The Robin Hobb Collection discussion

Ch 31 - So what the Serpents call "The Plenty" is the sea they swim in. The "Lack" is the air above the sea. And "She who Remembers" looks possibly like being Vivacia. And she does appear to be trying to remember what or who she was before she was a liveship. It appears she has some connection to the Serpents.

Very intriguing

ch 31 - yes, super interesting! we don't know how liveships are made. might not be wood alone it seems. the serpents were also wondering why she didn't look like them anymore, so Vivacia is a former serpent? or is still different? serpent-eggs perhaps? so many questions!

also love the conversation of althea with the new liveship (forgot her name right now). a strike of liveships is a very interesting notion, and it might not have come to that. when the ship was talking about the trader families all pressuring the vestrits to have althea on board, it might have worked! keffria and ronica are very busy with their reputation after all.
still, kyle would have made her life on board miserable. so not ideal either!

I did like Ophelia(?)

ophelia, that was it! thanks

ch33 - this book is ending GOOD!! love it.
i didn't think about a slave-uprising to have Vivacia completely ready to be taken by Kennit. I think i actually would like him as a captain better than Kyle (but that isn't hard).

hurry hurry, two more chapters!

DONE! i'm so impressed by this book!
it doesn't have the atmosphere i adored in farseer, but the story itself is better. i was absolutely mesmerized by the ending!

david, sorry to leave you alone in this ending! you just read a bit too fast for me to catch up after my business trips. next time possibly a bit better timed?
now, waiting to see what candace thinks?

I may start a bit later the next book - but I still enjoyed the discussion. So Etta is jealous of Vivavcia? And Vivacia is captivated somewhat by Kennit's attempts to woo her? Maybe she likes the idea that she is possibly her own person?

To me, Vivicia really is like a girl here.
She really hasn't been admired at all so far (except perhaps early days in Bingtown by Althea and Ronica). The captain doesn't understand her, and the one person she needs made it clear he didn't want to be there.

Think about it, Kennit really is the first person since those early days to give her any compliments at all, and any positive attention. So aye, she blushed big time!
She didn't really have smooth childhood so far

Where does this book end? I don't remember anymore.

It ends with Kennit taking the ship and cutting a deal with Wintrow to save Kyle's life. And the serpents decide Vivacia isn't "She who remembers" and they have to keep looking because they are losing their memories and becoming less "sentient" - the reverse of a liveship quickening I think.

Ah OK. Man what a terrible place to stop, lol.

I'm trying to remember if I took breaks between books or not.

I know I did for Farseer, but didn't for Tawny man.

only 13 days until we find out what happens next...
that less than some tv shows tend to put between every other episode ;)

Haha. I suppose so.

I'm almost jealous of you guys reading these for the first time. Your next 2 books are my favourites. Like you Hanne I was really impressed with this book, and agree with your comments
DONE! i'm so impressed by this book!
it doesn't have the atmosphere i adored in Farseer, but the story itself is better. i was absolutely mesmerized by the ending!

I stayed mesmerized through the whole series.

I'm looking forward to reading your thoughts as you read Mad Ship

Good! I'm really looking forward to it.
About a week to go and we start book 2 :D

Been a long time since this discussion but I'll comment anyway.

I was also mesmerized throughout the book. I was actually surprised that I liked it as much as I did. I liked it more than the Farseer trilogy. My review.

Dara wrote: "I was also mesmerized throughout the book. I was actually surprised that I liked it as much as I did. I liked it more than the Farse..."

Good! I'm afraid we're in the minority but it's good we can add someone to the 'it's-better-than-farseer-club'! i fully agree, which is also why i have made it my mission to tell everyone to not skip this trilogy. :))

From a world-building and storytelling point of view this is better than Farseer (i have to say that Farseer is better from an emotional point of view, but fiction isn't just about that.)

Hanne wrote: "Dara wrote: "I was also mesmerized throughout the book. I was actually surprised that I liked it as much as I did. I liked it more than the Farse..."

Good! I'm afraid we're in the minority but it'..."

I really enjoyed The Liveship Trilogy. I hated Kennit with a passion. I understand he is the product of vile abuse who then becomes the abuser, a very harrowing tale when the 'truth' came out. It was harsh the way everyone pulled Wintrow in different directions. I really felt for Wintrow, being dragged from his peace and worship to an unwanted life at sea. I wanted more of Amber...there was never enough detail!...I was desperate to get to Paragon's recarving! I loved every word of that! But, it's Farseer for me! The emotional punch of The Farseer/Tawny Man blows me away every time!

I think Liveship is better than Farseer, but I also really enjoyed Farseer.

Perhaps my opinion will change after Tawny Man. There is a lot more emotion in Farseer but like Hanne, I like the worldbuilding and storytelling of Liveship more... so far anyway!

LittleRed, I also really felt for Wintrow. He ended up being on of my favorite characters.

Dara wrote: "Perhaps my opinion will change after Tawny Man. There is a lot more emotion in Farseer but like Hanne, I like the worldbuilding and storytelling of Liveship more... so far anyway!

LittleRed, I als..."

He was one of my favourites too. I hated how he was manipulated by virtually everyone he came into contact with! Poor kid!

I liked this book more than any one book of the Farseer trilogy - and this Trilogy possibly more than Farseer or at least as much - but the Tawny Man trilogy was a five star Trilogy that owes a debt to the original trilogy.

I think Kennit understands liveship better than Kyle, because he kept on resisting her from the start but Kennit has left a impression on her.

Here is my review of 1st book in live ship trilogy. Simply loved this book!.