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A review by onejadyn
Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb
3.0
This review has spoilers.
REVIEW AT UNDER HALFWAY MARK:
Apparently I've read most of this book before a few years ago, but I never finished it and I don't remember it very well, other than the first few chapters being frustrating familiar and not feeling new to me.
For whatever reason, I just don't find myself wanting to pick this book up. I enjoy it well enough while reading but it has yet to grab me and hold me tight. I find the writing lovely and I enjoy reading the prose, but I think I'm relatively unattached from the characters, which is leaving me without much reason to pick it back up.
For now, I've decided to pause at about 40% through. I hope I get back into it—I do want to see where the story ends. But Fitz just wasn't grabbing me, as much as I wish he was.
AND WE CONTINUE:
I picked this book back up a month or two later and I'm really glad I did. This time it hit a lot better, and I found myself enjoying it a lot more.
I've always enjoyed the writing style, so it didn't surprise me when I continued to do so. I was viscerally frustrated at Fitz' lack of ability learning the skill after Galen had attacked him. I knew Galen had done something, and it got me so fiercely that I found myself dreaming of solutions and resolutions to figure out what Galen had done.
Fitz and Verity were a highlight of this book. I feel like Verity really sees Fitz as family in a sense, and feels protective of him. Though we didn't see a whole lot of them together, it was enough to keep me interested. I loved their dynamic.
Honestly, it was enjoyable. I had started to believe so thoroughly in Fitz's abilities that when he was bested by Regal, and the assassination of the princess's brother followed, I was genuinely in shock. I had thought so highly of him, but at the end of the day he was a boy, and he didn't know everything he was meant to do.
Fitz and Burrich had a wonderful relationship, by which I mean a complicated, tumultuous, and deeply caring one. When Burrich all but disowned Fitz after realizing he still used the Wit, it stung. Fitz's depression after that, along with everything else in his life, was well-realised. The moment when Burrich realised that Fitz had believed, all those years, that Burrich had called Nosey was devastating.
Honestly, I enjoyed Fitz's relationship with Chade as well, and certainly with the Fool, and with Molly. Fitz was at his best when he had people, even if it was unfortunately rare for him to be surrounded by people who cared.
Though at the beginning I struggled to pick this book up, by the end I was eagerly awaiting the next time I could read. It's a 3/5 for me now, but I wouldn't be surprised if it elevates during a re-read. Very enjoyable, and I cannot wait to see what else is around by this author, in this series and in others.
REVIEW AT UNDER HALFWAY MARK:
Apparently I've read most of this book before a few years ago, but I never finished it and I don't remember it very well, other than the first few chapters being frustrating familiar and not feeling new to me.
For whatever reason, I just don't find myself wanting to pick this book up. I enjoy it well enough while reading but it has yet to grab me and hold me tight. I find the writing lovely and I enjoy reading the prose, but I think I'm relatively unattached from the characters, which is leaving me without much reason to pick it back up.
For now, I've decided to pause at about 40% through. I hope I get back into it—I do want to see where the story ends. But Fitz just wasn't grabbing me, as much as I wish he was.
AND WE CONTINUE:
I picked this book back up a month or two later and I'm really glad I did. This time it hit a lot better, and I found myself enjoying it a lot more.
I've always enjoyed the writing style, so it didn't surprise me when I continued to do so. I was viscerally frustrated at Fitz' lack of ability learning the skill after Galen had attacked him. I knew Galen had done something, and it got me so fiercely that I found myself dreaming of solutions and resolutions to figure out what Galen had done.
Fitz and Verity were a highlight of this book. I feel like Verity really sees Fitz as family in a sense, and feels protective of him. Though we didn't see a whole lot of them together, it was enough to keep me interested. I loved their dynamic.
Honestly, it was enjoyable. I had started to believe so thoroughly in Fitz's abilities that when he was bested by Regal, and the assassination of the princess's brother followed, I was genuinely in shock. I had thought so highly of him, but at the end of the day he was a boy, and he didn't know everything he was meant to do.
Fitz and Burrich had a wonderful relationship, by which I mean a complicated, tumultuous, and deeply caring one. When Burrich all but disowned Fitz after realizing he still used the Wit, it stung. Fitz's depression after that, along with everything else in his life, was well-realised. The moment when Burrich realised that Fitz had believed, all those years, that Burrich had called Nosey was devastating.
Honestly, I enjoyed Fitz's relationship with Chade as well, and certainly with the Fool, and with Molly. Fitz was at his best when he had people, even if it was unfortunately rare for him to be surrounded by people who cared.
Though at the beginning I struggled to pick this book up, by the end I was eagerly awaiting the next time I could read. It's a 3/5 for me now, but I wouldn't be surprised if it elevates during a re-read. Very enjoyable, and I cannot wait to see what else is around by this author, in this series and in others.