Fantasy Book Club Series discussion

I finished this a week or so ago. I had to continue reading after finishing Ship of Magic, as there were so many uncompleted stories going on. While I enjoyed it, it was not as much as the first book. At the end, I felt like she was bringing in so many different issues and stories that I needed a breath of fresh air.

As always, I find Hobb creates believable characters. Most of them are well fleshed out and ambiguous and we are left with flawed but likable people. The only real all black villain here is Kyle, but we haven't been told his back story the way we have Kennit's. Kennit, of course, is a bad guy who seems compelled to do good things by circumstances and other people. It's interesting watching him change.

Malta is very annoying, but she IS only 12 when we first meet her. She seems to be growing up a little, although she's been such a brat I'm not sure I care. LOL.

What did the rest of you think? Have any of you read the Rain Wilds books? I assume we learn more about that part of the world.

Speaking of the world, the magic appears to be associated with geographical areas. Almost like the weather in a 'normal' world. Different parts of the world have different kinds of magic. Or perhaps it's that the cultures in different parts of the world develop certain kinds of magic? Interesting.

I've not read the Liveship series for a while but I seem to remember that I enjoyed all three of the trilogy and, as is usually the case with Hobb, the middle part was just as strong as the first and third books.
I think the series as a whole is a lot more historical and "factual" than fantastical and Hobb has a real talent for writing her worlds as "reality" where different cultures develop things specific to them so yes I agree with you about the geographically magic aspects.
Her characters are fully fleshed out, Malta is one of my favourites even though she is such a pain in the neck at the beginning. I loved how each of the liveships is such a distinct character as well.
I haven't gone back and read the Rain Wilds books yet but they're on my to do list. I also haven't got anywhere with her Soldier's Son series even though I've had book one since it was published. Must find time to bring myself up to date with Robin Hobb as she's one of my favourite authors.

I finished it yesterday and totally revised my opinion on Malta, I like her now! I also think that Kyle is not as bad as we think. He wants to earn money, we're told he is a good captain; he just isn't an old trader. He doesn't get the back story to living in Bingtown, the responsibility and how to treat a liveship. I still don't like him.

I also know who the character is that was also in Farseer, I'd suspected they'd been in it but suddenly realised who and how.

After Destiny, I'm going on to Rain Wilds which I've never read. Presumably Soldiers are a different 'world'?

I finished it a few months ago and I agree with Cadiva, it's just as strong as the first. Makes me regret not getting to #3 very quickly!

Once we finish, can someone point out who the Farseer cross-over character is? Clearly, I missed it and I don't have time to re-read right now.

What stood out to me in this book is the character development. Like Helen said, Kyle's not Evil, although I still don't like him (bad financial managers and misogynists are guaranteed to get my back up!). I'm really impressed with Althea's & Wintrow's slow work up to a more realistic view of their world. Both started with a very narrow viewpoint and are having their worldview broadened.

I shall be happy to tell you. I liked the way they've grown too. Hobb is very good at characters.

I read this ages ago and then stalled in the middle of book 3 (health issues combined with the length of the book, not issues with the book). When I saw the group was reading them, I decided that was my chance to finally read Ship of Destiny. I started it again tonight but I can't quite remember the details of the climax of the end of The Mad Ship. Since this is the spoiler topic, would someone be able to briefly remind me why the Satrap was with the Rain Wild Traders and what happened with the hatching of the dragon? I kind of remember, but not clearly. Thanks.

Kerry you can read summaries of the previuos books on wiki.

Thanks Mach. I've found enough online plus a quick skim of the end of The Mad Ship to get me comfortable with the story.

I'm not sure I agree with Kyle not being evil, but mostly because I just HATE how he treats others. I know he doesn't have the knowledge/background, but he seems so unwilling to learn or see anyones point of view but his own. So...I hate him! I guess I can admit he's not the same kind of evil as Regal though =).

Suzanne wrote: "I'm not sure I agree with Kyle not being evil, but mostly because I just HATE how he treats others. I know he doesn't have the knowledge/background, but he seems so unwilling to learn or see anyon..."

No, he's just a brute force control freak, :-)

Don't get me wrong - I HATE him too. The tattoo on his own sons face!!! I'd forgotton we had Fools before Rain trilogy, exciting.

Helen wrote: "Don't get me wrong - I HATE him too. The tattoo on his own sons face!!! I'd forgotton we had Fools before Rain trilogy, exciting."

Isn't Tawny Man in there somewhere?

Don't know. I remember reading one trilogy was completely separate, different land etc.

I believe the tawny man is the fool and that the tawny man trilogy is between the liveship and rain wilds series.

As for Mad Ship, I loved it! I agree with previous posts that the character development was excellent, and I also liked the slow unveiling of secrets and magic. Kennit continues to unfold as a character, the rain wilds are pretty much amazing, and the serpents seem to come closer and closer to the rest of the characters.

I still hate Kyle. I believe that he loves his family, as long as they meet his expectations... but his expectations seem to be that they praise and defer to him not that they be intelligent or have integrity.

I've enjoyed Mad Ship more than the first book, I think because I started liking some of the characters more. I'm especially becoming invested in Paragon! He counts as a character, right?

Suzanne wrote: "I've enjoyed Mad Ship more than the first book, I think because I started liking some of the characters more. I'm especialy becoming invested in Paragon! He counts as a character, right?"

Oh yeah! I like him too.

Sure, I like Paragon. It's funny how much I like Malta, couldn't stand her initially.

I agree, I like Malta a lot too now - but wow I hated her almost as much as I hated Kyle at first (probably because she had the same type of selfish attitude). Its interesting - with adversity, Kyle didn't seem to change at all - he was still a huge jerk (although we didn't see him much this book thank goodness). But Malta actually learned something!

I like the way we get manipulated by the author. I didn't like Althea in book 1 initially, though she was bratty. Confused me as I remembered liking her.

Also, I get totally involved in a character then we change point of view and I'm like 'what?' but then get totally immersed in the new view.

Helen wrote: "Sure, I like Paragon. It's funny how much I like Malta, couldn't stand her initially."

I think that's one of the most impressive parts of the series. Although it's a little rougher when rereading, I still struggle to think of other examples of such dramatic and rapid character development working so well in fantasy.

Anyway, I finished it a while back and have finally written a review. A brief comment on Goodreads can be found here, and in it a link to a full review on my blog. Short version: still a bit slow and I didn't fully emotively engage with the characters, but still excellent.