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trade paperback 1995; paperback 1996, Spectra
Who is Robin Hobb? No one seems to really know for sure. "Robin Hobb" supposedly is a pseudonym, and if so, it's a clever one ("robin," as in "Robin Goodfellow" and "hob" are both names for forest sprites). The true identity of Robin Hobb has been rumored to be anyone from Melanie Rawn to Guy Gavriel Kay. Though it's within the powers of both Rawn and Kay to have written this book, I don't think either of them did. Whatever we don't know about Hobb, we do know this: Mr. or Ms. Hobb spins a compelling yarn.
Assassin's Apprentice is the story of Fitz, a boy who lives under the shadow of being the bastard of a crown prince, and whose name literally reflects that fact because no one bothers to give him another. Fitz is dumped off at the castle gates by his mother's father, who is tired of feeding and clothing him, and he is taken in and cared for by his father's stablemaster Burrich. Fitz's father, the ironically named Prince Chivalry, abdicates his place as King-in-Waiting when the truth about Fitz is known, depriving the boy of formal acknowledgement.
Though Fitz has no true parents and is regarded as an embarrassment, he eventually makes a place for himself in the royal household. That position, however, is secret: he is being trained to be the King's assassin, and becomes instrumental in the King's plans to rid his kingdom of the mysterious Red-Ship Raiders.
What the Raiders want is unknown. They attack coastal villages, taking nothing but prisoners, which they send back after "Forging" them, a process that strips away their humanity. Forged Ones eat and drink whatever is put before them, but they don't work and they steal from and even attack their former loved ones and anyone else who gets in the way of their appetites. (I couldn't help but wonder if Hobb was trying to make some sort of subtle social commentary, but if so, it was unobtrusive.)
Fitz also must stand in the way of the treacherous Prince Regal, the youngest son of King Shrewd, who wants to inherit the kingdom himself. The young assassin eventually must put his life on the line to achieve this.
The action in Assassin's Apprentice is fast-paced, and the portrayal of Fitz's painful childhood is fresh and devoid of sentimentality. If indeed it's a debut work by a new novelist, it's an excellent beginning to what should be a promising career. Even for an established novelist, Assassin's Apprentice would be a notable work.
Review by Sara Lipowitz
Reviewed June 15, 1996
ISBN 0-553-37445-1
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