The Writing Style – 4.5/5

After reading Assassin’s Apprentice, it’s easy for me to understand why modern best-selling authors such as George R.R. Martin consider Robin Hobb to be a genre-defining author. Her writing style and world-creation have been copied over and over again in modern best-sellers. Perhaps my favorite aspect of her writing was that she trusts her readers to follow her without over-explaining every detail a she writes. It creates a more gradual reveal of her created world that kept me fully engaged.

The Characters – 4/5

Because I read this book twenty years after it was released, it is easy to see the characters (and plot) as unoriginal, but the opposite is true. Many authors that followed her have used the roles created by Hobb in this story as a template. I enjoyed the characters she created. In fact, I found myself more intrigued by the characters themselves than the story that was unfolding around them.

The Plot – 3.5/5

The plot was engaging though a bit predictable. Compared to other fantasy novels dwelling on “court intrigue,” I found it a little too linear, but it still kept me interested.

Overall – 4/5

Assassin’s Apprentice is a very fun read. It contains many of the elements that are almost prerequisites for a modern best-seller. It is a coming-of-age story. It contains memorable and relatable characters. The “magic” system is unique and intriguing. Most importantly, it is a gripping story that is hard to put down.

Overview

For whatever reason, I’ve had a hard time of late finding a fantasy series that grabs me. Earlier this year I eagerly devoured the Mistborn series, and since then, I haven’t had much luck. For whatever reason, I haven’t been able to get into the Game of Thrones series. That’s not to say it isn’t fantastically written; it just isn’t for me (yet… this wouldn’t be the first time it’s taken a few tries for a series to click with me). I will admit that I am not the most well-read fantasy fan. This genre is a relatively new passion for me. Because of this, there are a number of great works from years past that I have missed. Thankfully, I was rescued from my “rut” when I stumbled upon Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb. Published roughly when Michael Jordan was leading the Bulls to the greatest season in NBA history (1995), this is a gem. Now that I have read it, I can see how many contemporary fantasy authors such as George R.R. Martin consider this to be a genre-defining work.

Assassin’s Apprentice contains many of the elements that are almost prerequisites for a modern best-seller. It is a coming-of-age story. It contains memorable and relatable characters. The “magic” system is unique and intriguing. Most importantly, it is a gripping story that is hard to put down.

There is something special in Hobb’s writing. Often, I find that fantasy stories tend to lag a little in the first book of a series. There is just so much information that has to be conveyed, especially early on. What is the world? Is there magic? What is it/how is it controlled? What is the backstory? Etc. Hobb manages to skip over the usual speed bumps and draws the reader in from the first page.

One of the things I enjoyed most about Hobb’s writing was that she seemed to respect the reading comprehension abilities of her readers. Many authors in this genre seem to think that the reader will need everything laid out for him/her in obvious detail. As a fantasy author myself, I know the temptation very well. Hobb does not seem to worry about this. Without giving away the “secrets”, I will give one vague example. The primary protagonist possesses a certain ability that is rather unique (and perhaps forbidden). Many novels would have utilized an “aha” moment where the character discovers and begins experimenting with it. Instead, the protagonist in Assassin’s Apprentice uses the ability from nearly page one and it is several chapters in before he even discovers that is, in fact, a special power. It is an “ingrained” magic that the reader becomes comfortable with even before he/she realizes it is magic (much like the protagonist… intentional??).

This was just one example. There are numerous times throughout the novel where things weren’t explained in detail, instead leaving it up to the reader to take part in solving a mystery or puzzle. I found this to be quite refreshing.

In standard “coming-of-age” fashion, there is a primary protagonist upon whom the story centers. There is, of course, the “mentor” as well. In many ways, the characters, though well developed, didn’t feel particularly original to me. Considering the date it was published, I realize that the opposite is most likely true. In many ways, Hobbs created the template upon which the coming-of-age, assassin/wizard apprentice type of story is developed today. Had I read this story before many of the contemporary best-sellers, I probably would have seen this as a far more original cast.

In this story, there is a nice blend of the clear protagonists/antagonists along with a few characters that dwell somewhere in the middle. It is a story of political intrigue, so the characters well-reflect the duality commonly found in these tales. The more I dwell on this review, the more I am led to wonder if Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series was influenced by this book. There are a number of similarities, especially in the protagonists.

Again, it is worth noting that had I read this book a few years earlier, I might have found it a bit more “original” feeling. Instead, after reading more recent fantasy novels, the plot feels a little predictable. I was able to guess from the second chapter what one of the major plot twists at the end of the book was going to be. Still, it was very entertaining. The plot made sense as I was drawn into the story, but I will admit that it was the characters themselves—not the developing storyline—that kept me intrigued.

One minor complaint about the plot was that I often had a difficult time understanding the passage of time. There were, at times, large jumps (as many as five years) that would occur between chapters and even paragraphs. In some ways, this might be a reflection of Hobb’s writing style that I highlighted earlier. She is not afraid to expect her readers to keep up with her. Still, a bit more clarification could have saved me from having to duck back and re-read a few sections to understand where/when I was.