Farseer Trilogy Buddyread and Discussion - Contains spoilers

[Niveditha]

I will also start soon. Will read at a snail's pace. Please bear with me :)

[Niveditha]

Started! This whole concept of liveships reminds me of 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. Is Kennit the same character who leads the Red ship raiders from the Farseer trilogy?

[Pallavi]

I too started. 2 Chapters over.
prologue : Has secret serpents. It's time for them to go up or start their journey. But why,where,how etc is suspense

Chapter 1: Kennit is a pirate, (view spoiler)[who has a charm made from liveship wood to keep him away from curses/enchantments (hide spoiler)]
Wintrow is a boy, priest in training (view spoiler)[, who is from a famous trader family, but priesthood is what interests him. He is called back to his family as his grandfather is not well. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 2: Kyle, I just hate him. (view spoiler)[Captain of the Liveship Vivacia and trying hard to prove it. Especially when Ephron vestrit, his Father in law was such a good and respected captain. (hide spoiler)]
Althea, Ephron vestrit's second (?) daughter. (view spoiler)[Kyle and this young lady does not go along. There's a heated argument between them here and misses her father dearly who has taken ill at the moment (hide spoiler)]

Totally speaking, I loved the concept of "Liveship". Liveship is constructed with magical wizard wood. If three continuous generations of owners/captains die on the ship, the ship quickens and the ship becomes alive with thoughts/memories/experiences of the owners who died on the deck.
Hope my understanding is correct. This idea is just fabulous for me.

[Pallavi]

Niveditha wrote: "Started! This whole concept of liveships reminds me of 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. Is Kennit the same character who leads the Red ship raiders from the Farseer trilogy?"
I dont remember Kennit in Farseer Trilogy at all.
And yeah, it has the Pirates of Caribbean effect but its less gory for now :)

[Niveditha]

That person in the Farseer trilogy was Kebal Rawbeard.. The 'k' in both names confused me! Also if I remember correctly, when Fitz was fighting the red ships, he was the only one who saw a mysterious figure on one of the red ships. As far as I remember, this wasn't explained in the later books. My warped brain made some sort of weird connection and decided that Fitz had actually seen Kennit/ Kebal.

[Pallavi]

Niveditha wrote: "That person in the Farseer trilogy was Kebal Rawbeard.. The 'k' in both names confused me! Also if I remember correctly, when Fitz was fighting the red ships, he was the only one who saw a mysterio..."
oh....
Finished Chapter 4:
It's more about Kennit and his ambitions.
Still confused on what role Kennit has to play with Althea and Winthrop (who are definitely main characters for now). Kennit looks like a good man in a Pirate's body (:P) but still something is missing in his description. I can't point out what, so i am not falling in love with him yet.
Should I like Kennit or not?

[Em Lost In Books, EmLo is my Name, PIFM is my Game]

I started this s yesterday but didn't go beyond half of first chapter. Looks like I will take some time to warm up to this s.

Does this book has multiple PoVs?

[Pallavi]

Manju wrote: "I started this s yesterday but didn't go beyond half of first chapter. Looks like I will take some time to warm up to this s.

Does this book has multiple PoVs?"

yes...Right Now there are Multiple POV's from characters like Althea, Kennit, Winthrop, Ephron,Ronica and Brashen...for 5 chapters that is enough POV's.

Hope you will jump in soon...

[Niveditha]

Pallavi- I got the feeling that Kennit is one of the antagonists :P

Also didn't like Althea much in her chapter. She sounds entitled and frankly a little racist.. if one may use that term in a fantasy novel.

Also, did anyone feel that the writing style is very different from the 1st set of Farseer trilogy?

[Sankara Jayanth]

@Niveditha Oh, yes, the writing style is different from Farseer trilogy, but I guess it's more to do with the multiple pov. Hobb's eloquent writing still persists in these books if I remember correctly. :)

[Sankara Jayanth]

@All

Buckle up, fellas! You are in for one hell of a ride. This trilogy was one of the most intense experiences for me, ever! Mainly because of the multiple POVs, each having incredibly deep character development. And the characters arcs merge into something truly intense and spectacular after a time.

[Sankara Jayanth]

@Manju Wait for it. I used to be skeptical about Multi POV before reading this trilogy. That changed on its head by the time I'm done with the trilogy.. Or rather, the trilogy was done with me. :/

[Sankara Jayanth]

@Pallavi Hold onto your questions. Kennit.... is a piece of work. Read on! ;)

[Pallavi]

Niveditha wrote: "Pallavi- I got the feeling that Kennit is one of the antagonists :P

Also didn't like Althea much in her chapter. She sounds entitled and frankly a little racist.. if one may use that term in a fan..."

Farseer was like a slow moving river compared to LiveShip Traders. This one moves fast with multile main characters.

[Pallavi]

Jayanth wrote: "@Pallavi Hold onto your questions. Kennit.... is a piece of work. Read on! ;)"

aha....
Waiting waiting :)

[Pallavi]

I ran ahead and finished till chapter 8 :)

Chapter 5: Althea and Brashen are main here. (view spoiler)[ I have a feeling that Althea is being more selfish than needed and more stubborn. Her attitude is somewhat snobbish in this even though Kyle is intolerable. Cool thing is Althea is able to hear the ships thoughts!! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6 & 7: Finally Quickening of Vivacia. (view spoiler)[ I am sad that Ephron is dead and Happy that Vivacia is quickened. What a turn of events!!! That stupid Mother Ronica, how can she give Vivacia to Kyle?? Atleast she could have made Keffria ready if she knew all along that the ship belonged to the first born child!!
I hate Kyle. I HATE KYLE!

Winthrop is beginning to become a darling Too... unexpected..
(hide spoiler)]
Chapter 8: More of Kyle, Althea and Brashen here. And a bit of Keffria too. (view spoiler)[Keffria definitely worships her husband. Or maybe Kyle knows how to brainwash Keffria. And Ronica is acting weird where as she knew her husband was dying from some time. Her grief is grief or just relief? That she doesn't have to bother more about the land and the ship as it will be in Kyle's hands now.
I have half a mind to hate her too... (hide spoiler)]

People I like till now:
1. Ephron
2. Brashen
3. Winthrop
4. Kennit
5. Althea

People I hate:
1. Kyle
2. Kyle
3. Kyle
4. Kyle
5. Kyle

People I am not bothered about yet:
1. Keffria
2. Keffira's Kids
3. EVerybody else :P

[Sankara Jayanth]

Hahaha. This is exactly what this trilogy makes you go through. Freaking extreme emotions and frustration and what not. I'm gonna have fun seeing your comments at each stage of the story 😂

[Pallavi]

Jayanth wrote: "Hahaha. This is exactly what this trilogy makes you go through. Freaking extreme emotions and frustration and what not. I'm gonna have fun seeing your comments at each stage of the story 😂"

I know... Farseer had only few storylines to follow and our whole attention was on and around Fitz. But here many storylines and knowing all will converge and this keeps us guessing i think.
And narration is too fast compared to Farseer.

[Niveditha]

I am reading much faster than expected :) I've taken a liking to Paragon!

[Pallavi]

Hi Guys!!!
I FInished chapter 15.

@Niveditha: Yes, I too feel that I am gonna like Paragon :)

[Sankara Jayanth]

How's the book coming along?

[Niveditha]

Just completed chapter 27. Malta is getting on my nerves. She's just too petulant and frivolous for a 13 year old. Etta is an interesting character. It seems like the story is heading towards a great cliffhanger. I don't know if I can resist starting book 2 immediately after this one.

I had already said in my previous post that the writing style was very different from the Farseer trilogy. I could not put my finger on it exactly then, but I believe this series lacks the same sophistication that Hobb brought into the Fitz books. I had loved her description of abstract concepts such as the Skill and the Wit. She certainly has a talent in imagining and expressing thoughts of non-human beings, like Night Eyes, for example. I found that a bit lacking here. The most beautiful prose comes in scenes with Vivacia, Paragon and the 'tangle'. I don't know if I am making a muddle of things here, but the way the sea serpents view their world as 'The Plenty' and 'The Lack'...that was some typical Hobb stuff that I would have loved to read more of..

The positive points are many.. As Pallavi pointed out earlier, this is a faster book with the limelight being shared by multiple characters. I'm still enjoying it!

[Niveditha]

While reading about the Rain Wild people, I was reminded of a short story in The Inheritance. It was about how the Rain Wild people settled down. I cannot remember the title.

[Sankara Jayanth]

You are going to get more of The Tangle in book 2 and 3, they were the most fascinating part of the series for me. And the Liveships Vivacia and Paragon are going to play a very important role, so you can expect the same beautiful prose.

I personally think both the Farseer trilogy and this one had the same treatment in terms of character depth, we feel it much more in Farseer because it is only 1 main character. It was astounding to me by the end of Ship of Magic how well and how complicated the core set of 5-6 characters were developed.

Malta, yeah, sigh. She was annoying.

I've not read The Inheritance collection yet, on my tbr though. Got to get to it sometime.

[Pallavi]

I am in Chapter 23.

(view spoiler)[ Malta is really really annoying. Hope Keffria will grow bold enough to stand against Kyle.
Yes!! The Tangle is something unique and I am still questioning their purpose :/

I also wonder, how Amber is going to fit in to this! She is also a very mysterious and interesting Character.
Will Malta be given to Rain Wild Traders? I have so many questions!

I am hoping to read it today as weekend was busy with Harry Potter and Dementors :P
(hide spoiler)]

[Sankara Jayanth]

Your questions will be answered. Amber... Tangle... Malta... I want to blurt out so much stuff, but I don't want to spoil anything for you guys. Keep reading. :D

[Niveditha]

Completed! 5 stars! Strong ending. I can't believe I finished it before you, Pallavi, after claiming in the beginning that I will be reading slowly :)

@jayanth- Have you completed the trilogy?

[Sankara Jayanth]

@Niveditha Wow, you said you'd fall behind everyone and you finished it first!! :D

Yeah, I completed the trilogy and loved every bit of it. You are in for a great treat with the books 2 and 3. ;) God, how I wish I was reading this trilogy for the first time again!

Has this book kept you anxious about the time when all the character stories have to come together and intersect in the end? I remember dreading the time when all the character arcs begin to make sense in the overall plot and you want to shout things to the characters to stop them from doing stuff because of things only you are aware of as a reader and not them... :D I'm blabbing, but you know what I mean.

[Niveditha]

@Jayanth- I was up till 2:40am yesterday and read till 91% and just HAD to finish the rest today :P

I kind of knew what was going to happen as I opened the Goodreads page of the second book and accidentally read the description--facepalm! Lesson well learnt.. Do not, ever, read the blurbs of later books in a series!

[Pallavi]

Wow @Niveditha.... Nice that you finished... I think I will take 2 more days to complete :( I'm jealous that you know the ending :p

[Niveditha]

@Pallavi Hang in there!

[Em Lost In Books, EmLo is my Name, PIFM is my Game]

Pallavi Sharma wrote: "Wow @Niveditha.... Nice that you finished... I think I will take 2 more days to complete :( I'm jealous that you know the ending :p"

don't worry, am still here. reading slower than a snail's speed. five chapters done and it's a fascinating world. even more amazing than the Farseer world, at least in first five chapters. it's a little early to judge characters but I am liking Althea and Wintrow for now. Kennit and Kyle are fighting for the top spot on hate list, funny both name starts with "K".

[Pallavi]

@Manju he he ok...
I am hating Wintrow now... What a fool he is! He is the most ill lucked person in the series...

[Em Lost In Books, EmLo is my Name, PIFM is my Game]

Great. I will try my best not to get attached to this innocent and intelligent soul. 😉

[Sankara Jayanth]

@Pallavi Poor Wintrow. I like him. (view spoiler)[His life is a downward spiral from the moment go (hide spoiler)]. Can't catch a f-ing break, that kid.

[Niveditha]

I liked wintrow too. Did your dislike of him lead you to call him 'winthorpe' in your earlier posts? 😂 @pallavi

[Pallavi]

Niveditha wrote: "I liked wintrow too. Did your dislike of him lead you to call him 'winthorpe' in your earlier posts? 😂 @pallavi"

LOL...I might have got muddled with the names...
I think I hate the fact that being a priest in training and talking about inner peace etc, Wintrow seems to show it very least.... Hoping he gain his stance.

[Niveditha]

Couldn't resist, so started book 2 🙈 Where are you all at?

[Pallavi]

Chapter 33

[Em Lost In Books, EmLo is my Name, PIFM is my Game]

somewhere in chapter 5. *runs away*

[Pallavi]

So I finished......
Am yet to start the next one....

[Sankara Jayanth]

@Pallavi waiting for review! That's an underwhelming reaction to finishing the book :/

[Pallavi]

He he... I reviewed it already... As I'm in phone can't paste the link sorry....
Plus I needed to sort my thoughts on this for the discussion... Probably tomorrow I will add a spoiler.... :)

[Sankara Jayanth]

Pallavi Sharma wrote: "He he... I reviewed it already... As I'm in phone can't paste the link sorry....
Plus I needed to sort my thoughts on this for the discussion... Probably tomorrow I will add a spoiler.... :)"

Ooh, I will check it out.

[Niveditha]

Goodreads app needs more functionality. Can't even reply to specific messages.

[Pallavi]

fast narration and many storylines to follow was the highlight of this book. Though by the end almost all the stories converge, some still are mystery to me. Hope next books will spill some light on those.
But my WTF moment was yesterday.... Read the spoiler only, ONLY IF U WANT TO MISS THE FUN LATER(view spoiler)[I was just googling some fanart on Liveship traders, just to visualize the ships/serpents. But I came across a particular image on Amber. And my GOD
i was going to fall off my chair. Why did I google? Why does google exist? And which dummy did the fanart? I know i am not giving up the secret but I have given all the steps to follow in the spoiler..... (hide spoiler)]

Well! I will start the next book soon. Hope Wintrow will gain weight and muscle, Althea will be a better person, Malta will shed her stupidity, Kyle will die, Kennit will be a good man. And (view spoiler)[Amber, sigh! No Comments!! (hide spoiler)]

[Niveditha]

Pallavi Sharma wrote: "fast narration and many storylines to follow was the highlight of this book. Though by the end almost all the stories converge, some still are mystery to me. Hope next books will spill some light o..."

I will also enclose my comments within the spolier tag (view spoiler)[ I also looked for images on Pinterest, but I had specifically looked for Vivacia, so didn't find any spoilery stuff. Thanks for the warning! I shall search no more :) (hide spoiler)]

[Niveditha]

You know what, I had tweeted my 3 favourite fantasy authors and had tagged Robin Hobb as one of the 3, and she liked my tweet!!! Omg! Omg! Fangirl moment :)

Is it possible to attach a picture here, so I can share the notification with y'all.

[Sankara Jayanth]

@Niveditha you can upload the image to any site like: https://imgbb.com/upload and they will provide a link to the uploaded image which you can share.

Make sure to blur or cut out any personal info like name and profile image for privacy.

[Pallavi]

Niveditha wrote: "You know what, I had tweeted my 3 favourite fantasy authors and had tagged Robin Hobb as one of the 3, and she liked my tweet!!! Omg! Omg! Fangirl moment :)

Is it possible to attach a picture here..."

Wow!!!
Just wOw!!!