Fans of Robin Hobb’s Assassin series already know that they are in for an emotional roller coaster, but Assassin’s Quest in particular is very difficult to read. All of the supporting characters that Fitz loved and trusted have been wrested away from him by one manner of disaster or another. Those whose lives have included periods of major depression will recognize the symptoms and the self-destructive impulses. This is not a book for the emotionally fragile, but then, if you are still reading the series by this point it should be obvious. In a way, the book is noteworthy for that quality in itself: rarely does an author bring their main character so low and portray the results with such unsympathetic clarity.
Anyone who has been reading the books hoping desperately for a happy ending is unlikely to be satisfied, and I was personally somewhat disappointed by the deus ex machina quality.
Overall, it’s a different sort of book. The saying is that the point of a story is the journey rather than the destination; this book is a perfect example and perfect counterexample in one. Reaching the destination is unlikely to make the reader particularly happy, but does bring a sort of catharsis; and anyone who can reach the end of the book without feeling strongly for the characters is probably a sociopath.
Probably not a good book for moody teenagers.
