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The Liveship Traders #1 - 3
The Complete Liveship Traders Trilogy: Ship of Magic, The Mad Ship, Ship of Destiny
The Liveship Traders trilogy returns readers to Robin Hobb’s most loved world.
The perilous waters of the Rain River Wilds can only be negotiated by a sentient liveships made of Wizardwood, but a such a ship is difficult to come by. Rare and valuable, it will quicken only when three family members from successive generations have died on board.
The liveship Vivacia is about to undergo her quickening as Althea Vestrit’s dying father is carried on to her deck. Althea waits with both sadness and awe for the ship that she loves more than anything in the world to awaken, only to find that her family have other plans for them both…
Liveship Traders Trilogy by international betselling author Robin Hobb.
2474 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2012
1066 people are currently reading
4349 people want to read
About the author
Robin Hobb
318 books112k followers** I am shocked to find that some people think a 2 star 'I liked it' rating is a bad rating. What? I liked it. I LIKED it! That means I read the whole thing, to the last page, in spite of my life raining comets on me. It's a good book that survives the reading process with me. If a book is so-so, it ends up under the bed somewhere, or maybe under a stinky judo bag in the back of the van. So a 2 star from me means,yes, I liked the book, and I'd loan it to a friend and it went everywhere in my jacket pocket or purse until I finished it. A 3 star means that I've ignored friends to finish it and my sink is full of dirty dishes. A 4 star means I'm probably in trouble with my editor for missing a deadline because I was reading this book. But I want you to know . . . I don't finish books I don't like. There's too many good ones out there waiting to be found.
Robin Hobb is the author of three well-received fantasy trilogies: The Farseer Trilogy (Assassin’s Apprentice, Royal Assassin, and Assassin’s Quest), The Liveship Traders Trilogy (Ship of Magic, Mad Ship and Ship of Destiny) and the Tawny Man Trilogy (Fool’s Errand, Golden Fool, and Fool’s Fate) Her current work in progress is entitled Shaman’s Crossing. Robin Hobb lives and works in Tacoma, Washington, and has been a professional writer for over 30 years.
In addition to writing, her interests include gardening, mushrooming, and beachcombing. She and her husband Fred have three grown children and one teenager, and three grand-children.
She also writes as Megan Lindholm, and works under that name have been finalists for the Hugo award, the Nebula Award, and the Endeavor award. She has twice won an Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Readers’ Award.
Robin Hobb is the author of three well-received fantasy trilogies: The Farseer Trilogy (Assassin’s Apprentice, Royal Assassin, and Assassin’s Quest), The Liveship Traders Trilogy (Ship of Magic, Mad Ship and Ship of Destiny) and the Tawny Man Trilogy (Fool’s Errand, Golden Fool, and Fool’s Fate) Her current work in progress is entitled Shaman’s Crossing. Robin Hobb lives and works in Tacoma, Washington, and has been a professional writer for over 30 years.
In addition to writing, her interests include gardening, mushrooming, and beachcombing. She and her husband Fred have three grown children and one teenager, and three grand-children.
She also writes as Megan Lindholm, and works under that name have been finalists for the Hugo award, the Nebula Award, and the Endeavor award. She has twice won an Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Readers’ Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 197 reviews
May 13, 2019
I'm reviewing all three together, not only because I read them together in a few days like I was in a fever dream, but also beause it's a true trilogy and everything was intricately plotted out to come together at the end of the last book.
While there is an overarching plot and various subplots (Althea wants her ship back, Kennit wants to be PIRATE KING, Malta wants to be hot, there are these weird migrating snake things, and Wintrow just wants to go home okay), this series is very much built on the shifts and changes each character goes through. Hobb utilizes the multiple character perspective to show each character in different angles and many shift between being hero to villain. Someone once said that the best villain was someone who didn't think they were one, and this definitely applies for all the characters who populate this book—many of whose good intentions lead to harm. No one is perfectly blameless, a few go through massive personal changes (Malta's character arc!!!!!!!!) while some people still kind of never learned despite it (fuck you, Wintrow).
The Veserit women—and the other women in the series—were the most interesting part of the series for me. I think my patience for the more infuriating characters (ahem Wintrow) came from the fact that Althea was the one constant through the series and might be considered the true protagonist, even if in the world of *Liveships* she would probably be just a minor character—especially by the end. (Which is actually kind of cool.)
Also, since both rape in fiction and reality has been a hot button issue right now, I want to add that this series is how you realistically depict and address sexual assault in your gritty fantasy novel. I don't want to be like "rape is a minor theme in this series" because that sounds really awful (and it only encompass a small part), but I do think Hobb really addresses the multi-faceted aspects of both people's personal reactions to rape and how society treats rape victims.
These books are full of sea serpents, piracy, political intrigue, talking ships, and magic. It's a series that starts out with an infuriating sequence sets the heroine up to eventually tell everyone "I told you so" but ends up being about the ultimate meaningless of revenge and the costs of letting past wrongs consume you.
While there is an overarching plot and various subplots (Althea wants her ship back, Kennit wants to be PIRATE KING, Malta wants to be hot, there are these weird migrating snake things, and Wintrow just wants to go home okay), this series is very much built on the shifts and changes each character goes through. Hobb utilizes the multiple character perspective to show each character in different angles and many shift between being hero to villain. Someone once said that the best villain was someone who didn't think they were one, and this definitely applies for all the characters who populate this book—many of whose good intentions lead to harm. No one is perfectly blameless, a few go through massive personal changes (Malta's character arc!!!!!!!!) while some people still kind of never learned despite it (fuck you, Wintrow).
The Veserit women—and the other women in the series—were the most interesting part of the series for me. I think my patience for the more infuriating characters (ahem Wintrow) came from the fact that Althea was the one constant through the series and might be considered the true protagonist, even if in the world of *Liveships* she would probably be just a minor character—especially by the end. (Which is actually kind of cool.)
Also, since both rape in fiction and reality has been a hot button issue right now, I want to add that this series is how you realistically depict and address sexual assault in your gritty fantasy novel. I don't want to be like "rape is a minor theme in this series" because that sounds really awful (and it only encompass a small part), but I do think Hobb really addresses the multi-faceted aspects of both people's personal reactions to rape and how society treats rape victims.
These books are full of sea serpents, piracy, political intrigue, talking ships, and magic. It's a series that starts out with an infuriating sequence sets the heroine up to eventually tell everyone "I told you so" but ends up being about the ultimate meaningless of revenge and the costs of letting past wrongs consume you.
July 30, 2020
4.5 stars overall for this fantastic trilogy.
Ship of Magic - 4.5 stars
This book was a bit of a slow burn for me, but did I ever end up loving it.
I can't say much more than has already been said about this masterful fantasy. Hobb creates incredibly real and thoroughly three dimensional characters who inhabit a richly imagined fantasy world. The story is full of heartbreak and hope...actually, the hope part is mainly me wanting things to improve for the sadly burdened characters and for just desserts to continue to be served apace.
Most definitely I will be continuing this series.
Look forward, not back. Correct your course and go on. You cannot undo yesterday's journey.
Mad Ship - 4 stars
An excellent continuation to a gloriously imaginative story.
Honestly, Hobb is amazingly creative and her character development for me ranks up with my all time favourite at characterization, Juliet Marillier. In the last book, Ship of Magic, I was left feeling slightly physically ill every time Malta made an appearance on the page. It's almost unbelievable to me that in The Mad Ship, Hobb managed a believable growth and shift in Malta, so that by the end I was left feeling like she might be a reasonably decent person. Similarly with Keffria and Reyn, both of whom who show more internal fortitude than I had though possible.
The whole complicated mess with Vivacia, Kennit, Wintrow, and Etta, I have no idea how that will be eventually sorted. The same goes for Paragon, Amber, Brashen, and Althea. And the serpents?
So much is happening, and I can't wait to see how it all plays out in the final book of the trilogy, Ship of Destiny.
Ship of Destiny - 4.5 stars,
What a great finish to an excellent series. Everything is beautifully tied up, yet there is still so much left untold.
I still can't get over the transformation of Malta. She started out as someone I could barely stand to read about, yet somehow over the course of three books she became an incredibly interesting and sympathetic character. So much so that other main characters such as Althea and Wintrow paled a bit by comparison.
I'm looking forward to continuing with these incredible books set in this endlessly imaginative world.
Ship of Magic - 4.5 stars
This book was a bit of a slow burn for me, but did I ever end up loving it.
I can't say much more than has already been said about this masterful fantasy. Hobb creates incredibly real and thoroughly three dimensional characters who inhabit a richly imagined fantasy world. The story is full of heartbreak and hope...actually, the hope part is mainly me wanting things to improve for the sadly burdened characters and for just desserts to continue to be served apace.
Most definitely I will be continuing this series.
Look forward, not back. Correct your course and go on. You cannot undo yesterday's journey.
Mad Ship - 4 stars
An excellent continuation to a gloriously imaginative story.
Honestly, Hobb is amazingly creative and her character development for me ranks up with my all time favourite at characterization, Juliet Marillier. In the last book, Ship of Magic, I was left feeling slightly physically ill every time Malta made an appearance on the page. It's almost unbelievable to me that in The Mad Ship, Hobb managed a believable growth and shift in Malta, so that by the end I was left feeling like she might be a reasonably decent person. Similarly with Keffria and Reyn, both of whom who show more internal fortitude than I had though possible.
The whole complicated mess with Vivacia, Kennit, Wintrow, and Etta, I have no idea how that will be eventually sorted. The same goes for Paragon, Amber, Brashen, and Althea. And the serpents?
So much is happening, and I can't wait to see how it all plays out in the final book of the trilogy, Ship of Destiny.
Ship of Destiny - 4.5 stars,
What a great finish to an excellent series. Everything is beautifully tied up, yet there is still so much left untold.
I still can't get over the transformation of Malta. She started out as someone I could barely stand to read about, yet somehow over the course of three books she became an incredibly interesting and sympathetic character. So much so that other main characters such as Althea and Wintrow paled a bit by comparison.
I'm looking forward to continuing with these incredible books set in this endlessly imaginative world.
March 30, 2021
(Mild Spoilers) My love/hate relationship with Robin Hobb continues, as I determinedly work my way through the Realm of the Elderlings. I actually enjoyed this series more than the Farseer trilogy, and found that these three books read like one big book rather than three separate installments in the same story.
THE GOOD
Characters/Character Growth: This series is a masterclass of subtle characterization and character growth. It’s really pretty awe inspiring how intricately plotted this was, with multiple characters showing believable growth (some more than others) and each person’s motivations fueling their growth. Some characters go through massive changes (Malta! Paragon!) some have more subtle but definite changes (Althea) and some change for the worse (Wintrow, Kennit), but all are nuanced and believable. Truly, Hobb stands in a class of her own in the Fantasy genre.
Intricate Plot: As I mentioned earlier, the plot is intricate and nuanced, but still easily understood. While these are some looooong books, every word has a purpose, and nothing is wasted.
THE NOT-AS-GOOD
Torturous: As with the Farseer trilogy, the reader is tortured along with the characters. The author seems to reuse some of the same themes in her books, primarily that a horrible person (usually a man) has complete control of the fates of the helpless main characters. The author invests you in the characters plight, and then proceeds to rip your heart out as you watch the slow motion trainwreck of the characters’ lives falling to pieces. Often as the reader you know something bad is going to happen well before the characters do, which lends an ominous tension.
But dammit, I can’t stop reading…
Rape: I am extremely wary of rape in stories, and I wasn’t thrilled to see the author “go there” in this series. I will however say that if you are going to include rape in your story, this is the way to do it. The fallout from the rape scenes are realistic, and horrible. No one shrugs it off, and the topic is treated with the respect it’s due. I’d honestly still rather it not have been there, but at least it was done well.
Trigger Warning: Not to put too much emphasis on the rape scenes, but one scene in particular was brutal, and made me physically ill. I had to stop reading for a while afterwards.
THE MEH
Serpents/Dragon Subplot: I wasn't a fan of this subplot, although it is very important to the overall story. The serpents themselves were like bickering children, and I didn't care at all for the dragon once she makes her appearance. I'm already not looking forward to the Rainswild series, as apparently the story is all about the dragons. Sounds like it will be a slog.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I am still loving (and hating) the Realm of the Elderlings, though once again I think I’ll be taking a break before coming back to this world with the Tawny Man trilogy. These books certainly bring the feels, but they also leave me emotionally wrung out for a while.
THE GOOD
Characters/Character Growth: This series is a masterclass of subtle characterization and character growth. It’s really pretty awe inspiring how intricately plotted this was, with multiple characters showing believable growth (some more than others) and each person’s motivations fueling their growth. Some characters go through massive changes (Malta! Paragon!) some have more subtle but definite changes (Althea) and some change for the worse (Wintrow, Kennit), but all are nuanced and believable. Truly, Hobb stands in a class of her own in the Fantasy genre.
Intricate Plot: As I mentioned earlier, the plot is intricate and nuanced, but still easily understood. While these are some looooong books, every word has a purpose, and nothing is wasted.
THE NOT-AS-GOOD
Torturous: As with the Farseer trilogy, the reader is tortured along with the characters. The author seems to reuse some of the same themes in her books, primarily that a horrible person (usually a man) has complete control of the fates of the helpless main characters. The author invests you in the characters plight, and then proceeds to rip your heart out as you watch the slow motion trainwreck of the characters’ lives falling to pieces. Often as the reader you know something bad is going to happen well before the characters do, which lends an ominous tension.
But dammit, I can’t stop reading…
Rape: I am extremely wary of rape in stories, and I wasn’t thrilled to see the author “go there” in this series. I will however say that if you are going to include rape in your story, this is the way to do it. The fallout from the rape scenes are realistic, and horrible. No one shrugs it off, and the topic is treated with the respect it’s due. I’d honestly still rather it not have been there, but at least it was done well.
Trigger Warning: Not to put too much emphasis on the rape scenes, but one scene in particular was brutal, and made me physically ill. I had to stop reading for a while afterwards.
THE MEH
Serpents/Dragon Subplot: I wasn't a fan of this subplot, although it is very important to the overall story. The serpents themselves were like bickering children, and I didn't care at all for the dragon once she makes her appearance. I'm already not looking forward to the Rainswild series, as apparently the story is all about the dragons. Sounds like it will be a slog.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I am still loving (and hating) the Realm of the Elderlings, though once again I think I’ll be taking a break before coming back to this world with the Tawny Man trilogy. These books certainly bring the feels, but they also leave me emotionally wrung out for a while.
July 20, 2018
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January 1, 2016
‘If wishes were horses, beggars would ride,’
May 28, 2025
Loving Every Moment
My second read through of The Realm of the Elderlings is strongly cementing my love for it. This is the absolute best series I have ever read, the character building, the world building, the incredible foreshadowing and the complexity of such an epic plot - omg I just can't with this. It's truly the best thing I've read
My second read through of The Realm of the Elderlings is strongly cementing my love for it. This is the absolute best series I have ever read, the character building, the world building, the incredible foreshadowing and the complexity of such an epic plot - omg I just can't with this. It's truly the best thing I've read
January 6, 2024
No cabe duda, como creo que dije en alguna ocasión, que el Universo Vetulus, Junto al Archivo de las tormentas, son las lecturas de mi vida. No tengo palabras. Este universo es maravilloso. GL (Robin Hobb)
June 20, 2025
Another wonderful trilogy from the best fantasy author out there!
June 16, 2016
I finished the first book in the trilogy, Ship of Magic, on May 24 and the last book in the trilogy, Ship of Destiny, on June 6. I am in awe of Robin Hobb's creative mind fashioning intertwining worlds in her various books. I first read her Farseer trilogy dealing with court intrigue and the magic of Skill and Wit. I jumped out of order next and read the Rain Wilds Chronicles dealing with dragons, a lost magical Elderlings civilization, and the genetic mutations of associating with dragons and the poisonous water of the Rain Wild River. Now I've read the Liveship trilogy dealing with Traders, pirates, and slavery, sea serpents and the last dragon, and living ships made of wizardwood and quickened by the memories of its owners. Not only are the settings unique and fascinating and the stories idea rich, the characters in all of the stories develop and grow: the good guys struggle to choose right while the bad guys have histories and fatal flaws that make them sympathetic.
Hobb also does a great job jumping between various parts of the story--the upheaval in Bingtown where the Vestrit family under the direction of the strong matriarch Ronica is fighting a civil unrest that might actually be settled by a raid from their ancient neighboring Chaledeans; the Liveship Vivacia struggling to find her identity and connect with young Wintrow Vestrit brought on board by Captain Kyle Haven, a son-in-law of the Vestrit family who has no idea and no feeling for a Liveship; Althea Vestrit who should have inherited the captaincy of Vivacia but is kicked off the ship and is now determined to prove her abilities to captain a ship and get Vivacia back; Captain Kennit who plots and maneuvers to be King of the pirates and capture a Liveship; the sea serpents who follow slave ships, feeding off the easy prey of dead slaves tossed overboard, but are troubled by vague and fading memories of a need to do something, find She Who Remembers, fulfill some ancient purpose. Just as I got captured by the action and movement in one area, the next chapter would start me over in another area. The relationships are complicated and satisfying--Althea and Brashen, Keffria and and her husband Kyle, young Malta and Rain Wilder Reyn, and Etta and Kennit; not to mention a host of great secondary characters. And then there are the alien personalities of the dragon Tintaglia, the Liveships Vivacia and Paragon, and the sea serpents Maulkin, Shreever, and She Who Remembers. The stories are strongly rooted in character.
I especially liked Wintrow and his training as a priest of Sa. As the storyline develops, he is forced to leave that training and I was kind of sorry that there was not more of it. For instance, he was taught to "refuse anxiety. When you borrow trouble against what might be, you neglect the moment you have now to enjoy. The man who worries about what will next be happening to him loses this moment in dread of the next, and poisons the next with pre-judgment." Wintrow was a bit innocent as a thirteen-year-old boy and the ideals and worldview he was developing as a priest began to be watered down over time and as he learned new skills and new allegiances. There wasn't much of Wintrow the priest by the end of the trilogy. I was especially intrigued by a simple ritual he learned in the monastery called Forgiving the Day. "All it required was looking back over the day and dismissing the day's pains as a thing that were past while choosing to remember as gains lessons learned or moments of insight. . . . balancing the day, taking responsibility for their own actions and learning from them without indulging in either guilt or regrets."
I'm intrigued to see where Robin Hobb's originality will take me next. Hurray that I have two more trilogies to read.
Hobb also does a great job jumping between various parts of the story--the upheaval in Bingtown where the Vestrit family under the direction of the strong matriarch Ronica is fighting a civil unrest that might actually be settled by a raid from their ancient neighboring Chaledeans; the Liveship Vivacia struggling to find her identity and connect with young Wintrow Vestrit brought on board by Captain Kyle Haven, a son-in-law of the Vestrit family who has no idea and no feeling for a Liveship; Althea Vestrit who should have inherited the captaincy of Vivacia but is kicked off the ship and is now determined to prove her abilities to captain a ship and get Vivacia back; Captain Kennit who plots and maneuvers to be King of the pirates and capture a Liveship; the sea serpents who follow slave ships, feeding off the easy prey of dead slaves tossed overboard, but are troubled by vague and fading memories of a need to do something, find She Who Remembers, fulfill some ancient purpose. Just as I got captured by the action and movement in one area, the next chapter would start me over in another area. The relationships are complicated and satisfying--Althea and Brashen, Keffria and and her husband Kyle, young Malta and Rain Wilder Reyn, and Etta and Kennit; not to mention a host of great secondary characters. And then there are the alien personalities of the dragon Tintaglia, the Liveships Vivacia and Paragon, and the sea serpents Maulkin, Shreever, and She Who Remembers. The stories are strongly rooted in character.
I especially liked Wintrow and his training as a priest of Sa. As the storyline develops, he is forced to leave that training and I was kind of sorry that there was not more of it. For instance, he was taught to "refuse anxiety. When you borrow trouble against what might be, you neglect the moment you have now to enjoy. The man who worries about what will next be happening to him loses this moment in dread of the next, and poisons the next with pre-judgment." Wintrow was a bit innocent as a thirteen-year-old boy and the ideals and worldview he was developing as a priest began to be watered down over time and as he learned new skills and new allegiances. There wasn't much of Wintrow the priest by the end of the trilogy. I was especially intrigued by a simple ritual he learned in the monastery called Forgiving the Day. "All it required was looking back over the day and dismissing the day's pains as a thing that were past while choosing to remember as gains lessons learned or moments of insight. . . . balancing the day, taking responsibility for their own actions and learning from them without indulging in either guilt or regrets."
I'm intrigued to see where Robin Hobb's originality will take me next. Hurray that I have two more trilogies to read.
February 8, 2019
Swept away with the sailing ships...
Where the good make evil mistakes and the evil do good deeds. The most powerful are shown to be the weakest. And, of course, the youngest and most frail are indeed the strongest. One of the best Trilogies ever. Well worth the time it takes to read all three books.
Where the good make evil mistakes and the evil do good deeds. The most powerful are shown to be the weakest. And, of course, the youngest and most frail are indeed the strongest. One of the best Trilogies ever. Well worth the time it takes to read all three books.
September 14, 2019
If this had been condensed into one volume it would have worked. As it is (like my review?), it's padded out so much that it's a boring read and I found myself regularly skipping through sections of (to me) irrelevant matters.
It's a shame because the writing is very good but life is too short to waste it on this.
It's a shame because the writing is very good but life is too short to waste it on this.
August 2, 2022
Can't go wrong with Robin Hobb
Robin Hobb has always helped me in times of need. I find myself filled with anxieties and angst. I read one (or all) of her trilogies and I find life easier. There is much wisdom in her writing that transcends story. Thigh the story is always good and always addicting.
Five or of five stars. Always.
Robin Hobb has always helped me in times of need. I find myself filled with anxieties and angst. I read one (or all) of her trilogies and I find life easier. There is much wisdom in her writing that transcends story. Thigh the story is always good and always addicting.
Five or of five stars. Always.
July 15, 2021
Rating: 2.5/5
Review: So, in this lengthy tale, we have a collision of cultural instances that fail to mesh without regard to inventiveness. What the author implements are established Earth-type eras mashed together to form a story line on a Dragons backbone.
Arrrrghhhhh me mateys we have Pirates!!! (1660-1730). Plying the open seas in search of booty with dashing Captain Kennitt manipulating his way to your heart. In Bingtown, the land of traders, societal decorum (how and to whom one presents themselves), fashion interludes and the fear of social ostracism were the common presentations (Victorian era: 1837-1901). In a not-so-faraway land called Jamailia scantily clad woman with turbans and sheik-like governors rule as nobility (Satraps: 648-530 BCE). In the Six Duchies we have a big boned people that like to hunt, ride horsies and fight with broadswords while swearing fealty to King and castle (Medieval era: 6th-16th century). Cram it all together and there is your world.
Besides the YA bent on this novel, where all pivotal events turn around those that are dumbest, men were depicted as slavers, sociopaths, rapists, ignoramuses, petty, juvenile, narcissistic, cruel and banal. Boys were genial, smart, well spoken, knowledgeable, wise beyond their years, clairvoyant, prophetic and devoted to a fault. Women were smart, feisty, resolved, cunning but not manipulative, beautiful and demure, and bold and intensely protective of the familial. Within this construct floated a myriad of characters that failed to develop into anything worth reading about as from this flowed a penchant for fairy tale like resolutions.
This trilogy was hard to get through. It was lengthy due to the re-iteration of the story line that came before, and long-winded pedantic diatribe about a persons feewings that had nothing to do with building character or enhancing the story. The YA’s in this novel (Althea, Malta, Brashen etc.) are stupid to a fault and mired in their own narcissistic tendencies. How they muddle their way through is only a gift by Deuce Ex as most people would be dead. There was way too much time spent on social decorum or describing a room down to a rug that has tattered edges. The only things likable were the Rain Wilders and the Dragon.
This was in no way even close to being as good as the Farseer trilogy.
Review: So, in this lengthy tale, we have a collision of cultural instances that fail to mesh without regard to inventiveness. What the author implements are established Earth-type eras mashed together to form a story line on a Dragons backbone.
Arrrrghhhhh me mateys we have Pirates!!! (1660-1730). Plying the open seas in search of booty with dashing Captain Kennitt manipulating his way to your heart. In Bingtown, the land of traders, societal decorum (how and to whom one presents themselves), fashion interludes and the fear of social ostracism were the common presentations (Victorian era: 1837-1901). In a not-so-faraway land called Jamailia scantily clad woman with turbans and sheik-like governors rule as nobility (Satraps: 648-530 BCE). In the Six Duchies we have a big boned people that like to hunt, ride horsies and fight with broadswords while swearing fealty to King and castle (Medieval era: 6th-16th century). Cram it all together and there is your world.
Besides the YA bent on this novel, where all pivotal events turn around those that are dumbest, men were depicted as slavers, sociopaths, rapists, ignoramuses, petty, juvenile, narcissistic, cruel and banal. Boys were genial, smart, well spoken, knowledgeable, wise beyond their years, clairvoyant, prophetic and devoted to a fault. Women were smart, feisty, resolved, cunning but not manipulative, beautiful and demure, and bold and intensely protective of the familial. Within this construct floated a myriad of characters that failed to develop into anything worth reading about as from this flowed a penchant for fairy tale like resolutions.
This trilogy was hard to get through. It was lengthy due to the re-iteration of the story line that came before, and long-winded pedantic diatribe about a persons feewings that had nothing to do with building character or enhancing the story. The YA’s in this novel (Althea, Malta, Brashen etc.) are stupid to a fault and mired in their own narcissistic tendencies. How they muddle their way through is only a gift by Deuce Ex as most people would be dead. There was way too much time spent on social decorum or describing a room down to a rug that has tattered edges. The only things likable were the Rain Wilders and the Dragon.
This was in no way even close to being as good as the Farseer trilogy.
June 25, 2025
Truly one of the best trilogies I have read in a long time. Robin Hobbs does an incredible job weaving a spectacular tale. A tale of the Vestrit family torn apart because of greed and a deep sense of distrust in each other while they also struggle to stay afloat in a newly changing world where old traditions meet new and unthought out ideas without completely understanding the magnitude of change that these new ideas and plans will create. Throughout the book multiple character story lines develop all centralized around fantastic live ships, serpents of the sea, pirates and a the coastal town of Bingtown.
Its not every day that I get sucked in to an author the way that Robin Hobbs has enveloped me in with her incredible story writing. I cannot wait to dive in to every one of her books.
This book has mature themes and is not appropriate for little persons
Its not every day that I get sucked in to an author the way that Robin Hobbs has enveloped me in with her incredible story writing. I cannot wait to dive in to every one of her books.
This book has mature themes and is not appropriate for little persons
December 29, 2022
These books were lent to me by a family friend when I was a tween and to this day have held a top position in my favourite fantasy books of all time. They're easily my favourite of Hobb's book series. Nearly two decades since, I've yet to find another fantasy series that hits my soul quite as much.
March 16, 2014
Huge change from the first person perspective of the Farseer trilogy. Beautifully rendered characters. I am always so floored by the culmination of events and the inter-connectedness of these lives.
January 14, 2021
One of my favourite series ever, because the world where people live in is so different and so real at the same time.
December 21, 2024
A masterpiece in the fantasy genre, for its character writing, plot, world building- it has everything, including the most compelling villain I've ever read.
It stands on its own as a trilogy but I truly recommend sticking to the reading order for Realm of the Elderlings - that is, reading the Farseer trilogy first. It will make this read more satisfying (there are a couple of important plot twists that rely on you having read Farseer to fully deliver), and give context to the third trilogy in the series - Tawny man.
Robin Hobb is better than everything else in fantasy by a mile, in my opinion. One of the Greats.
It stands on its own as a trilogy but I truly recommend sticking to the reading order for Realm of the Elderlings - that is, reading the Farseer trilogy first. It will make this read more satisfying (there are a couple of important plot twists that rely on you having read Farseer to fully deliver), and give context to the third trilogy in the series - Tawny man.
Robin Hobb is better than everything else in fantasy by a mile, in my opinion. One of the Greats.
June 26, 2025
it's easy to see why many consider this Hobbs' magnum opus. As usual with this author, the depths of the characters, relationships, and emotions here are astounding, so much so that, while I obviously enjoyed it, most will get even more out of this series than I did. Exposition is masterfully scattered throughout the text, such that revelations regularly come in the middle of seemingly random moments in the story. Kennit might be the greatest villain in all of fantasy; certainly he's my favorite by far.
October 3, 2021
Listaan tähän tärkeimmät, niin muiden ei tarvitse käyttää tähän 7 viikkoa elämästään:
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Tyttö joka "ei ole niin kuin muut tytöt"
- Käärmeitä ja lohikäärmeitä
- Kukaan hyviksistä ei kuole. Pahikset kääntyvät hyviksi tai kuolevat.
Sekä viimeisenä muttei vähäisimpänä, ripaus teelusikan tunneskaalaa hahmoihin.
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Tyttö joka "ei ole niin kuin muut tytöt"
- Käärmeitä ja lohikäärmeitä
- Kukaan hyviksistä ei kuole. Pahikset kääntyvät hyviksi tai kuolevat.
Sekä viimeisenä muttei vähäisimpänä, ripaus teelusikan tunneskaalaa hahmoihin.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2024
I loved the trilogy, how the characters were build. All the books get your full attention and the story is very well written. A world of fantasy and adventure. The end of the last book disappointed a little, because I was expecting for more. I wish I could have seen the happiness of the main characters for a little longer... That taste of "oh no, it ended! What should I do now?"
March 18, 2025
Great world building and lore also I’m going to miss wintrow a lot.
June 25, 2025
Excellent book, not quite up there with the farseer trilogy.
August 29, 2023
A beast. Fantasy doesn't get better than this.
July 19, 2016
Wow, this series left me reeling. It may be because I read it while down with the flu and sporting a fever, it may also be because I find myself dragged into this world as though into a maelstrom and now find it hard to get out of it.
I'm marvelling at the amount of "triangular" (love) relationships in all trilogies - somehow, every couple comes with a third partner either waiting in the wings or spurned and even non-romantic relationship have a tendency to come in threes . An odd pattern and one I'd like to see resolved in an honest three-people-relationship that works instead of mutually exclusive (non-sexual) couples!
I loved the amount of complex and strong female characters in the Liveship Trader series, I did not like that none of the rapists really got a come-uppance or had to face any direct consequences to their crimes, something like that would have appealed to my sense of justice more. The book does other things remarkably well and I love the complexity, I just would have liked one fantasy series where a person can say "I was assaulted" or "I was raped" in court, be heard, and have the perpetrator brought to justice. This does not happen.
While it is portrayed as wrong and a horrible crime in no uncertain terms several times and some of the rapists meet their deaths this is never addressed as a crime, really, more like the ultimate tragedy that the victim now has to live with and survive. I like the positive message that this is possible and that it does not have to break a person, but I don't like other statements made about this topic. I am not certain that it deserves to be called "the worst thing that can be done to a woman" rather than "to a person", because male-on-male rape also happens in this book, an is what, less bad? The characters who make that statement probably do not consider that male rape is a thing, but still, it remains unchallenged, and doesn't have to. Also, this message is diluted by the fact that many less sympathetic characters do not really see rape as a crime (Satrap, Cpt. Red, etc.) and refer to sex as "women's coin", which also remains unchallenged to the end.
Also...
I'm marvelling at the amount of "triangular" (love) relationships in all trilogies - somehow, every couple comes with a third partner either waiting in the wings or spurned and even non-romantic relationship have a tendency to come in threes . An odd pattern and one I'd like to see resolved in an honest three-people-relationship that works instead of mutually exclusive (non-sexual) couples!
I loved the amount of complex and strong female characters in the Liveship Trader series, I did not like that none of the rapists really got a come-uppance or had to face any direct consequences to their crimes, something like that would have appealed to my sense of justice more. The book does other things remarkably well and I love the complexity, I just would have liked one fantasy series where a person can say "I was assaulted" or "I was raped" in court, be heard, and have the perpetrator brought to justice. This does not happen.
While it is portrayed as wrong and a horrible crime in no uncertain terms several times and some of the rapists meet their deaths this is never addressed as a crime, really, more like the ultimate tragedy that the victim now has to live with and survive. I like the positive message that this is possible and that it does not have to break a person, but I don't like other statements made about this topic. I am not certain that it deserves to be called "the worst thing that can be done to a woman" rather than "to a person", because male-on-male rape also happens in this book, an is what, less bad? The characters who make that statement probably do not consider that male rape is a thing, but still, it remains unchallenged, and doesn't have to. Also, this message is diluted by the fact that many less sympathetic characters do not really see rape as a crime (Satrap, Cpt. Red, etc.) and refer to sex as "women's coin", which also remains unchallenged to the end.
Also...
June 6, 2015
I do agree that Robin Hobb's writing style can be long winded a bit. I think I started to slowly get into it when I reached page 150 , but by page 400 I found myself completely and utterly engrossed.There were days I didn't do anything other than read, read and read (Bye social life). It's not only about the fantastic story, you see, Hobb has a way of wording, the story is fascinatingly compelling but she also manages to be philosophical, wise and insightful. The series opened my view on a lot of things! It's one of the best stories I've ever read, I can't believe how much I grew attached to the series. I dare say I like it even more than the Farseer Trilogy. I really hope you soldier on, despite the long windedness!
I think the books depends a lot on characters than the plot. Not liking a character will most likely make you not like the books in general. That's why almost every chapter is very heavy on the character's musings and we spend a lot of time reading thoughts and their standpoint. I think it's a way of making us more attached to them, which worked very well in my opinion. That's why, when some BIG things happen, you will find yourself squeaking with agony, pleasure, hurt and delight because of how much you empathized with them. And my, what character development there is! And my, what twists there are! It's a rollercoaster ride! Okay, I can't pretend like I liked all the parts of the books. The snakes for example were very weird and confusing to read, and it's the part that I liked the least, but somehow, it serves as a really interesting background story that is necessary to understand the universe Hobb shaped, and will become of greater importance throughout the series, especially the last books. Reading hobbs is like solving a puzzle with a 1000 pieces, it's slow, but it's complex and consequently very very satisfying all the pieces fit together
I was looking at my notes in my google play books and it's remarkable how my note taking increases the further I'm into the story. There are so many quotes, scenes, paragraphs, ... I couldn't bear not to save!
I think the books depends a lot on characters than the plot. Not liking a character will most likely make you not like the books in general. That's why almost every chapter is very heavy on the character's musings and we spend a lot of time reading thoughts and their standpoint. I think it's a way of making us more attached to them, which worked very well in my opinion. That's why, when some BIG things happen, you will find yourself squeaking with agony, pleasure, hurt and delight because of how much you empathized with them. And my, what character development there is! And my, what twists there are! It's a rollercoaster ride! Okay, I can't pretend like I liked all the parts of the books. The snakes for example were very weird and confusing to read, and it's the part that I liked the least, but somehow, it serves as a really interesting background story that is necessary to understand the universe Hobb shaped, and will become of greater importance throughout the series, especially the last books. Reading hobbs is like solving a puzzle with a 1000 pieces, it's slow, but it's complex and consequently very very satisfying all the pieces fit together
I was looking at my notes in my google play books and it's remarkable how my note taking increases the further I'm into the story. There are so many quotes, scenes, paragraphs, ... I couldn't bear not to save!
August 5, 2023
Spoilers below!
Overall, I think this trilogy is definitely worth reading if you are invested in Fitz and the Fool. I skipped it last time and went straight to The Golden Fool trilogy, but was glad I decided to read it in my reread as it added a lot to The Golden Fool. It was an enjoyable read, but had some problems as well.
Things I liked:
Amber - anything with Amber. I loved seeing another side of the Fool and his/her interactions with other characters.
The liveships - really interesting and unique and was really well done
The sea serpents/dragon story
Fleshing out of Chalced, Jamaillia, Bingtown, the Rain Wilds
Wintrow - loved his character arc except for a few minor things
Malta's evolution/coming into her own/growing up
Things I hated:
Althea, Brashen, Kennit - not a fan of any of these characters. Especially Kennit who ends up raping Althea in the end (completely unnecessary). Kennit doesn't seem to have any redeeming characteristics despite his backstory.
Reyn - really disliked how he treated Malta several times. He was just a weak character for me.
Hated that Althea ends up not on her own ship in the end but is under Brashen as a captain. I was really hoping to see her prove herself and get a ship and was disappointed in how her story ended.
Kyle was really two-dimensional and was another character that really had no redeeming characteristics. It was really hard to see what Keffria saw in him.
I know it is the culture in the book, but I hated the way women were treated and all the rape threats/violence. Hard to read in parts.
Overall, I think this trilogy is definitely worth reading if you are invested in Fitz and the Fool. I skipped it last time and went straight to The Golden Fool trilogy, but was glad I decided to read it in my reread as it added a lot to The Golden Fool. It was an enjoyable read, but had some problems as well.
Things I liked:
Amber - anything with Amber. I loved seeing another side of the Fool and his/her interactions with other characters.
The liveships - really interesting and unique and was really well done
The sea serpents/dragon story
Fleshing out of Chalced, Jamaillia, Bingtown, the Rain Wilds
Wintrow - loved his character arc except for a few minor things
Malta's evolution/coming into her own/growing up
Things I hated:
Althea, Brashen, Kennit - not a fan of any of these characters. Especially Kennit who ends up raping Althea in the end (completely unnecessary). Kennit doesn't seem to have any redeeming characteristics despite his backstory.
Reyn - really disliked how he treated Malta several times. He was just a weak character for me.
Hated that Althea ends up not on her own ship in the end but is under Brashen as a captain. I was really hoping to see her prove herself and get a ship and was disappointed in how her story ended.
Kyle was really two-dimensional and was another character that really had no redeeming characteristics. It was really hard to see what Keffria saw in him.
I know it is the culture in the book, but I hated the way women were treated and all the rape threats/violence. Hard to read in parts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2016
Note that skeletal spoilers follow:
In many ways, this trilogy shows the pinnacle of fantasy-writing. It is one of those impossible creations where multiple layers of the fantastic rather than one unfold in perfect pace to increasingly deepen the enchantment of the world. Each secret revealed is a key to the mystery of the liveships, and every single revelation brings the characters closer to a nexus of fate that will change the world. I personally feel that this trilogy is far superior to the Assassin's arc preceding it; the characters are more various, compelling and proactive but more importantly the setting is so lush with magic and culture that it renders the Six Duchies a wasteland in comparison.
That said, I found the ending of this story ideologically problematic in ways that made the experience profoundly disappointing. This will depend a great deal, however, on how you read the metaphor of Althea's aspirations to captain a female liveship in relation to her developing self-hood, the subsuming of her story within other plots, and her ultimate choice in relation to a male liveship under a male captain but I personally felt it to be a complete undermining of a character who promised to be so much more. I will add, however, that there will be no disappointment to anyone who does not put all their emotional investment into Althea's relationship with the Vivacia.
In many ways, this trilogy shows the pinnacle of fantasy-writing. It is one of those impossible creations where multiple layers of the fantastic rather than one unfold in perfect pace to increasingly deepen the enchantment of the world. Each secret revealed is a key to the mystery of the liveships, and every single revelation brings the characters closer to a nexus of fate that will change the world. I personally feel that this trilogy is far superior to the Assassin's arc preceding it; the characters are more various, compelling and proactive but more importantly the setting is so lush with magic and culture that it renders the Six Duchies a wasteland in comparison.
That said, I found the ending of this story ideologically problematic in ways that made the experience profoundly disappointing. This will depend a great deal, however, on how you read the metaphor of Althea's aspirations to captain a female liveship in relation to her developing self-hood, the subsuming of her story within other plots, and her ultimate choice in relation to a male liveship under a male captain but I personally felt it to be a complete undermining of a character who promised to be so much more. I will add, however, that there will be no disappointment to anyone who does not put all their emotional investment into Althea's relationship with the Vivacia.
July 1, 2019
The library had this as a single book, and it makes sense to rate the trilogy, because these are by no means stand-alone novels.
In a lot of ways, this trilogy is better than the Assassin trilogy: multiple perspectives, more complex characters, a larger world with more context and richness, suspenseful arcs built and resolved at different points throughout.
But I just can't go above three stars, for a few reasons:
1) too much rape-as-plot-device. Surely there is a way to establish that a character is evil without making him a rapist, and in fact, it's probably more interesting to leave a character ambiguous instead of evil in the first place. By the same token, women don't need to be raped to develop character traits like defiance.
2) too many neat happy endings. I don't think characters need to be killed off just for shock value, but if every single major character makes it out alive, there are no stakes to the battles and challenges along the way. As a bonus, pretty much everyone ends up with a perfect love interest. I wish the author had made bolder choices, or at least forced her characters to do so.
In a lot of ways, this trilogy is better than the Assassin trilogy: multiple perspectives, more complex characters, a larger world with more context and richness, suspenseful arcs built and resolved at different points throughout.
But I just can't go above three stars, for a few reasons:
1) too much rape-as-plot-device. Surely there is a way to establish that a character is evil without making him a rapist, and in fact, it's probably more interesting to leave a character ambiguous instead of evil in the first place. By the same token, women don't need to be raped to develop character traits like defiance.
2) too many neat happy endings. I don't think characters need to be killed off just for shock value, but if every single major character makes it out alive, there are no stakes to the battles and challenges along the way. As a bonus, pretty much everyone ends up with a perfect love interest. I wish the author had made bolder choices, or at least forced her characters to do so.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2025
If the rapist wasn't glorified this Trilogy would be really good. Sadly this the resolution of Kennit raping Althea ruined it the Liveship Trader Chronicles for me. After a rough start where I hated practically everyone the characters grew on me and I really enjoyed the series. The ending ruined it for me. I know that how it ended is likely realistic but this is a fantasy novel. Did it have to be realtistic? If Vivacia had backed up Althea it could have been such a powerful moment and led to them reconnecting.
Althea should have slapped Wintrow and burned Vivacia down after how they reacted.
Definitely hated Wintrow at the end. His storyline was really boring and felt repetitive at times.
I also have to pretend that Malta is older to enjoy her storyline. If I ignore how young she is I really enjoyed it. Especially her and Reyns ending. Althea and Malta were my favourites.
Sadly due to how Kennit was handled I will never be able to read the Liveship Traders Trilogy again. And I fear it kind of ruined the rest of RotE...
Althea should have slapped Wintrow and burned Vivacia down after how they reacted.
Definitely hated Wintrow at the end. His storyline was really boring and felt repetitive at times.
I also have to pretend that Malta is older to enjoy her storyline. If I ignore how young she is I really enjoyed it. Especially her and Reyns ending. Althea and Malta were my favourites.
Sadly due to how Kennit was handled I will never be able to read the Liveship Traders Trilogy again. And I fear it kind of ruined the rest of RotE...
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