Book Review: Assassian’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb

Hi

From Goodreads: In a faraway land where members of the royal family are named for the virtues they embody, one young boy will become a walking enigma.

Born on the wrong side of the sheets, Fitz, son of Chivalry Farseer, is a royal bastard, cast out into the world, friendless and lonely. Only his magical link with animals – the old art known as the Wit – gives him solace and companionship. But the Wit, if used too often, is a perilous magic, and one abhorred by the nobility.

So when Fitz is finally adopted into the royal household, he must give up his old ways and embrace a new life of weaponry, scribing, courtly manners; and how to kill a man secretly, as he trains to become a royal assassin

Assassin’s Apprentice follows the story of a boy who is a prince’s illegitimate child as he grows up in a castle, is treated badly by his family and learns to be of use by becoming an assassin for the king.  It sounds like a stereotype of the fantasy genre, but it is actually a pretty fun book to read.  At times it feels like all the action is going to happen when he grows up, but the end is interesting enough and the characters definitely grow on you.

The ending is actually quite exciting, so overall I would say that Assassin’s Apprentice is worth the read.  It is the first book in the Farseer Trilogy and is nice and easy to read.

Xmas book gift ideas for a geek girl

Hi

Here are some nice book gift ideas for a girl who is into fantasy, science-fiction or just creepy things in general.  Obviously, the best way to think of a gift idea of your own is to know what the geek girl you are buying for likes.  Alternatively,  here are some general ideas.

1. The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien.  The second movie in the series comes out in December, so a tie in book would also be an interesting idea such as ‘Chronicles: Art and Design (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug)’

2. The Walking Dead.  This show is pretty big at the moment, which is based on a series of graphic novels so it would be the perfect gift this Christmas.  You get her the shows box set, or the first volume in the graphic novel series or, the game.

3. If your geek girl is more into paranormal romance and urban fantasy, then chances are she likes True Blood the TV show.  Obviously, you could get the DVD, but alternatively, you could get the omnibus version of the first three books.  Or another option would be to get the Harper Connelly Omnibus another series by the author of True Blood, Charlaine Harris.

4. On the same note there are lots of other urban fantasy series out there.  A personal favourite of mine is the Women of the Otherworld series by Kelley Armstrong, which begins with Bitten.

5. Comic books/ graphic novels are huge now.  There are the Avengers series of films, plus the new Man of Steel which comes out in early December on DVD.   There are lots of comic books available, such as ‘Avengers – Volume One: Avengers World’    

6. In terms of less mainstream comics, the Sandman Library by Neil Gaiman is amazing and is beautifully illustrated by a host of different artists.  It begins with’ Preludes and Nocturnes’ 

December To Be Read

Hi

Yesterday I posted my November Wrap-Up, so today I am posting what I would like to read in December.  I would like to finish ‘A Song for Arbonne’ by Guy Gavriel Kay, ‘Dagon and other Macabre Tales’ by H P Lovecraft and ‘Royal Assassin’ by Robin Hobb.  I would also like to read Assassin’s Quest by Robin Hobb and ‘The Snow Child’ by Eowyn Ivey.

November Wrap-UP and Blogmas

Hi

I am probably going to regret typing this but I have decided to do blogmas – basically blogging every day of December.  I am going to try my best, but I have never really done anything like this before.

Okay, so back on track.  In November I read ‘Assassin’s Apprentice’ by Robin Hobb and started ‘A Song For Arbonne’ by Guy Gavriel Kay.  I also started the sequel to ‘Assassin’s Apprentice’ called ‘Royal Assassin’ and the ‘H P Lovecraft omnibus two Dagon and other macabre tales’.

Black Friday Book Haul!

Hi

So, on Friday I decided to buy a couple of books for my kindle and ended up with a nineteen book for under three euro.   I thought I would share what I got.

Firstly, I got ‘The Snow Child’ by Eowyn Ivey for 99c.  I had wanted to get it for a while – it is a critically acclaimed book – and when I saw it on the deal I just snapped it up.

Secondly, I discovered book bundles.  I purchased three, but there were many more all for around 49c.  The fist one I got was ‘Six Times A Charm’ which features books by Deanna Chase, Angie Fox, Julie Kenner, Mindy Klasky, Rose Pressey and Liz Schulte.  From what I can tell the books are all urban fantasy and the introduction to several series.  I also got ‘Magic After Dark’ a bundle of six paranormal romance/ urban fantasy books by authors such as; S M Reine, Marie Hall, Deanna Chase, Danielle Monsch, Kate Daniley and Dannika Dark.   Finally, I also got ‘Faery Worlds’ which features six novels that are kind of urban fantasy but with an emphasis on the fae and fairies.  The authors included in this volume are Tara Maya, Elle Casey, JL Bryan, Anthea Sharp, Jenna Elizabeth Johnson and Alexia Purdy.

These are a bit out of my comfort zone of fantasy, but I think a bit of diversity does no harm, and like I said, these were on incredible deals.  I guess I just couldn’t say no 🙂  I would upload pictures but I am a wee bit computer challenged at the moment.