The Farseer: Assassin's Apprentice

By: Robin Hobb

Narrated by: Paul Boehmer

Length: 17 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

With unforgettable characters, a sweeping backdrop, and passionate storytelling, this is a fantasy debut to rival that of Robert Jordan. Filled with adventure and bloodshed, pageantry and piracy, mystery and menace, Assassin's Apprentice is the story of a royal house and the young man who is destined to chart its course through tempests of change. Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal household by his father's gruff stableman. An outcast whose existence has forced his father to abdicate his claim on the throne, Fitz is ignored by all royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in the young man's blood is a heritage of magic, the talent called the Skill, as well as another, even more mysterious ability.

As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts and leave behind the zombie-like husks of the townspeople to prowl the countryside, Fitz is growing toward manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission, a mission that poses as much a threat to himself as it does for his target---for Fitz is a threat to the throne...but he may also be the key to the survival of the kingdom.

©1999 Robin Hobb (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

“Intriguing, controlled, and remarkably assured...at once satisfyingly self-contained yet leaving plenty of scope for future extensions and embellishments.” ( Kirkus)

Liked it a lot but disappointed in the end

Liked it a lot but disappointed in the end. many things remain unexplained, like the fool's story, for example

I dont know

2 star for this book. I realy dont like to leave bad reviews, but this book series was just sooooo boring and it lacked any real satisfaction at the end. Sorry Robin Hob

A Great Escape

This series was recommended to me after I finished the last Game of Thrones offering. This is a good first book of a series. The character development is well paced and keeps you interested. Full of unpredictable moments. Looking forward to book two.

Completely wonderful.

It is not often that I praise a book as a stirring, evocative work of art. This is one of those times. The skill and love with which this story is told, the poetry within the prose, the deft, cunning usage of the perspective all come together to elevate this book into a masterwork.

Great, albeit slow story and a great listen

My only problem I have with this is that the story is quite slow. This can be expected of the first book in an epic series but I'm hoping the pace will pick up in the next installment.
On the AudioBook front there is not much too complain about. If I had to nitpick, it would be that sometimes the narrator speaks a little too quiet in comparison with the overall volume.

a great start and wonderful worldbuilding

if not for the occasional audio drops in volume, this would be a perfect review.

Will probably get around to the next book.

This book moved along at a good pace, unlike some fantasy that can be very bogged down by its own grandeur. I thought the author gave the right amount descriptions and I didn't find my mind wondering, waiting for a segment to end. Although I don't much care for stories when the main character is a child, this didn't bother me too much, and I understand why the story has to begin with him as a kid.

The other characters were good and it'll be interesting to meet up with everyone again when Fitz is grown up.

Jumping right into book two!

The first book I've read (or listened to) by Robin Hobb! Fantasy is my preferred genre, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It managed to surprise and enchant me time and again, and Fitz has stolen my heart. I recommend this to anyone fond of fantasy, animals, and not too graphic descriptions of gore and horrors. Though there are many trials and much learning, it isn't with the grit and senseless feel of random death or disfigurement some current favorites of the genre write. I didn't feel on the precipice of losing a favorited character any moment, and grew fond of many in this built up world. A story of growth in all ways, an unfair world with a hero just starting to find how to move about in it.

The Farseer. Assassin's Apprentice

I could not stop listening to this wonderful tale. Robin Hobb is a master writer. There are three books in this tale , I can't wait to listen to them all.
Paul Boemer did a fine job of Naarration.
The story is full of colourful Carachters and intrigues. It is the tale of a young boy born into the world out of wedlock , and how he grows up into manhood, he is taught many skills , not the least of which is to become a Kings Assassin.

good story

good story, it started slow but about half way thought I was hooked. I'm definitely going to listen to the next one.