The Farseer Trilogy

This book is, first and foremost, a character-driven story. I laughed, I cried, and I wanted to slap a few characters in the face. Robin Hobb has a way of making her characters feel like real people and it can suck you into the story.

The book takes place in the Six Duchies. The six duchies are ruled by the Farseer bloodline, with King Shrewd being the current ruler and his son, Chivalry, being the King-in-Waiting. People of royal blood are named according to the characteristics their parents hope they develop.

Instead of having classic races like elves and dwarves, Hobb has invented a new species: the Elderlings. Little is known about these creatures, except that they are unnaturally long-lived and once helped the Farseer ruler save the Six Duchies from a fleet of raiding ships.

The two forms of magic are the Skill and the Wit. Like Hobb's writing, both are rather introspective. The Skill allows people to communicate directly with their minds over any distance, and the Wit allows for psychic bonding between man and animal.

Hobb's books are a masterwork in character study. I don't think I've ever felt so strongly for fictional characters. I hated the villains even when they seemed almost relatable, and I loved watching Fitz grow throughout the book.

Fitz is the bastard son of King-in-Waiting Chivalry. When he arrives at Chivalry's door at six years old, Chivalry decides the honorable thing is to renounce his title and move away, leaving Fitz to be raised by Burrich, the royal stablemaster. No one is quite sure how to treat a royal bastard until the king decides that Fitz will begin secretly training as the royal assassin. As Fitz begins to be instructed in the art of murder, mysterious ships begin raiding the coasts of the Six Duchies, instilling fear throughout the kingdom.

Most of the broader plot actually takes place in the background, with the focus being on Fitz's life as he grows up. The plot does begin to pick up later in the book, but the emphasis on character always comes first.

Robin Hobb is known for her introspective, character-driven stories. Don't expect fast-paced action or epic battles. Instead, you'll encounter complex and well-written characters, a detailed world that you learn about one piece at a time, and strong writing that avoids crossing the line into purple prose.

Your enjoyment of this book will likely hinge on how much you like slow, character-driven stories. This is not an action adventure heroic fantasy. It's quiet and introspective and (at times) emotionally devastating. Depending on your reading preferences, you will probably either love or hate this book.