Assassin's Quest

Assassin's Quest is a 1997 fantasy novel by American writer Robin Hobb, the third in her Farseer Trilogy. It follows the exploits of FitzChivalry Farseer, whose narrative continues in Fool's Errand.

Assassin's Quest
UK first edition cover (Voyager)
AuthorRobin Hobb
Cover artistJohn Howe
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Farseer Trilogy
GenreFantasy
PublisherVoyager Books (UK) & Spectra (US)
Publication date
3 March 1997 (UK), April 1997 (US)
Media typePrint (Paperback & Hardback in the UK, Paperback in the US)
Pages742 (UK hardback ed.), 848 (UK paperback ed.)
ISBN0-00-224608-2
OCLC43211976
Preceded byRoyal Assassin 

Plot summary

FitzChivalry Farseer is raised from the dead with Wit magic, becoming more wolf than human. Only Burrich and Chade know he survived his tortures in Regal's dungeons. They help Fitz regain his humanity and heal his body, but he must face the deep trauma inflicted by Regal and Will on his own. Fitz decides only a personal quest to kill Regal will bring him peace. Before departing, he is attacked by and kills Forged Ones. Burrich later finds the remains of a Forged One who had stolen Fitz's clothing. Believing him dead, Burrich cares for Fitz's pregnant lover, Molly, while Chade and Lady Patience lead what resistance remains against the Red Ship Raiders.

Fitz travels to Regal's opulent inland place in Tradeford but fails to assassinate him thanks to the Skill power of the remaining coterie, Will, Carrod, and Burl. Verity aids his escape and, in the process, imprints the command "Come To Me" into Fitz's mind. Unable to disobey, Fitz embarks for the Mountain Kingdom, following the path of Verity's quest to find the Elderlings, mythical allies of the Six Duchies. During this journey, his bond with his Wit companion, Nighteyes, deepens and changes as they become more similar. The wolf begins to think abstractly and plan events while Fitz starts to gain noble wolf qualities, like living in the present and a fierce loyalty to friends 'in his pack'.

Fitz and Nighteyes meet a minstrel named Starling, who recognizes Fitz and insists on traveling with them. They meet an old woman named Kettle, who is travelling to the Mountain Kingdom seeking the White Prophet, and they foil an attack by warriors under the command of King Regal. Fitz reaches the Mountain Kingdom barely alive and is tended back to health by the White Prophet, also known as The Fool. Kettricken is shocked to learn both Fitz and Verity, who had been presumed dead after the remains of his travelling party were found, are alive. Fitz learns Verity and Kettricken's child was stillborn, and so his own daughter is the only remaining Farseer heir.

Kettricken is determined to find Verity, but her father King Eyod cannot spare resources since Regal has turned his ambitions to conquering the Mountain Kingdom. Fitz, Kettricken, the Fool and Starling set off to find Verity, followed by Kettle, who is not as frail as her age supposes. Using a copy of the map Verity followed, the group encounter a road leading to a ruined city, both constructed of a black stone imbued with Skill. The road is perilous for those sensitive to the Skill but without sufficient training, but Fitz survives thanks to the guidance of Kettle and his Wit bond with Nighteyes.

They eventually arrive at a garden full of intricate stone dragons Fitz senses as alive with his Wit. Beyond the garden is a quarry of the Skill stone where they find Verity, frail and obsessed with carving a dragon of his own. Kettle reveals she is the last remaining member of a former royal coterie. She has great knowledge of the Skill, though her own Skill ability had been taken from her. She instructs that the stone dragons had been carved by Skilled kings and coteries, by Skilling their own memories and emotions into the stone. Fitz acts as a catalyst, using his Skill and Wit to help Verity and Kettle restore each other's Skill strength and complete the dragon. However, Verity does not have enough power left to bring the dragon to life, and refuses to allow Fitz to sacrifice any more than he already has. Instead, he and Fitz's minds switch bodies, allowing Verity to share one last night with Kettricken and providing the final surge of emotion and memory needed to wake the dragon. The Fool inadvertently wakes another incomplete dragon, while Fitz wakes the other dragons sleeping in the garden by calling to them with the Wit after they had been doused in the blood of soldiers Regal had sent to stop them. The risen dragons devour the remaining soldiers and mortally wound Will, and are then led by Verity-as-Dragon to drive the Red Ship Raiders away from the coastal Duchies. With his coterie broken, Regal has no defense against Fitz's Skill. Instead of taking his revenge by killing Regal, Fitz instead imprints him with fanatical loyalty to Kettricken and the people of the Six Duchies. Regal restores Buckkeep and ensures the legitimacy of Kettricken and Verity's heir she is left pregnant with, Prince Dutiful. Fitz retires as royal assassin into anonymity and travels for several years. To protect his daughter, he leaves Molly and Burrich to raise her while only Chade, Kettricken, Starling, and The Fool know he lives.

Themes

Assassin’s Quest has been called a coming of age story. One reviewer stated that the story holds a lesson "that the pursuit of truth demands a price in loneliness only a few can or will pay."[1] Other reviewers have pointed to a sense of hopelessness in the narrative and how often Hobb makes use of failure.[2][3]

Reception

Assassin’s Quest received positive reviews from critics. Reviewers have called the novel a fun and enjoyable read.[2][3] Publishers Weekly gave the novel a starred review and commented on the "shimmering language".[1] Kirkus Reviews called the novel "an enthralling conclusion to this superb trilogy, displaying an exceptional combination of originality, magic, adventure, character, and drama." [4]

Editions
  • An American English paperback edition was issued in New York by Bantam Books in 1997 with ISBN 0-553-10640-6.
  • A British English hardback edition was issued in London by Voyager/HarperCollins in 1997 with ISBN 0-00-224608-2. This edition's cover is illustrated by John Howe.
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References
  1. "Assassin's Quest". Publisher’s Weekly. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  2. Miller, Adam. "Assassin's Quest: a review". Fantasy Matters, University of Minnesota. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  3. "Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb". Fantasy Book Review. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  4. "Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
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