Short Synopsis
Barely escaping with his life after his first mission, young Fitz returns to the chaotic royal court, where the kingdom's fortunes—and Fitz's own fate—hang in the balance.

Full Synopsis
Young Fitz, the illegitimate son of the noble Prince Chivalry, is ignored by all royalty except the devious King Shrewd, who has had him tutored him in the dark arts of the assassin. He has barely survived his first, soul-shattering mission, and when he returns to the court, he is thrown headfirst into the tumult of royal life.

With the king near death, and Fitz's only ally off on a seemingly hopeless quest, the throne itself is threatened. Meanwhile, the treacherous Red Ship Raiders have renewed their attacks on the Six Duchies, slaughtering the inhabitants of entire seaside towns. In this time of great peril, it soon becomes clear that the fate of the kingdom may rest in Fitz's hands—and his role in its salvation may require the ultimate sacrifice.

"Another spellbinding installment, built of patient detail, believable characters, and mature plotting." ---Kirkus

"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." ---Publishers Weekly Starred Review

Publishers Weekly Review