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  • The Farseer: Assassin's Apprentice

  • Written by: Robin Hobb
  • Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
  • Length: 17 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (576 ratings)

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The Farseer: Assassin's Apprentice cover art

The Farseer: Assassin's Apprentice

Written by: Robin Hobb
Narrated by: Paul Boehmer
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Publisher's Summary

With unforgettable characters, a sweeping backdrop, and passionate storytelling, this is a fantasy debut to rival that of Robert Jordan. Filled with adventure and bloodshed, pageantry and piracy, mystery and menace, Assassin's Apprentice is the story of a royal house and the young man who is destined to chart its course through tempests of change. Young Fitz is the bastard son of the noble Prince Chivalry, raised in the shadow of the royal household by his father's gruff stableman. An outcast whose existence has forced his father to abdicate his claim on the throne, Fitz is ignored by all royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has him secretly tutored in the arts of the assassin. For in the young man's blood is a heritage of magic, the talent called the Skill, as well as another, even more mysterious ability.

As barbarous raiders ravage the coasts and leave behind the zombie-like husks of the townspeople to prowl the countryside, Fitz is growing toward manhood. Soon he will face his first dangerous, soul-shattering mission, a mission that poses as much a threat to himself as it does for his target---for Fitz is a threat to the throne...but he may also be the key to the survival of the kingdom.

©1999 Robin Hobb (P)2010 Tantor

What the critics say

“Intriguing, controlled, and remarkably assured...at once satisfyingly self-contained yet leaving plenty of scope for future extensions and embellishments.” ( Kirkus)

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What listeners say about The Farseer: Assassin's Apprentice

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WOW WOW WOW WOW

This book is so so so so so so good. hours and hours of back go back chapters absolutely loving every minute. Do not miss out this is an incredible book.

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So well written and perfectly narrated

This is far from the typical constant action and battles of typical fantasy, but even despite the slower pace it kept me engaged the whole time. The narrator was perfect as well, really driving the emotions of the characters.

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Great story. Great narration.


Just an excellent story. Read several times over the years and now a very easy listen.

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A good book and a complicated story

This is the first book in a trilogy. I had read the paper book a very long time ago and did not remember the story. I thought the audio would make it easier to get back in. The plot is rather complicated. The main character is a lovable boy who is put into an impossible situation. So it makes it easier for the reader to forgive him for becoming the king's assassin. It looks like even though the master teaching him to use the "Skill" tried to brake him and make him fail, Fitz can use the "Skill" in the end. I suppose the next book will tell us how he used it from then on."
The narrator was very good.

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2 people found this helpful

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Solid fantasy with an original concept for dragons

#Audible1

Excellent characters, very well thought out geography and time period, and a solid plot line that ties the characters together.

Dialogue is a bit stiff at times (young children speak as if they were 30 something) and the lack of any sort of identifiable villain makes it difficult to understand where the plot is going until near the very end of the trilogy.

Well worth the listen if you are into the fantasy genre!

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Great Story . Ghastly reader

I loved the story . I had downloaded a free Editor’s Choice from much later in the series and loved it . Having listened to the 2 that after afterwards I went back to this Origin Story. It’s a fantastic story, universe and set of characters if a bit self pitying and ‘emo’. . But the narrating is awful. I’m a Brit who lives in Canada. Every character, no matter how low in status , has what sounds like a dreadful fake upper class drawl where , for example , the word dog ( there are a LOT of dogs) is ‘ Dorg’. I cringed throughout but kept going as the story was gripping and the other books in the series I had listened to had a different narrator who made me like the characters and appreciate their different regionalities and class .

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One of my favorite series

The author delves into trauma and the long l term effects those traumas have on aa child growing into adulthood. It’s emotion, touching, and effective in moving its audience. Very well done. I’m

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Good.

Good. Well written and performed for the most part. I drive a lot for my job and in a truck that can be noisy and sometimes the narrator speaks very very quietly. Otherwise I enjoyed it.

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1 person found this helpful

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A great find!

Despite the unappealing cover art, I bought this book because a friend recommended it, and really enjoyed it. The story is detailed, unpredictible, well narrated, highly entertaining and dynamic. A great read!

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Enthralling

What a great book. Kept my attention from start to finish. Can’t wait for the rest of the story.

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