The Robin Hobb Collection discussion

Looks like Althea will find it hard to get anyone to hire her - if she can only convince her sister and mother to stand as witness to Kyle's oath.

Oh hail magnanimous Kennit. Kind-hearted rescuer of slaves. Looks like the start of his prophecy.

The Rain Wild Traders and their relationship with the Bingtown Traders intrigues me. Ch 15 spoiler(view spoiler)[It appears that Rain Wild traders make and sell the liveships to the BingTown traders for "blood or gold." If you couldn't pay in gold, you could instead give them one of your children. The Rainwild Traders became tainted somehow from their proximity to the Rainwild region/river and so valued "untainted" blood to improve their genetic stock. I would imagine that their isolation meant that imbreeding would be a problem, but it also looks like they are tainted by the magic of the region (hide spoiler)]

The meeting between Ronica and Caolwn was interesting

ch11 - nice to hear Paragon's back story here (part of it at least), quite sad actually. it really does look like these ships are not adult straight away, but the quickening has to be compared with a birth - in the beginning they are just kids that need a lot of help and protection.

all this makes me fear a bit for Vivacia. Winthrow seems like a good enough boy, but he might not have a lot of options here when his dad starts to chain slaves to her.

The Rain wild stuff is interesting. You learn more about them as the trilogy goes on.

I still haven't read her most recent series which focuses on them. It takes place after this series/at the same time as the Tawny man books.

I thought I wouldn't like Winthrow that much( I thought he would be a lot of religious philosophy) but as he's learning the "real" world he is applying his studies quite well. I was very impressed with his actions when he spent the night on board the boat. He channeled his inner grandfather. I feel so sorry for him though. A lifetime of believing your life will be one way, only to have it all taken away. But its not taken away. All he has learned he will carry with him and it will make him be who he is meant to be.

This was supposed to go in chapters ten to fifteen thread- sorry. At least I didn't spoil anything.

"in two years, I expect to make Gantry Amsforge captain if this vessel"

Kyle really doesn't know anything about liveships does he? I doubt you can do this with liveships like you do with normal ships

I think you can so long as you have a family member on board. Ephron made Kyle captain even though he was not blood.

yes, but you'd think that a ship like that you don't just give away to someone else. it's expensive and precious enough to keep very close.

Candace wrote: "I thought I wouldn't like Winthrow that much( I thought he would be a lot of religious philosophy) but as he's learning the "real" world he is applying his studies quite well. I was very impressed ..."

i'm still making my mind up about winthrow, there are some interesting things about him i really like though. just hoping he'll find a way to stand up for himself before his father takes this ship to ruins.

Having already read (and thoroughly enjoyed) these books I'm enjoying them again through all your comments - I keep wanting to say stuff but it's too hard to do without spoiling the joy of finding out for yourself. Such wonderful characters to like and dislike!!
Wish I had time to read them again - but so many other great books I haven't read yet

This book was trudging along for me until this section. The back story of Paragon, Althea's conversation and interaction with Amber and Wintrow's confrontation with Kyle on the Vivacia have all turned this book around for me.

In a matter of moments I went from feeling nothing for Ronica, Althea and Wintrow to being dedicated to all three of them.

Ms. Hobb does a masterful job of character development in this series. I think you'll find your feelings for the characters will change a lot.

yes, no one else makes me hate or love characters more than ms hobb :)

Wintrow has definitely grown on me because he seemed like a preachy kind at first but Mild's tips about life on ship seems to be helping him.

Paragon seems another interesting character, it is definitely a mystery what happened to him which made him blind and kill all his crew I guess he was not the one who killed them.

Rain wild traders are another mystery they pay a very steep price for the trade they seem to be doing, guess what they get in return for it.