Assassin’s Apprentice

Fitz, the hero, is a fairly appealing character from beginning to finish, one we will find ourselves cheering for. He matures from a shy and practically ignored bastard kid - who befriends the Keep's animals - to a sharp young man trained as an assassin’s apprentice. In the beginning, Fitz is a mostly passive character, going where he is instructed and doing what he is told. However, as he grows into his adolescent years, his chances and choices expand. At times, he's reckless, dim-witted, and even irritable; however, such characteristics are entirely consistent with his youth and experiences.

There was a short period during Fitz's Skill training (and after his last Skill test) that Assassin's Apprentice became practically unpleasant to read. There was a great deal of unhappiness in Fitz's experience, accentuated by some extremely harsh decisions or a total lack of sympathy from grown-up people in his life. That was the only moment readers may feel actually angry or irritated by the writing.

The story of Assassin's Apprentice is recounted in a very traditional and direct manner. It's well-written, simple to read, and there's always something intriguing happening. Yet, its slow pace may not appeal to those used to a more current and fast reading style.

Author: Robin Hobb

Goodread ratings: 4.17/5 (from 268,044 users)