Hello Robert,
I have devoured this series but I don’t know why.
Title: Assassin’s Quest
Series: Farseer Trilogy; Book 3
Author: Robin Hobb
Genre: Fantasy
Audience: Adult
ROTS Setting: UU,
Synopsis: Newly reborn Fitz relearns how to be a man, both how to be human and how to be a man. He is soon called on a quest that leads him away from Buck Keep to places he has never been before.
Recommendation: A great book to finalize the series. If you read the other two books then who are you kidding you have to read the ending. It has some mature themes but nothing a teen audience can’t handle.
Ok, so I have been trying to figure out for quite awhile why the Farseer Trilogy is any good. The plot seems like something I’ve seen before. The world setting seems like nothing to write home about. The magic system just seems weird and poorly explained (I have since come to understand that the word I am looking for is mystical). And after days and days thinking about it I finally got it. Assassin’s Quest and the whole Farseer Trilogy are all from the 90s. They’re old! Well, let me preface that because I am also from the 90s. They are not like books from the 2000s and 2010s, the style in the 90s was something very different. The fantasy genre has evolved in the last 17+ years. So of course, the plot seems predictable I might have read something similar from a different author. Now the magic system and setting they are just the canvas for Hobbs story.
Now, what makes the Farseer trilogy special? The Characters, Fitz, Nighteyes, Burrich, Chade, Regal, Verity, Kettle, Starling, The Fool, Kettricken. All of them, they are real people with complex ideas, thoughts, and motives exploring a semi-fantastical setting doing extraordinary things. That is what makes this so compelling. Yes, Fitz is a typical annoying teenager but he is a teenager so it fits. (hahaha that pun is perfect)
I have really enjoyed this series but probably won’t read it again. As an iconic 90s fantasy it is a must read. If you chose to read it I hope you enjoy the series as much as I have.
Jared
Reading Over The Shoulder 
I enjoyed the Farseer trilogy and I agree with your critique of it there. The magic system does become more complex in the others books set in that world. I’m now reading the Liveship Traders trilogy, which is more complex and mature (not graphic but it does seem to be for an older audience) than the Farseer ones, but less enjoyable.
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Excellent! I am looking forward to reading the Liveship Traders. I have nothing against the the magic system I just didn’t feel very satisfied with how abstractly it was presented, some complexity will be nice.
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I have requested from the library Ships of Magic as an audiobook. From the recommendations everyone made earlier I can’t miss this trilogy…..also the library doesn’t have the other one as an audiobook. So the decision was made for me.
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I couldn’t agree more regarding the characters! Love them all!
Do you plan to read the Liveship Trader Trilogy next? Or the second Fitz Trilogy? 😀
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Well I honestly hadn’t thought about it much. I just read the overview on Robb Hobb’s website. It has not made this decision any easier. Liveship doesn’t seem like it will be that important to the main story. But I don’t want to miss anything and it might be really good. Hard choices.
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Just you wait! It gets even better with each trilogy. 🙂
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