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Quick answer: If you loved Assassin's Apprentice, try Royal Assassin, Assassin's Quest, Ship of Magic, The Name of the Wind, A Wizard of Earthsea and The Curse of Chalion. Each one is a character-driven fantasy with a lonely hero, deep emotion and a richly built world.
Robin Hobb's first Farseer novel follows FitzChivalry, the illegitimate son of a prince, who grows up in the royal stables and is secretly trained as an assassin for the king. He also has the Wit, a forbidden bond with animals. Readers love its emotional depth, slow pacing and the unforgettable friendship between Fitz and the Fool. These books share the same intimate, character-focused fantasy.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Genre | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Assassin | Robin Hobb | Fantasy | readers who want more Fitz |
| Assassin's Quest | Robin Hobb | Fantasy | readers finishing the trilogy |
| Ship of Magic | Robin Hobb | Fantasy | readers who want more of the Realm of the Elderlings |
| The Name of the Wind | Patrick Rothfuss | Fantasy | readers who like first-person life stories |
| A Wizard of Earthsea | Ursula K. Le Guin | Fantasy | readers who like coming-of-age |
| The Curse of Chalion | Lois McMaster Bujold | Fantasy | readers who like court intrigue |
| The Lies of Locke Lamora | Scott Lynch | Fantasy | readers who like found family |
| The Blade Itself | Joe Abercrombie | Grimdark fantasy | readers who like darker characters |
| The Eye of the World | Robert Jordan | Epic fantasy | readers who like long series |
| Mistborn: The Final Empire | Brandon Sanderson | Fantasy | readers who like magic systems |
| Tigana | Guy Gavriel Kay | Fantasy | readers who like lyrical writing |
| The Goblin Emperor | Katherine Addison | Fantasy | readers who like kind heroes |
| The Bear and the Nightingale | Katherine Arden | Fantasy | readers who like animal bonds |
| Throne of Glass | Sarah J. Maas | Fantasy | readers who like assassins |
| Uprooted | Naomi Novik | Fantasy | readers who like slow-burning bonds |
1. Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb
Fitz faces court intrigue and a growing threat from raiders.
Best for: readers who want more Fitz.
2. Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb
Fitz sets out on a long journey to find his king.
Best for: readers finishing the trilogy.
3. Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb
Living ships, pirates and family drama in the same world.
Best for: readers who want more of the Realm of the Elderlings.
4. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Kvothe tells his life story.
Best for: readers who like first-person life stories.
5. A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
A young wizard unleashes a shadow and must face it.
Best for: readers who like coming-of-age.
6. The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold
A broken courtier becomes tutor to a princess.
Best for: readers who like court intrigue.
7. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
A gang of thieves cons the nobility.
Best for: readers who like found family.
8. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
A barbarian, a torturer and a noble collide.
Best for: readers who like darker characters.
9. The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Young villagers flee dark forces.
Best for: readers who like long series.
10. Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
A street thief joins a rebellion.
Best for: readers who like magic systems.
11. Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay
A province's name has been erased by a sorcerer.
Best for: readers who like lyrical writing.
12. The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison
A half-goblin prince unexpectedly becomes emperor.
Best for: readers who like kind heroes.
13. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
A girl in medieval Russia protects her village from spirits.
Best for: readers who like animal bonds.
14. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
An assassin competes for the king.
Best for: readers who like assassins.
15. Uprooted by Naomi Novik
A village girl serves a wizard.
Best for: readers who like slow-burning bonds.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Assassin's Apprentice: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
Continue with Royal Assassin and Assassin's Quest, then explore the rest of the Realm of the Elderlings. For first-person fantasy with emotional depth, choose The Name of the Wind or A Wizard of Earthsea. If you like court intrigue, try The Curse of Chalion or The Goblin Emperor. Readers who loved the animal bond should read The Bear and the Nightingale. Hobb's books are slow and emotional, so the best follow-ups are ones that take time with their characters.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Assassin's Apprentice slow?
Yes. It is slow-paced and character-driven, which many readers love.
How many books are in the Realm of the Elderlings?
There are sixteen books across five series.
Is Assassin's Apprentice YA?
No. It is adult fantasy, though older teens enjoy it.
Do I need to read all the series?
No, but the Fitz books are best read in order.
Is it sad?
Yes. Fitz's story is known for its emotional, sometimes heartbreaking moments.
What is the Wit?
It is a forbidden magic that lets Fitz bond with animals.