Epic fantasy
Assassin's Apprentice
The unwanted illegitimate son of a prince is brought up in the royal stables and trained in secret as the crown's quiet killer. Looking back as an older man, he describes how raiders, court politics and a rare bond with animals shaped him.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1995
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 400
- Format
- Book 1 of 3 in The Farseer Trilogy
Read this if you want a patient, emotional fantasy told in a first-person voice with a deep focus on character.
Skip this if you want fast action, since the first half is slow and the tone is often sad.
The feel
Content warnings
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Quick answers about Assassin's Apprentice
- What is Assassin's Apprentice about?
- The unwanted illegitimate son of a prince is brought up in the royal stables and trained in secret as the crown's quiet killer. Looking back as an older man, he describes how raiders, court politics and a rare bond with animals shaped him.
- Who should read Assassin's Apprentice?
- Read it if you want a patient, emotional fantasy told in a first-person voice with a deep focus on character. Skip it if you want fast action, since the first half is slow and the tone is often sad.
- How long and how fast is Assassin's Apprentice?
- It is a slow-paced, medium read of about 400 pages, first published in 1995.
- Does Assassin's Apprentice have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence, Death, Animal death, Abuse.
- Can I borrow Assassin's Apprentice for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Assassin's Apprentice; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Assassin's Apprentice?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Name of the Wind, A Wizard of Earthsea, The Blade Itself.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Bookshop.org | Check price | Buy new from Bookshop.org |
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Libro.fm | Check price | Buy audiobook from Libro.fm |
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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If you loved Assassin's Apprentice
-
The Name of the Wind Another confessional, first-person fantasy where a gifted outsider remembers how his story began.
-
A Wizard of Earthsea A shorter, wiser coming-of-age fantasy with a similar quiet seriousness.
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The Blade Itself A much more cynical, violent fantasy for when you want to turn the mood harder and funnier.
Epic fantasy
