by Robin Hobb

This is an excellent fantasy story in the old traditional sword and sorcery sense. It's about a boy, born a royal bastard, who is thrust into his father's family with all the intrigues and dangers that go with being a loose end in the line of succession.

The story is very well written and although I seldom read stories with child protagonists, this one was worth making an exception. The characters are distinctive and interesting as individuals, even if their names are rather cheesy. The more likeable ones include an assassin, a rough keeper of animals, the boy himself (generally referred to as Fitz, as his father never game him a name) and a shrewd grandfather who is known as *cough* King Shrewd. Oh my...

The fun thing about assassins is that they are full of surprises. Just when the plot seems to be going along predictably, something comes out of left field to change the game.

Somewhere after 40% it does begin to drag a little, and then to meander in plot. However, the political intrigues that are the real strength of the story are further developed so that by 90% I was really interested again and wondering how it was all going to get wrapped up with so little time left. I feared a cliffhanger ending that would try to blackmail me into buying book 2, when the price of the further episodes is rather high in my opinion for something I would describe as Fantasy Lite. Yes it's a good story, but it's fairly simple and will appeal to those who like to read a lot of YA and prefer stories with a single protagonist, rather than the sort of complications of keeping up with something like George R.R. Martin's Songs of Ice and Fire series.

I just have a preference for stories that will stretch my brain cells, although I can enjoy light entertainment as well. This one did pick up with loads of action in the final stretch. I didn't like some of the conclusions, but at least the story did wrap up with tidy closing stages so that I wasn't left on that cliff. A few loose ends were obviously left so that the saga can continue, but despite the story starting well, I think it will continue without me to follow along. I enjoyed reading it, but there were just some final elements that left me with phrases like "Why didn't you..." "You couldn't possibly let him..." and similar rants echoing through my head.

I give it 4 stars for writing ability, but only 3.5 for plot detail. Too many things just didn't ring true in the end.

Hahahaha. Okay, good start, good start.

The first Realm of the Elderlings book! The one that started it all! Baby Fitz, already fighting against more pain and tragedy than most people ever experience! The Fool when he was just really weird and disconcerting and not really BFFs with Fitz yet!  Kettricken at her most randomly murder-y! Wonderful, eccentric Patience! The Wit before Nighteyes! The Skill before Skill pillars and Elderling statues and dragons got involved! 

YES VERY GOOD THANK YOU

My husband came home from work this morning (got to love midnight shift) and asked if I wanted to accompany him to the bookstore.

Well, duh!

What I bought:

1. Colour Bar: The Triumph of Seretse Kama and His Nation by Susan Williams (my copy has the movie tie-in cover with David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike) - this is the true story of a heir to an African kingdom (modern day Botswana) named Seretse Kama and a white English insurance clerk who fall in love in early post-WWII England and their journey through apartheid and independence for his country. This became a film (A United Kingdom by BBC Films) recently and Waterstones had it as a featured book on the history shelves. I already peeked at the pictures in the book and their kids are freaking adorable (and now, they are probably adorable adults).

2. Saga Vol. 1 and 2 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples - cause everyone else is reading this series, I wanted to know what all the fuss was about.  I will wait and add these two volumes to my 24in48 read-a-thon TBR in July.

What hubby bought:

1. Snuff (A Discworld Novel) by Terry Prachett

2. Anansi Boys by Neil Gaimen

3. Assassin's Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy #1) by Robin Hobb

Thus far, I've been talking about books I already own that I need to read. As much as I want to focus on that, there are quite a few books out there that I very much want to get and read this year. These aren't new releases, rather books I just haven't gotten to yet. Some are from legends in their respective fields, some are from fave authors, and some just seem nifty.

1.  The Wide, Carnivorous Sky and Other Monstrous Geographies - John Langan  

    Just recently, I read Langan's The Fisherman, and was quite fond. Though I liked the book as a whole, the centerpiece story-within-a-story just floored me. As well, Langan's "Red Death" riff that I read in a Poe-inspired anthology was fantastic. As such,I want to get into more of his shorter works.

2.   Tigana - Guy Gavriel Kay  

    I read two of Kay's novels last year, and adored them. So I'm going to pick up at least this one in '17, possibly another as well.

3.   Assassin's Apprentice - Robin Hobb  

    Hobb is well-known and loved in the fantasy scene, and this is the first book in the trilogy that launched her over-arching world. I have a love-hate relationship with high fantasy, but this just sounds fun.

4.   The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfiction - Neil Gaiman  

I am a massive fan of Gaiman, have been since reading American Gods far too many years ago. Also, I dig pop-cult essays a la Hornby and Vowell. So this is a no-brainer.

5.   Invisible Ink: How 100 Great Authors Disappeared - Christopher Fowler  

    I dig books about books, and stories of near-success are often more fascinating than either pure success or failure. And, I like history.

6.   The Emperor and the Wolf: The Lives and Films of Akira Kurosawa and Toshiro Mifune - Stuart Galbraith,Stuart Galbraith IV  

    I love movies, how they're made, who makes them, the whole shebang. Also, I like exploring unfamiliar cultures. Mix two strong personalities with long, interesting careers, post-war economics and fears, and various technical and creative challenges... Dude, I am so there.

7.   The Cuckoo's Calling - Robert Galbraith  

    Like many people, I read and loved the Harry Potter series. Combine that with the fact that I am a long-time mystery fan, especially P.I. novels, as well as the general praise heaped upon this series, and it's surprising I haven't read  this yet. That changes this year.

Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal court by his father’s gruff stableman. He is treated as an outcast by all the royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in Fitz’s blood runs the magic Skill—and the darker knowledge of a child raised with the stable hounds and rejected by his family.

As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts, Fitz is growing to manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission. And though some regard him as a threat to the throne, he may just be the key to the survival of the kingdom

What did I think of it:
4 stars
First off I would like to say thinks to my Goodreads friends Lindsey Rey and Kaitlin for introduce this series to me because with it out them I wouldn't have ever thought about picking it up or any book by Robin Hobb. With that said lets get in to what I thought of it plus I would also like to say that this is the first time I've over read anything by Robin Hobb.
1: it was kind of slow getting in to for me, I don't know if its Ms. Hobb's still of writing or if it was just me ,but as I got farther along in the book it eventually did pull me into the story and had me some what hooked
2:Interesting magic and Political intrigue ( political schemes, treachery, betrayal and complex diplomatic relationships)
3:Convincing, vivid characters, that Ms. Robb brings to life so much that its like you can actually feel their pain ,and their struggles
4:emotionally draining
with that said I will be getting the rest when I can to see what happiness next.