Royal Assassin (The Illustrated Edition)
The Farseer Trilogy Book 2
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4.6 • 867 Ratings
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
“Fantasy as it ought to be written . . . Robin Hobb’s books are diamonds in a sea of zircons.”—George R. R. Martin
Fitz has barely survived his first hazardous mission as king’s assassin. Battered and bitter, he vows to abandon his oath to King Shrewd, remaining in the distant mountains. But love and events of terrible urgency draw him back to the court at Buckkeep, and into the deadly intrigues of the royal family.
Renewing their vicious attacks on the coast, the Red-Ship Raiders leave burned-out villages and demented victims in their wake. The kingdom is also under assault from within, as treachery threatens the throne of the ailing king. In this time of great danger, the fate of the kingdom may rest in Fitz’s hands—and his role in its salvation may require the ultimate sacrifice.
BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Robin Hobb's Assassin's Quest.
Praise for Robin Hobb and Royal Assassin
“[Robin] Hobb continues to revitalize a genre that often seems all too generic, making it new in ways that range from the subtle to the shocking.”—Locus
“[Royal Assassin] reaches astonishing new heights. . . . The Farseer saga is destined for greatness—a must-read for every devotee of epic fantasy.”—Sense of Wonder
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Continuing in the tradition of her first book (Assassin's Apprentice) Hobb propels the Farseer saga into its second installment with irresistible plotting and memorable characters. Fitz is a trained assassin in the service of King Shrewd and also the king's illegitimate grandson. He is sworn to protect heir to the throne Prince Verity and Verity's new bride, but his task is complicated by an invasion of vicious barbarians who turn helpless captives into zombie-like Forged Ones. The home front is no safer, with an ailing King and usurpers to the throne waiting in the wings. Romance, sibling rivalry, battlefield exploits, betrayal, political intrigue and telepathic magic insure that there's never a dull moment in the Kingdom of the Six Duchies. Through deft description and characterizations, Hobb manages to create a kingdom that looks like a fairy tale but feels like the real world--which makes it almost impossible not to become immersed in Hobb's fantasy epic. The ending clamors for a sequel-and hopefully sooner, than later.
Customer Reviews
Excellent bridge in the Farseer Triology!
Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb reminded me if there’s one thing I can’t stand, one thing that turns me into a book-hurling menace, it’s injustice. And Royal Assassin is soaked in it. It’s on every page, seeping into your bones, infecting your soul, and leaving you pacing the room muttering “I swear, if one more bad thing happens to Fitz...”
Hobb doesn’t pull punches. This second book in the Farseer Trilogy is a slow, simmering pressure cooker of betrayal, heartbreak, and deeply frustrating powerlessness. Fitz, Verity, King Shrewd, The Fool, Molly, Lady Patience, Kettricken, Chade… I wanted to wrap them in bubble wrap, storm Buckkeep Castle, and personally escort Regal off a cliff. I swear Robin Hobb is somewhere out there cackling while the rest of us try to emotionally recover.
But the soul of this book? Nighteyes. That wolf got me. The bond between him and Fitz is something special, equal parts funny, touching, and deeply loyal. Their banter brought relief when things got too heavy (which was often), and the way Nighteyes loves Fitz without hesitation? That’s what real friendship looks like. He adopted him into his mind. Ride or die.
Royal Assassin is brilliant. It’s beautifully written, agonizingly good, and stuffed with characters you care about so much it hurts. This book made me feel like I got emotionally b-slapped, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. If you want fantasy with world-building so rich it feels lived in, characters that breathe, and an author who will punch you right in the feelings? Yeah. This is the series.
Royal Assassin
Hobb, Feist, Eddings. Equals in their field. Amazing stories brought to life in my imagination.
Good but
I enjoyed this book but it seemed to drag on a bit compared to the first book. The story is compelling and I’m committed to the characters now so I’ll continue with the series.