Royal Assassin

As I read this book, I found myself deeply annoyed that I didn't have more time to read it. Finally, I had a Saturday and instead of doing any of the work I absolutely need to get done today, I found myself burning through the last 200 pages. It takes a lot to get me interested in political intrigue (It generally takes a Tyrion Lannister), but this one is gripping.

I loved the first book, but put off reading the second because A)The first book had a neat ending that left a sequel necessary but not immediately compelling and B)I can't handle any books in which bad things happen to dogs at this time in my life. This book has no such neat ending and leaves far more questions than answers. The summary on the back of book three does nothing to allay my agitation, and I want to get through this months S&L pick before reading it. Probably good for me; I need to settle down.

Things I like about Robin Hobb:
1) Her world building is lovely. Buckkeep is very real to me as is its magic system and the rules surrounding it. It's easy to understand and doesn't bend for plot convenience. I also like how utterly gender-neutral the world is. Soldiers are women as frequently as they are men. It's a little thing, but something I enjoy.

2) The way she writes animals. Hobb makes what could be a cheesy plot construction into a very vivid and engaging trademark. Everything about Nighteyes seems just as real as the animals in the first book. I get the feeling her favorite character is probably Burrich, and she sees the world through the same eyes he does. My only complaint was there was so much more time spent in the human world and not enough with the animal characters in this book.

3) Kettricken. I really enjoy this character and envision her played by Miranda Otto and stabbing a witch king in the face. She's wonderful and I want to cosplay as her. I look good in purple.

Things that bothered me a bit.
1) Now I'm not saying I dislike the book, that's not it at all, but I started to really dislike Fitz. First person narratives are never my favorite, and now that Fitz is all grown up... he's so whiny. I know that his life is awful and in his position I'd probably be whiny too, but told through his direct perspective, it gets a little wearing. I don't like teenagers much and have trouble when any book about a child turns into a book about a teenager. His relationship with Molly was, to me, just a distraction from the plotlines I really cared about.

2) Regal is a bit pat as a villain. He was in the first book too, and I was hoping we'd see a bit more of his motivations in the second, but if anything he's gotten even more mustache-twirly. I don't really get how he could ever have been Shrewd's favorite son because Shrewd is a character who genuinely should have seen through that pomposity, child or no. It doesn't really make sense that Regal is smart enough to orchestrate grand conspiracies and stupid enough not to see the conclusions, but then again I don't know his full plan and maybe the third book will offer that critical clue. This book has such well-rounded characters in Chade, the Fool, Burrich, Kettricken, Verity, Patience... it seems odd that the villain is so one-dimensional.

The ending left me rather dumbfounded, and I still have lots of questions at the end. I definitely want to know what happens next. The cover of the third book is suggesting dragons...