Assassin's Apprentice

How could a story about the apprentice of an assassin not be grimdark? It couldn't, that's how. This first entry sparked off three trilogies about the one protagonist, which contain some of the best characterization ever. The story is about FitzChivalry, the bastard son of a prince, who, an outcast from the court, decides that the best option for him is to sneak around killing people for a living. The book actually never strays into the 'edgy', and is a dark, morally complex tale about a boy whose very existence causes embarrassment for half the court, and as such they hate the poor kid. We're given Fitz's tight point of view from childhood to adulthood, and his complex relationships with those around him, and his growth as a character, lend this book a depth that few have. It's not a book about epic battles, but the growth of an unwanted boy into a man. This extends into eight more books about Fitz, and reading them is like making a life-long friend. One of the best aspects of grimdark fantasy is the morally ambiguous, complex characters, and this is one of the best examples, released before 'grimdark' was even a thing, but possessing all of the required qualities. Read this book if you want to get to know one of the deepest characters in fantasy. Or if you think assassins are cool (which they are).

Books in Farseer Series (2)

Booklists having this book

Top 25 Best Fantasy Books of the 90's

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Best Grimdark Fantasy Books

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Other books by Robin Hobb

Assassin's Apprentice

How could a story about the apprentice of an assassin not be grimdark? It couldn't, that's how. This first entry sparked off three trilogies about the one protagonist, which contain... Read more

Farseer Trilogy

Robin Hobb has received significant praise for her Realm of the Elderlings world, which spans four series and several other short works. However, among that epic list, The Farseer Trilogy... Read more

Assassin's Quest

Fool's Errand (the Tawny Man)

Golden Fool (the Tawny Man)

Fool's Fate (the Tawny Man)

Fool's Assassin (the Fitz And The Fool)

Fool's Quest (the Fitz And The Fool)

Liveship Traders Trilogy

A nautical fantasy featuring pirates, dragons, and magic? What's not to love? To top it off, Liveship Traders is filled with fantastic women. Ronica, the widow of the liveship's former... Read more

Mad Ship (liveship Traders)

Assassin's Apprentice

Hobb is one of the best characterization writers in the Fantasy genre. Her characters are vividly real, leaping out of the pages into our minds as living characters. She has... Read more

Ship Of Destiny

The Dragon Keeper

Hobb’s Farseer trilogy incorporates a dragon theme into the mythos of the world, though dragons are not really a tangible presence in the day-to-day happenings of the book. Her not-quite-a-direct-sequel... Read more

Dragon Haven

City Of Dragons

Blood Of Dragons

Fool's Assassin

This is one of those books you didn't know you needed until you actually start reading it. Kind of like that old friend you don't realize how much you really... Read more

Fool's Quest

The Farseer Trilogy

One of my favorite fantasy trilogies of all time and one of the best audiobook trilogies. YouÃƒÂ¢ll fall in love with the characters and their stories thanks to Robin HobbÃƒÂ¢s... Read more

Assassin's Fate: Book Iii Of The Fitz And The Fool Trilogy

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The stunning conclusion to Robin Hobb’s Fitz and the Fool trilogy, which began with Fool’s Assassin and Fool’s Quest“Every new Robin Hobb novel is a... Read more

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