Assassin's Quest

What an ending to a series! I won't get too far into the plot of the previous one for fear of spoilers, but this story picks up right where the second one left off. We follow Fitz on his quest to help save the world from fate and from the Red Ship Raiders.

The beginning of this book was definitely slow. Fitz is alone for a long time while he is on his journey. It isn't until later in the book that he meets his travelling companions. While there was intermittently some action, a lot of that beginning chunk is travel. I didn't feel bored throughout this because Hobb used it to really show the reader Fitz's state of mind and his struggles with the Wit and the Skill. However, it definitely was slower paced.

However, the last quarter of the book was jam-packed with action. I could hardly put the book down. Everyone I've see that's read this series says “Royal Assassin” is their favorite installment, but I really thought this one outshone that one. I liked this one more because it had what I thought the other 2 were lacking. This one really explored so much more magic and fantasy elements. The last 2 books didn't feel as much like fantasy besides the use of the Skill and the Wit. However, this one dove into the deep end of magic. I loved it. I am fascinated by the magic system and the lore of this world. The ending made me so excited to keep reading Robin Hobb's series set in this world.

Hobb is a titan in the fantasy world. These books perfectly mix characterization with plot. Everything is so well thought out, and every character is so unique, that you feel truly immersed in this incredible world she has created. I have officially become a Robin Hobb stan.

Read her books if you like fantasy. The end.

TW: ableism, assault, awttempted murder, blood, bones, childbirth, death, famine, fire, gore, hallucinations, infertility, kidnapping, miscarriage, misgendering, murder, pregnancy, PTSD, rape (off page), slavery, torture, violence, war