Solid Fantasy fare for the avid fantasy reader. ( )

Pre09: Well, it is the beginning. And the author does a great job of building a believable world. The only problem is I just didn't like any of the characters in the original trilogy. This one was probably the best though due to the newness. ( )

I am enjoying this trilogy but I think I was at a disadvantage when I started them as I had previously read A Game of Thrones (+ the others) by George R R Martin. "Thrones" really impressed me with its MANY characters, intricate politics and bloody violence. Therefore the Farseer Trilogy has struck me as a watered down version of Martin's work. That's not to criticise Hobb, her books are equally engaging but I wish I had read her trilogy first because I keep expecting some visceral head chopping or scathing political exchange but Assassin's Apprentice often falls short of the mark.
However, it is an enjoyable story. Having read other reviews I can now appreciate the complaints about Fitz's utter misery and his constant wallowing in self pity but it didn't really bother me at the time. (Although I did want to give him a kick up the £!*%) definitely recommended though. ( )

Robin Hobb is a master of fantasy. She weaves a wonderful tapestry of character development.
This is a story of a royal bastard from his early childhood to his young adulthood. He finds his place among those that are indifferent to him and those who are hostile.
His grandfather, the King, finds a place for the young man where he can be both protected and "thrown to the wolves" if the need arises. The young man becomes an assassin.
While the first half of the book deals with childhood, the second half deals with being an assassin and all the intrigue that goes along with being one.

A fine story. Very recommended. ( )

I read the Liveship Traders trilogy six or seven years ago and often thought of coming back to this trilogy I'd skipped over. Finally the mood is upon me, and I'm getting exactly what I expected: a fairly straightforward but non-cliched fantasy adventure featuring an interesting central character. His birth circumstances and skill sets (pardon the pun - you'll see what I mean) are well matched to the challenges at hand and make for some interesting scenes. The ending is fantastic, even though it's not exactly what I wanted and quite a bit is left hanging for the sequels.

I was watching out for the woe-is-me narrative that other reviews warn about. Other than the opening couple of pages, this doesn't really come into play until the second half. I found it understandable then, given the character's circumstances, and even more understandable after another plot element was revealed. I think if you're forewarned about this you won't find it too annoying. Waxing philosophical, I'd even suggest it's necessary for the character in order to explain how he is able to accept the role of assassin. Deeper consideration of Fitz's moral colouring might provide good fodder for a highschool student's book report.

My memory of the Traders trilogy isn't too clear, but besides a passing mention of Bingtown and the Rain Wilds there hasn't been an obvious connection so far. ( )