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vampires's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
5.0
it definitely starts slow, which is not a bad thing, but i did not expect it to be 5 stars until everything begins snowballing and it feels like everything is wildly out of control but from an author perspective you can tell that robin hobb had everything so tightly under control and plotted to the minute. her handling of the plot and all the infrastructure supporting it was so good. also, she never pulls a single punch. there were like 2 things that i think she softened that could have been worse, but even then, she only transformed something bad into a different bad thing rather than hesitating on the trigger. like she just aimed the gun slightly to the left instead but still shot it anyway. WILD. i love the complexity of the web connecting the different characters that is gradually spun into place. also i love that the women are real characters and feel like real people, even when their position in the narrative would make it very easy to write them as more archetype (i don't want to include spoilers in this review so i won't name names but there are a couple of characters that applies to). there is the story unfolding in front of us, and then the story unfolding simultaneously off page, and then the story that already unfolded in the past that is dogging the narrative and you can feel its presence and every so often you are thrown a few crumbs to piece together. INSANE
Graphic: Child abuse, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Grief, and Drug use
Minor: Infertility
halefa's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The second part of the book I would give a rating of 3,75/4.
The beginning of the book is an incredible slow burn.
I don't particularly enjoy stories written from children's perspective, and that might be the reason for me disliking that part so much. Unfortunately for me, the main character is a child (6-12 years old) for most of the book.
Most of the book is also focused only on that child and various things that happen to him. There is no general thread or story arc yet, and the main character is rather passive and unopioniated (I mean - he's a child!).
The second half of the book luckily picksup pace. Now a teenager, the main character makes more decisions and takes actions. Also, a general plot develops giving the world more authenticity and relevance. A generic evil shows up and different characters' agendas to deal with it are revealed.
This part was far more engaging and interesting to read.
And then there are the last couple of chapters happen where the pace quadruples and everything explodes.
Apart from being of the opinion that the book stays in the childage era for far too long, I am sad we didn't get to know more about the aspect of the story that is actually in the title: "Assassin's Apprentice".
We only get vague hints and weak side sentences once in a while about what the assassin education included and I would have wished for more details and creativity here.
(Also I don't get Chade. Really weird mentor vibe.)
I noticed that the book contained barely any positive descriptions of women and the language used to describe female characters is often heavily inspired by the idea of stereotypical medieval terms.
Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Grief, Animal death, Death of parent, and Infertility
nicole_rietveld's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Robin Hobb are un talent pentru a crea niște personaje autentice, cu relații interpersonale foarte bine descrise. Știe cum să presate sentimente printre paragrafe astfel încât să rămâi captivat de poveste, chiar dacă are un ritm de desfășurare destul de lent. Nu știm exact care e intriga, ce trebuie de fapt să se întâmple ca într-un roman fantasy obișnuit, pur și simplu este povestea unui băiat de când ajunge la curtea regelui și prin ce peripeții trece ca ucenic al unui asasin.
Săracul Fitz prin câte trece! Am și uitat cât de tare își chinuie autoarea personajele. Nimeni nu îl iubește, iar pentru că este fiul ilegitim al unui prinț, ceilalți membri ai familiei regale au mai multe motive să scape de el, decât să îl crească cu o educație aleasă, așa că tânărul trebuie să devină unealta regelui pentru a supraviețui.
O fază care m-a neliniștit foarte tare e când unul dintre mentorii lui îl abuzează fizic în repetate rânduri, împingându-l efectiv să se sinucidă. Tânărul Fitz își pierde orice încredere în el și cade într-o depresie urâtă. M-a revoltat foarte tare atitudinea respectivului mentor și mă bucur că la final a dispărut din peisaj definitiv.
Minunată e relația tânărului cu animalele, legătura specială pe care o are mai ales cu câinii. Mi-a amintit într-un fel de prietenia mea cu animalul meu de companie :). De asemenea, mi-a plăcut foarte tare și de Verity, un adevărat viitor rege, nu ca uneltitorul de Regal. Fitz nu prea a avut parte de căldură în copilăria lui, Burrich îl caftea deseori și l-a mai și abandonat, iar Chade era destul de rece. Trist e că a rămas și fără singura lui prietenă, dar cine știe ce se va întâmpla mai departe.
Volumul acesta pregătește în mod evident terenul pentru ceea ce va urma. Presupun că mare parte din acțiune se va concentra pe lupta cu pirații și descoperirea motivului pentru care sătenii se transformă în neoameni.
P.S.: Într-un fel mi-a dat impresia că ar fi inspirată după Harry Potter, dar cartea asta a apărut înainte de Piatra Filozofală.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Animal death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence and Death of parent
joysmith's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Kidnapping, Grief, Violence, Animal death, Physical abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
s_nova's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
Graphic: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Infertility, Alcohol, Death, Grief, Murder, Violence, and War
scurvotron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Abandonment
mazzreads86's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment and Animal death
Moderate: Grief, Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Minor: Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug use, Infertility, and Injury/Injury detail
reddeddy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Classism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Violence, Animal cruelty, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Animal death, Confinement, Death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Dysphoria, Addiction, Medical content, Chronic illness, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, Xenophobia, Bullying, Death of parent, Infertility, Pandemic/Epidemic, Blood, Colonisation, and Drug abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, Body horror, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Self harm, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Suicide, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual content, Vomit, Ableism, Excrement, and Toxic relationship
lastlostgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
If you’re looking for an action packed fantasy with romance, this first book won’t be it for you. This was all political/war building, magic system building, and relationship building.
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
kirkwallsquad's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Suicide, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Pedophilia, and Sexual violence