Assassin's Apprentice

Robin Hobb

Assassin’s Apprentice, published in 1995, is the debut novel of Robin Hobb and the first book in The Farseer Trilogy. Set in the fictional Six Duchies, it follows FitzChivalry Farseer, a royal bastard trained as an assassin. Born to Prince Chivalry, Fitz is raised in secrecy at Buckkeep Castle after his father abdicates. The story blends political intrigue, magic, and personal growth, as Fitz navigates his dual training in the deadly arts of assassination and the mystical Skill, a form of magic used by the ruling Farseer line. His loyalty to King Shrewd and his uncle, Prince Verity, is tested amidst court conspiracies and the looming threat of the Red Ship Raiders, who devastate coastal towns with brutal raids and a mysterious affliction called Forging, which strips victims of their humanity. Hobb’s rich world-building and deep character development, particularly Fitz’s struggles with identity and isolation, make this a compelling coming-of-age tale.

The Farseer Trilogy, comprising Assassin’s Apprentice (1995), Royal Assassin (1996), and Assassin’s Quest (1997), is celebrated for its intricate plotting and emotional depth, establishing Hobb as a leading voice in epic fantasy. The series explores themes of duty, sacrifice, and the cost of power, with Fitz’s journey intertwined with the fate of the Six Duchies. The trilogy is part of the larger Realm of the Elderlings series, spanning 16 books across multiple sub-series, which further develop the world’s magic systems, like the Skill and the Wit (a bond with animals), and its diverse cultures.

Assassin’s Apprentice was a critical and commercial success selling millions of copies, marking Hobb’s breakthrough. Published by Bantam Books, it received nominations for awards like the 1997 British Fantasy Award and has been translated into over 20 languages, reflecting its global appeal. Her debut release Assassin’s Apprentice is widely regarded as a cornerstone of modern epic fantasy, perfect for this exquisite special edition.

This is a test

author

Robin Hobb is the pen name of American fantasy author Margaret Astrid Lindholm Ogden, renowned for her immersive worlds, complex characters, and intricate storytelling. Best known for her work in The Realm of the Elderlings series, Hobb’s novels are celebrated for their emotional depth and exploration of themes like loyalty, sacrifice, and personal growth.

Born in California and raised in Alaska, Hobb’s early love of reading and her connection to nature deeply influenced her writing. Before adopting the Robin Hobb pseudonym, she published several novels as Megan Lindholm, but it was her work as Hobb that would firmly establish her as one of the most beloved voices in modern fantasy.

art

Lixin Yin is an acclaimed Chinese digital artist renowned for his breathtaking landscape paintings and evocative character portraits. With a masterful command of digital painting techniques and a keen eye for composition, Yin crafts imaginary worlds that blend realism with a sense of tranquility and wonder. Drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of his home country and the realms of fantasy, his work has captivated viewers around the globe.

Yin‘s diverse body of work spans a range of digital media, including concept art, book illustrations, and limited edition prints. Whether depicting sweeping vistas of mountain ranges shrouded in mist or intimate character studies imbued with a sense of contemplation, his paintings possess a remarkable level of detail and atmospheric quality. Yin‘s ability to render lush, naturalistic environments and to imbue his subjects with a palpable sense of emotion has earned him widespread acclaim within the digital art community.

standard

edition #1

Limited to 750 copies only, the Standard Edition is over 300 pages and is letterpress printed on Arena Ivory Rough 120gsm paper. This is the only version with the wraparound dustjacket art by Lixin Yin, and is printed on 250gsm satin laminated paper and will be foil stamped with the title and author.

The boards are handbound in “Buck” blue buckram with a large wraparound design foil stamped in pigmented Azure blue by the artisans at Ludlow Bookbinders. The spine is rounded, foil stamped with two colours and comes with red head and tailbands and matching red coloured ribbon. This edition comes with an illustrated endpaper by Lixin Yin.

The handmade slipcase is covered in an Azure heritage buckram bookcloth and has two hits of foil stamping crossing the front and spine. Each copy is handbound by Ludlow Bookbinders.

This edition is signed by both the author and the artist.

Pre-order Price – £225

Published Price – £245

deluxe

edition

Limited to 250 copies only. The Deluxe Edition is over 300 pages and is letterpress printed on Arena Ivory Rough 120gsm paper. The colour images are offset printed and tipped in throughout the book and includes an illustrated endpaper by Lixin Yin.

The boards are covered in leather, a beautiful deep green grained goat with two “Buck” shaped cutouts on the front and band. The cutout material will be cream cloth with 3 hits of foil stamping for the Fitz and Nosy design.

The spine has been rounded with brown head and tail bands and a dark green ribbon. The top edge has also been hand-sprayed tan with green flecks.

A capped green leather curved slipcase houses the book with a dark brown buckram. The slipcase features a foil stamped two-colour pattern. The slipcase is lined with suedel and the spine has white and gold foil stamped design.

This edition is signed by both the author and the artist.

Pre-order Price – £575

Published Price – £600

lettered

edition

Limited to 26 copies only. The Lettered Edition is over 300 pages and is letterpress printed on Mohawk Superfine Eggshell 118gsm paper.

The book boards are covered in a tan deer leather with a beautiful wraparound design by Lixin Yin of Fitz and Nosy stamped in three colours. The spine is rounded and all three edges hand coloured a dark brown/green/tan. The head and tailbands are a dark green with a brown ribbon.

The handmade enclosure is made out of wenge wood and has an intricate 6-layer laser-cut design inset to the cover and a 3-layer design inset into the box’s spine. We intend to do different designs for each of the three books in this series.

Interior trays are lined with brown suedel and a ribbon to allow easy access to the book.

This edition is signed by both the author and artist.

Pre-Order Price – £2,350

Published Price – £2,500