Fool’s Assassin (Fitz and the Fool, Book 1) cover art

Fool’s Assassin (Fitz and the Fool, Book 1)

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Fool’s Assassin (Fitz and the Fool, Book 1)

By: Robin Hobb
Narrated by: Lee Maxwell-Simpson, Avita Jay
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About this listen

'Fantasy as it ought to be written' GEORGE R.R. MARTIN

Tom Badgerlock has been living peaceably in the manor house at Withywoods with his beloved wife Molly these many years, the estate a reward to his family for loyal service to the crown.

But behind the facade of respectable middle-age lies a turbulent and violent past. For Tom Badgerlock is actually FitzChivalry Farseer, bastard scion of the Farseer line, convicted user of Beast-magic, and assassin. A man who has risked much for his king and lost more…

On a shelf in his den sits a triptych carved in memory stone of a man, a wolf and a fool. Once, these three were inseparable friends: Fitz, Nighteyes and the Fool. But one is long dead, and one long-missing.

Then one Winterfest night a messenger arrives to seek out Fitz, but mysteriously disappears, leaving nothing but a blood-trail. What was the message? Who was the sender? And what has happened to the messenger?

Suddenly Fitz's violent old life erupts into the peace of his new world, and nothing and no one is safe.

 Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Small Town & Rural Classics Assassin Royalty

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Critic reviews

‘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, spinning wonderful characters and plots from pure imagination' Conn Iggulden

'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

‘Robin Hobb is without question among the two or three finest writers of fantasy working today’ 5 stars for Fool’s Assassin, SFX

‘Fantasy writers don’t come much bigger than Robin Hobb’ Independent
All stars
Most relevant
Again a masterpiece of writing in the on going story of FitzChivalry. Times of great triumph and a death as heartbreaking as that of NightEyes.

Another fantastic story of Fitz by Robin Hobb.

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Took a while to get going. But then once it got going there was no stoppping it.

Gripping

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What a joy to find out Robin Hobb had written more books in this series. Was like being reunited with old friends. This book did not disappoint and I can’t wait for my new credit to get the next in the series!

Fitz and the fool are back!

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Superb rich detailed characters. Layers of meaning and plot. I’m not gonna lie - it’s great!

Tolkien meets Game of Thrones

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Having invested myself into the story it was really disappointing to read the reviews. I was not going to bother but, being invested I did. Am glad I carried in from a story point of view but the narration is nowhere near as good as previous books. Slow, wooden, does the job but the passion is not conveyed.

It’s an odd one

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