A brilliantly written cycle of psychologial-adventure fantasy that brought Robin Hobb worldwide fame. The main hero is Fitz, a royal heir’s bastard raised among servants and, by his grandfather-king’s order, prepared since childhood to become a secret assassin. Court intrigues, betrayals, slander, and the contempt of those around him—this is the lot of the young bastard. The country is going through hard times: the king is ill and weak, his sons hate each other, and from the sea threaten the bloodthirsty pirates of the Islands, equipped with mysterious black magic. And it is Fitz—gifted with the Skill, a high magic passed down with royal blood—and Wit—a forbidden ability to communicate mentally with animals—who must save the situation without receiving in return either reward or gratitude. Vivid prose, rich characters, and an excellent sense of style make the trilogy one of the best fantasy cycles of the 1990s.
Fitz, the hero of the novel, is the illegitimate son of the heir prince. Raised by servants, he grew up in the dark corridors of the royal castle, knowing neither honor nor glory. He was destined for the road of an assassin—faithfully and devotedly carrying out his king’s orders—and for the fate of a person who, perhaps through deeds that were not very significant, can nevertheless shift the world’s wheels and set in motion forces beyond the understanding of ordinary people… But that is exactly why Fitz Chival See-er exists!