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Fool's Assassin

Book One of the Fitz and the Fool Trilogy

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Fool's Assassin

By: Robin Hobb
Narrated by: Elliot Hill
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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

Nearly twenty years ago, Robin Hobb burst upon the fantasy scene with the first of her acclaimed Farseer novels, Assassin’s Apprentice, which introduced the characters of FitzChivalry Farseer and his uncanny friend the Fool. A watershed moment in modern fantasy, this novel—and those that followed—broke exciting new ground in a beloved genre. Together with George R. R. Martin, Robin Hobb helped pave the way for such talented new voices as Scott Lynch, Brandon Sanderson, and Naomi Novik.

Over the years, Hobb’s imagination has soared throughout the mythic lands of the Six Duchies in such bestselling series as the Liveship Traders Trilogy and the Rain Wilds Chronicles. But no matter how far she roamed, her heart always remained with Fitz. And now, at last, she has come home, with an astonishing new novel that opens a dark and gripping chapter in the Farseer saga.

FitzChivalry—royal bastard and former king’s assassin—has left his life of intrigue behind. As far as the rest of the world knows, FitzChivalry Farseer is dead and buried. Masquerading as Tom Badgerlock, Fitz is now married to his childhood sweetheart, Molly, and leading the quiet life of a country squire.

Though Fitz is haunted by the disappearance of the Fool, who did so much to shape Fitz into the man he has become, such private hurts are put aside in the business of daily life, at least until the appearance of menacing, pale-skinned strangers casts a sinister shadow over Fitz’s past . . . and his future.

Now, to protect his new life, the former assassin must once again take up his old one. . . .

Praise for Fool’s Assassin

“Hobb knows the complicated workings of the wayward human heart, and she takes time to depict them in her tale, to tell her story sweetly, insistently, compellingly. . . . A book meant to be inhabited rather than run through.”—The Seattle Times

“[FitzChivalry Farseer is] one of the best characters in fantasy literature.”—Fantasy Book Review

“[Hobb’s] prose sparkles, her characters leap off the page.”—Tordotcom

“Modern fantasy at its irresistible best.”—The Guardian

“Fantastic . . . emotionally rich storytelling.”—Library Journal (starred review) Action & Adventure Coming of Age Epic Fantasy Genre Fiction
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Critics' reviews

Praise for Fool’s Assassin

“[Robin] Hobb knows the complicated workings of the wayward human heart, and she takes time to depict them in her tale, to tell her story sweetly, insistently, compellingly. . . . A book meant to be inhabited rather than run through.”—The Seattle Times

“[FitzChivalry Farseer is] one of the best characters in fantasy literature.”—Fantasy Book Review

“[Hobb’s] prose sparkles, her characters leap off the page.”—Tordotcom

“Modern fantasy at its irresistible best.”—The Guardian

“Fantastic . . . emotionally rich storytelling.”—Library Journal (starred review)

Praise for Robin Hobb

“Fantasy as it ought to be written . . . Robin Hobb’s books are diamonds in a sea of zircons.”—George R. R. Martin
All stars
Most relevant
I almost didn't buy this because of the bad reviews about the speaker. While the change in speakers did take a while to get used to, I actually think the speaker is doing a great job for the most part. The story was great as expected.

Glad I bought this

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i am soo in awe at Robin Hobbs writing. so much insight and character. loved it

outstanding

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the speaker is rubbish, hes trying far too hard to overdramatice every sentence .... other then that good book

real bad speaker :/

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I'll be brief:
This series is a must if you enjoy Hobbs style and/or are invested in the earlier books featuring Fitz et al.

However, while re-listening to the earlier series and going through this one I strongly dislike these two aspects:
Firstly, the speaker Elliot Hill is in my opinion a step down in comparison the one we had in earlier works. I find the voice he uses for the fool especially atrocious.
Secondly, I have grown to detest Hobbs incredibly slow pacing and the extreme introspective nature of her characters.

Hope this is helpful to some of you. If you can get over the slow pacing I'd recommend it.

Strong story & characters, has problems though

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The story is OK, but nothing much happens. It appears to be an extremely long introduction into the main story which starts in the next volume.
But the speaker is just annoying. All female characters sound as if he was making fun of them, and almost all main male characters are given an extremely husky voice most of the time. Even the most ordinary conversations between two persons as a result take on a dramatic, almost foreboding character. And whenever people are "Skilling" to each other (a kind of telepathy), the speaker whispers - even where the text says teh characters do the equivalent of shouting.

OK Story, Annoying Speaker

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