Fitz’s first story was published as three novels in English and as six volumes in the commonly catalogued French edition. This guide puts the two structures side by side so readers can identify the right book and reading order.
The complete mapping
The English titles below are the original novels. “Part 1, 2 or 3” indicates where a French volume sits within its corresponding English novel; it does not name a separate Robin Hobb novel.
| French volume | Original English title | Place in the English novel |
|---|---|---|
| 1. L’Apprenti Assassin | Assassin’s Apprentice | Complete English novel |
| 2. L’Assassin du Roi | Royal Assassin | First part of the novel |
| 3. La Nef du Crépuscule | Royal Assassin | Second part of the novel |
| 4. Le Poison de la Vengeance | Assassin’s Quest | First part of the novel |
| 5. La Voie magique | Assassin’s Quest | Second part of the novel |
| 6. La Reine solitaire | Assassin’s Quest | Third part of the novel |
What this means in practice
If you are buying the English novels, the order is simply Assassin’s Apprentice, Royal Assassin, then Assassin’s Quest. There are not six English novels to look for: French volumes 2 and 3 make up Royal Assassin, and volumes 4 to 6 make up Assassin’s Quest.
For French reading, follow the six titles in numerical order. Two original novels are split across French volumes, so the next numbered volume continues the story even though the overall narrative was not written as six independent novels.
Catalogues may also list omnibus or collected editions under another title, such as La Citadelle des Ombres. In that case, check the contents and ISBN: the cover title alone may not reveal how the text is grouped inside.
Original titles and publication dates
Robin Hobb lists the Farseer trilogy as Assassin’s Apprentice (1995), Royal Assassin (1996), and Assassin’s Quest (1997). French volumes 2–3 therefore share the source title Royal Assassin, while volumes 4–6 share Assassin’s Quest.
These dates belong to the original novels, not to individual French editions. Comparing a reprint, omnibus, or specific translation requires keeping three things separate: the novel, the French volume, and the physical edition (publisher, year, ISBN).