Reviews tagging 'War'

Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb

35 reviews

stalfos's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Torture, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Terminal illness, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, and War

Minor: Cursing, Miscarriage, and Xenophobia

alexalovesbooks's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.0

I’m still quite new to this universe and Hobb’s writing style, but I do think what I’ve encountered so far has been impressive — particularly in the way that her words pull me right into this world and this story, a story that revolves around political intrigue and maneuvering with a hint of magic and mystery to boot. It does tend to take me longer to make my way through one of her novels, but I’ve now finished two where I felt the journey to get there was worth the time (nor do I feel the actual passage of time or length of the novel as I read).

Unlike the first novel in this trilogy, it feels like we jump right in to big political and personal conflicts for the Farseer line and in particular, Fitz. I still have a stronger preference overall for mostly secondary characters and their parts in the main story and in Fitz’s life, but I did find Fitz more interesting this time around… save for the romantic aspect of his life. It wasn’t necessarily something I cared about in particular, but it got a lot of page time in this novel. But it’s the rest of the conspiracies and mysteries and turns that the book takes that kept me reading, and honestly, it really builds up towards the ending quite well. It’s definitely cemented my interest in reading all the books in this world, as well as given me even more of an understanding as to why many other readers love Hobb’s work in the Realm of the Elderlings.

(I also now understand why my friend Kristin said I would likely want to dive right into the next book after I finished this one - she’s right.)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Torture, Violence, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

and_so_it_goes's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I enjoyed this! The pacing was better, but in exchange I felt more divorced from Fitz as a character, mostly because I didn’t really care too much about his romance. The plot is constant throughout the novel yet again, and the ending lines made me tear up. However, it does have middle book syndrome where not much really happens besides

Regal gaining power and Shrewd dying. Molly and Fitz’s relationship was especially annoying given that Molly should’ve broken up with Fitz ages ago, though I can appreciate the idea that he is too attached to his duty to have a good romantic bond. They have too many false breakups that go nowhere.

The female characters have a lot more focus in this book, and Kettricken is my favorite. I love her and I hope she makes it through the entire series. I loved

Fitz drunkenly saying he saw Patience as a mother figure. Also, Burrich in general. His and Fitz’s relationship is so full of conflict, anger, and love.

Some of the plot drags on. I enjoyed the first book more because kid Fitz was different and the tone shifted to be more plot-oriented, but by the ending I was enraptured.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Torture, and War

Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

Minor: Miscarriage, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

abigail_ohlandt09's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Robbin Hobb's character writing is so good it almost seems as if the characters are real people! Vary good, vary sad. It is an Intense and griping read that draws you in and keeps you there! And amazing second book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War

Moderate: Terminal illness

Minor: Miscarriage, Vomit, and Pregnancy

emmerylynn's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I’m in love with this series! The political drama. The battles. The romantic moments. Gahhh!!! I’m obsessed with Nighteyes and soooo intrigued by the Fool! And Kettricken is a slay. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, and War

Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Pregnancy

scramuel058's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Xenophobia and War

Minor: Miscarriage and Pregnancy

laios's review

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, and War

Moderate: Death

Minor: Sexual content and Pregnancy

grey_poppy's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

A bit slow, but an interesting follow up to the first book. It feels like the end of this one must be the climax of the trilogy, setting up for an interesting continuation of court intrigue in the third. Most of the book is really just set up, and his love story with Molly was perhaps a bit overwrought, but I'm enjoying a "realistic" unideal progression to the challenges of a royal bastard at court, even it's moments of monotony .

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Murder, and War

Minor: Sexual violence

loriley's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, and Pregnancy

Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Rape, and Sexual assault

tofuandtears's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I have so many swirling thoughts about this book, I'll need to return to this review later. 4.5 stars might not be enough, this might be a 5 star read... Every moment Hobb spends building these characters and this story, brick by brick, is worth it. You can sink into the story and grasp each character's thought process, even if you wish they weren't doing what they are doing. Hobb is a fantastic writer and I cannot wait to see where all the seeds she has constantly sown will grow and lead to. And the magic system is fascinating and constantly taking unexpected turns.

I am GUTTED for Fitz. Absolutely gutted. Pain pain pain pain pain! Constantly. Except for the brief weeks of love and joy he experienced.

It's enjoyable to read about a male main character written by a woman. The relationships and love stories play out in a much more relatable and layered fashion than many like this I have read by a male author.

Regal makes me FURIOUS. I am a bit surprised that so far, Regal seems to be a straight-up evil character. There is not much room to consider him to be morally grey like some of the other unsavory characters.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, and War