This is the sequel to Assassin’s Apprentice that I wrote about a while ago. I feel pretty much the same about the series, which is that it’s good, but it is a big of a slump. And while the magic system is clearer I still find the politics a little confusing.
The book starts where the last one left off, Fitz has been poisoned and nearly killed a few times and as a result is pretty much disabled by his injuries. He has frequent seizures and is really weak. He heads home with Burrich and tries to heal. Once back he finds that Molly, his childhood crush, is now a maid at the castle. They eventually start up a romance, against the guidance of pretty much every adult around them. The new Queen Kettricken is getting used to the castle and Fitz starts helping her out and providing guidance, while also continuing to help King-in-Waiting Verity. Fitz has been forbidden by the ailing King Shrewd to do anything against Prince Regal, despite how Regal is responsible for the attempt on his life and for trying to derail the kingdom most of the time. Fitz also finds a wolf puppy and raises it, they share a strong bond through Fitz’s ability to Will, or telepathically communicate with animals.
Verity eventually decides to go on a quest to find this mysterious race of beings and leaves Regal in charge. Meanwhile the Forged ones (people kidnapped by raiders and made into like zombies that feel nothing and just attack people) continue to terrorize the area. Kettricken and Fitz head out to fight them, while Kettricken is pregnant. Her bravery earns her the heart of the people. When news comes back that Verity is dead, Fitz doesn’t believe it. He hatches a plot with Kettricken, Burrich, the Fool, and Chade to try and get the King to Skill (telepathically communicate with people) to Verity. The Fool thinks this will kill the weak King, and it does, but primarily because two other Skill-users have been draining him. Fitz manages to both get in touch with Verity and realize what they are doing. He takes the King’s knife and kills both of them.
The book ends with Fitz in jail being tortured into admitting he used the Will (a taboo ability) to kill the King. Fitz stays strong, and Burrich ends up getting him out by convincing him to abandon his body to inhabit the wolf’s body. They then pretend his human body is dead before digging it back up and putting him into it.
Alright well there’s a whole lot going on here. A lot of characters, each with their own motivations and abilities. I think I grasped this book much better than the first one since I had that familiarity with the characters, but there were still points that I mixed up names or affiliations. It both helps the book feel very realistic and a little overwhelming. I definitely grasped the Will versus Skill distinction better this time, it helps that Fitz knows what they are and can give them a name. And I just really enjoyed all of the returning characters, Burrich is as gruff as ever and giving Molly a larger role was a nice touch.
The series ends up hitting a kind of happy medium with run-of-the-mill fantasy where wild things happen and you just accept it, and a type of George R. R. Martin hyper-realistic and gross fantasy. I am into it, you aren’t guaranteed that any characters will be safe but there are still rules that the genre is playing by. I particularly enjoy that it shares how traveling both takes time and is dangerous with Game of Thrones.
I’m interested to see how this wraps up, the characters are
at a particularly low point right now. Hobb will have her work cut out for her
to resolve everything.
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