Assassin’s Apprentice

The Farseer Trilogy, Book 1

By: Robin Hobb

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Length: 17 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

The first volume in Robin Hobb’s internationally bestselling Farseer series.

In a faraway land where members of the royal family are named for the virtues they embody, one young boy will become a walking enigma.

Born on the wrong side of the sheets, Fitz, son of Chivalry Farseer, is a royal bastard cast out into the world, friendless and lonely. Only his magical link with animals - the old art known as the Wit - gives him solace and companionship. But the Wit, if used too often, is a perilous magic, and one abhorred by the nobility.

So when Fitz is finally adopted into the royal household, he must give up his old ways and embrace a new life of weaponry, scribing, courtly manners; and how to kill a man secretly, as he trains to become a royal assassin.

©2012 Robin Hobb (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

“Hobb is one of the great modern fantasy writers … what makes her novels as addictive as morphine is not just their imaginative brilliance but the way her characters are compromised and manipulated by politics.” (The Times)

“In today’s crowded fantasy market Robin Hobb’s books are like diamonds in a sea of zircons” (George R. R. Martin)

Good narration to a brilliant story

Narrator seems to divide the crowd but that is to be expected when done with heavy accent.

Upper-class narrator

Never heard a narrator with an upper-class accent before. Very off-putting. Does a reasonably good job on the whole. The story has more intrigue than might be assumed from the coming-of-age premise. The universe feels a bit limited though. Hope the next volumes dispel that impression.

Stole my heart

The Farseer trilogy holds a special place in my heart. Robin Hob is a top tier author. She knows how to write realistic complex characters. The character study presented is superior. This series is meant to wrench your heart, twist it, then tear it to little pieces. Joyous moments only serve to make the heartache mor palpable. Yet I can’t stop myself from reading. Our protagonists get hurt and live on wearing their scars on their sleeves. Life goes on, and so do we. This is a story about royalty, family and betrayals. Laced with a thick layer of mysticism and lore. The world building gives us just enough, yet we keep asking for more. I can’t wait to continue my journey into this wonderful faraway land. The narration is a gift from God. I just want to thank anyone who worked on this masterpiece.

Robin hobb did u pick this narrator?

Read a hard copy some years ago-wonderful rich enchanting. But I really hope robin hobb rethinks the narrator....grating, classist and way to refined and constricted to create the variation in voices this story deserved😢

Superb story, excelent narration

This book has everything: adventures, captivating storyline, rich personalities, no white and black separation, just grayzones everythere. Almost always you are left to judge if something is moral or not, mostly you are left only wondering if you could make decision in those many unpleasant circumstances.
I like the book when i can believe in the story. Almost in every book ilike i find some spot which i think was to naive/silly etc. But in this book those are very few (nose story for example was too stretched).
I found in comments that narration was bad. But in my opinion it was very good, as non-native english 'listener' i found narrator very easy to follow and enjoyed my time. in some other audiobooks i have to adapt to narrator very long time.

Mit Abstand meine Lieblingsgeschichte

Auch beim erneuten Hören immer wieder eine bittersüsse Freude in die Welt von Fitz einzutauchen. Der Erzähler haucht den Charakteren einfühlsam Leben ein.

excellent story, with perfect narrating.

The story is compelling and the narrator does an excellent job. I felt I was inside the world.

Dull at the beginning better towards the end

This book was quite boring for the first half but still a good piece of writing. When compared to other books from the genre the action unfolds slowly. A good book for long nights.

Ready for book 2!

CW: child neglect, child abuse, animal death, ableist slurs, drug abuse, mention of vomiting, underage drinking, slavery, murder, death, poisoning, racial slurs (s*vage)

<i><b>Audiobook Review</b></i>

A ride, friends. A whole wild ass ride. It took a moment for the story to pick up, let me tell you. I almost gave up listening coz the story wasn't going, but when it did, it really went.

I think what I like about this book is that in as much as it has worldbuilding, it gives me time to like or hate characters, it focused on the characters too. Like a lot if the time with fantasy, so much is put into worldbuilding that the characters fall short, but here I think it focused on the chacarters and have me reason to support or dislike them.

I cannot wait to read more about the people from the Red Ships, I can't wait to know what they're doing and how they're doing it and why they're doing it. I'm actually really more curious and interested about them and book 2 better give me more than just hints of what they're doing!

ALSO, I want Fitz to be illogically strong and talented and I want him to be amazing (I always want that for the main character though) and I low-key want him to be king, or even like a bridge between the the Outislanders and the inislanders. Give me drama and antrigue and a broken heart, ma'am!

I really enjoyed this and cannot wait to read along to the next book because I know my heart is going to be broken and I am going to be stressed out if my mind!

P. S. Who is 'the fool' and what does he know? Why is he keeping secrets from us 😭

A great start with great characters

This is a fresh story that has a good story and great characters. It introduses us to a world with abilities both good and horrific. Loved it