Assassin's Quest
The Farseer Trilogy Book 3
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4.4 • 636 Ratings
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- $12.99
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
“An enthralling conclusion to this superb trilogy, displaying an exceptional combination of originality, magic, adventure, character, and drama.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
King Shrewd is dead at the hands of his son Regal. As is Fitz—or so his enemies and friends believe. But with the help of his allies and his beast magic, he emerges from the grave, deeply scarred in body and soul. The kingdom also teeters toward ruin: Regal has plundered and abandoned the capital, while the rightful heir, Prince Verity, is lost to his mad quest—perhaps to death. Only Verity’s return—or the heir his princess carries—can save the Six Duchies.
But Fitz will not wait. Driven by loss and bitter memories, he undertakes a quest: to kill Regal. The journey casts him into deep waters, as he discovers wild currents of magic within him—currents that will either drown him or make him something more than he was.
Praise for Robin Hobb and Assassin’s Quest
“Fantasy as it ought to be written . . . Robin Hobb’s books are diamonds in a sea of zircons.”—George R. R. Martin
“Superbly written, wholly satisfying, unforgettable: better than any fantasy trilogy in print—including mine!”—Melanie Rawn
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
With shimmering language and the alluring garb of Faerie, Hobb concludes his Farseer trilogy with this immense coming-of-age novel. Assassin and Royal Bastard FitzChivalry-having in Royal Assassin taken poison to escape torture at the hands of the usurper Regal, the brother of FitzChivalry's lost King Verity-is now reborn through his telepathic bond to Nighteyes, the wolf. Together, man and wolf set out to find Verity, who has vanished into the wilds in search of the legendary Elderlings to save his land from the barbaric Red Ship raiders. Fitz and Nighteyes battle fearsome enemies as they travel the old magical Skill Road toward the quarry where Verity desperately struggles to carve a massive dragon out of living rock. Gradually, Fitz's trials strip him of everything and everyone he loves and shatter every illusion he cherishes about himself. Hobb's grandest creation, Nighteyes, leads a splendidly realized supporting cast that plays out its roles against ever-changing, never-cloying landscapes of genuine wonder. But all the wonder in this make-believe world can't cloak the bittersweet lesson at the story's heart: that the pursuit of truth demands a price in loneliness only a few can or will pay.
Customer Reviews
Bittersweet
By now, I’ll assume you’ve read the other two books in the series. Hobb has a writing style that is intriguing but not overly complicated. This book is no exception and with two other books to give ample back story, this one feels like the last book of a trilogy should feel like. There is plenty of action to go around but Hobb does a great job of not rushing through anything. If you’re anything like me you were excited that this was such a big book and you had more time to spend with Fitz and his pack.
The book definitely didn’t end the way I thought it would. That’s a good thing for us readers. We don’t want predictability do we? The ending was a bit bittersweet to me, wether that was because of the events or because I had to say goodbye (for now) to Fitz....I’m not sure.
Make sure you read the whole story and if you’re anything like me, you’ll want to continue living in this world with the next books written by Hobb.
Minor spoilers
Unsatisfactory ending to a masterful series. Reading this particular book is a bit like drinking something and then finding out it was expired.
Way too much unanswered suffering for many of the main characters, and by the end I felt as though Fitz needed a redemption arc for the book to feel resolved.
SPOILERS but srsly this book.
Flipping no. Just no, they could’ve written worse. But not by much.
I just finished this book. (Seriously less than ten minutes ago) And I just. I’m done really.
I am now left with an empty, meaningless feeling so.. Yeah. Great.
I may not read another Robin Hobb book for as long as I’ll live. I’m not sure. I don’t recommend it.
*spoilers beyond here don’t say I didn’t warn you*
Everything was wrong. Everything. The Elderlings should’ve been wizards that could teleport and Verity shouldn’t have died-ish. Fits should’ve stayed true to Molly and immediately returned to her, and that would’ve been easy if Verity didn’t have to carve a flipping dragon. Almost everything about the Fool was odd so don’t even go there. Starling was a whiny attention seeker. Kettricken should’ve gone with Verity in the first place, then she wouldn’t be heartbroken and alone forever. Verity should’ve paused from protecting the coasts for one second to fix Regals childlike rebelliousness at the start. He had power! Kettle should’ve come out of secrecy when the forgings began, and given Verity the knowledge about the Skill defending Elfbark. The side delay with the “old blood” people? Yeh, they had no purpose. We couldn’t be there for any future interactions, so what was the point? Why waste all of that time writing and agonizingly long travel story when you could’ve just fixed the plot? Why couldn’t everything be perfect? You have ideas, Robin. You had a way to fix everything, and yet.. This happens.
In the beginning he is lonely beyond measure.
In the middle he finds love but is told to leave her, so she leaves him and eventually believes him dead and marries his father figure.
And in the end he spends his days in unhappy, and meaningless solitude raising a boy who will probably turn out like him.
There was no happy ending.
The End.