Audiobook Review: Royal Assassin and Assassin’s Quest (Farseer Trilogy) by Robin Hobb

I wanted to write se-parate reviews for these two books, but when I sat down to do it, I realized that I did not know where Royal Assassin ended and Assassin’s Quest began. Of course, checking the books would have told me where. But, for me, that is not the point. In Book 1, FitzChivalry was a boy. In books 2 and 3, he was an adolescent who became a man too early for his age.

I wanted so very much to delineate a line between FitzChivalry the young boy entering puberty and the man he became, albeit all of these happened before he reached his 20th birthday.

There will be spoilers in this review. So, if you have not read the books yet, then please beware. If you want to know my thoughts about the book, please proceed reading after the image below.

A coming of age story, The Farseer Trilogy series follows the life of FitzChivalry, the illegitimate child of Prince Chivalry who was also King-in-Waiting for the kingdom of Six Duchies. When his existence became known, Prince Chivalry abdicated and never met his son until he died.

Meanwhile, FitzChivalry was in an unfortunate position. Because of his royal blood, he inherited the Skill Magic that has been always associated with the Farseers. But though Fitz has no claims to the throne, his uncle Prince Regal saw him as a threat.

Fitz also has the much maligned and much misunderstood Wit Magic. Derogatory-called Beast Magic, the Old Blood (the proper name for those who has this magic) can communicate with animals on a very rudimentary level, that is until that person bonds with an animal wherein communication is more concise. Fitz found the wolf Nighteyes as his bond animal and they could communicate telepathically

As readers, we never meet Fitz’s mother. For Fitz, the female influence came from Lady Patience, Prince Chivalry’s wife who moved back to Buckkeep after her husband’s death. From her, Fitz learned much about herbs and unconditional love.

One of my favorite parts of the story was when Patience confessed to Fitz that she went back to Buckkeep to make sure that Fitz get the education he deserved. And without saying so, to be his champion also. That was when Fitz realized that though he had friends and blood relatives in the castle, it was only Patience who was there for him alone, without the requisite of duty, blood or politics. Patience was there because she loves him.

For male role models, Fitz has many – beginning with Burrich who raised him since he was 6 until he was 10. Burrich, who was also Witted taught Fitz about that magic though he disapproved of Fitz practicing it.

There was also King Shrewd, Fitz’s grandfather and the monarch of the Six Duchies. Though he cannot claim Fitz officially because of his birth, the old king claimed him in another way, by making him a King’s man that paved his way to becoming an Assassin’s apprentice.

There is Chade Fallstar, the illigitimate half brother of King Shrewd, the current Royal Assassin and Fitz’s mentor.

And finally, Prince Verity, the King-in-Waiting. It is with him that Fitz will share a bond as a blood relative and also the Skill magic. From him, Fitz will learn about duty, sacrifice and love, both filial and romantic.

It was 1995-1997 when I first read the Farseer Trilogy, the years that the books were originally published. I saw the trilogy as a coming of age story, which it is.

Yet, that time, I missed the significance of Verity as a tragic character. The second son, (or the spare, in today’s lingo) he was trained as such. Yet, he was King during the Six Duchy’s greatest need. Missing the support of his elder brother who had died, Verity had to find a way to save his kingdom. He had to do it alone, his only support was Fitz through Skilling.

I even missed the meaning of “sacrifice” that was actually a big part of the story. It was brought front and center by Queen Kettricken, a princess of the Mountain Kingdom wherein monarchs are called Sacrifice instead of royal titles.

The Farseer Trilogy is a story of war and treachery. It is actually bloody! But, it is also a love story, albeit tragic for most part. FitzChivalry Farseer is an unforgettable character, and so are the others. Like what I said, I read these books during the 1990s and when I re-read it today, it only took me the first few pages and I already remember FitzChivalry and his adventures.

So now, we come to the rating of the book, which obviously I am giving it 5 Stars. I loved it when I first read it in the 1990s. And I still love it today, 20 years later.

Now, for my recommendation. I say, Rated T for teens for violence. There are no sex scenes in this book though it is implied.