I’m on a fantasy kick recently, this time without the romance but with plenty of court intrigue, magical powers and violence. Trigger warning for abuse and death (including animals). Assassin’s Apprentice is the first book in Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy, which has been reviewed favorably several times on CBR. Add this one to the favorable reviews. Hobbs includes two very compelling storylines and a cast of interesting characters whose personal motivations and abilities create some thrilling and suspenseful scenes. I tore through this 400+ page book within a few days and can’t wait to get on to the next volume.
The first storyline focuses on the main character, Fitz. Fitz is narrating, or rather writing down, his story from a time when he is older and the main action —related to the history of the Kingdom of the Six Duchies — is past. Fitz is not well, but the source of his illness is as yet unknown to the reader. He begins his story from his earliest memory — being 6 years old and having his grandfather and mother take him to the castle at Buckkeep to leave him there. His grandfather says the boy is the bastard son of his daughter and Prince Chivalry, who is meant to inherit the kingdom after his father King Shrewd dies. Within the keep of the castle no one doubts that the boy is Chivalry’s son, since he looks exactly like the man. Chivalry, true to his name, abdicates his claim to the throne, and he and his wife Patience, who has been unable to have children, withdraw from the castle to live away from Chivalry’s shame. Initially, Fitz’s relatives (King Shrewd and his uncles Prince Verity and Prince Regal) pay no attention to him, but Verity is inclined to show kindness and Regal is inclined to show malice. Fitz winds up the charge of Chivalry’s former keeper of hounds and horses Burrich. Fitz likes being with the animals and he and Burrich develop a bond, but Burrich is both angry and terrified when he discovers that Fitz possesses a power called the Wit. The Wit is the ability to connect and communicate with animals. Possessing this power is considered evil and dangerous, and in the past, those known to have had the Wit were put to death. Burrich makes sure that Fitz doesn’t form familiar bonds with any dogs or horses, but Fitz – a boy alone in a scary environment – cannot help himself and must learn to hide this ability.
Although Fitz is a bastard, and therefore ineligible for the crown, he nonetheless possesses royal blood, and it is well known that he is the son of Chivalry, who was enormously popular and a talented political leader. This makes Fitz potentially dangerous as he grows up, something that King Shrewd understands well. Thus, when the boy is about 12 or so, the King meets with Fitz to discuss his future. Shrewd understands that if others influence Fitz, he could become a nightmare for the royal family. So, it would be better to keep Fitz close. Fitz becomes “the King’s man,” pledging loyalty to him and in return, Fitz will be given an appropriate royal education, including secret lessons with a pockmarked old man named Chade. Chade is a secretive man; very few within the castle know of his existence and for good reason — he has been the King’s assassin and now he will train Fitz to follow in his footsteps. There is one thing, however, that Chade cannot teach him, and that is a magical ability called the Skill. Some members of the royal line have this ability which is like telepathy or the Vulcan mind meld. Those who have been trained in the Skill can communicate with each other over vast distances and can influence others’ minds without their knowing. The King resists having Fitz trained in the Skill until matters of national security convince him otherwise.
This brings us to the other storyline. While the Six Duchies have had a long and prosperous history, there are barbarians at the gate. During summer months, marauders from the icy north called Red Raiders attack coastal towns, sometimes looting but often just burning them to the ground and taking nothing. Even worse, the raiders take hostages and if not paid off, they return the people back home in a terrifying state. People who have been taken and returned are called the “Forged,” and it is as if they have lost all of their humanity, their very souls removed. They are worse than animals, violent and mindless. As the Red Raiders attack more outposts, the coastal peoples of the Six Duchies live in fear; some abandon the coasts for inner territories. Others try to continue as they were, but they must prepare for a possibly gruesome fate. The plight of the Forged and their fate is harrowing to read. The unity of the Six Duchies becomes precarious and the crown under King Shrewd decides what is needed is for crown prince Verity to make an advantageous marriage that will secure supplies and funding for meeting the threat of the Red Raiders. However, there are forces within the court that seem to be working against the best interests of the kingdom and young Fitz is going to get swept up in the intrigue. Danger and violence galore ensue, particularly when he gets lessons in the Skill from a teacher who vehemently opposes his education.
While the action in this novel is very exciting and well crafted, it is Fitz’s relationships with other characters that really got me. Chade, Burrich and the King’s fool all play important roles and clearly have much more to them than meets the eye. And I hope they will all be back in the second book. I am also hoping that Fitz will perhaps learn more about the father and mother he never really knew and reconnect with the young friends he made during his childhood in Buckkeep.