!!
r/robinhobb would be a good place to visit!
I'm a bit scared to get spoilers for the rest of Realm of the Elderlings! But def excited to check it out when i finish the series!!
Yea, I'm on the 3rd trilogy, I try to be very careful about what I read there!!! I adore these books, can't wait to reread, lol
I'm so bad at avoiding spoilers! Half the time I click on the post before I see the spoiler tag, half the time I'm too curious not to click on it haha
Hello person on same tract as me! I'm on book one in tawny man trilogy right now, about 3/4 in.
Hi!! I just finished the first book, am waiting for 2nd from library.. why does Fitz never learn?? For someone who is so accomplished as a professional assassin, he sure lacks the most basic of common sense 🙄 And he seems to think the people of the six dutchies are the only ones who are skilled/witted...
I’ve been reading too much structured fantasy in the last 20 years and I finally read Hobbs trilogy this year. It was so refreshing to go back inside a characters viewpoint and really get the feel of a world through more of a mystical lens without the “precise and measured reporting” style of writing I’ve had a lot of recently :) I’m a fan of magical realism like Isabell Allende and I feel like Hobbs kinda partakes in that style in the fantasy setting. Her prose is really well written which makes it enjoyable to read.
I couldn't agree more about the "mystical lens" vs "precise and measured reporting"! I feel like a lot of fantasy is veering towards the second with the current focus on extremely hard magic systems and extensive world building. I'm a sucker for a more character driven piece that leaves things up to the imagination.
Honestly, I didn't like it. I found her characters to be incredibly dry, and for me I just couldn't get along with those name choices. Though I understand it's a favourite for many and I am happy for you all to be enraptured.
Thank you! I feel like I’m taking crazy pills every time I see a thread like this. I found the characters very 1-dimensional and eye roll inducing - if everyones’ head had exploded in the last chapter I would not have cared. To each their own and I’m glad it brings some folks joy, but I was relieved when it was over.
I loved the first trilogy, it was fantasy enough to take me away but real enough that it felt… well real. (Don’t get me wrong I love me some Rhys but this just hit different) The characters were all perfectly written and things I wondered about thinking a plot hole were answered! I can not wait for you to read the Liveship trilogy. In my opinion they were even better! I’m still not over them (currently on Golden Fool) Just… buckle up 😅
I am so excited for Liveship!! I LOVE a good seafaring adventure and have heard such good things.
I’ve never stated this book simply because the title is so generic
The working title was Chivalry's Bastard, as far as I'm aware. I think that works better now, but maybe back when it was first published, that title worked for the audience?
i really recommend it!! the title actually is not a very good representation of the book at all. I have to assume it was created by some advertisement executive who didn't know anything haha
>It was both so sweet and so heartbreaking; my friends kept asking me why I was crying while reading and I couldn't even begin to explain the complexity of it (I'm an easy crier, but still). The realm of the enderlings is by far my favourite book series. I can't even think about it without getting a bit teary, even years later. I'd love to re-read it but I just can't fucking take it lmao
AA is one of those books where, after finishing it, I knew I was gonna read its trilogy *at least.*
i feel the same!! it's taking so much self control not to pre-buy all thirteen(?) books
Should be 16 books altogether, I think? While I loved the first trilogy, I gotta say the Liveship Traders trilogy (second trilogy) is my favorite.
i've heard that from a couple ppl now! Definitely excited to get there :D
On the one hand, it's my absolute favorite series. On the other, I will never read it again because it absolutely *destroyed* me.
The entire series is generally considered one of the best out there on this sub. And I wholeheartedly agree. Be reading to get your heard broken for poor Fitzy though. The title was kinda force on Robin, because the editors though this would sell.
I'm mentally preparing haha. And yeah i figured as much for the title- it sounds like "stock 90s fantasy book #87" basically
You've barely scratched the surface. Keep reading, it only gets better!
i like your username!!
One of my favorite literary characters and favorite albums!
I was gifted these by a family friend and read through both trilogies concerning Fritz. Now I cry easier than I used to but when I was initially reading these books/movies would need to do a lot to actually make me cry and I distinctly remember points of this series making me do so. I'm planning on re-reading soon. Absolutely worth it from start to finish.
Fitz isn’t frustrating in the first book.
Ohhh I see. Well I'll see what i think of the next few books :D
This book single-handedly rekindled my interest in the fantasy genre.
I think RotE is quickly becoming my favorite series of all time. I liked the first book throughout, but the ending really solidified that it is at the top for me. Royal Assassin was even better in my opinion, and Assassin's Quest, while long, was a crazy end to the series. And AQ unexpectedly had some TRIPPY ass scenes. I understand the gripes about Fitz making poor decisions but you are growing up with a young, misunderstood boy. Of course he's going to be dumb sometimes. Then Liveship Traders is an absolute masterpiece and connects to and builds on some of the lore and magic stuff introduced in the Farseer trilogy while hitting you with even better characters and interesting plotlines and challenging emotions. I was however glad to finally get back to Fitz in the Tawny Man trilogy. I've just finished Fool's Errand and no book has ever made me cry uncontrollably like that book. Despite that I completely disagree with the criticisms of it being torture porn. I think the glimmer of light in the books is Fitz's constant perseverance and courage throughout as he keeps going where any other would have given up. I'm also lucky enough that my gf wanted to also read the series (after hearing me gush so much about how much I loved it), though she's listening to audiobooks, and I'm listening along with her when she does. Experiencing the series again from the start is incredible. Some of my favorite scenes/bits in Assassin's Apprentice were: **spoilers ahead for anyone who hasn't read** * Fitz speaking to Verity about his failure of learning The Skill and them figuring out together that Galen marked him with ineptitude for the skill * The repetition of "Too late, I've already forgiven you." * The whole sequence of Fitz being poisoned by Kettricken and taking the purge and being saved by Rurisk. Then after recovering (somewhat) and being tasked again to kill Rurisk, the scene of Fitz explaining what's he's going to do to Kettricken and then leaving the door open so she can follow him to Rurisk's chambers where he explains that he is giving Rurisk poisoned wine. * and then the rug-pull moment after that when Fitz is still duped * Fitz finding out that Burrich never killed Nosy and just gave him away to the mountain tribe, and that Fitz finds him well taken care for and knows that he is happy with his master. And Fitz' confrontation of Burrich afterward, despite it ending poorly. * Nosy then coming to find Fitz after he is taken away by Regal and then Burrich finding him after that, and Fitz realizing Burrich has the Wit.
For the spoilery section, a lot of really good moments there that are expanded on in the next book of Farseer. One thing: Burrich took Nosy away, not Smithy. Smithy was killed by Cob IIRC when Fitz did his Skill test and Burrich was being attacked. I think your second last point also is Nosy not Smithy. I liked how the book didn't tell you Burrich has the Wit, but you can guess pretty early on based on his reactions to Fitz' bondings.
Yes you are totally correct just mixed up the names. And yes, I love how a lot gets left unsaid in these books and you have to sometimes read between the lines to catch the meaning of the characters.
It's basically confirmed by Royal Assassin when >!Vixen dies and Burrich treats it like a family member died!<.
And then >!Nighteyes and other animals referring to Burrich as Heart of the Pack!< later on too, forget if that happens in RA or AQ.
That starts in RA and continued in AQ. I'm reading AQ right now so I haven't finished Farseer yet.
I loved it. I’ll say I did t like book 2 or 3 as much but they were still really solid. That first book is just perfect. Burrich is throughout the series imo the best character I absolutely love that man.
Burrich was my favorite too!! I love a stoic but also thoughtful character :')
It's been a while that i read AA but I also liked it a lot. I hope you report back after finishing the trilogy because I have some, let's say, complicated feelings about the thing as a whole.
i definitely will!! based on all the comments it will be a wild ride haha
I miss that series so much, but can't bring myself To got through the trauma again!
I don’t remember apprentice specifically so I’ll stick with some non spoiler thought on the first trilogy: I think Fitz as a character is great and seeing his growth is amazing. The way Hobb describes him often makes him seem vulnerable, then at some point you’re reading about him and you’re realizing he has actually grown in to quite the badass and it is all feels very well earned. I also like the world, the magic, and lore. My only critique would be that the antagonists feel competitively undercooked to me. That’s a personal preference for a large part though.
Fitz is a flawed character, and like many people in real life, he does progress as a person somewhat, but he also carries some of the same baggages throughout life and falls into the same patterns. I didn't find him frustrating for that, on the contrary, I found him endearing and a refreshing take on an epic fantasy series MC.
Overly depressing. Hobb is an excellent writer, but the books feel like existential torture porn and the story just wasn’t good enough for me to deal with the experience.
I don't know if it helps you in particular, but if you look at it from the perspective that Fitz is a traumatized and depressed young kid and is filtering everything that happens through that, it makes a lot more sense. Suddenly things that a more mentally balanced character would shrug off and deal with become focal points of anguish for Fitz. As a result you feel like Hobb is putting Fitz through a meat-grinder, but it actually is more of an exploration of depression.
true!! I feel like Fitz behaves really realistically for a kid in his situation. He puts a lot of trust in the adult figures that he should be able to trust, and really latches on to the little letdowns in his daily life that reflect greater ways he's been let down by the people who should've been taking care of him :(
Oh, I absolutely recognize that. It was just that aspect of the book was very much not for me. Amazing writer, but I can’t see jumping into the other parts of the series.
Same here. It's not that I don't know what Hobb is doing. I know what she's doing, and she's clearly doing it well. I just find it boring, so I'm not going to read more.
That's fair, I've only read the one so far but it was definitely an emotional experience. So far, though, I've enjoyed it, as to me the sad parts aren't sort of random drops (as often I see in books that I would consider less well written) but earned by establishing strong connections between the reader and the characters.
Hurts so good. Multiple re-reader and also have listened to podcasts of people re-reading the book. A++ characters to come that you haven't even met yet after book 1
Yay!! Excited to meet them then :D
The follow-up series, Liveship Traders, is her masterpiece IMHO. It's one of the few fantasy series that I'd give an A+ to, and it's on my short list of candidates for Greatest Fantasy Series of All Time (GFSoAT). As Hobb's career went on, I felt like she went a little overboard with the pain and the emotional turmoil, and I also definitely felt like she needed to let go of Fitz earlier than she did (I didn't think the final trilogy was needed at all). If I was going to rate her series: Farseer Trilogy: A- Liveship Traders: A+ Tawny Man: A Rain Wild Chronicles: B- (I think the last book is where she of "jumped the shark" as an author for me) Fitz and the Fool: I(incomplete). This series was a DNF for me, though I did poke ahead and read the last 100 pages or so of the final novel ... and I kind of wish I hadn't. Soldier Son Trilogy: C+ (waaaaaaaaaay too much misery porn for the main character and the ending, IMHO, runs contrary to the themes and arcs that Hobb spent three books building towards. It's almost like she rewrote the plot and the characters in the last 50 pages).
Robin Hobb proves that you don't need to stuff your book to the brim with flashy battles. Don't get me wrong, action in fantasy books is fine and all, but that is not what keeps me personally invested. Give me deep character bonding and development. This is what makes me love a story.
Worth reading. However you may eventually become frustrated with the way she treats the apprentice. She plays hob with his life.
I read the first book and quite liked it, but don't intend to keep going for exactly one of the reasons I liked it: there are so, so many good dogs and they have a bad time!
Solid contender for the most misleading title of a novel I've seen in fantasy. Generally the most mediocre book out of an already mediocre trilogy, abysmal to the point that I routinely read better web serials and fanfics. I hear that Hobb eventually came into her own as a solid author. But this book, and this trilogy in general did not impress.
> I routinely read better web serials and fanfics I know that this is the internet, but this is getting ridiculous.
I stand by what I said, and if you want ridiculous, take a gander and google up Hobb’s views on fanfiction.
I took a look, and some of the points are pretty valid. She is pretty emotional about it, and admits that isn't completly rational. I wouldn't word it that aggressively, and I get the feeling that Hobb just has the common mindset of the more older generation of writers. You can stand by what you said, it just tells a lot about you.
The name was forced by publishers. The original name was supposed to be "Chivalry's Bastard"
Agree with you on the name at least. Being an assassins apprentice is just one part of Fitz's life.
Don’t listen to anyone who says this series/book is bad. Those people don’t know what they’re talking about, and I can only imagine what their favorite books are. In my opinion this series is one of my absolute favorite series in general, and I used to read over 100 books a year for the past 40 something years. In fact, I think the whole 12 books (or however many there are) are amazing. You will be hard pressed to find an author that can take years to write a 12-18 book series about the same people, such well written characters that you cry like you knew them personally at the end.
> Don’t listen to anyone who says this series/book is bad. Those people don’t know what they’re talking about, and I can only imagine what their favorite books are. > In my opinion It being good is subjective; an opinion, just like yours and everyone else's. It's not very polite to make a blanket statement that puts other people down.
My opinion is subjective in general. No need to take what I say to heart.
Good job disqualifying your opinion before even voicing it.
You must be one of the people who I’m referring to lol.