Rosy Birchall’s Reviews > Ship of Destiny > Status Update

Oh I hope to god that Malta stands by Althea and fucks Kennit up big time

I’m really proud of myself for guessing the puzzle of Amber the second time we ever meet her. It’s now coming to full fruition with her carving of Paragon - and clearly, Starling wasn’t wrong in AQ. The matching earring and broken nose is wonderful.

Thank GOD Althea is out of that room. I hope to god Etta takes her blade to Kennit’s balls and then skins him alive. I love how Hobb has created this character you somehow sympathised with, almost tricked me into thinking he’s capable of being a good man and then he does something so abhorrent you wish for him to die. Can’t wait to see his comeuppance!

Jesus fucking christ

“Little fool.”

If Kennit sinks Paragon with Brashen on it and Althea has to watch it I’m going to riot. I genuinely don’t know if I can handle that level of pain. Hobb has managed to make me genuinely fear turning the page whilst also not being able to resist.

Omg it’s about to go DOWN in Divvytown. They’re all going to be there and a dragon is tracking one of them down…this is going to be insane.

I hate that Malta is having to go through the horrid pain of wondering if your father would care for you more if you played the dutiful role of a ‘woman’ rather than just loving you as his child. It’s agonising that her coming of age is so painful, she is so young and is doing so well at traversing the conflicting pains of adolescence. I am Malta’s no.1 supporter and I pray for her to be safe.

What I find incredible about this Hobb’s storytelling as well is how every character is important. There doesn’t seem to be many “side characters” because each of their lives contribute to the plot and therefore each of them hold equal value to the book. Selden is who inspired this thought, who would have know that a toddler would become a dragon’s minstrel?

Malta is so fucking cool - this whole imagined crown and dress to give her confidence is such a great detail of feminine power. I have done the very same to make myself feel equal in a room full of men. It’s fantastic.