In this spoiler-packed deep dive, Rich and Ryan dissect Royal Assassin with equal parts admiration, exasperation, and disbelief. This episode goes far beyond the Fast Take: we dig into Fitz’s stalled growth, the baffling naïveté of Buckkeep’s leadership, the magic system’s flashes of brilliance, and why an animal might be the only character in this book with common sense.

We break down the major themes: duty versus desire, loyalty versus blindness, and the emotional whiplash of navigating Fitz’s choices — while debating where the story excels, where it sputters, and whether this slow-burn epic earns its reputation. Expect hot takes, character critiques, fan-casting chaos, one-star reviews that hit a little too close to home, and a very honest reckoning with why this book landed firmly in “borrow” territory for both of us.

If you’ve finished Royal Assassin and need a place to vent, celebrate, or commiserate…this is your episode.