Assassin's ApprenticeAssassin's Apprentice
Score Modern
What it's about
Fitz, the illegitimate son of Prince Chivalry Farseer, is a royal bastard, cast out and lonely. His only comfort is his magical bond with animals, an old art called the Wit, which the nobility despises. Taken into the royal household, he is secretly trained as an assassin for the king, as the kingdom faces deadly raiders and court intrigue.
Why it's worth reading
It's the start of Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy, one of the most beloved fantasy series, famous for its emotional depth and its narrator.
You'll love it if you liked
A Game of Thrones
The Name of the Wind
The Lies of Locke LamoraGood to know
It's slow-paced and character-driven, told by Fitz himself. It opens Hobb's sixteen-book Realm of the Elderlings.
By the numbers
- Readers82 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller39 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #142 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #498 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #956 of the 2,816 books we rank
Reads as
Adventurous, Epic
More by Robin Hobb
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Quick answers
Is Assassin's Apprentice worth reading?
Yes. It's the start of Robin Hobb's Farseer trilogy, one of the most beloved fantasy series, famous for its emotional depth and its narrator. It ranks #956 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 73.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Assassin's Apprentice about?
Fitz, the illegitimate son of Prince Chivalry Farseer, is a royal bastard, cast out and lonely. His only comfort is his magical bond with animals, an old art called the Wit, which the nobility despises. Taken into the royal household, he is secretly trained as an assassin for the king, as the kingdom faces deadly raiders and court intrigue.
How long does it take to read Assassin's Apprentice?
About 10 hours (400 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Assassin's Apprentice?
If you liked it, try A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss or The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.