Royal Assassin

Royal Assassin

Continuing in the tradition of her first book (Assassin’s Apprentice) Hobb propels the Farseer saga into its second installment with irresistible plotting and memorable characters. Fitz is a trained assassin in the service of King Shrewd and also the king’s illegitimate grandson. He is sworn to protect heir to the throne Prince Verity and Verity’s new bride, but his task is complicated by an invasion of vicious barbarians who turn helpless captives into zombie-like Forged Ones. The home front is no safer, with an ailing King and usurpers to the throne waiting in the wings. Romance, sibling rivalry, battlefield exploits, betrayal, political intrigue and telepathic magic insure that there’s never a dull moment in the Kingdom of the Six Duchies. Through deft description and characterizations, Hobb manages to create a kingdom that looks like a fairy tale but feels like the real world?which makes it almost impossible not to become immersed in Hobb’s fantasy epic. The ending clamors for a sequel-and hopefully sooner, than later.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars frustration at every page
Overall the story is a page turner that will have you staying up all night to read. Characters have a good depth to them; with 5 or 6 with very realistic personalities that will stick with you throughout the story. The bad guy is a perfect example of a villain that will have you turning page after page to see his demise.

On the other hand this story introduces staggering amount of problems with no resolutions. The ending is one of the most wretched i have yet to encounter in a trilogy; basically the worse form of a “to be continued”.

The characters have all these amazing powers that develop through the story (char development, key to all great fantasy books), also trained as a assassin. All of the “good” chars are supposely the to be fear types that are capable of great feats. Yet the “good” characters are completely impotent in using any of there abilities. The entire story is about them running around and avoiding confrontation for 400+ pages… Its like a story of complete wimps, the frustration you feel while reading is almost unbearable, many times i thought of putting down the book and picking another author…

I finally get to last chapters, and there is no END!!!! Just bigger issues are introduced and advertisement for buying the next book. If you do make the plunge and purchase this book, be sure to buy the third at the same time…

Then ending was so upsetting, i trudged out of my room, downstairs, booted up the ol’ puter to write this review…

5 Stars A boy and his dog, part 2
I must start by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed book two, a bit more than one, though that was a 4 star book. I would have liked to see more expansion on the magic elements of the story, and suspect that is to come in book 3. But having said that, Fits has grown into an amazing and durable character. Challenged by faith, stamina, and character in ways we can not imagine enduring ourselves. Prince Regal goes to extreme lengths to grasp and claw for power, even to gain the throne. Night Eyes the wolf has a jaw dropping surprise to aid Fitz. All the multilayerd characters develop nicely into believable people you care about. Robin Hobb has it right, this trilogy will become a permanent part of my library to be enjoyed over and over.

5 Stars First Rate Fantasy
Ever since I first read Lord of the Rings, I was hooked on fantasy. Since that fateful day many years ago I have read many of the conventional fantasy series most notably the Wheel of Time series. This trilogy really breaks all bonds of convention and makes way for innovation, creativity, and a strong dose of realism. The characters in these stories feel so real it will take your breath away. Never have I ever been so emotionally involved in a character as I was with Fitz. I literally could not wait to pick up the book again after putting it down to find out what direction he would be thrust in next, and whether or not he would get out of it.

At first, I did not think I would enjoy reading the first-person narrative style of Hobb’s writing, but now I actually find it quite enjoyable and adds a whole dimension to the story and further connection to the character. Her structure is fantastic. Even when things may seem a bit slow, it is done for a reason, usually because you begin to feel anxious and impatient just as the narrator is.

These books are definitely page turners that are well worth a read. One of my favorite fantasy series to date. I look forward to reading the rest of the adventures of Fitzchivalry Farseer.

4 Stars The Emotional Roller Coaster Continues
Truly after having become instantly enamored with Assassin’s Apprentice, Royal Assassin had me hooked before I even finished the first page. I will begin this review with my sincere puzzlement in the fact that there is so much overhyped fantasy in the world by highly decorated (see award winning) authors that it amazes me to no end how the Farseer trilogy tends to slip through the proverbial cracks. This series is easily on par with the efforts of George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire and perhaps some of the finer moments of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time.

That said, this tale picks up literally where the first book ends (with no recapping) and continues in the first person narrative of Fitz Chivalry as he recounts his life in effort to document the history of the Six Dutchies.

Like before, the imagery is just stunning and Hobb once again demonstrates that her greatest strength as an author is through development of incredibly rich characters that the reader can’t help but feel like they know personally.

Perhaps therein lies the greatest source of frustration mingled within the beauty of this series: Robin Hobb isn’t afraid to let the bottom drop out and does so very frequently. They say that hopelessness is a powerful literary tool (and certainly a motivator to turn the pages in effort to find resolve). The trouble some have with Hobb is that resolve is painfully slow to come (and often times doesn’t come at all). Readers were treated to a taste of this in the first book but it pales in comparison to the mental and physical torture they will endure through Fitz’s eyes in this one!

Without giving away too much of the plot’s key moments, let me just summarize by saying that nearly everything Fitz has worked for comes crashing down by the conclusion of this novel. How Robin Hobb plans to tie up all of the loose ends of the saga in the third entry (Assassin’s Quest) is truly anybody’s guess. Although I must confess that it will be nearly impossible for anyone (regardless of how frustrated) to finish this book without desperately seeking the third entry with ravenous passion.

Upon completing Royal Assassin last night, I concluded that:

1) Robin Hobb may just be one of the most powerful authors in our time and certainly one of the most under appreciated in the fantasy genre.

2) This series is absolutely gripping in every sense of the word but requires a reader willing to “ride out the storm” in the distant hope that resolve will come.

3) Readers who rely on fantasy to escape the drudgery of daily life/ world affairs may want to steer clear of this entire melancholy-riddled saga. This book has the ability to cast a gray cloud over the mood of even the most optimistic reader (that can follow into real life).

4) If you decide to forge through this book, have the third entry handy- it ends on such a note that you just may find yourself standing outside the bookstore at dawn waiting for them to open.

2 Stars King of Angst vs. Spoiled Palace Brat: Round 2
(WARNING, SPOILERS!)

I always finish any series that I start. I can honestly say that I’ve never regretted this policy so much as when I was reading Robin Hobb’s latest hack-work of fantasy.

The problems that plagued Assassin’s Apprentice remain. However, it Royal Assassin, a new problem has arisen, namely, the characterization. Heavens above, how anyone can read this and call Robin Hobb anything but a lousy writer is beyond me.

Molly is probably the best example of this. I could almost see the strings that Hobb was using to direct her bizarre actions to whatever she wanted her to do. When the protagonist, Fitz, meets up with her in Buckkeep after thinking she was dead, she immediately becomes pissed off with him, because she apparently thinks he’s a drunk(?) and was annoyed that he abruptly took off for the Mountain Kingdom instead of courting her, despite that she’s a bit too old for him and he thought she had fallen for someone else.(Whoops . . .) She brushes him off and her does some more of his characteristic whining and angsting. However, shortly afterwards, when he breaks into her rooms to be sure that his nemesis, the Spoiled Palace Brat, hasn’t killed her, she suddenly forgives him everything and falls into his arms.(Man, why do female authors seem to think that this creepy stalker behavior is so hot? This is beginning to read like the Twilight Series.)

Rinse and repeat. They develop a relationship that follows the same formulaic pattern throughout the book: Molly gets pissed off at Fitz, he angsts, he talks to her, and she suddenly melts into his arms and everything’s okay, without any resolution as to why she is suddenly fine with what had previously driven her away from him.

If you don’t believe me, pick up this book and read the chapter, “Tasks.” If this isn’t the most golden hodgepodge of abrupt character development, horrendous dialogue, and bad writing in the world of literature, I fear for the writing world.

I should also leave a warning: This book has some very adult content. I counted seven(!!!) fade-to-black scenes in this book. Of course, they are all very modestly described. When one of them commenses, Fitz stops narrating what’s happening and recites some obscure poetry, monologues that scream, “CENSORED, CENSORED, CENSORED.” Hey, Mrs. Hobb, why not just say Fitz is having hawt secks and be done with it?

Of course, all that is just one example. Burrich, Kettricken, Shrewd, and Verity seem to have forsaken their traditional archetypes in favor of inconsistent behavior that makes them seem like puppets on strings rather than actual characters. One shining example: The main characters’ lives are threatened again and again, but they refuse to take action because, “The King didn’t order it.” Well, the King didn’t give his stamp of approval to you sleeping with one of the servants, did he, Fitz?

Another one of my favorite examples: It is repeatedly hammered into the heads of the readers that it is not possible to be a King’s man and to have a wife or significant other at the same time. This is absurd. We know from Fitz’s life that being a King’s man does not require his 24/7 attention, and I think loyalty to your monarch is a good deal different from romantic pursuits on the side. Royal Assassin would have been better off with this ridiculous preaching removed.

The plot is also screwed up. The beginning starts at a snail’s pace, with little or no premise to the coming conflict save that the Raiders are still at it, and remains tortuously boring through half the book. Most of the plot consists of Fitz making his rounds to the different people of the Keep and chatting them upwith virtually no excitement happening save for some Forged Ones appearing around Buckkeep, which wasn’t that exciting anyway.

“But,” the rabid Hobb-disciple will argue, “this is a CHARACTER driven story! It’s all about the intrigue!” Well, the intrigue isn’t that good. You want to know what the intrigue in this book is about? Basically, 90-95% of all the “intrigue” in this book boils down to one of two things: Either the Red-Ships are causing trouble, or Prince Regal is up to no good. Even the few times I thought I glimpsed something that might be an original twist, it turned out that Regal was again the mastermind in the shadows.

Question raised: Why isn’t the Skill working for Fitz?

Answer given: Because Regal had one of his cronies, Galen, damage it with his Skill.

Q: Why did Kettricken slip and fall on the stairs?

A: Regal greased them.

Q: Why was Verity able to leave on his quest so easily?

A: Regal supported this move so he could snatch the throne while Verity was gone.

Q: Why haven’t the Skill messages from the coast reached Buckkeep in time?

A: Regal has taken control of the Skill network and is using it to his own ends.

Q: Why is King Shrewd wasting away? Sickness?

A: Nope. Regal had two of his minions skill-drain him.

Repeat this over and over again throughout the entire book: The Spoiled Palace Brat is behind everything. I wouldn’t be surprised if, in the third book, it was revealed that he’s secretly working with the Raiders.

In conclusion, Royal Assassin isn’t any better than the first book, and if anything, worse. It’s a real shame that such an untalented writer is able to bag such critical acclaim with these loser works. The last 50 pages were defintely the best in the book, but just weren’t enough to make up for the +600 pages of boring I suffered through to get to them. It was satisfying, however, to get to see the Spoiled Palace Brat beat the s**t out of the King of Angst at the end. ; )

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The Power of Now

The Power of Now

Ekhart Tolle’s message is simple: living in the now is the truest path to happiness and enlightenment. And while this message may not seem stunningly original or fresh, Tolle’s clear writing, supportive voice, and enthusiasm make this an excellent manual for anyone who’s ever wondered what exactly “living in the now” means. Foremost, Tolle is a world-class teacher, able to explain complicated concepts in concrete language. More importantly, within a chapter of reading this book, readers are already holding the world in a different container–more conscious of how thoughts and emotions get in the way of their ability to live in genuine peace and happiness.

Tolle packs a lot of information and inspirational ideas into The Power of Now. (Topics include the source of Chi, enlightened relationships, creative use of the mind, impermanence, and the cycle of life.) Thankfully, he’s added markers that symbolize “break time.” This is when readers should close the book and mull over what they just read. As a result, The Power of Now reads like the highly acclaimed A Course in Miracles–a spiritual guidebook that has the potential to inspire just as many study groups and change just as many lives for the better. –Gail Hudson

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Not the greatest book for the concept
I have read many books based on the theory of ‘now’. This one by Mr. Tolle is decent, but in my opinion, not the best book on the subject. He lays more of an outline and tells more of a personal story which some people might actually find helpful. To me, the concept of ‘now’ is a more personal journey that you need to find for yourself. Following an outline will not get you there alone. Overall this book says plenty of things that have all been said before, just in a different way. It is worth a read.

5 Stars Positively Profound
This book, to put it simply, is changing my life. I am so glad that Eckhart Tolle wrote this book because it has the potential to change so many people for the better. It is written in plain English, in simple terms and every sentence is profound. You cannot read this book without reflecting on your own life and acknowledging where changes need to be made. Every person I know who has read this book feels the same way. It really is an amazing book. It is very deep and makes you think, so it can be slow reading at times, but is WELL worth the time if you have the patience and dedication to improving your life. Really teaches you how to be fully aware and how to make the most out of every single day. Nothing from your past can influence you RIGHT NOW unless you allow it. Not only does this book show you how to create a positive future, but it also helps you (if you will) make peace with your past. I cannot recommend this book more highly. Hands down, the most influential book I have ever read.

5 Stars One simple idea that changed my life forever
Although this book has been out quite some time now, I decided to post a review because I am today appreciating the effect that some of the concepts in this book have had on my life, literally every day, since I encountered them. And I believe I have been a better person (certainly happier) for them.

All of us have pivotal moments in our lives, an event, an interaction; something that occurs and we are forever changed. Whether for better or worse, the momentus impact of such events carry incredible power. One of those moments occured for me with this terrific book, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. I can remember everything about the moment. I had driven to Texas to help my daughter move back to TCU for the up-coming semester. Its a long drive (9 hours) and I knew I’d need to entertain myself on the way back, so I bought this book in audio form. At this time of my life, I was struggling with a number of difficult things, and holding onto an enormous amount of resentment and anger. As I traveled the Texas countryside, deftly avoiding hitting armadillos, I began to be captivated by the words being delivered by this man with, to my ear, a kinda funky accent. And then he starting talking about the concept that struck me so powerfully I literally had to pull off the road and just listen and absorb. Eckhart was discussing his notion that much of the time we are ‘asleep’, reacting out of habit to the events and people. He talked about being angry at people when they are carrying out their mindless programming is as silly as being mad at an insane person. They are simply unaware. This was a life-altering moment for me, I shed an incredible burden of weight of anger and resentment, it happened so fast as my own eyes were opened. And I have been grateful ever since. The awareness evoked by the ideas in this book are incredible and timeless.

4 Stars Powerful book
This book presents a new way of seeing oneself and the thought process of the human mind. This book let me realize I was not alone when it came to the negative voices in my head and that Im not alone in being able to change my views on that negativity. A must read for anyone looking for a better way to view the world and themselves.

5 Stars The Tap On The Should I Needed
I’ve read through several of the reviews here(both negative and positive), and I am no expert when it comes to religion, spirituality and the like. I came to a crossroads in my life where all I cried out for was “Truth” and out of the blue I come across this book in the strangest way. I had no idea who Tolle was, nor did I know anything about Zen or Eastern Philosophy to make a comparison…hell, I don’t even watch TV..much less Oprah..but the contents of the book shook me to my core and I have never known the peace that I know now.

I know many of you are saying “but there is nothing new here!” but that’s NOT the point. The many religions and doctrines of the world have twisted the truth and made “God” into an image that fits our lifestyles. You know the truth when you hear it(read it)and in my opinion this book speaks volumes of truth.

Nevermind the man. It’s the content of the message that is important to me. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to this book, my life has completely changed for the better and there’s no looking back now.

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Lone Survivor The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10

Lone Survivor The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10

If you’re looking for a true story that showcases both American heroism and Afghani humanity, Marcus Luttrell’s Lone Survivor: The Eyewitness Account of Operation Redwing and the Lost Heroes of SEAL Team 10 (Little, Brown, $24.99), written with Patrick Robinson, may be the book for you. In June of 2005, Luttrell led a four-man team of Navy SEALs into the mountains of Afghanistan on a mission to kill a Taliban leader thought to be allied with Osama bin Laden. On foot, the team encountered two adult men and a teenage boy. A debate broke out as to whether the SEALs should summarily execute the trio to keep them from alerting the Taliban. Luttrell himself was called upon to make the decision. He was torn between considerations of morality and his survival instinct, and he points out that “any government that thinks war is somehow fair and subject to rules like a baseball game probably should not get into one. Because nothing’s fair in war, and occasionally the wrong people do get killed.”

Luttrell opted to spare the Afghanis’ lives. About an hour later, the Taliban launched an attack that claimed nearly a hundred of their own men but also the lives of all the SEALs except Luttrell, who was left wounded.

Not long after that, the Taliban shot down an American rescue helicopter, killing all 16 men on board. Luttrell is sure that the three Afghanis he let go turned around and betrayed the SEALs.

But if nothing is fair in war, neither is anything foreordained. Luttrell was found by other Afghanis, one of whom claimed to be his village’s doctor. Once again, Luttrell had to rely on his instincts. “There was something about him,” Luttrell writes. “By now I’d seen a whole lot of Taliban warriors, and he looked nothing like any of them. There was no arrogance, no hatred in his eyes.” Luttrell trusted the man and his colleagues, who took him back to their village, where the law of hospitality — “strictly nonnegotiable” — took hold. “They were committed to defend me against the Taliban,” Luttrell writes, “until there was no one left alive.”

The law held, and Luttrell survived, returned home and received the Navy Cross for combat heroism from President Bush.

Copyright 2007, The Washington Post. All Rights Reserved.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Lone Survivor
Great military book. I couldn’t put it down. In fact I read this book in two days! That’s a first!!

5 Stars Lone Survivor – Marcus Luttrell
I have just finished this book and not sure I can put anything to words to describe the awe and love I have for Marcus Luttrell and some of the bravest men that have protected our great country. I’m talking about the men (Marcus’s friends\family) that died on Murphy’s Ridge and during the rescue.. Marcus if you read this all I can say is that you gave them the greatest respect and love through your story that defines the men they were and that the US Navy Seals have always been and will continue to be. I appreciated your candor concerning the liberal media and how it contributed to negatively effect the decisions made in war. Thank you for your love and respect for a great president and your focus throughout the book on God is truly inspiring. God Bless You brother!

5 Stars Lone Survivor
Picked it up and did not put it down until I was done. American Heros make a decision in war based on what America’s “Liberal Media” will do and it ends up costing many lives. The “Lone Survivor” makes it through only by the grace of god…

5 Stars Excellent read!
This book was awesome. It really touched me and made me realize how truly brave the American military is. It’s horrible that deaths occur like this but that is how war is. Extremely well written by a man who lived through it all. Touching and leaves you feeling in-debted to the Navy Seals. They guys of Seal Team 10 and others who died in the helicoptor gave it all and asked for nothing in return.

This is a sure read!

5 Stars AMAZING
This book is amazing. It has just the right amount of history to bring you where you need to be to hear this story. Many of the men of the 101st Airborne Easy Company (WWII paratroopers that Band of Brothers is about)state that they are not the heroes, the heroes are the men who died fighting. I can see their point, however, I think those men like Marcus Luttrel are also heroes because they certainly acted VERY heroically. To act heroically must make one a hero.

This book was VERY well written and could not have told the story any better. I cried, even though I knew what the outcome would be. I cried for the SEALs who died, and I cried for Marcus Luttrel for all he went through to survive.

READ THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The Forgotten Man

The Forgotten Man

This breezy narrative comes from the pen of a veteran journalist and economics reporter. Rather than telling a new story, she tells an old one (scarcely lacking for historians) in a fresh way. Shlaes brings to the tale an emphasis on economic realities and consequences, especially when seen from the perspective of monetarist theory, and a focus on particular individuals and events, both celebrated and forgotten (at least relatively so). Thus the spotlight plays not only on Andrew Mellon, Wendell Wilkie and Rexford Tugwell but also on Father Divine and the Schechter brothers—kosher butcher wholesalers prosecuted by the federal National Recovery Administration for selling “sick chickens.” As befits a former writer for the Wall Street Journal, Shlaes is sensitive to the dangers of government intervention in the economy—but also to the danger of the government’s not intervening. In her telling, policymakers of the 1920s weren’t so incompetent as they’re often made out to be—everyone in the 1930s was floundering and all made errors—and WWII, not the New Deal, ended the Depression. This is plausible history, if not authoritative, novel or deeply analytical. It’s also a thoughtful, even-tempered corrective to too often unbalanced celebrations of FDR and his administration’s pathbreaking policies. 16 pages of b&w photos. (June 12)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Loved it
I read this book off of a recommendation from a national radio personality. I would say it was worth the time and effort to read it. The author’s wording made it hard for me to follow – but I motored through it.

I would recommend it to others. It is not a weekend leisure read – but worth the effort to read and follow.

5 Stars Couldn’t Do It
I tryed to read this book but its not my cup of tea, not even close. I’m really into how Obama is screwing up this country so i figured this book would be great. Bought this book after seeing Glenn Beck talk about it. Maybe i’ll try again in a few years, theres alot to process and if it doesnt all soak in you may be like me and not pick it up again. It is a great book its just a bit over my head still. I tryed reading this at work which might have been my biggest problem, this is the kind of book you need to try to read in a few days without any distractions. A+ book… just too much for me.

5 Stars The Obama Model
Read this and you’ll see most of what’s being done over again from the Great Depression. Read Atlas Shrugged and you will see the rest.

5 Stars Warning: The New Deal is Back!
Everyone should read this to understand how Obama and his mentors are following FDR’s plan to take us farther down the road to socialism than FDR could ever have dreamed. Americans have not yet realized that the New Deal was a failure and are blindly following this new mesiah to destroy the basic frabric of the United States. This book is a blueprint for what is yet to come.

5 Stars History Repeats
Very well researched and written without the excessive uses of statistics that often accompany reviews of the great depression. A balanced review of the few success and the many failures of the New Deal. The parallels with the current Obama administration with it’s anti-business and redistribution policies is striking.

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In Defense of Food

In Defense of Food

Amazon Significant Seven, January 2008: Food is the one thing that Americans hate to love and, as it turns out, love to hate. What we want to eat has been ousted by the notion of what we should eat, and it’s at this nexus of hunger and hang-up that Michael Pollan poses his most salient question: where is the food in our food? What follows in In Defense of Food is a series of wonderfully clear and thoughtful answers that help us omnivores navigate the nutritional minefield that’s come to typify our food culture. Many processed foods vie for a spot in our grocery baskets, claiming to lower cholesterol, weight, glucose levels, you name it. Yet Pollan shows that these convenient “healthy” alternatives to whole foods are appallingly inconvenient: our health has a nation has only deteriorated since we started exiling carbs, fats–even fruits–from our daily meals. His razor-sharp analysis of the American diet (as well as its architects and its detractors) offers an inspiring glimpse of what it would be like if we could (a la Humpty Dumpty) put our food back together again and reconsider what it means to eat well. In a season filled with rallying cries to lose weight and be healthy, Pollan’s call to action