227:
Skill coterie is supposed to help Verity fight the
Raiders, but unsent messages and late warnings leave the coastal Duchies easy prey. Verity decides to journey to the mountains to seek the Elderlings, legendary beings that defended the Six Duchies in the past. This leaves Regal free to begin amassing power and loyalty to himself. Shrewd grows more weak and addled. Even the Fool is not safe from Regal, though he hints to Fitz that he has a great destiny. Fitz and Kettricken leave to quell a Raider attack on the coast. While they are gone, Regal announces that word has come that Verity is dead, and makes himself King-in-Waiting.
231:
Kettricken, now pregnant, safely out of Regal's reach. Shrewd dies in an attempt to Skill to Verity before the plans can be carried out. However, Fitz gets a glimpse of the true source of the King's long illness and death: Serene and Justin, two members of the coterie, have been using their Skill to slowly drain King Shrewd's life away. Fitz takes the King's blade and immediately assassinates Serene, then hunts down and kills Justin in front of much of the court. Meanwhile, Kettricken manages to escape Buck with the Fool.
223:
which Fitz suspects is the doing of Regal and his followers. Bands of Forged Ones begin to converge on
Buckkeep, which Fitz secretly assassinates. Fitz rescues a young wolf, Nighteyes, and forms a Wit bond with him despite the danger of discovery. Regal and his lackeys come close to discovering that Fitz is Witted, and Fitz struggles to use the Skill to guard his mind.
234:
Fitz is imprisoned and accused of homicide, regicide, and exposed for using the Wit. Regal, in an attempt to get Fitz to confess to his alleged crimes, tortures Fitz both physically and mentally by having him beaten while a member of the coterie, Will, assaults Fitz with the Skill. Fitz, knowing his
214:
FitzChivalry has survived Prince Regal's attempt to poison him, but is left weak and prone to unpredictable seizures. Fitz vows to never return to
Buckkeep and his king. A vision of Molly fending off an attack by Red-ship Raiders convinces him otherwise, and he returns to the royal court of the Six
238:
After his death, Fitz is publicly pronounced guilty of all charges, and his body is buried by his last remaining supporter, Lady
Patience. However, Burrich and Chade exhume Fitz's body and, after much coaxing, convince him to leave Nighteyes' mind and go back into his own body. Looking back on his
226:
After their relationship is strained by Fitz's duties and inability to marry her, Molly tells him that she is leaving him and Buck forever for the sake of another. Fitz desperately reveals his biggest secret, that he is an assassin. Molly is instead repulsed and rejects Fitz with finality. Galen's
218:
At
Buckkeep, Fitz is immediately embroiled in the intrigues of the royal family. Molly is alive, but she has been left a pauper by her father's death and debts, and serves as a lady's maid at Buckkeep. She and Fitz admit their love for each other and begin a relationship. When Fitz approaches King
222:
King-in-Waiting Verity is consumed by the need to protect the
Duchies' coast from the Red-ships, using his Skill to stave off Raider attacks, but failing to give attention to Kettricken, his new queen. King Shrewd suffers a mysterious wasting disease whose pain only mind-clouding drugs can abate,
230:
Using his mostly uncontrollable Skill, Fitz discovers that Verity is still alive, but to say this in the court where Regal now holds power would mean death. After an attempt is made on the life of Verity's unborn heir, Fitz and his mentors Chade and
Burrich make plans to spirit King Shrewd and
27:
406:"The Farseer Trilogy is now available as a stunning Folio set! With a brand new introduction by @robinhobb and illustrations by award-winning fantasy artist David Palumbo, each edition is also printed in two colours and features a map of the Six Duchies. http"
219:
Shrewd for permission to marry, Shrewd reveals he has already pledged Fitz to the daughter of a duke. Fitz and Molly are left to conduct their courtship in secret, not only because of Shrewd's command, but to keep Molly safe from Fitz's enemies at the court.
256:
stated the novel is a "spellbinding installment, built of patient detail, believable characters, and mature plotting—though, at an unwarranted 608 pages, there are ominous signs that Hobb's beginning to lose control of her narrative."
460:
495:
250:
has received mostly positive reviews. Reviewers have generally praised the book's characterization and its climactic ending. Of the book,
837:
294:
275:
139:
845:
235:
mind and body cannot sustain any more punishment, uses the Wit to leave his body behind and join with his wolf, Nighteyes.
948:
938:
933:
943:
331:
782:
488:
707:
628:
164:
504:
298:
50:
829:
558:
379:
26:
907:
873:
736:
409:
357:
889:
861:
644:
582:
481:
202:
177:
68:
529:
465:
78:
810:
794:
695:
574:
290:
271:
146:
134:
770:
657:
267:
427:
762:
715:
683:
616:
539:
282:
193:
802:
239:
past, an older Fitz laments the loss of freedom and simplicity he experienced as a wolf.
405:
723:
383:
252:
92:
927:
746:
667:
566:
309:
305:
286:
88:
754:
675:
308:
released a new illustrated hardback edition of the trilogy, with illustrations by
881:
508:
454:
197:
40:
335:
153:
413:
473:
270:
paperback edition was issued in New York by Bantam Books in 1996 with
477:
121:
Print (Paperback & Hardback in the UK, Paperback in the US)
147:
334:. Fantasy Matters, University of Minnesota. Archived from
900:
860:
821:
781:
734:
694:
655:
615:
604:
597:
550:
522:
515:
172:
159:
145:
133:
125:
117:
109:
99:
84:
74:
64:
56:
46:
36:
285:hardback edition was issued in London by Voyager/
129:580 (UK hardback ed.), 752 (UK paperback ed.)
489:
8:
19:
612:
601:
519:
496:
482:
474:
25:
18:
297:. This edition's cover is illustrated by
322:
461:Internet Speculative Fiction Database
7:
404:@foliosociety (September 3, 2020).
105:April 1996 (US), 21 March 1996 (UK)
14:
31:UK first edition cover (Voyager)
16:1996 fantasy novel by Robin Hobb
380:"Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb"
358:"Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb"
1:
206:. It was published in 1996.
965:
332:"Royal Assassin: a review"
470:at the Internet Book List
196:novel by American writer
24:
629:Assassin's Apprentice
559:Wizard of the Pigeons
459:title listing at the
428:"The Farseer Trilogy"
360:. Fantasy Book Review
200:, the second book in
165:Assassin's Apprentice
949:Bantam Spectra books
939:Novels by Robin Hobb
934:1996 American novels
846:"Her Father's Sword"
737:Rain Wild Chronicles
944:The Farseer Trilogy
304:In September 2020,
203:The Farseer Trilogy
69:The Farseer Trilogy
21:
921:
920:
917:
916:
874:Shaman's Crossing
856:
855:
784:Fitz and the Fool
593:
592:
516:As Megan Lindholm
432:The Folio Society
185:
184:
110:Publication place
47:Cover artist
956:
901:Standalone works
890:Renegade's Magic
771:Blood of Dragons
658:Liveship Traders
645:Assassin's Quest
613:
602:
551:Standalone works
520:
498:
491:
484:
475:
442:
441:
439:
438:
424:
418:
417:
401:
395:
394:
392:
390:
376:
370:
369:
367:
365:
354:
348:
347:
345:
343:
338:on March 3, 2014
327:
268:American English
178:Assassin's Quest
173:Followed by
160:Preceded by
149:
101:Publication date
29:
22:
964:
963:
959:
958:
957:
955:
954:
953:
924:
923:
922:
913:
896:
852:
817:
811:Assassin's Fate
795:Fool's Assassin
777:
763:City of Dragons
730:
716:The Golden Fool
690:
684:Ship of Destiny
651:
607:
589:
546:
540:Reindeer People
511:
502:
451:
446:
445:
436:
434:
426:
425:
421:
403:
402:
398:
388:
386:
378:
377:
373:
363:
361:
356:
355:
351:
341:
339:
329:
328:
324:
319:
283:British English
263:
245:
212:
118:Media type
102:
32:
20:Royal Assassin
17:
12:
11:
5:
962:
960:
952:
951:
946:
941:
936:
926:
925:
919:
918:
915:
914:
912:
911:
904:
902:
898:
897:
895:
894:
886:
878:
869:
867:
858:
857:
854:
853:
851:
850:
842:
834:
825:
823:
819:
818:
816:
815:
807:
799:
790:
788:
779:
778:
776:
775:
767:
759:
751:
742:
740:
732:
731:
729:
728:
720:
712:
703:
701:
692:
691:
689:
688:
680:
672:
663:
661:
653:
652:
650:
649:
641:
637:Royal Assassin
633:
624:
622:
610:
599:
595:
594:
591:
590:
588:
587:
579:
571:
563:
554:
552:
548:
547:
545:
544:
536:
526:
524:
517:
513:
512:
503:
501:
500:
493:
486:
478:
472:
471:
467:Royal Assassin
463:
456:Royal Assassin
450:
449:External links
447:
444:
443:
419:
412:) – via
396:
384:Kirkus Reviews
371:
349:
330:Miller, Adam.
321:
320:
318:
315:
314:
313:
302:
279:
262:
259:
253:Kirkus Reviews
248:Royal Assassin
244:
241:
211:
208:
189:Royal Assassin
183:
182:
174:
170:
169:
161:
157:
156:
151:
143:
142:
137:
131:
130:
127:
123:
122:
119:
115:
114:
111:
107:
106:
103:
100:
97:
96:
86:
82:
81:
76:
72:
71:
66:
62:
61:
58:
54:
53:
48:
44:
43:
38:
34:
33:
30:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
961:
950:
947:
945:
942:
940:
937:
935:
932:
931:
929:
909:
908:"The Triumph"
906:
905:
903:
899:
892:
891:
887:
884:
883:
879:
876:
875:
871:
870:
868:
866:
864:
859:
848:
847:
843:
840:
839:
835:
832:
831:
827:
826:
824:
822:Short fiction
820:
813:
812:
808:
805:
804:
800:
797:
796:
792:
791:
789:
787:
785:
780:
773:
772:
768:
765:
764:
760:
757:
756:
752:
749:
748:
747:Dragon Keeper
744:
743:
741:
739:
738:
733:
726:
725:
721:
718:
717:
713:
710:
709:
708:Fool's Errand
705:
704:
702:
700:
698:
693:
686:
685:
681:
678:
677:
673:
670:
669:
668:Ship of Magic
665:
664:
662:
660:
659:
654:
647:
646:
642:
639:
638:
634:
631:
630:
626:
625:
623:
621:
619:
614:
611:
609:
606:Realm of the
603:
600:
598:As Robin Hobb
596:
585:
584:
580:
577:
576:
572:
569:
568:
567:Cloven Hooves
564:
561:
560:
556:
555:
553:
549:
542:
541:
537:
534:
532:
528:
527:
525:
521:
518:
514:
510:
506:
499:
494:
492:
487:
485:
480:
479:
476:
469:
468:
464:
462:
458:
457:
453:
452:
448:
433:
429:
423:
420:
415:
411:
407:
400:
397:
385:
381:
375:
372:
359:
353:
350:
337:
333:
326:
323:
316:
311:
310:David Palumbo
307:
306:Folio Society
303:
300:
296:
295:0-00-224607-4
292:
289:in 1996 with
288:
287:HarperCollins
284:
280:
277:
276:0-553-37563-6
273:
269:
265:
264:
260:
258:
255:
254:
249:
242:
240:
236:
232:
228:
224:
220:
216:
209:
207:
205:
204:
199:
195:
191:
190:
181:
179:
175:
171:
168:
166:
162:
158:
155:
152:
150:
144:
141:
140:0-00-224607-4
138:
136:
132:
128:
124:
120:
116:
113:United States
112:
108:
104:
98:
94:
90:
89:Voyager Books
87:
83:
80:
77:
73:
70:
67:
63:
59:
55:
52:
49:
45:
42:
39:
35:
28:
23:
888:
880:
872:
862:
844:
838:"Blue Boots"
836:
830:"Homecoming"
828:
809:
803:Fool's Quest
801:
793:
783:
769:
761:
755:Dragon Haven
753:
745:
735:
722:
714:
706:
696:
682:
676:The Mad Ship
674:
666:
656:
643:
636:
635:
627:
617:
605:
581:
573:
565:
557:
538:
530:
466:
455:
435:. Retrieved
431:
422:
399:
389:February 27,
387:. Retrieved
374:
364:February 27,
362:. Retrieved
352:
342:February 27,
340:. Retrieved
336:the original
325:
251:
247:
246:
237:
233:
229:
225:
221:
217:
213:
210:Plot summary
201:
188:
187:
186:
176:
163:
882:Forest Mage
863:Soldier Son
724:Fool's Fate
583:Alien Earth
535:(1983–1989)
531:Windsingers
91:(UK) &
928:Categories
608:Elderlings
509:Robin Hobb
437:2020-09-03
317:References
198:Robin Hobb
41:Robin Hobb
697:Tawny Man
575:The Gypsy
299:John Howe
243:Reception
215:Duchies.
85:Publisher
51:John Howe
261:Editions
154:43134636
57:Language
865:trilogy
786:trilogy
699:trilogy
620:trilogy
618:Farseer
414:Twitter
194:fantasy
93:Spectra
79:Fantasy
60:English
910:(2005)
893:(2007)
885:(2006)
877:(2005)
849:(2017)
841:(2010)
833:(2003)
814:(2017)
806:(2015)
798:(2014)
774:(2013)
766:(2011)
758:(2010)
750:(2009)
727:(2003)
719:(2002)
711:(2001)
687:(2000)
679:(1999)
671:(1998)
648:(1997)
640:(1996)
632:(1995)
586:(1992)
578:(1992)
570:(1991)
562:(1985)
543:(1988)
533:series
523:Series
293:
274:
180:
167:
65:Series
37:Author
505:Works
410:Tweet
192:is a
126:Pages
75:Genre
391:2014
366:2014
344:2014
291:ISBN
272:ISBN
148:OCLC
135:ISBN
95:(US)
507:by
266:An
930::
430:.
382:.
281:A
497:e
490:t
483:v
440:.
416:.
408:(
393:.
368:.
346:.
312:.
301:.
278:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.