Royal Assassin

Yes, Royal Assassin is the second installment in Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy, published in 1996. It follows Assassin's Apprentice and concludes with Assassin's Quest. The trilogy is one of the most acclaimed fantasy series of the 1990s and established Hobb's reputation in the genre.

Yes, Royal Assassin directly continues the story of FitzChivalry Farseer from where Assassin's Apprentice ends, and reading the first book is essential for understanding the character relationships and political intrigue. The Farseer Trilogy is a continuous narrative rather than a series of standalone adventures. Starting with Royal Assassin would mean missing crucial setup for the plot and world.

Royal Assassin follows FitzChivalry as he navigates the dangerous politics of Buckkeep Castle, dealing with the threat of the Red-Ship Raiders and the machinations of Prince Regal. Fitz's relationships with the Fool, Burrich, and Molly deepen as his position at court becomes increasingly precarious. The novel builds toward major consequences for Fitz that carry directly into Assassin's Quest.

The Farseer Trilogy and the Liveship Traders books are set in the same fictional world, the Realm of the Elderlings, though they take place in different regions and follow different characters. Characters and plot elements eventually interconnect across the broader Elderlings sequence, which also includes the Tawny Man trilogy and the Fitz and the Fool trilogy. Many readers recommend reading both subseries to get the full picture of the overarching narrative.