NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERNearly twenty years ago, Robin Hobb burst upon the fantasy scene with the first of her acclaimed Farseer novels, Assassin’s Apprentice, which introduced the characters of FitzChivalry Farseer and his uncanny friend the Fool. A watershed moment in modern fantasy, this novel—and those that followed—broke exciting new ground in a beloved genre. Together with George R. R. … genre. Together with George R. R. Martin, Robin Hobb helped pave the way for such talented new voices as Scott Lynch, Brandon Sanderson, and Naomi Novik.
Over the years, Hobb’s imagination has soared throughout the mythic lands of the Six Duchies in such bestselling series as the Liveship Traders Trilogy and the Rain Wilds Chronicles. But no matter how far she roamed, her heart always remained with Fitz. And now, at last, she has come home, with an astonishing new novel that opens a dark and gripping chapter in the Farseer saga.
FitzChivalry—royal bastard and former king’s assassin—has left his life of intrigue behind. As far as the rest of the world knows, FitzChivalry Farseer is dead and buried. Masquerading as Tom Badgerlock, Fitz is now married to his childhood sweetheart, Molly, and leading the quiet life of a country squire.
Though Fitz is haunted by the disappearance of the Fool, who did so much to shape Fitz into the man he has become, such private hurts are put aside in the business of daily life, at least until the appearance of menacing, pale-skinned strangers casts a sinister shadow over Fitz’s past . . . and his future.
Now, to protect his new life, the former assassin must once again take up his old one. . . .
Praise for Fool’s Assassin
“Hobb knows the complicated workings of the wayward human heart, and she takes time to depict them in her tale, to tell her story sweetly, insistently, compellingly. . . . A book meant to be inhabited rather than run through.”—The Seattle Times
“[FitzChivalry Farseer is] one of the best characters in fantasy literature.”—Fantasy Book Review
“[Hobb’s] prose sparkles, her characters leap off the page.”—Tordotcom
“Modern fantasy at its irresistible best.”—The Guardian
“Fantastic . . . emotionally rich storytelling.”—Library Journal (starred review)
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Robin Hobb is one of my favorite authors, and I have loved every one of her Farseer books. I can’t recommend them highly enough to fantasy readers! She writes stunningly realistic and painfully flawed characters. Start at the beginning with Assassin’s Apprentice—you will absolutely lose yourself in this world.
I get shivers every time a new Robin Hobb book comes out. There is not enough praise in the world to bestow an adequate amount on her character development, careful drawing of plots, and gorgeous descriptive writing. This particular book is a bit like watching a chess match – characters and plot situations are moving into place but not rushing into action. We are slowly drawn back into the world of Fitz the same way Tom fights giving up his retirement and returning to that world. We feel his feet dragging and his unwillingness to return to his former life – all the while relishing the return of Fitz, for we love him so!
I think that I’ve read every book that Robin has published, and I’ve yet to be disappointed. Fascinating, complex character’s are her norm.
This series is fantastic! Robin Hobbs Fools series is one of most loved series
I churn through most of my favorite authors books as they come out. But not Robin Hobb. Robin Hobb’s work is so reliably awesome–she grabs me and drags me into these worlds with characters I care about and even when I think I’m about to get bored, she rips my heart out or throws me into a situation whose resolution I must understand. I need (NEED!) to know that there is a truly great book out there that I can grab in a moment of dire need. That instant when I am between books and have to get on a plane–Robin Hobb! Waking in a hospital bed–in desperate need of a good book! That’s when I rely on Robin Hobb. Gods help me if I ever run out.
The Assassin series is one of my all time favorite books, characters and world to fall into! Going to read again, going to give to my adult children to read and highly recommend. Not a little read but very thought provoking and all consuming. Excellent!!!
The first two trilogies in Robin Hobb’s FitzChivalry Farseer series contain some of my favorite fantasy books. Fitz is a compelling protagonist, the supporting characters are often just as fascinating, and the worldbuilding is top-notch. Sadly, Fool’s Assassin, the first book in the third trilogy, didn’t quite measure up for me.
The story begins about a decade after the events of the previous book. Fitz is well into his forties now and living a quiet life at Withywoods, the estate his father retired to (and then died at) after abdicating the throne. Court politics rarely intrude: Fitz has little interest in resuming his role as the crown’s assassin or advising the new ruler. Instead, he’s enjoying his marriage to Molly, the childhood love he was separated from for almost two decades.
All this is fine—I don’t begrudge Fitz’s happiness, especially after what Hobb put him through in the earlier trilogies. And the themes of maturation and change are in keeping with the earlier books’ arcs. But the first entries in the series mixed Fitz’s personal problems with existential threats to the kingdom. Fitz also journeyed far afield, exploring new lands and old magics. In Fool’s Assassin, he barely leaves Withywoods. Much of his time is spent on mundane tasks such as maintaining the estate or supervising the spoiled (and unnecessary) charges foisted upon him by Chade, his former mentor. The stakes remain relatively low, our knowledge of the world doesn’t expand much, and there’s little sense of wonder. (Where are the dragons?!?)
Things pick up near the end, when the Fool—Fitz’s best friend—finally reappears and begs him to complete an unpleasant task. But by the time I got there, I felt like the book’s previous chapters could have been compressed into the first act, with Fitz’s decision leading us into act two.
None of this is to say that I hated Fool’s Assassin. We’re still talking about Robin Hobb, after all. She gives us Bee, a great new character, and we get to see the world from her point of view. I also enjoyed the part where Fitz questions his reliability as a narrator. “There were a few years where I fancied myself quite the hero,” he says at one point, “and other times when I saw myself as star-crossed and unjustly oppressed by my life … perhaps I had not been as honest … as I might have been. I had been young, I excused myself, and who does not put himself in the best possible light when he presents his tale …?” Given that Bee’s sections are in first-person as well, and that Fitz frequently burns his journal entries, we’re left with the impression that Hobb is a compiler rather than an author, salvaging her subjects’ writings as best she can and then arranging them—along with excerpts from relevant authorities—into a coherent manuscript. It’s artifice, of course. But I’m always curious to see how authors justify (or don’t) their narrators’ supposed ability to perfectly recreate moments and dialogue from the past.
In any case, it won’t be long before I pick up Fool’s Quest, the next entry in the series. I trust Hobb to right the ship, especially now that we have a clear heading. I just wish Fool’s Assassin had gotten there faster.
(For more reviews like this one, see http://www.nickwisseman.com)
This book caused me to read ALL her books. They are just simply, as good as you will find.
How does Robin Hobb do it? Another great installment to the Fitz & the Fool series. I was originally skeptical that this book could be as good as the original ones, but it’s absolutely gripping. Yes, it’s long and convoluted and ends on a cliffhanger, but that only makes it better. Another modern classic of epic fantasy from one of our best contemporary authors.
Robin Hobb spins an amazing tale with awesome characters.
Love the series
Enjoyed it until the hurried ending
I started reading Robin Hobb’s multiple series. a few years ago, I found her writing with the Liveship Trilogy, About ships who live and have personalities. (Sounds strange and weird,) that captivated me from the beginning. Then Rain Wilds Chronicles brought unforgettable dragons and their keepers, in a very different portrayal.
Now I’ve started another series, Fitz and the Fool Trilogy.
The beauty of her writing and stories is they all bring in characters you’ve known, loved or hated as well as their worlds. So the stories share backgrounds, towns and population quirks even as the new story and characters develop. I can’t get enough!
I read this book many years ago when it was first published. I found the story highly entertaining.
I love this series and always look forward to new releases.
it is Fitz & the Fool. I was just thrilled their story is continuing.
this triliogy was fantastic!
Great book. I read the whole series.
GREAT STORY
Painfully slow. Main character was fairly unlikeable