Amy B. (BaileysBooks) reviewed Ship of Magic (The Liveship Traders, Book 1) on + 491 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This is a review for the entire Liveship Traders Trilogy (Ship of Magic, Mad Ship, Ship of Destiny) because I find it almost impossible to rate them as individual books.
This series falls in the gap between The Farseer Trilogy and The Tawny Man Trilogy. One or two characters overlap between the series (namely Amber, although her real identity is never truly revealed, only alluded to quite strongly...) and the rest are totally original but no less enjoyable.
This was also a very well written and complex series. I did not think I would find the subject matter of pirates and nautical tales as interesting as her other books, but I was more than pleasantly surprised.
Hobb does a masterful job of creating yet another living, thriving, complicated world that is full of characters so well drawn that it is hard to remember that they don't actually exist.
The issues of politics, self-government, slavery, piracy, inheritance, gender roles, higher callings, dragons, serpents, blood oaths, luck, destiny, hidden secrets, forgiveness and self-discovery provide a glimpse of what these books are about. Oh yes, and there are lots of ships as well.
All three have the typical pacing of a Robin Hobb book: not particularly fast-moving, but undeniably compelling and emotionally draining. By the end of the series, you will feel that you have actually lived it. You will be exhausted. Then you will want to read it again.
This series falls in the gap between The Farseer Trilogy and The Tawny Man Trilogy. One or two characters overlap between the series (namely Amber, although her real identity is never truly revealed, only alluded to quite strongly...) and the rest are totally original but no less enjoyable.
This was also a very well written and complex series. I did not think I would find the subject matter of pirates and nautical tales as interesting as her other books, but I was more than pleasantly surprised.
Hobb does a masterful job of creating yet another living, thriving, complicated world that is full of characters so well drawn that it is hard to remember that they don't actually exist.
The issues of politics, self-government, slavery, piracy, inheritance, gender roles, higher callings, dragons, serpents, blood oaths, luck, destiny, hidden secrets, forgiveness and self-discovery provide a glimpse of what these books are about. Oh yes, and there are lots of ships as well.
All three have the typical pacing of a Robin Hobb book: not particularly fast-moving, but undeniably compelling and emotionally draining. By the end of the series, you will feel that you have actually lived it. You will be exhausted. Then you will want to read it again.
Ruth F. (thrillerscififan) reviewed Ship of Magic (The Liveship Traders, Book 1) on + 13 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Superb begining to the three novels. I wish the two that followed were as good.
Christine W. (novellover) reviewed Ship of Magic (The Liveship Traders, Book 1) on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is the first book of another trilogy set in the Realm of the Elderlings.
This book takes you south of the Six Duchies to Bingtown and the Pirate Isles. The characters are very interesting and compelling. Althea and Brashen capture your interest and become like good friends. I couln't wait to see what happened next.
This book takes you south of the Six Duchies to Bingtown and the Pirate Isles. The characters are very interesting and compelling. Althea and Brashen capture your interest and become like good friends. I couln't wait to see what happened next.
