Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
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.
Is Royal Assassin appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 16 and up.
This dark fantasy features on-page assassinations, political violence, torture, and wartime atrocities including massacre of civilian populations. The protagonist is trained as a royal assassin and carries out morally complex missions with emotional consequences.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, mild sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include child abuse, torture, murder, death, and mass death (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens who love complex political intrigue and morally gray protagonists will be drawn into Fitz's struggle between loyalty and survival in a kingdom at war.