Althea M. (althea) reviewed on 9/15/2008 + 774 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

In this second volume of Hobb's 'Assassin' trilogy, matters progress from bad to worse. As FitzChivalry Farseer recovers from the near-fatal assassination attempt on him by Prince Regal, he begins to see that Buckkeep and the Six Duchies are falling apart around him. The Red-Ship Raiders grow ever more bold, and the vicious, amoral Forged Ones that the raiders somehow create from good citizens are growing to be ever more of a problem. King Shrewd is failing, wracked by illness - and drugs. In desperation, Prince Verity goes on a quest to seek the mythical Elderlings - and in his absence, Regal seizes yet more power, disregarding the woes of the nation and partying with pomp and ceremony. Fitz believes that the Duchies' decline may be all part of a plot designed by Regal - but his mentor, Chade, seems to think that his opinion may be based on his personal (although admittedly justified) dislike of that prince.
Can Fitz stay loyal to the royal family, balance his job as an assassin with his love of his childhood sweetheart, Molly, support Verity's wife, the foreign quuen, Kettricken, against those who would discredit her, remain friends with the stablemaster, Burrich, even though he has the illegal 'Wit' (an ability to speak with animals), and survive the various hatreds of those who are arrayed against him?
OK, I'm still missing some of the subplots here...
It's a complex, soap-opera-esque story with plenty of drama - pure entertainment, and executed near-perfectly! Great stuff!

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