Assassin's Apprentice
by Robin Hobb
1995, Bantam Spectra, 435p

"Robin Hobb" turns out to be one of a couple pseudonyms used by Margaret Astrid Lindholm Ogden, who wrote several books under the name of "Megan Lindholm" before this "debut" novel as Robin Hobb.

Our main character is "Fitz," a term that in their world means simply "Bastard." He's the bastard son of Chivalry, one of the Princes of the kingdom he lives in. One of the book's several conceits is that Fitz is writing this autobiography in his old age. His memories start at the age of six - very vividly. He remembers being taken from his mother and birth family and given to the royal family ... and remembers absolutely nothing before that.

Initially he works in the stables, but is eventually raised to be, if not a part of the royal family, at least close to it. And he's secretly trained as an assassin. This book uses its 435 pages to detail Fitz's life up to approximately age 15, showing in the process that he's smart, observant, and skilled in a couple forms of magic (although he doesn't initially understand this). With the politics of the Kingdom in upheaval, all of this gets exciting and the action gets interesting around page 390.

This took me months to read: that only happens when a book is slow-paced. And not terribly well written. Although not so slow-paced that I ever dropped it entirely. I was ... underwhelmed by her idea that people in the royal family are named by characteristics: the King is Shrewd, his Queen is Desire, the three princes are Chivalry (whose wife is Patience, although her behaviour least seems to embody her name), Verity, and Regal.

Overall not bad, but certainly not one of the great fantasy books. The author has the decency to wrap things up nicely, although it's clear that there's still a threat to the Kingdom for a sequel. A sequel I won't be bothering to read.