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Assassin’s Apprentice Book 1

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About this listen

‘Fantasy as it ought to be written’ George R.R. Martin

The kingdom of the Six Duchies is on the brink of civil war when news breaks that the crown prince has fathered a bastard son and is shamed into abdication. The child’s name is Fitz, and he is despised.

Raised in the castle stables, only the company of the king’s fool, the ragged children of the lower city, and his unusual affinity with animals provide Fitz with any comfort.

To be useful to the crown, Fitz is trained as an assassin; and to use the traditional magic of the Farseer family. But his tutor, allied to another political faction, is determined to discredit, even kill him. Fitz must survive: for he may be destined to save the kingdom.

©1995 Robin Hobb (P)2026 HarperCollins Publishers Action & Adventure Animals Dragons & Mythical Creatures Epic Fantasy Genre Fiction Assassin Royalty

Critic reviews

'Hobb is one of the great modern fantasy writers … what makes her novels as addictive as morphine is not just their imaginative brilliance but the way her characters are compromised and manipulated by politics.'

The Times

‘In today’s crowded fantasy market Robin Hobb’s books are like diamonds in a sea of zircons’

George R.R. Martin

‘Hobb is superb’ Conn Iggulden

‘Hobb is a remarkable storyteller’ Guardian

‘This is a historical novel with a sly touch of magic. The first in the Farseer trilogy, this book will get new readers hooked on a series that recalls HBO’s Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings’ Telegraph
All stars
Most relevant
This Is a book I've known and loved for a very long time. I first borrowed it from the library when it was released. I decided to revisit the series and first bought the Kindle version and have now followed up with the Audible version.
I absolutely loved the voice, Pacing and ability to adopt the different voices and accents for all the characters and it has really helped me to fully immerse myself in the story. I am still reading later books from the store series on my Kindle and find myself using this narrators accents with the characters in my head. Definitely the sign of a good audio book.

A Fantastic Story, Well Read

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I'm so glad that these newly narrated editions have been released. I'm excited to immerse further into this series!

Brilliant!

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I'd been holding off reading Robin Hobb's novels because of the many reviews expressing dismay about the narration.
When i saw the Farseer trilogy had been re-recorded, it felt like time to change that.

The narration is spot on. Accents, pacing, everything. I cant fault it.

And I knew RH was held in high regard for her writing, but honestly, she draws you into a story like no other.

If Audible sorts out the narration across the rest of her work, I've got a lot of reading to do.

Perfect

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First read these 30 years ago. Remember I enjoyed, but for some reason I stopped after 2nd trilogy... 2026 is when I rectify this... and how could I have forgotten how good it is? Thoroughly immersed again.

Just... wow.

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Do not be fooled, reader (and potential listener), by the title of this review.

For years, various sources, both personal and across the broader spectrum of the sphere, have recommended to me Robin Hobb's books. For years I have noted the unilateral praise of the Assassin's trilogy. For years, I have dithered, delayed and procrastinated.

What a mistake.

Have often found myself tentative when beginning a new book, let alone an entirely new series. I find the world building immersive, but slow going (a fault of my own, not the authors, for it spans many). Not so with this.

From the first chapter to the last, Robin Hobb's writing had me hooked. The details drew me in effortlessly, the depth and choices of phrase several times drawing me in completely. The beauty and sadness of some sections is simple, unlabelled, and speaks to some real experiences most of us have unwittingly shared.

Similarly, the performance here was warm, strong, tender and consistent, lending depth to enjoyment and never hurrying over the tempo of the written words. It feels like a performance genuinely enjoyed by voice artist Joe Eyre, with a performance lacking the points of contention that have been brought up by previous versions. His delivery pairs beautifully and, having finally just finished book 1, I eagerly await my pending birthday, and pray that my loving wife actually listens and believes me when I repeatedly say that tokens or Audible credit are a perfectly acceptable gift. My only complaint is that I have to wait, just in case she took me seriously, for I would immediately continue this journey, finally begun, if I could.

What A Waste Of My Time (A Lament)

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