★★★★☆ This review will spoil the first book in the series - you’ve been warned!!
What is the book about?
Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb is the second book in the Farseer Trilogy that focusses on the life of Fitz, a bastard son of the former King-in-Waiting to the Farseer Throne of the Six Duchies. As a boy who was brought to Buckkeep, and spent much of his time in the stables before beginning his training as a member of the Farseer family, he holds a unique position of power - one that can be wielded as a weapon if forged correctly. He quickly becomes an assassin for the royal family under the tutelage of Chade, as well as a boy with skill in the Skill, and the taboo’d Wit. After his near death experience at the Mountain Kingdom, and wanting nothing more than to stay there to live the rest of his life in peace, he returns to Buckkeep after being drawn by both his burgeoning love, and his oath to King Shrewd. He returns to Buckkeep as it continues to be threatened by Red Ship raiding, as well as a threat much closer to home that threatens the throne held by the ailing king. Fitz’s position and role at the keep and in the royal family means that the fate of the Six Duchies may fall to his hands, and just what he may need to sacrifice is yet to be seen.
History is what we do in our lives. We create it as we go along… The future is another kind of history. (287)
Thoughts and feelings
For a story about an assassin for the Farseer family, the royal family of the Six Duchies, this book is a slow paced read with very minimal action. This book is very character centred and is a character driven book versus a plot driven book. It is a story full of political intrigue and subtle nuances between characters. It is an ever growing web of secret interactions, alliances and betrayals that keeps you on the edge of your seat even if nothing is really happening. Our main character Fitz continues to mature and grow in this second instalment as his position at Buckkeep is questioned and challenged after his time in the Mountain Kingdoms leaves him in a less than desired physical and mental state. My love of character driven books and intricate political-fantasy stories really made me get lost in this book, so much so that I stopped annotating almost immediately, and simply let myself get immersed into Buckkeep and it’s ever-growing concerns of the Red-Ships, and a threat even closer to home. If you’re expecting an action packed, battle filled story you will be sorely disappointed - although you definitely do get a bit more of that than in the first book. Fitz really goes through a lot in this book, and I don’t think I have ever felt so much empathy towards a main character as I do to Fitz, and his new wolf friend is such a joy in this book full of ever growing treachery.