A little boy is brought to an army base by his maternal grandfather, claiming that he is the illegitimate son of Prince Chivalry, the crown prince of the Six Duchies. Prince Verity, the younger brother of Chivalry, takes him in and gives him to Burrich, Chivalry’s right-hand man and stable master.
Burrich names the boy Fitz, and raises him as a foster father would. Fitz is taken to the capital, but the scandal of his existence has caused Chivalry to give up his position as King-in-waiting and leave the capital. He dies soon after, never having met Fitz.
Fitz shows innate traits of the royal family, such as the Skill, a magic which allows him to share thoughts and strength. Fitz is trained by a reclusive palace resident as an assassin, and given several tasks to perform. He is also trained in using the Skill along with several other children in the palace. He also has another ability, dubbed the Wit, which allows him to bond telepathically with animals. This is an distrusted magic, and Burrich strongly discourages him from using it.
Meanwhile, a band called the Red Ship Raiders has been terrorizing the coastal villages. When they attack, they kill several residents and leave the remaining severely mentally damaged, with no emotion and driven only by desire; these are called the Forged Ones, and are feared as much as the raiders themselves. He helps Verity draw from his Skill strength to fight the Red Ship Raiders.
Several plots are underway in the palace to eliminate Verity and make Regal, the youngest and most unsuitable brother the next in line to the throne.
Does Fitz manage to survive, and overcome the several mortal challenges thrown his way? Is he able to help and protect the people who appreciate him and do the tasks required of him as an Assassin and king’s man?
Sprawling in scope, with an elaborate and intricate plot with several interwoven subplots, this book is a pleasure to read and a stand-out in a sea of mediocre fantasy novels. The world-building is intricate and the story lines are gripping. The book is a page-turner and I can’t wait to start on the second in the series. Excellent read.