The Mad Ship

The Liveship Traders #2

by Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb returns to the sea with Mad Ship, the second book in a projected trilogy set in the same world as her famed Farseer series. Many unresolved questions from Ship of Magic are answered in this tale of sea serpents and dragons; living ships made of wizardwood; the Bingtown Trader families who sail the ships; and their disfigured cousins, the Rain Wild Traders, who build them.

The Vestritt family's liveship, Vivacia, has been taken by Kennit, an ambitious pirate. Captain Haven is a prisoner; his son Wintrow, who bears the Vestritt blood, finds himself competing with Kennit for Vivacia's love as she becomes a pirate ship. Althea Vestritt, in training to become Vivacia's captain, arrives home to discover her beloved ship lost. Brashen Trell, her old friend and shipmate, proposes that they sail to Vivacia's rescue in the liveship Paragon, who has lost two previous crews and is believed mad. Malta, Althea's niece, seeks help from her suitor, the Rain Wild Trader Reyn, whose family is the Vestritt's major creditor. Meanwhile, the sea serpents who follow sailing ships struggle to remember their history and return to their place of transformation.

Each volume in this series is a major undertaking, but those who enjoy original, epic fantasy, characters who grow and change believably, and fine writing will not want to miss The Liveship Traders. --Nona Vero

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Dragons, Audiobook, Adventure

946 pages, ebook

First published March 1, 1999

About the author

** 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.

Reviews

[Petrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful sequel filled with spectacular characters’ development but unfortunately, it had a few pacing issues.

Plot-wise, I honestly don’t have a lot of things to say about The Mad Ship. Same as the first book and pretty much all Hobb’s books that I’ve read so far, character developments and relationships took the utmost priority here. There is nothing wrong with it, in fact, I loved it most often than not. However, there are a few pacing issues with this book that made me deduct my rating. Let it be known first that I thoroughly enjoyed reading Hobb’s prose, even when some of the POV’s felt tedious and unnecessary, I found them enjoyable to read due to how great Hobb’s writing is. The fact that I finished reading this 900 pages tome within four days should be evident enough.

“Tomorrow owes you the sum of your yesterdays. No more than that. And no less.”

The pacing issues I had for this book were caused because of the new character, Serilla, and also the returning serpent’s POV. Serilla as a character just bored the hell out of me, she faced a lot of hardships but it all happened way too fast before her personality was fully fleshed out yet and it made my empathy towards her completely desensitized. As for the serpent’s POV, it’s the end of the second book already and their POV remained super vague and weird to read. These are minor issues though, I can’t shake the feeling that Hobb is using this book just as a solid foundation for the rewarding conclusion of the trilogy.

The Mad Ship explore the previous characters relationships and personalities even more than before, this is especially true for Captain Kennit, Wintrow, the Liveships, and Malta; the results were absolutely terrific. Captain Kennit is a very complex character, I really should hate him but I just can’t. He did a lot of questionable things but at the same time, he also did a lot of great things even though almost all of them happened for the wrong reasons. Other than him, it was a pleasant experience reading about every characters’ development, this is pretty much Hobb’s main strength as a writer. However, my biggest praise will have to go towards Malta. Malta is probably one of the biggest surprises in character development I’ve ever had in literature. Reading the first book, it shouldn’t come as a surprise when I say that I absolutely despised her with every beat of my heart, and that’s still true for the first half of this book. Then came the second half of the book where Hobb improved her personality realistically and seamlessly, it was in a word, amazing. Also, I have a feeling that one of the characters in this trilogy is actually a character from the Farseer trilogy, I can’t be completely sure yet but at this point, I’m really sure it’s him.

“Love isn't just about feeling sure of the other person, knowing what he would give up for you. It's knowing with certainty what you are willing to surrender for his sake. Make no mistake; each partner gives up something. Individual dreams are surrendered for a shared one.”

There are also several revelations towards the serpents, the liveships, the Rain Wilds, the dragons that bring even more rich detail towards the world-building in Hobb’s books. It’s pretty obvious that Hobb withholds tons of the remaining revelations for the third book and I hope it all will leads towards a satisfying and rewarding conclusion to the trilogy.

The Mad Ship is a great sequel with very rich characters and world-building developments. It’s too bad that it’s also afflicted with the infamous middle book syndrome but if the third book managed to make all the preparation in this book worthwhile, The Liveship Traders has a chance of becoming one of my favorite trilogy of all time.

You can find this and the rest of my Adult Epic/High Fantasy & Sci-Fi reviews at BookNest

[Adina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not know what more to say about Robin Hobb. She is the fantasy queen of characterization. She can make the reader care completely about some of her heroes. The reader also feels frustration, anger and disappointment as the people in her books are not perfect, they are complex, they make mistakes but they grow. Most of them, I guess.

She also writes high quality middle volumes. Those of us who read a lot of trilogies know how hard it is to write a sequel without including too much filler. Not to show too much, but also to keep the reader interested. I somehow feel like her sequels are even better than the first installments.
What she does not write, is fast paced plots. This book is slow, sometimes painfully so. The pacing quickens towards the end with a breathtaking resolution, but you need to be patient to get there. Just enjoy the ride.

Finally, Malta does a Sansa Stark and changes dramatically into a person I could like. Go Malta.

[Maddie Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING BREAKDOWN
Characters: 5⭐️
Setting: 5⭐️
Plot: 5⭐️
Themes: 5⭐️
Emotional Impact: 4⭐️
Personal Enjoyment: 5⭐️
Total Rounded Average: 5⭐️

This series is absolutely addicting in the best way. I didn't think it could get better than Ship of Magic, but it does!! The character development is so unpredictable and deliciously complex. I could never have predicted where these characters' arcs could go. The expansion from Farseer is so well-layered, and the easter eggs are great fun.

This installment has really satisfying payoff for some of the groundwork laid in Ship of Magic, and the stakes somehow just keep escalating, as the players expand and the conflict thickens. The plot is truly dizzying and at an all-time peak at the end of The Mad Ship, so I cannot wait to see how it will all tie up in Ship of Destiny. Just the title gives me shivers.

Robin Hobb has solidified herself with this series as one of my top 5 of all time. She is an expert at the craft. Her worlds feel so grounded. Her magic systems are subtle and relational with so many thought-provoking implications. Her stakes have me so invested from page to page, and I am desperate to find out how all the threads weave together. She can get so intimate and plan so globally simultaneously. It's a joy to be in her world, feel for her characters, and watch the epic tale unfold. I cannot recommend her enough.

[Matt's Fantasy Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply incredible. Somehow improves upon the first book, which was easily a 5/5

Check out my new youtube channel where I show my instant reactions to reading fantasy books seconds after I finish the book.

WOW! I loved everything about this book, and am shocked that it took me this long to get to it. I had no idea how much I needed a fantasy pirate series in my life, and simultaneously saddened that I think I'm probably reading the pinnacle of this type of book that will likely never be topped.

The first book had a much needed slow burn at the beginning to establish the characters, but this book didn't need any of that and gets right into the action. The characters continue to receive more development in a positive direction, and the new locations that are explored are extremely interesting and unique.

It's rare to read a fantasy book that shifts POVs and equally enjoy them all, but that's the case in this book. It's also rare to read a fantasy trilogy and have the middle book deliver in such a positive way, as the book usually has trouble being interesting enough while also serving as a setup for the finale. But this book knocked it out of the park.

I cannot wait to read the final book in this series, and based on the reviews it's clear that it continues this trend of improvement on each book in the series.

[ELLIAS (elliasreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

MS. ROBIN HOBB, I WILL NEVER DOUBT YOU EVER AGAIN!!!!!

Malta? LOVE HER.

Wintrow? LOVE HIM.

Ronica & Keffria? GROWN.

Althea and Brashen? ...............

Kennit? This girlbossing, gatekeeping, gaslighting bitch has the best luck in the world and I CANNOT wait for his downfall. Literally screaming at how much shit he gets away with.....

4.5 STARS BABY!!!
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[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m really loving this trilogy!!

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

[Edward Gwynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The audacity Hobb has to consistently write the best book 2s out there... this book goes so hard. I went from hating ships, to not minding them, to liking them, to damn LOVING them... what has happened to me?! Can I hold off from diving (pun intended) into Ship of Destiny for long?

[Ashleigh (a frolic through fiction) · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the first one, I didn’t overly adore it and was a tad hesitant going into this one. But this ended up being the book that ensured Hobb’s title as “favourite author” for me, because the level of intricacies and complexity to this book just blew my mind. Seeing the varied plot lines weave together had me in awe, but even more so the character development. Hobb made me change my mind completely about half the cast, before I even realised it had happened because it was just so naturally subtle. I can’t say too much more without spoilers, but this series is headed in a really interesting direction, and I genuinely cannot wait to read the last book to see what the outcome is!

[Em Lost In Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mad Ship picked up right where Ship of Magic ended so I didn't have to wait much before I found myself between the action. And by action I didn't mean the pirate battles or some wars but the planning and plotting to win a LivShip's heart.

Hobb did a wonderful job with every story arc that she gave us in first book but here I will talk about my favorite ones i.e. Malta, Kennit, and Paragon.

Malta was the character I hate to love but she changed herself so much here that it was hard for almost half of the book that this was the same arrogant, cunning, vile, and proud girl I met in first book. The change in her was so drastic. For a long time I thought she would changed her colors and be back to same cruel girl but it never happened and with each chapter she paved her way in my heart and it was so hard to hate her. I know she was naive and manipulative but here she showed a depth in her character and understanding of things which some people would say beyond her understanding.

Kennit is a work of art, he beat Malta in manipulation by leagues. He was making everyone on his ship doing things he wanted them to do all the while making them think that he was giving into what they want. All the while he was keeping his secrets hidden from every one else, his motives and his darkest desires. I hated him and yet could not stop marveling at how he turned the tide in his favor. One moment he was on the door of death and bam in the other he was the pirate king. The crippled god who would save the slaves from their cruel masters. But no one knew how ambitious he was and he would not think a moment if he had to kill everyone to achieve his goal.

Paragon was introduced in the Ship of Magic and I kept wondering why he was given a PoV when he did nothing but stand on the shore of Bingtown and behave like some mad man. And perhaps that's why he was called a mad ship, yes now you know where this book got it's title. From refusing to sail again to going on a quest which was a lost cause even before it started. Paragon was not a character that I liked initially but he slowly grew on me and there were many times in this book where he revealed some painful secret from his past which left me sad.

Definitely a very good middle book though slow at times it was slow but in the end I am happy how events in this book made way for the finale.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has drawn me in. These books came along at a perfect time in my life. I have had a chunk of downtime from work, and I have become totally immersed in these characters and this world. I am surprised I didn’t discover this author long ago, but I am also glad. They say everything happens for a reason and maybe it’s true. The timing of my running across this series and the way it worked together with my life has been an amazing experience.

This author’s ability to create living and breathing characters that grow, change, betray, love and die is perhaps unparalleled. It reminds me of my early days in reading long, in-depth fantasy books like Jordan and Goodkind, both of which appeared in my life and left indelible stamps on a time frame. Much the same way as a song can bring nostalgia and can perhaps remind me of a relationship or an era of my life, there have been books (or even a series of books) that have been able to do this for me as well. This is one of those series.

The characters have demanded my undivided attention in order to get the full meaning of the events in their lives and their complicated relationships, which is why I am glad this came along when it did. The books are long, and the next one is nearly 1000 pages. I am both glad and slightly intimidated.

This series reminds me of why I love to read. The immersive world, characters that feel absolutely real, and conflicts that wind and twists through multiple settings and contradictions are making this not just a read, but an experience.. These characters are multi faceted containing both good and evil, selflessness and selfishness, truth and lies, and more – they are much like us.
5.5 stars even though the rating system doesn’t go that high.

[Sean Barrs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m really starting to like Captain Kennit; he’s such a rogue in a most fortuitous situation. He now has control of the ship Vivacia. Who would have though it? He just seemed to be full of false confidence with a heightened sense of unjustified arrogance. But, it turns out, he is actually quite skilful. He reminds me a little of Jack Sparrow in his deceptive uselessness. And now he finds himself competing with his young protégée, Wintrow, for the love and esteem of the vessel. What did you just say, the love of the Vessel? That’s right. Robin Hobb’s ships are alive. Just look at the pic:



Another pirate adventure

Despite all their differences, Wintrow learns a hell of a lot form his most unlikely role model. Wintrow has gone from a soft, humble, priest of Sa to a hardened sailor; he now even has the possibility of becoming heir to the rising power of the Pirate King. He has developed a lot, and, in all honesty, I really didn’t expect to see him come this far. He seemed so physically weak, but Robin Hobb has created a character who has developed so much, that is inner strength has turned into outer fortitude. He’s so well written like most of her characters.

Eventually, and inevitably, he begins to clash with the roguish captain who, though using Wintrow for his own ends, has developed a twisted affection for him. I guess he sees a lot of himself in the boy. However, that is easily overcome by his burning passion to completely possess the Liveship physically and emotionally. So, if it means pushing WIntrow out of the way to get his goal, he wouldn’t think twice. He’s a pirate after all. He wants a ship that will grant him more wealth, reputation and respect. This is far more important to him than his protégée.

A very familiar face



I was hoping for crossovers with the Farseer trilogy, and I really wasn’t disappointed. It was great to see what a certain prophet got up to when he wasn’t with his catalyst. And it was great to see that no matter how far away he is from Fitz, he will always try to remember him and honour him. His chapters were some of the most important because, though his actions may appear simple, they have far reaching consequences. As always his decisions are powerful and influential even if they’re discreet and veiled. The emotion is still there though; it's always there.

"To love another person like that, you have to admit that his life is as important as yours. Harder still, you have to admit to yourself that perhaps he has needs you cannot fill, and that you have tasks that will take you far away from him. It costs loneliness and longing and doubt and...”

One day, a day I’m looking forward too, all these series’ will come together. Their significance in an overall plot will be revealed. Well, hopefully. If this is the case, then I love the way this is being done. This could quite easily have been a separate fantasy universe but it just wouldn’t have been the same. This is a good series, but it lacks the power of the friendship that makes the other series so great. There is a glimpse of it though it isn’t the full feature. This is good, but Robin Hobb would have to go a real long way to top what she does best.

Liveship Traders
1. Ship of Magic- A seafaing 3.5 stars
2. The Mad Ship- A tumultuous four stars.
3. Ship of Destiny- A cresting four stars

[Kitty G Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

** Re-read in May 2023 - Still lovvvve it and re-learning the secrets of the Rain Wilds and seeing the people I love grow up and change and face challenges, was fabulous!**

Honestly, this is one of the best books I have ever read and certainly will be one of the top books of this year so far for me. I am so happy that after disliking the final Farseer book I continued on with Hobb's work because this book has sealed her as a fabulous and key writer in the Fantasy genre for me. She's a fantastic writer, and I think that the progression between the first trilogy and this one is utterly incredible in the difference.

This is once more the continuation of the Vestrit Family and their lives at a time of turmoil and unrest in their community. The world that they live in is vast, but their section is called the Cursed Shores and few people travel there. In recent times more people have slowly been trickling into their town and threatening the way that they live and the customs they keep, causing discontent and hatred between the New Traders and the Old Traders.

Life is fairly simple in this part of the world. Usually the women stay home with their children whilst the men go to sea and trade in order to gain money and keep their families afloat. The Vestrit family is not exactly 'normal' however because each of the members are their own person, witjh their owl ambitions, goals and flaws. One of the best elements of these books is the characterisation that Hobb manages to make utterly and flawlessly believable. The characters we meet in these books all feel totally realistic and truly undeniable, and we grow to love and hate, worry over and whine at each of them in turn.

Ship of Magic is the first book in this series and I gave it a 5* rating and loved every moment of reading it, but this book is 1,000x better! I didn't even know that Hobb could weave the elements of a story so well together but she has not only done that, but she did it beautifully and timed each and every revelation and build-up so well. The writing is stunning and the intensity and realisation of the world is also stunning, Picturing some of the scenes and places within this book is so easy! Also, some of the characters are fabulous in the way that they act and speak and many times I found a phrase or section of speech or thought which mystified and amazed or awed me with the depth of thought behind it.

This world focuses a lot on Trade and for the best and most efficient Trade having a Liveship (literally a Ship which has absorbed the memories of various family members and had become alive) from the rain Wild Traders is a great way to travel. The ships have their own persoanlities and we get to see them all as they grow and develop with the people surrounding them and the events that they witness or are involved in. The nurturing and care of a Liveship is a delicate balance and when too much treachery or devastation comes into play it can harm the ship and make them go mad.

Some of the characters who I really enjoyed seeing develop in this book included:

- Malta Vestrit - a young, fairly spoilt girl at the start of the series who cares only for material possessions and getting her own way. Whilst she was an irritant to begin with she was a convincing character and her tendencies both shocked and annoyed me because of how real she felt. As the story goes on however Malta develops a lot and the harsh situation that the Vestrit family find themselves in clearly does affect her and the way that she is able to grow up and change.

- Reyn Khuprus - a young man who is a member of the Rain Wild traders. Reyn is the first Rain Wild point of view we get to see and in this book he really gives us a fair amount of clues and insight into who the rain Wilds are and what they believe in. We get to experience the wonder of their home, the customs they follow and believe and see him face some very difficult choices between what he wishes to do and what he can do.

- Paragon - the ship Paragon is known by nearly everyone in Bingtown as the Mad Ship because of how many times he has sailed and killed the crew working aboard him. it's clear that many bad things have happened to Paragon and so he seems unstable and unhappy a lot of the time. He's a liveship, but he no longer sails because people are afraid of him and very few people want to even go near him, let alone risk sailing him. However, despite all that paragon became one of the best characters in my mind whilst reading this because of how funny and sad he could be at times. There were moments I laughed at his bitterness and savage insults, and other moments when he would reveal a secret of such sadness I felt like crying for him.

- Vivacia - is the Vestrit family liveship who is only a very recently awakened ship. Everything she believed would happen before she was quickened (brought to life by the memories) has been challenged and changed since her awakening and she's stuck in a world of wrongness and savagery which threatens to change her forever. She's a young liveship compared to Paragon and so she's more easily influenced by the people on board her and in this book she certainly starts to become something other than what she always believed she'd be.

- Etta - us a whore from Divvytown who is sailing alongside Captain Kennit (a pirate). She's a character who goes through a lot of growth in this book with the help of one of the Vestrit's and she becomes a much better woman because of the help she gets. She's a strong-willed fighter and she resents people looking down on her or helping her, but when she does let someone in she's kind and considerate too. I enjoyed seeing the way that her personality evolved with a little nurturing and help.

- Amber - a woodcarver who has been living in Bingtown and has become friends with Althea Vestrit and the Paragon recently. She;s a fairly mysterious character and as yet her origins are unknown by the reader, yet she brings new advice and perspectives to the traders and she tries her best to help maintain the old ways of Bingtown. Many of the thought-provoking writing came from conversations between her and others in the book, particularly Paragon, and I enjoyed that immensely.

-Sirilla - a Companion to the Satrap (ruler over Bingtown, although much hated there in recent years). She's an intelligent and well-qualified advisor to the Satrap but when the relationship between Jamaillia (Satrap's home) and Bingtown start to deteriorate she sees it as her chance to slip from his clutches (as she hates the Satrap) and run for freedom. Things don't end up going the way she had hoped, but she's a resourceful character and she uses her intelligence to ensure a future for herself, however she needs to.

- The Serpents - as I said in my last review I was unsure exactly how and where the Serpents fitted into the story and what they meant. We see glimpses of their passage as they swim around in search of someone who will help them. The story of the Serpents is mystical and magical, and in this book we begin to see all the strands of the various stories coalesce into a great woven story involving not only this book but also elements from the previous Farseer books. They became a key interest to me particularly in the later half of this book!

On the whole everything in this book just worked out so perfectly and so well for me that I couldn't imagine a better story. I was hooked, captivated and enjoying every moment of the ride along with the characters. We really see them develop, and we believe in them and their actions because of how genuine they feel to us. I'd highly recommend this series to one and all who love fantasy because there's so many cool ideas and the pacing and plot is brilliant. The chaarctaers are stellar, and the book as a whole was fatastc. There's still so much to learn in book 3 (Ship of Destiny - which I have already started as i was too hooked and excited not to) and I cannot wait to see how everything with the families finishes up. A fantastic 5* (although I'd give it more if I could) read and one I highly recommend!!!

[Choko · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** 4.75 ***

"...“Tomorrow owes you the sum of your yesterdays. No more than that. And no less.”...

An amazing story, beautiful prose, complex characters, but I feel there could have been about a quarter edited out... At least. Sometimes I miss the brevity of the writing in the forties and fifties... I know the more detail the better chance for the reader to connect with the character, but sometimes less is more. Still, this author is a genius of character development and sucks you into the story, never allowing you to veer your attention to the minutia of the outside world. Needless to say, I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series:-)

"...“Everyone thinks that courage is about facing death without flinching. But almost anyone can do that. Almost anyone can hold their breath and not scream for as long as it takes to die.

True courage is about facing life without flinching. I don't mean the times when the right path is hard, but glorious at the end. I'm talking about enduring the boredom, the messiness, and the inconvenience of doing what is right.”...

[Sheyla ✎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in this trilogy has the Vestrit family members all over the place.

Althea is in the Ophelia and doing a good job at it but her thoughts are all about recovering her ship Vivacia. She dreams of being able to be back on her ship and sailing her.

Ronica and Kefrria are trying to deal with the loss of their family fortune and keeping their house and holdings the best way they can.

Malta is still behaving like an obnoxious and selfish kid but as the story progresses, I can see hints of a different person emerging.

Wintrow is a captive onboard the Vivacia. He's shocked when he realizes that Kennit has started charming the ship and stirring her into piracy. He also starts believing that Kennit is not all bad.

Amber wants to protect Paragon from getting destroyed. She wants to buy him to avoid the liveship from being chopped into pieces.

Brashen finds himself close to piracy too until he hears that Vivacia has been taken by Kennit. He will go back home to alert the Vestrits of her capture. They all know that they will need help getting Vivacia back and Paragon might be the answer to their prayers.

The Mad Ship sets up a good foundation for the end of the trilogy. All the Vestrits are in danger one way or the other and Hobb never makes things easy for any of them. Although, not as hard as they were for Fitz.

Great character development especially with Malta and an amazing woven and intricate world-building as always.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fang

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[Kist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hobb is such an experience to read and apparently is a wizard with Book 2s in her trilogies. Banger from front to back.

[Anna [Bran. San. Stan] · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I don’t agree with fantasy king George R.R. Martin that the Liveship Traders books are “[e]ven better than the Assassin books“, I loved them almost as much, albeit in a different way. Those two trilogies are just so different they are hard to compare. Most notably, the Assassin books had my darling and tragic hero Fitz and I got quite close with him in that first trilogy, mostly because these books are predominantly told in his PoV, and also because of what fate has in store for him. I suffered alongside him (boy, did I suffer!) and I cherished him and loved him – and hated Regal, his cruel uncle, with the passion of a thousand suns.

The Liveship books, on the other hand, feature a plethora of points of view so that your affection (and hate) of the characters needs to be spread out more. My most hated character is, without a doubt, the Satrap Cosgo, whose hedonism and selfishness make him one of the worst rulers imaginable. (For now, the most-loathsome-character award still goes to Regal though.) But since Hobb has the remarkable talent of crafting unlikeable characters who manage to grow and thus grow on you, I guess anything is possible.

13-year-old Malta Vestrit, by now one of the MCs, is probably the most notable example when it comes to character growth. Initially a spoiled, devious, selfish little bitch only looking to amuse herself and to practice her feminine wiles, she is forced to change her ways and becomes quite impressive. Her aunt Althea, 19, no longer only sailor at heart but sailor through and through, has undergone a similar character development and I‘ve really come to like her. And I still SHIP her and fellow sailor Brashen.

As for the aspiring pirate king Captain Kennit, I am more and more intrigued by him. I wonder what horrors he has experienced in his youth – his callousness speaks of someone who has had to become unfeeling as a coping mechanism. His talent of appearing very much the benevolent leader, disguising his own private agenda is a constant source of amusement to me.

Apart from the amazingly realistic characters Hobb has given us, I also love her prose so much. It’s so immersive that I always lose any sense of time and those 900-page books just fly by. Now that‘s talent.

I was also really excited to learn more about the magic system in the Realm of the Elderlings. It was rewarding to see elements from the Farseer (Assassin) trilogy become relevant here and be expanded upon. I just love how both magical stone and wood are used as repositories for memories and I’m actually kind of envious of that. We also finally get answers about how the sentient liveships have come into being and let me just say that a lot makes sense now. It’s always so fun when puzzle pieces in books set in the same world come together.

I can but reiterate that Hobb is on pace to become one of my favorite fantasy authors, joining Sanderson, Robert Jordan, and Michael J. Sullivan at the top. I’m so happy I have so many more books of hers to read!

Onwards! (It feels so good to be able to say that!)

PS: Both the Farseer trilogy and the Liveship Traders trilogy can technically be read as stand-alone series but I recommend reading both.

[Mara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely one of the best fantasy books I have ever read. It's the 2nd/5th book in the series, so it is hard to talk very much about this in much detail but suffice it to say, there is not a single plot line or character arc I was not interested in in this book, which is quite a feat given that we have about 5 threads going with ~20 main characters. Thematically, this is a powerhouse, and I cannot wait to find out how this trilogy ends

CW: slavery, SA

[Książkowe Bajdurzenie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeśli tom 3 utrzyma poziom, to będzie to najlepsza trylogia, jaką przeczytałem w życiu.

A tu recenzja całej serii ziomki:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp_pW...

[Jake Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread: The character writing is truly unreasonably good. No change in score.
Also this is one of the books that has had a disproportionate impact on how I hold myself accountable to be a decent person.


The Mad Ship continues the genius of The Liveship Traders

This book continues where Ship of Magic left off, and like the strongest parts of the Farseer trilogy its best aspects are its really unique relationships, that still manage to feel incredibly real.

“Innocent?” He was incensed at her suggestion he was somehow responsible for this mess. “I’ve done nothing wrong, I intend nothing wrong. I am innocent!”
“Half the evil in this world occurs while decent people stand by and do nothing wrong. It’s not enough to refrain from evil, Trell. People have to attempt to do right, even if they believe they cannot succeed.”
“Even when it’s stupid to try?” he asked with savage sarcasm.
“Especially then,” she replied sweetly. “That’s how it’s done, Trell. You break your heart against this stony world. You fling yourself at it, on the side of good, and you do not ask the cost. That’s how you do it.”


It is one thing to understand and write dialogue perfectly for somewhat normal relationships, like a father and a son, or long term friends. Hobbs genius is that she can write relationships unlike anything that any normal person will run into in normal life, and she doesn't just write them well, she writes them perfectly. It is honestly mind boggling how she is able to pull it off. In terms of writing unique relationships that feel real Hobb is so far ahead of her peers that it isn't even funny.

In book 1 Athlea and Wintrow were by far my favorite characters, in the sequel they dropped off a little for me, and everyone else gained some ground on them. They were still fantastic, but to me slightly less fantastic then book 1. Most of the other characters were even better in this book. Malta especially is becoming one of my favorite fantasy characters, and it introduces a couple new PoVs that all felt like people, and I quickly got invested in them.

Especially compared to Farseer, but even compared to books where it is a strength, the plotting and worldbuilding continue to shine with the factors that Hobb will always be amazing at. Once again this book does an incredible job of the impact of events being felt across the world, and even when people are separate it never feels like they are completely unrelated stories. I also think in terms of worldbuilding Liveship is just vastly superior to Farseer. The setting feels so vivid, and is used brilliantly.

“You're not who he expected you to be; that doesn't mean you aren't somebody. Nor are you perfect. Stop using every mistake you make as an excuse to fail completely.”

I think this book is also really strong thematically. Complacency continues to be a really important theme in this series, along with the importance of your actions, and consequences.

The things keeping this back from beating Ship of Magic is that I didn't feel the ending was as tense, or emotional. There was also a mini love triangle thing that I wasn't a huge fan of. That was a very small part of the book though. Basically Ship of Magic just had a bigger emotional impact on me, this is still ridiculously brilliant.
9.7/10

[Benghis Kahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those easy 5-star reads where I was gripped from the first to the last page. It's a chunker but one I was glad to spend so much time with, since it never stopped delivering utterly intriguing character developments, lore drops, or epic plot moments.

I've enjoyed all 4 Hobb books I'd read previously, but this is the first one that really had me entranced with maximum immersive engagement and emotional investment the same way my favorite books have. For a Hobb book it moves at a torrentially fast pace with major events continually happening in the different plotlines and locations, yet it still delivers her trademark deep character and theme work wrapped in her understatedly elegant prose. It definitely hit some kind of reading sweet spot for me where all the narrative aspects just worked so beautifully together in terms of plot, setting, character, and theme. The things that happened in Mad Ship particularly related to memories are the kind of epic fantasy elements that make this genre so special.

I'm so eager to continue but also so worried about what might befall all these characters both human and non-human I've come to care so much for.

[Deborah Obida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look forward, not back. Correct your course and go on. You can’t undo yesterday’s journey.

Even though almost nothing happened plotwise, I love it. This book focused mainly on character development and world building. I really love the way things are progressing for the characters even though not all are positive, I love that the characters just refused to give up.

You cannot simply discard parts of yourself because they are painful. Acknowledge them and go on.

The writing is awesome, Robin Hobb's writing style is my favourite thing about her, it compels the reader and draws the reader in, its easy to get in the mind of the characters. Her world building is explicit, I love it.

The friendship in this book is so realistic, I adore the loyalties and dedication of people to what they believe in, do not even get me started on the romance, that was awesome, I love that it didn't overwhelm the plot.

Discover where you are now, and go on from there, making the best of things. Accept your life, and you might survive it. If you hold back from it, insisting this is not your life, not where you are meant to be, life will pass you by. You may not die from such foolishness, but you might as well be dead for all the good your life will do you or anyone else.

There were some revelations in this book that really surprised me, the whole sea serpents POV now makes total sense. I can see how the third book will end. What I can't picture is how Jamilia, Bingtown and Chalceaden will resolve their conflict.This book started just where the first book ended, there was no time jump which I enjoyed immensely, I love all the characters in this book, except Kyle Haven which I loathe, I even like hateful, selfish people user Kennit, he's likeable even though he is evil. Wintrow is becoming a mature and realistic young man, the naive and optimistic monk is almost done, he us still a good person but life has changed him.

‘Love isn’t just about feeling sure of the other person, knowing what he would give up for you. It’s knowing with certainty what you are willing to surrender for his sake. Make no mistake; each partner gives up something. Individual dreams are surrendered for a shared one. In some marriages, one partner gives up almost everything she once thought she wanted. But it’s not always the woman who does so. Such sacrifice is not shameful. It’s love.

Althea is also growing up, she is still somewhat selfish but it isn't as bad as before, oh how I love Brashen, despite everything he's been through he is still so good.

Malta is now a changed person, gone is the spoilt and selfish brat, life has changed her for the better, and I'm loving the new her. Rye is a Rain Wilder that I also like.

‘Half the evil in this world occurs while decent people stand by and do nothing wrong. It’s not enough to refrain from evil, Trell. People have to attempt to do right, even if they believe they cannot succeed.’

Ronica, Keffria and Selden and were also in this, they didn't make much contribution. Serillia is a new character that I don't know what to make of, for now.
Paragon is now my favourite Liveship, Vivacia is getting on my nerves with her new attitude.

The plot focuses on the Vestrits trying to get Vivacia back, Kennit trying to win Vivacia to his side and a few other things.

[Jess Owens · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been DELIVERT. I AM FREEEEEE

[Kaora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 stars for a book by Robin Hobb.

Shocker I know!

The Mad Ship is the sequel to Ship of Magic. The Vestrit family liveship, Vivacia has been taken by the self proclaimed pirate King, Kennit. When Althea discovers that the ship that she should have inherited has been captured, she sets out with Brashen Trell and the Paragon, a ship who has lost 2 crews previously and been beached ever since.

There are so many story lines running through this book I'm not sure how Robin Hobb keeps them straight. There is the point of view of Kennen, Vivacia, Althea, Brashen her mother, her nephew, her niece... The list goes on and on.

Within these characters a found those I liked and those I hated, but the wonderful thing about Robin Hobb's characters is that they are never static. They are changing. And one that you hated in one book, could completely be redeemed in another book.

I found that this is still the case with this book, as Malta fell into my good graces, and Serilla fell out of them.

Great characters combined with the vast world that Hobb has created make these a must read.

This is quickly becoming a favorite series, and I can't wait to see what the final book in the trilogy will bring.

[James Tivendale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow soon. Amber = awesome

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful. I actually enjoyed this even more than the first in the series. Robin Hobb weaves such a tale..I am completely caught up in the characters and the world she has created. I love the way her characters grow and develop over time.

Re read. April 2019. LOVED it! Amazing, the turn about in Malta through this book and how Wintrow is equally involved in the destiny of the serpents. I really felt for Paragon as he begins to remember who he really is. I was hardly breathing when the wizardwood started to crack open!

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodness gracious, this is one of the best books that I’ve ever read in my life. I kept walking around my house last night repeating, “And THAT is how you freaking write a book.” Absolutely fantastic.

[Krell75 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Esistono libri che, prima di essere letti, rimangono a lungo a prendere polvere sugli scaffali. È una sensazione strana, spesso infondata, quella di temere di rimanere delusi. Forse a causa di un titolo poco accattivante, di una copertina poco invitante, del numero esorbitante di pagine, o perché si pensa che il genere non sia adatto alle proprie aspettative. Ma la verità è che basta iniziare. Sarà poi la lettura stessa a dare il suo verdetto.

Ecco perché mi ritrovo a commentare il secondo volume della trilogia dei Mercanti di Borgomago di Robin Hobb, intitolato La Nave della Pazzia. Purtroppo, il titolo non rende giustizia al contenuto e potrebbe allontanare i lettori adulti, nonostante il target sia indubbiamente maturo.

Le avventure dei protagonisti continuano inesorabilmente dal punto in cui le avevamo lasciate nel romanzo precedente. I rapporti sociali e la caratterizzazione dei personaggi acquisiscono una profondità che si ritrova in pochi altri romanzi, sebbene la Hobb ci abbia ormai abituati a questi livelli. Nonostante a volte l'autrice tenda a dilungarsi, tutti i personaggi hanno lo spazio necessario per evolvere e contribuire in modo significativo alla trama. La storia si sviluppa su più fronti, regalando momenti di alta tensione, il tutto corroborato da una scrittura impeccabile e raffinata.

Le donne della famiglia Vestrit, dal carattere tenace, danno prova della loro resilienza in numerose occasioni: l'anziana nonna, la figlia ribelle e la giovane nipote fungono da fari nella burrasca. Il giovane Wintrow si ritrova suo malgrado in un mondo di pirati, alla disperata ricerca di una casa ormai perduta. Poi c'è Kennit, il pirata con un grande sogno, capace con il suo immenso carisma di cambiare il destino di chi lo circonda.

C'è spazio anche per molti altri personaggi e per svelare retroscena solo accennati nel primo romanzo, come le origini dei velieri viventi, dei serpenti marini e dei Mercanti delle Giungle della Pioggia. Conosceremo anche il degenerato Satrapo, le sue concubine e i complotti politici che mineranno la stabilità di Borgomago e dei suoi abitanti.

Questo secondo romanzo è all'altezza del primo; in alcune parti forse un po' troppo lungo, ma si fa perdonare facilmente. Una volta iniziato, infatti, lo si divora e seguire le vicende dei personaggi diventa un'esperienza appassionante.

---------------------------------

Some books, before they're even read, sit gathering dust on the shelves for a long time. It's a strange, often unfounded, feeling of being disappointed. Perhaps it's because of an unappealing title, an unappealing cover, an exorbitant page count, or because you think the genre doesn't meet your expectations. But the truth is, you just have to start. Reading itself will tell the story.

This is why I find myself reviewing the second volume of Robin Hobb's Liveship Traders trilogy, titled Ship of Madness. Unfortunately, the title doesn't do justice to the content and might put off adult readers, despite the undoubtedly mature audience.

The protagonists' adventures continue inexorably from where we left off in the previous novel. Social relationships and character development acquire a depth found in few other novels, even though Hobb has accustomed us to this level by now. Although the author sometimes tends to ramble on, all the characters are given the space they need to evolve and contribute significantly to the plot. The story unfolds on multiple fronts, offering moments of high tension, all underpinned by impeccable and refined writing.

The tenacious women of the Vestrit family demonstrate their resilience on numerous occasions: the elderly grandmother, her rebellious daughter, and her young granddaughter serve as beacons in the storm. Young Wintrow finds himself unwillingly drawn into a world of pirates, desperately searching for a long-lost home. Then there's Kennit, the pirate with a big dream, capable of changing the fate of those around him with his immense charisma.

There's also room for many other characters and to reveal backstories only hinted at in the first novel, such as the origins of the living ships, the sea serpents, and the Rain Wild Traders. We'll also meet the degenerate Satrap, his concubines, and the political plots that will undermine the stability of Bingtown and its inhabitants.

This second novel lives up to the first; in some parts, it's perhaps a little too long, but that's easily forgiven. Once you start, it's a real eye-opener, and following the characters' adventures becomes a captivating experience.

[J.L. Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Open your eyes. This horrible mess is your life. There is no sense in waiting for it to get better. Stop putting it off and live it.”



Unlike the previous installment in the Liveship Traders series, Robin Hobb's The Mad Ship immediately gripped me. It is engaging and I was more intrigued by the story of the serpents and how it connected with the fate of the traders. This gave the story even more complexity. With Hobb, I'm never surprised about the depth of the world-building. One thing I did realize is that Hobb doesn't have throwaway characters. Seemingly minor characters have a way of popping up later and taking on important roles. Also, characters evolve in compelling and believable ways. Looking forward to the next installment!

“Everyone thinks that courage is about facing death without flinching. But almost anyone can do that. Almost anyone can hold their breath and not scream for as long as it takes to die. True courage is about facing life without flinching. I don't mean the times when the right path is hard, but glorious at the end. I'm talking about enduring the boredom, the messiness, and the inconvenience of doing what is right.”

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meine Güte, dieses Worldbuilding ist das heftigste überhaupt. Mit nichts vergleichbar. Diese Geschichte wird mit jedem Buch krasser, sodass ich fast schon Angst vor Band 3 habe. Wie kann sich ein Mensch sowas ausdenken? Wieso gibt es noch keinen Robin-Hobb-Kult und welche Opfer muss ich darbringen, um eintreten zu dürfen?

[Natalie Monroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malta has the best character development I’ve seen since Sansa Stark. What a queen. We stan girls making mistakes, learning from them, and growing as a person because we’re not born into this world as perfect intelligent, open-minded, feminist warriors.