Royal Assassin... any good as a stand alone book?

Laz116 · 02-05-2009, 05:52 PM

So I bought the Farseer trilogy and read part one, which I found quite good.

As I was about to start part two my girlfriend broke my prs500. She actually stepped on it while doing the laundry. Can you imagine the clumsiness? Just because it was placed on the floor on the side of the bed and next to the laundry basket, partly covered by socks and t-shirts, doesn't mean that she shouldn't pay attention to where she puts her foot.

Anyway, after putting on my sad face for about 30 seconds I was given unlimited access to our joint funds, which I immediately used to buy a 505 including the lighted cover (which I love btw).

Trouble is that all the worrying about the spending must have made me think that Assassin's quest was actually part two.

I did wonder early on in the book, that a lot had happened since I left Fitzchivalry, but hey... some authors like to make jumps in time in between sequels.

So my question is: Now that I have read part one and part three, is part two worth reading on its own, or should I move on to something else say Anathem or The Sparrow?

BTW: Despite the nearly intolerable clumsiness of my girlfriend, I did marry her shortly afterwards. Out of pity, naturally. Almost goes without saying.

JSWolf · 02-05-2009, 05:55 PM

Definitely read part two. I've just recently started it.

Barcey · 02-05-2009, 05:59 PM

That's a very clever strategy for upgrading your PRS500!

I enjoyed all three books in the trilogy but I can't say how enjoyable it would be to read the 2nd after the 3rd. My recommendation is to read it.

Laz116 · 02-05-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barcey

That's a very clever strategy for upgrading your PRS500!

I enjoyed all three books in the trilogy but I can't say how enjoyable it would be to read the 2nd after the 3rd. My recommendation is to read it.

I probably will, although I did find the first half of Assassin's quest rather tedious.

And yes... I immediately started placing the flat screen tv, my mobile phone etc. on the floor in the hopes that she would step on it... to no avail...

And it is kind of hard to watch tv when it's on the floor.

Dr. Drib · 02-05-2009, 07:50 PM

All Robin Hobb's books are deeply intelligent fantasies, where character motivation is uppermost.

Her books are character-driven fantasies and beautifully written.

Don

astra · 02-06-2009, 04:35 AM

I am less than a hundred pages short of finishing Assassin's Quest.

I loved book 1 and 2. I believe 2 is slightly better, I think it is worth to read it even though you read book 3.

Over · 02-06-2009, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laz116

She actually stepped on it while doing the laundry.

(...) I was given unlimited access to our joint funds,

(...) BTW: Despite the nearly intolerable clumsiness of my girlfriend, I did marry her shortly afterwards. Out of pity, (...)

You did well to train her before marrying

HarryT · 02-06-2009, 05:24 AM

Funnily enough, I did exactly the same thing - read book 1, then book 3 (not realising that I'd missed one out) and then went back and read book 2.

lilac_jive · 02-06-2009, 08:35 AM

A few years ago I tried to read the first book, and I couldn't get past the first page. I vaguely remember being dissuaded by too much description.

astra · 02-06-2009, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

A few years ago I tried to read the first book, and I couldn't get past the first page. I vaguely remember being dissuaded by too much description.

Hmm. I am not a big fun of descriptions myself. I prefer action.

lilac_jive · 02-06-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by astra

Hmm. I am not a big fun of descriptions myself. I prefer action.

Read the first few pages on amazon and let me know if it's just me or not..

HarryT · 02-06-2009, 09:45 AM

It's a series that I very much enjoyed myself. I'd certainly recommend it - it's a very good story, and that (for me) is the most important aspect of any book.

Over · 02-06-2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

A few years ago I tried to read the first book, and I couldn't get past the first page. I vaguely remember being dissuaded by too much description.

I like a fluid prose, with action and description in good measure. When a book starts to be overdescriptive and, specially, if the author tries too hard to impress us with their vocabulary and exagerating with the adjectives... That's a major turn off for me.

If I wanted an entire page describing how blue and beautiful is the sky, in the middle of a police chase, I would rather read poetry.

lilac_jive · 02-06-2009, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Over

I like a fluid prose, with action and description in good measure. When a book starts to be overdescriptive and, specially, if the author tries too hard to impress us with their vocabulary and exagerating with the adjectives... That's a major turn off for me.

If I wanted an entire page describing how blue and beautiful is the sky, in the middle of a police chase, I would rather read poetry.

If you want to kill yourself and stab your eyes out, read "The Iron Tree" by Cecilia Dart-Thornton. Or you can just read the reviews on amazon (one of mine is on there).

Worst. Book. Ever.

Over · 02-06-2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

If you want to kill yourself and stab your eyes out, read "The Iron Tree" by Cecilia Dart-Thornton. Or you can just read the reviews on amazon (one of mine is on there).

Worst. Book. Ever.

Lol, no thank you. I believe in your word:

Quote:

Wow. This was horrible. I don't say that often, but it was true. The publisher let this out? And worse, she's been compared to Tolkien? No. Apparantly it wasn't just me either (man I wish I had checked out the reviews before getting this), except Harriet Klausner, but its not like she's reading any of these books anyway, and her opinion just cements that.

First of all, there are so many ridiculous lists of things that don't matter. I really don't care about all the fifty types of plants that come to the desert after the rains, sorry. And my lord, the decription. If I hear about how Lilith's lips are like petals one more time, I'll vomit. Some description is good, but geez, there's a thing called balance. I've never in my life seen someone go so overboard on description.

There was a glimmer of an interesting story underneath, which is a shame since it drowned underneath the descriptive swamp of this book. But apparantly the author wanted to have a "Shakespearean" twist to it. Darling, it doesn't work when you write in that style for the narrative, and no one will believe it when you're characters only stick to that style of speaking occasionally with no apparant pattern. Not to mention the fact that her two main characters could be gods for the lack of faults that they have (well, except the one goes nuts, but not for long), and their romance was so incredibly lame I was yearning for a Jennifer Lopez movie for something more realistic.

Please do not even bother. Maybe you can try it in paperback, but be warned, this book is really that bad.

BTW, why did you stop reviewing in Amazon?

02-05-2009, 05:52 PM	#1
Laz116 Guru Posts: 640 Karma: 12129 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Sony PRS-700	Royal Assassin... any good as a stand alone book? So I bought the Farseer trilogy and read part one, which I found quite good. As I was about to start part two my girlfriend broke my prs500. She actually stepped on it while doing the laundry. Can you imagine the clumsiness? Just because it was placed on the floor on the side of the bed and next to the laundry basket, partly covered by socks and t-shirts, doesn't mean that she shouldn't pay attention to where she puts her foot. Anyway, after putting on my sad face for about 30 seconds I was given unlimited access to our joint funds, which I immediately used to buy a 505 including the lighted cover (which I love btw). Trouble is that all the worrying about the spending must have made me think that Assassin's quest was actually part two. I did wonder early on in the book, that a lot had happened since I left Fitzchivalry, but hey... some authors like to make jumps in time in between sequels. So my question is: Now that I have read part one and part three, is part two worth reading on its own, or should I move on to something else say Anathem or The Sparrow? BTW: Despite the nearly intolerable clumsiness of my girlfriend, I did marry her shortly afterwards. Out of pity, naturally. Almost goes without saying. Last edited by Laz116; 02-05-2009 at 05:57 PM.

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02-05-2009, 05:55 PM	#2
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,224 Karma: 145488788 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Definitely read part two. I've just recently started it.

02-05-2009, 05:59 PM	#3
Barcey Wizard Posts: 1,531 Karma: 8059866 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Canada Device: Kobo H2O / Aura HD / Glo / iPad3	That's a very clever strategy for upgrading your PRS500! I enjoyed all three books in the trilogy but I can't say how enjoyable it would be to read the 2nd after the 3rd. My recommendation is to read it.

02-05-2009, 07:50 PM	#5
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,354 Karma: 59447733 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	All Robin Hobb's books are deeply intelligent fantasies, where character motivation is uppermost. Her books are character-driven fantasies and beautifully written. Don

02-06-2009, 04:35 AM	#6
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	I am less than a hundred pages short of finishing Assassin's Quest. I loved book 1 and 2. I believe 2 is slightly better, I think it is worth to read it even though you read book 3.

02-06-2009, 05:24 AM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Funnily enough, I did exactly the same thing - read book 1, then book 3 (not realising that I'd missed one out) and then went back and read book 2.

02-06-2009, 08:35 AM	#9
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	A few years ago I tried to read the first book, and I couldn't get past the first page. I vaguely remember being dissuaded by too much description.

02-06-2009, 09:45 AM	#12
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It's a series that I very much enjoyed myself. I'd certainly recommend it - it's a very good story, and that (for me) is the most important aspect of any book.

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