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Ship of Magic (Liveship Traders #1)

by Robin Hobb (Goodreads Author)

4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 · rating details · 15,538 ratings · 507 reviews

Bingtown is a hub of exotic trade and home to a merchant nobility famed for its liveships--rare vessels carved from wizardwood, which ripens magically into sentient awareness. The fortunes of one of Bingtown's oldest families rest on the newly awakened liveship Vivacia.

For Althea Vestrit, the ship is her rightful legacy unjustly denied her--a legacy she will risk anything...more

Paperback, 809 pages

Published February 2nd 1999 by Spectra (first published 1998)

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Jul 27, 2012 Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, borrowed, reviewed, world-building

Final verdict: a great antidote to A Game of Thrones, with brilliant, complicated characters.

My friend introduced to me to Ship of Magic because I'd been complaining about annoying stupid characters. She recommended Robin Hobb in general, but Ship of Magic especially, primarily for Althea Vestrit, our primary protagonist.

One thing I want to point out is that I would have never picked this up on my own. Not for the title, not the cover (yes, I'm disproportionately attracted to pretty covers--the...more

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Dec 22, 2010 Colleen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: group-read, fantasy

12/21/10

I'm about 75% through with this book, and I'm finding it frustrating.

As others have said, it's very much a character-based book, and I can dig character-based books if I like the characters, but I'm having a hard time really latching onto anyone that I don't want to smack upside the head.

Actually, no, I do like some characters (Brashen and Paragon, for instance) - but the ones I do like we don't seem to spend enough time with, while we spend far too much time with the likes of Kyle and...more

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Sep 05, 2010 Benjamin Thomas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Having immensely enjoyed Robin Hobb's "Farseer Trilogy", I enthusiastically turned to her next fantasy series, the vast "Liveship Trader's" trilogy. This first novel in the series, "Ship of Magic", is set in the same world as the "Assassins Apprentice" but otherwise has very little to do with it, instead focusing on a whole new and unique fantasy setting. Liveships are large masted sailing ships made of wizardwood that actually become sentient beings after three generations of their owners' fami...more Having immensely enjoyed Robin Hobb's "Farseer Trilogy", I enthusiastically turned to her next fantasy series, the vast "Liveship Trader's" trilogy. This first novel in the series, "Ship of Magic", is set in the same world as the "Assassins Apprentice" but otherwise has very little to do with it, instead focusing on a whole new and unique fantasy setting. Liveships are large masted sailing ships made of wizardwood that actually become sentient beings after three generations of their owners' families having died on board them. We follow various members of the Vestritt family, an Old Trader family who is in the unenviable position of trying to increase their trading profits before their creditors take harsh action. There are several main characters but chief among them is Althea Vestritt, a young lady who has spent most of her life sailing under her father's captaincy aboard the Vivacia. Upon her father's death in the early chapters of the novel, the Vivacia "quickens" into a full-fledged liveship. Unfortunately, through a series of circumstances and inner family squabbling, Althea is not allowed to continue to sail on board her, thus launching the main story thread of the series.

There are many well-drawn characters in this novel, but I always appreciate a good villain. Ms Hobb excels once again, with the introduction of Kennitt, an ambitious pirate who has his eye on Vivacia as his prize. To be able to write a villainous character whom the reader can sympathize with as he pursues his dastardly plots is difficult at best but Ms Hobb does it so well. And her good characters come across as very real also, not always choosing the wisest or most honest course. They stumble over bad decisions during their struggles to achieve their goals and we feel for their failures, often seeing ourselves within them.

This is, fundamentally, a tale of the sea, albeit in a fantasy setting complete with magic ships and sea serpents. The ship board activity is well researched and fascinating to experience. This is a long book and is followed by two more long books in the trilogy. Where some see extra wording or too much detail or even refer to the "doorstop syndrome", I see a richness of character that is essential in understanding these people. Besides, I just like spending time with them.

While Ms Hobb provides splendid detail about some of the characters here, she only hints at others. We spend a little time with another liveship, Paragon, who is considered mad by the populace due to several incidents involving the deaths of his entire crew. It seems obvious that we are being set up for much more from Paragon, especially considering the title of the next volume, "Mad Ship". We also get tiny scenes involving what appear to be sentient sea serpents, but, quite frankly, I found them to be confusing and so relegated them to the recesses of my memory in order to dig them out again as they become more relevant in future books of the series. Ms Hobb also prepares us for a major role by the Rain Wild magicians and their interaction with another headstrong daughter of the Vestritts, Malta.

For those readers who prefer their plot lines wrapped up neatly, I would suggest they have all three volumes of this trilogy readily available. Not one of the major threads is resolved here. But for those who relish complex relationships that are not convoluted, this novel will be sure to please. I for one am searching my book shelf even now for number two of this fine trilogy.(less)

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May 02, 2013 Hanne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-challenge, fantasy, fantasy-aficionados-100, shelf-a-ton-16, aye-aye-captain

What can I say? I just loved it!

This book combines two things that make up a brilliant fantasy book to me: amazing world-building and a bunch of real characters for me to love or despise (or constantly change my mind about). Add to that many intriguing storylines and you got a five star book right here!

Differently to Farseer this book is written in a few point of view characters. It all starts in one place, but quickly changes into many different storylines, all of them moving forward with a st...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Dorothy rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm afraid I'm yet another disappointed "Farseer" reader. In fact, I may be one of the originals. I purchased both, the first book in the Farseer trilogy, Assassin's Apprentice and Ship of Magic the 1st Live Ship Trader book shortly after they were each released. In spite of an uncertain jacket synopsis on Ship of Magic, I’d hoped for a continuation of the well tempered, 1st person character driven action I'd found in the Farseer books. ( I didn’t much like how that series ended, but I loved ‘em...more I'm afraid I'm yet another disappointed "Farseer" reader. In fact, I may be one of the originals. I purchased both, the first book in the Farseer trilogy, Assassin's Apprentice and Ship of Magic the 1st Live Ship Trader book shortly after they were each released. In spite of an uncertain jacket synopsis on Ship of Magic, I’d hoped for a continuation of the well tempered, 1st person character driven action I'd found in the Farseer books. ( I didn’t much like how that series ended, but I loved ‘em while they lasted) Instead, I discovered a potentially good, remotely "Farseer" related story shuddering under the weight of too much inconsequential 3rd person prose and unappealing characters. I put the book aside after only a few chapters. That time.
Fortunately Robin Hobb (apparently AKA Megan Lindholm) who I genuinely think to be a fine writer, continued her Farseer Trilogy. She then drew some of the same engaging characters and quickened pace of "Farseer" into the Tawny Man series, (soon to release it's third book). The 1st book, The Tawny Man, centers on an adult version of the mysterious "Fool" an important secondary "Farseer" protagonist. With the second Tawny Man book, The Golden Fool, I became aware that this same character makes a revealing appearance, in the too slow, too thickly character-ed and plot vacant, Live Ship Traders books.

What's an avid reader to do? I tried again. This time I pushed on through this minutely font-ed book to the "quickening” of the Living ship, Vivacia, a pivotal character herself. If that couldn't engage me as a reader all was lost! ..And so it was. I set the book down for the evening at page 162 and felt disinclined to start the effort again in the morning. I concluded that one might expect the setup of an epic adventure to be somewhat dispiriting at the outset as the challenges ahead are exposed, but Ship of Magic failed to offer what all good adventure send-offs must: impetus for the reader to read on. I think this impetus might have been achieved with fewer characters each offering more interest and dimension in themselves, or perhaps, a possibility of future excitement, or some `Just-plain-fun-Dammit!'

I have to admit, I find Hobb to be such an imaginative story teller that I'm sure there is something good in this book. Somewhere. But it has taken far too much wading through Dreck and Drear with too little gratifying adventure to continue through the next 647 pages of, Ship of Magic, and the subsequent books in the Live Ship Traders series. While, I am regretful that I can't glean enough interest in these characters to troll through and find that good; I have abandoned ship.

To learn more about the mysterious "Tawny man" as I await the third book in that series, I've taken the expedient of reading AMAZON reviews of the Live Ship Traders for synopsis, hints & spoilers. (Thank you, all who've provided clues to the "Amber" character.)

Having read these reviews, I know other, happier readers will chide me; "if you'd just read on, you'd have found the appealing charters, mystery's clues and `Just-plain-fun-Dammit!' you’d sought." To those readers, and Robin Hobb, herself, I say - Thank You; No. Two attempts are enough.
(less)

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Jan 30, 2011 Loederkoningin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, all-nighters, rad-badass-heroines-or-heroes, wow-re-read-material, high-fantasy, intriguing-fucked-up-men, pirates, terrific-covers

Woot woot..Wow, this trilogy is incredible.
I mean, I've re-read these bible-sized books three to four times. And I keep discovering new bits and pieces, new clues in this extremely rich, yes epic, (now that I'm on a superlatives-roll: MINDBLOWING) story.

Sure, Hobb's first trilogy was such an intense reading experience. I was quite young when I discovered the first Farseer book and I felt like I could almost crawl into Fitz's skin and live his life with him. And Night Eyes' life! I forgot to st...more Woot woot..Wow, this trilogy is incredible.
I mean, I've re-read these bible-sized books three to four times. And I keep discovering new bits and pieces, new clues in this extremely rich, yes epic, (now that I'm on a superlatives-roll: MINDBLOWING) story.

Sure, Hobb's first trilogy was such an intense reading experience. I was quite young when I discovered the first Farseer book and I felt like I could almost crawl into Fitz's skin and live his life with him. And Night Eyes' life! I forgot to study. I started missing my train station. I had to wait for half an hour on the opposite platform, in the cold, not minding. I skipped meals so I could keep reading (which is a highly unusual thing for me to do) etc etc..you get the picture?

Now The Liveship Traders trilogy is a little different, mostly because Hobb no longer focuses on one character, but introduces a whole bunch of three-dimensional ones. I know how some reviewers keep missing Fitz, but I personally found these books even more compelling.

If you like straight forward fantasy books with a main character going on a quest, Hobb's books are probably not for you. As I mentioned, she introduces many, brilliant characters that are all starring in a spectacular fantasy story including evil, yet charming pirates, tough girls' running from home, a sinister island, sea snakes and a long forgotten tribe, that in reality is very much alive in the blood of some people in Bingtown...
I particularly liked that, although Hobb definitely makes sure to add plenty of tragedy, drama and torture to The Liveship Traders as well, she didn't go overboard this time. If Fitz had been a real person, the poor fellow would probably have been dead and buried six times already after everything Hobb cooked up for him.

Fans of Fitz will enjoy the references and clues to him, that Hobb included in this trilogy. Although reading her first trilogy before this one is not necessary, I would recommend doing so because, let's face it; you'll probably want to do so anyway afterwards.

I just wish Hobb would write a trilogy starring pirate Kennit...hey, a girl can dream!(less)

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Jan 05, 2011 Brian rated it 4 of 5 stars

1/28/04 - 8/10

Book 1:
plot kind of implausible and overboard, why make decisions they do - just to set up bleak situation...no one realize kyle terrible? Could be predictable - althea end up with kennit romantically and to help steal vivacia. some very annoying 1 dimensional characters - malta and kyle
overdramatic, semi-simplistic (not intricate) mysteries - rain wild traders / liveship histories (paragon and vivacia), brashen past
very readable though and some good charcters

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May 12, 2013 Sam rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

DO NOT SKIP THIS TRILOGY!

This book is just utter brilliance. After reading the extremely gripping Farseer Trilogy I nearly skipped this entire series out simply to follow Fitz into the next chapter of his life !

After my girlfriend forced me not to, I began reading this novel and my first impression was it was slow and completely random. However as I read on ( despite the slowness I was still intrigued ) it began to develop and pull everything together and the important information began to domi...more

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Feb 19, 2013 SARIT rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I couldn't stop reading the "Ship of Magic" from the first few pages onward. Robin Hobb has created a tale that is so vivid and realistic that I was loath to wrench my eyes away from its pages for more than a few minutes at a time. Robin Hobb has built an incredible, complex world, much of which is gradually revealed throughout the story, naturally and through the characters' perspectives.There isn't one simple conflict between good and evil or even two families. Bingtown is a colony, only now,...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Katie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After finishing I commented to my husband that Hobb's work that I've read thus far and George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire have many superficial similarities. The main difference I can find is that Hobb just continues torturing her characters rather than killing them all off. The misfortunes befalling everyone in the Liveship Traders trilogy have not approached Fitz's trials in the Farseer books however, and the characters are less whiny than he. I've also become far more intrigued by a...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Smcleish rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Originally published on my blog here in March 2001.

Though set in the same world as the Farseer trilogy, Ship of Magic has almost a completely independent background; there are only two or three references to the places and events of those novels. The main part of the action is based in the port of Bingtown, home to the liveships. These are made of wizardwood, and come alive ("quicken") three generations after being built, having a special relationship to the family that commissioned them and abi...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Researcher-a rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: written-by-a-try-hard, adjective-overload, stuffed-adverb-pie, characters-deeper-than-a-puddle

**A bit Spoiler-y*

The first line reads: “MAULKIN ABRUPTLY HEAVED HIMSELF OUT OF HIS WALLOW WITH A WILD THRASH THAT LEFT THE ATMOsphere hanging thick with particles.” Hmm, let’s read that again. “Maulkin abruptly heaved himself out of his wallow…” Bit clumsy? Yes, this is a perfect example of unnecessary adverbs – on the first line! That sentence would have been a thousand times better if ‘abruptly’ were simply removed. Abruptly isn’t even the right word here – it's not being original, it just do...more

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Jun 07, 2012 Parastou Khiaban rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ship of Magic is the first part of the Liveship Traders and is a tale of pirates, talking ships, magic, sea serpents, slave revolts, and bloody battles. The book weaves the story of the liveship traders, the story of the sea serpents who are driven by an instinct to search for their 'beginnings' and the tale of Kennick, a ruthless man determined to be King of the Pirates.

When I started this book, I did feel a bit overloaded with information. There are so many plots and sub-plots; the books I'm u...more

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May 07, 2012 Laura Fudge rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I have read these books before, a long time ago, but fancied reading them again, especially as I have the new books by Robin Hobb which are part of this world. I only remember bits of the books, so this was a good re-read.

The book takes place in a mystical world where a substance called wizardwood is used to make ships. These ships have figureheads that come alive or “quicken” after 3 generations of a family die on the decks. They also take on the personalities and memories of the 3 generations....more I have read these books before, a long time ago, but fancied reading them again, especially as I have the new books by Robin Hobb which are part of this world. I only remember bits of the books, so this was a good re-read.

The book takes place in a mystical world where a substance called wizardwood is used to make ships. These ships have figureheads that come alive or “quicken” after 3 generations of a family die on the decks. They also take on the personalities and memories of the 3 generations. They are owned by Trader families in Bingtown, and apart from the mystical fantasy element of the story, there is also a lot of politics with agreements between the Bingtown traders and other cities, whether or not slavery should be made legal, as well as the pirates who roam the shores.

We follow the story of the Vestrit family whose Liveship is quickened very early in the book. There are problems within the family straight away as we realise the boat has been bequeathed to the eldest daughter’s husband and tension’s begin to rise. The boat goes off on her maiden voyage as a Liveship with tensions onboard and an unhappy figurehead.

At home, we see the rest of the family dealing with the problems of debt, and an unruly teenager who gets herself in trouble by lying to both her grandmother and mother, and becoming the love interest of a Rain Wild Trader. The Rain Wild Traders are a strange and mysterious people who moved up the Rain Wild River and have become disfigured and unable to live for long.

Finally we also follow the story of Kennit the pirate, who wants to be King of the Pirate Isles, and plans to fulfil this by stealing a Liveship…

A good start to the trilogy, I really like these books, the characters are easy to believe and likeable. The mythology behind the books, the lore of the wizardwood, the Rain Wild Traders and the weird sea serpents which follow the liveships and eat the dead slaves thrown from the ships, is really interesting and I’m looking forward to the next book.(less)

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Apr 03, 2012 Robin Wiley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

This was good and I enjoyed it. Following up Wise Man's Fear is a tough thing. I probably can't LOVE anything else right now. My heart is not mine, and probably won't be mine for awhile. At any other time, I would probably would love this book. So, with that qualification...

Unlike her Forest Mage series that follows just the one character, this follows about eight, which I enjoyed much more. Our heroine is stubborn and spoiled, but she is smart, capable and has good intentions. Our hero is a boy...more This was good and I enjoyed it. Following up Wise Man's Fear is a tough thing. I probably can't LOVE anything else right now. My heart is not mine, and probably won't be mine for awhile. At any other time, I would probably would love this book. So, with that qualification...

Unlike her Forest Mage series that follows just the one character, this follows about eight, which I enjoyed much more. Our heroine is stubborn and spoiled, but she is smart, capable and has good intentions. Our hero is a boy training to be a priest. He is naive and kind hearted. They both have plenty of room to grow into their roles over the course of the series.

The pirate is a likable bad guy. I liked him, hated him, then found myself liking him again by the end.

Malta - now that's a perfectly hatable character. As hatable women go, she is definately at the Cersei Lannister end of the spectrum. I've read that Robin Hobb likes to torture her characters. Torture away! Whatever bad things happen to that girl, I shall read them with a smile on my face.

The religion is simple and familiar. The magic seems more natural, rather than wand and wizard fare, in spite of the fact that the live ships are made out of a wood called "Wizardwood".

Speaking of names, Robin Hobb is not very good at them. I would like to say she is a terrible namer, and that my kids could come up with better stuff - but I did just finish "Wise Man's Fear" and we all know Rothfuss is fantastic at naming. So, I'll say it's not her strong suit. Fantasy names are tricky. I don't know why the good ones are good, I just know when they are clunky and don't work. But that's being picky. It doesn't ruin the book or anything. It's just something I noticed.

The other thing was the liveships. I'm not a big fan of talking animals. Although the movie versions of Narnia worked it out, I couldn't get past it when I was a kid reading the books. When I think liveship I was thinking more like Farscape's Moya, present and able to communicate, but not a speaking character. These liveships have animated mastheads that talk and move their arms and heads. I guess I got over it enough, because I'm reading the second book, but I'm still frowning about it.

Action - OK. Hoping for more in the books to come.
Magic - still vague. Again hoping for more as the series develops.
Cool places - There was a forbidden, magic island that was pretty cool.
Creatures - really big sea monsters
Characters - a fair amount of likables, and a couple that could potentially make a favorites list

(less)

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Mar 02, 2012 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: calgon-take-me-away, fave-fantasy-scifi

This is a multi-series combined review and is copied/pasted across all of Hobb's related series. It does not refer only to this trilogy, and includes Liveship, Rain Wilds, Farseer, Tawny Man, and Dragon Keeper series.

These are the most compelling, most enjoyable, best-plotted, most complicated epic fantasy books I've read in ages. I adored them. There are 5 (?) interwoven, inter-dependent series that the author clearly outlined before picking up her pen for the first time. The characters are wo...more

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Feb 29, 2012 Shelly Cole rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have to say that when this book was chosen by my Book Club my heart did sink a little. A fantasy book is not really up my street although I have dabbled in some Terry Pratchett, Mort being a particular favourite! When I downloaded it onto my kindle and saw that it was a tomb of 880 pages my heart sank a little deeper. But hey this is what book clubs are about and reading new authors and genres that I wouldn’t necessarily pick up.

In a nutshell the trilogy is about a fleet of ships called Livesh...more I have to say that when this book was chosen by my Book Club my heart did sink a little. A fantasy book is not really up my street although I have dabbled in some Terry Pratchett, Mort being a particular favourite! When I downloaded it onto my kindle and saw that it was a tomb of 880 pages my heart sank a little deeper. But hey this is what book clubs are about and reading new authors and genres that I wouldn’t necessarily pick up.

In a nutshell the trilogy is about a fleet of ships called Liveships that are made from wizard wood and after three generations of their owners living and dying on them they quicken and come to life. The first book is mainly focussed on the Vestritt family and their ship called Vivacia but we also have a few other plot lines thrown in. There is Captain Kennitt who wants to be the Pirate King, Brashen who sailed on Vivacia until the new Captain takes over and the old liveship Paragon who most think has gone insane and is stranded on a beach sightless.

I have to say that I really enjoyed this book, so much so that I am going to get the next two instalments as I need to know what happens. There are a lot of characters with their own tales and although at the start this can be a little confusing it all comes together and you find yourself wanting to know what is happening to each of them and growing more and more involved with them. I have to say that Captain Kennitt was a particular favourite of mine even though he was the most unlike able character from the start. I do think that as I read it I had Captain Jack Sparrow in my head and this is why he grew on me!

I think that Robin Hobb is a great story teller and the fact that she has written some great female characters in a story that is mainly dominated by men is a real eye opener. She gives all her female’s a core strength that is very enjoyable to read. I am very keen to find out what happens to Althea who is the lead female in the book. She shows great strength in trying to get her ship back so much so that she dresses as a boy in order to gain experience on other ships and to prove her Brother in Law wrong. But she can also be too headstrong and even gave up on Vivacia when she needed her most. I will enjoy seeing which parts of her character will evolve as the books continue.

For a book I wasn't sure about I can't wait to download the next two on my kindle and see where the story takes me. (less)

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Feb 09, 2010 Chip rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-fun

This review is really for the whole trilogy, which I read back-to-back, and so think of as one longer story than three individual books.

So-so at best. In the Farseer and Tawny Man trilogies, Hobb had created not only a great, realistic world, but a fantastic narrator in the protagonist. In this new series, she went from first person to third, which I have no problem with, but also shifted from having just on point of view, to having far, far, far too many! There were AT LEAST SEVEN different reg...more

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Sep 27, 2009 Suna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, dragon-fiction

This series is a guilty pleasure, really, as the books are most decidedly flawed.
But it's a ripping yarn nonetheless, mainly because of the excellent way she has envisaged dragon culture, hierarchy and history.
The humans can be VERY irritating, especially the Vestrits mimble wimble on and on and on.
But she has a very solid grip on all her plots and subplots, her characters are well fleshed out and she is deft at leading to their final destinations in the third book, with some very good dropkicks...more

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Sep 14, 2009 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Althea Vestrit, wrongly denied her inheritance of the beautiful Liveship Vivacia, leaves Bingtown in order to prove herself as the true sailor she is and claim back her beloved ship from her brother-in-law's greedy grasp.

For Wintrow, Althea's nephew, Vivacia is nothing more than a slave ship wrenching him away from his religious studies so his father can have his son aboard his ship to inherit and keep Althea from coming into her inheritance.

But no one counted on Captain Kennit, a ruthless pirat...more Althea Vestrit, wrongly denied her inheritance of the beautiful Liveship Vivacia, leaves Bingtown in order to prove herself as the true sailor she is and claim back her beloved ship from her brother-in-law's greedy grasp.

For Wintrow, Althea's nephew, Vivacia is nothing more than a slave ship wrenching him away from his religious studies so his father can have his son aboard his ship to inherit and keep Althea from coming into her inheritance.

But no one counted on Captain Kennit, a ruthless pirate captain who will stop at nothing to take control of the Pirate Isles and name himself as King of all Pirates. To do so he must first obtain a liveship, and when his and Vivacia's paths cross, bloodshed is not far from the horizon.

I was riveted to "Ship of Magic" from the first few pages onward. Robin Hobb has created an old pirate's tale that is so vivid and realistic that I was loath to wrench my eyes away from its pages for more than a few minutes at a time. Curse sleep, give me more of "The Liveship Traders!"

Hobb's characters truly came to life for me. Althea is a character that truly did grow throughout the book, someone who started off as a spoiled Captain's daughter turned slowly but surely into the courageous young woman she so had the potential to be. Wintrow, the haughty boy finds out that there are more things to life than just the religion he devoted his life to, and finds out that one can see religion in many different ways and lights and truly he comes into being as a man, and finds the person he wishes that he could be.

On the home front, Keffira, Althea's older sister is finding out how hard her mother actually works and how hard she is going to have to work to keep the family finances together while her husband is out to sea, and her daughter Malta in her rush to become a woman is soon over her head with a suitor that she should treat with caution.

On ever single page, there is drama, adventure, excitement, and suspense. I cannot wait to read the rest of Hobb's "Liveship Trader" series, and find out what is going to happen to all of my new friends, the Vestrit family and their lovely ship Vivacia. (less)

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Jun 15, 2012 Brittany rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ship of Magic was a really good book. Hobb does an excellent job of accomplishing characterization and creating characters you really begin to care about. She delves deep into the sinuous fibers of friendship, love, lust, family, duty, and what makes a man and sailor. It's a very entertaining book, full of various storylines of each character as they begin their ascent of the overall plot. Something that was missing, for me, however, was the deep, all-encompassing intrinsic characterization and...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Jade

Shelves: 2013, kindle-baby, faves

That's it. I am definitely going to read every Robin Hobb I can get my hands on after this fantastic book - starting with the next book in this trilogy that I'm starting immediately.

A fantasy sea adventure starring liveships - sentient ships crafted from wizardwood and each bound to a blood member of the families that own them - I wouldn't have thought I'd find myself feeling so strongly for what are, essentially, a bunch of boats but that's where I find myself (especially poor, tragic Paragon)...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Derek Jordan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Any Fantasy and Pirate Fan

For a long while I have waited to read these books. I very much enjoyed the Farseer trilogy that she wrote (I read it a few years ago) and just knew that this series would be just as good, so I guess I was waiting for the right moment of enjoyment. I am not displeased of my choice. I was wrong in one thought that I had, while this story is in the same world as the first trilogy, it is not exactly connected to the first. There are all new characters and magics.

I found the idea of the Live Ship t...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Kaspar rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy, favourites

I've read the Farseer Trilogy, I've read the Tawny Man books; and I have to admit that always I enjoyed the most the very first book in each trilogy. Now I am really hoping that this series will disprove this bothersome rule for me, for this book I consider superior to the previous ones.

I appreciate that the series takes place in the realm of the Elderlings just like the aforementioned books, but I really like it that it also uncovers a new facet of that magical and epic universe - namely that...more

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Oct 20, 2011 Cv Rick rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

What I want from escapist fantasy is a good story with good characters, paced well. With Ship of Magic, I got all that. With only a couple of annoyances. (I'll address those later.)

The story, unsurprisingly, centers on majestic sailing ships, the docks, and the lives of its sailors and officers. The style and detail compare favorably to Patrick O'Brien. Heavy discipline, tidy ships, scary storms, politics and abuse all keep the story moving - and the story is good. Liveships are made from rare a...more

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Apr 29, 2010 TeenFiction Teton County Library rated it 5 of 5 stars

TCL Call #: SF HOBB

Madeleine - 5 stars
Lord! To think I almost did not read this because of the humilitation inducing cover art (our library's cover looks a close cousin to a breathless ladies romance novel).
A not-to-be-missed series! Every single person I've suggested the "Ship of Magic" to has gone on to read the entire series. Do not be put off that it is labeled as fantasy nor that it has dragons in it.

The entire Liveship series by Robin Hobb have absolutely horrible covers - very Romance nov...more

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Apr 29, 2010 AdultFiction Teton County Library rated it 5 of 5 stars

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Mar 31, 2013 Trak rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, fantasy-sci-fi

I have not read Robin Hobb before and I was looking forward to discovering what makes her such a popular fantasy novelist.
This is the first book in a trilogy of three and the scope of the world that is created is enormous. What Hobb has brought to the page is place and a time that you can truly believe exists. The world is revealed through the eyes of the characters and her imagination is stunning. All the characters are complex and are infallible. It was good to be introduced to characters tha...more

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May 22, 2012 James Keenan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

THIS REVIEW RELATES TO ALL THREE LIVESHIP TRADERS NOVELS AND AS SUCH MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

There is a lot to be said for the Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb, the first and my favourite being the setting. So many fantasy novels follow the same interchangeable means of transport or generic locations that it makes a refreshing change to have one that is set so much at sea. This is tied in to a World that is beautifully developed both in the broad strokes of the places that we never see down to the fin...more THIS REVIEW RELATES TO ALL THREE LIVESHIP TRADERS NOVELS AND AS SUCH MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

There is a lot to be said for the Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb, the first and my favourite being the setting. So many fantasy novels follow the same interchangeable means of transport or generic locations that it makes a refreshing change to have one that is set so much at sea. This is tied in to a World that is beautifully developed both in the broad strokes of the places that we never see down to the fine detail of Bingtown or the Pirate Isles.

Where there are some weaknesses however generally lie in the Characters that fill this world. Almost all of them spend the majority of their time and conversations whining about how unfair everything is, coupled with the sheer quantity of First Person Narrative that we have to navigate around this creates the impression that whatever happens to this world it probably is deserved. The few characters that are obviously intended to be the heroes spend most of the story manipulating, deceiving, complaining or lying, character development when it does occur is abrupt and unconvincing, their new motives and actions appear to far removed from what they started out as.

There are also questions over redemption; most of the protagonists in the story are never forced to confront their actions

The Satrap after spending the entire series as a whiny child who needs to be pampered, endures hardship and privation but eventually makes it back to his Capital and immediately goes back to the way he started out as. Kyle Haven after abusing his son, enslaving him and turning the family Liveship into a slave trader is shown briefly at the end to have exactly the same attitude and is then killed. The evil Pirate King whose manipulations / abuse we are given a first person view point all the way through cements his legend and spends the rest of time happily sailing around as part of his family’s liveship.

I didn’t dislike these books, The plot and the premise are good the Author should be proud for attempting something different in the genre, but, unusually for me I found myself reading faster and faster to get to the end rather than savouring the story.
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May 22, 2011 Caroline rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, sea-stories, 1st-in-a-series

Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb is the first in a trilogy about the “Bingtown Traders.” Specifically, it is about the Vestrits, a once wealthy family struggling to pay off their debts in a bad economy. Their only asset is their liveship, a magically sentient ship tied to their family. Ephron, the captain-patriarch of the family, has just died, leaving the family in the midst of a bitter feud as to who will succeed him. Intertwined with their problems is the story of Kennit, a pirate seeking to becom...more

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The Robin Hobb Co...: Ship of Magic > Chapter Thirty-One to Finish	14	10	May 07, 2013 12:35am
The Robin Hobb Co...: Ship of Magic > Chapter Twenty-Six to Thirty	15	4	May 01, 2013 01:48pm
The Robin Hobb Co...: Ship of Magic > Chapter Twenty-One to Twenty-Five	21	7	Apr 29, 2013 05:15pm
The Robin Hobb Co...: Ship of Magic > Chapter Sixteen to Twenty	12	8	Apr 27, 2013 02:15pm
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The Robin Hobb Co...: Ship of Magic > Chapter Eleven to Fifteen	10	7	Apr 22, 2013 07:43pm
The Robin Hobb Co...: Ship of Magic > Chapter Six to Ten	20	11	Apr 20, 2013 06:05am

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About Robin Hobb

** 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 st...more

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“For the weakest has but to try his strength to find it, and then he shall be strong.” — 20 people liked it

“One must plan for the future and anticipate the future without fearing the future.” — 10 people liked it

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Ship of Magic (Liveship Traders #1)

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