The Mad Ship [June 25, 2019]

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

.

[Choko]

Spot 😎

[Veronica]

In! I really prefer the UK covers to the US ones. I need to get my hands on those.

[Solseit]

I will be in! In fact, I am ready to start! :D

[Barry]

I might start early, sometime in the next few days.

[Siobhan]

Wow, it took me so long to get through Ship of Magic I didn't even notice this was nearly due to start!!

[Barry]

Time flies when you're having fun? Haha.

[Siobhan]

Haha yeah it does XD
I'm gonna start tomorrow I think. So looking forward to being immersed in this world again.

[Siobhan]

Chapter 1 and Hobb (view spoiler)[has me tearing up over a ship wanting to die... :'( Evil woman she is. I really hope Amber can save Paragon. Fire or being chopped up is not a great choice! (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 3 - (view spoiler)[I like Reyn! I know we met him briefly in book 1, and he was discussed, but I don't think I even knew his name. I feel sorry for him though because he seems like a nice guy and Malta is a dickhead...! Why did he have to fall for her? (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 4 - (view spoiler)[That scene with Wintrow amputating Kennit's leg was so well written! I thought I was going to be sick. So terribly real feeling. And oh my.... He drew his last breath? Can it be?! (hide spoiler)]

[Barry]

Started today. End of Ch 3

Ch 3(view spoiler)[
So, there’s a shortage of wizard wood in the Rain Wild, meaning there would be no more Liveship pretty soon? Even the Khuprus only have one more wizardwood that Reyn thinks contain a dragon?

So, does this mean all wizardwood and Liveships contain the remains of dragons?

Elderlings -> Dragons -> trapped in wizardwood? I wonder how they got trapped inside a piece of wizardwood ... because in the Farseer Trilogy the dragons were statues, iirc?

So, there are, so far, three fates that befallen the Elderlings/dragons : statues, wizardwood and serpents? (hide spoiler)]

@Siobhan re Ch 3 (view spoiler)[totally agree with Reyn, because I simply can not see how he thinks Malta is mature and good fit for him. Well, I guess that’s why they need to start courting first. (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

Barry wrote: "Started today. End of Ch 3

Ch 3"

RE chapter 3 - (view spoiler)[Yes it seems wizardwood is very limited. I think it's really interesting the connections being drawn between the liveships, serpents and the Elderlings. I think he's right that there's a dragon in there but how, I have no idea haha. Somehow they must have become one with the wood, to enable the wood to be made into other things and still have their consciousness. Or they turned into wood the way the Elderlings in Farseer turned into stone (were the statues stone?)? (hide spoiler)] So interesting!! :D

[Anny]

Siobhan wrote: "Barry wrote: "Started today. End of Ch 3

Ch 3"

RE chapter 3 - [spoilers removed] So interesting!! :D"

Starting today too :)

Ch 3 (view spoiler)[Maybe there is a race of Elderlings dragon made of wizardwood instead of stone? So they slept as logs and when they are cut into liveships they lose their identity as dragons and became as newborns liveships. Not sure where the serpents fit in. Maybe they became wizardwood trees after transformation? (hide spoiler)]

Ch 4 (view spoiler)[NOO Kennit!! He can't be dead, if he is Wintrow will be dead too. Surely that's not going to happen. (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

Anny wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "Barry wrote: "Started today. End of Ch 3

Ch 3"

RE chapter 3 - [spoilers removed] So interesting!! :D"

Starting today too :)

Ch 3 [spoilers removed]

Ch 4 [spoilers removed]"

That all makes sense, Anny. I'm sure we'll find out if we're right eventually! :D

RE chapter 4 - (view spoiler)[I haven't read on yet because I'm too scared to find out if he's really dead and what that means for Wintrow!! Etta will definitely try to kill him if Kennit is dead. 😱 (hide spoiler)]

[Barry]

End of Ch 9

Althea
(view spoiler)[I’m very glad that she’s arrived safely without further mishap. Plus, she’s gonna get her ship stamp. And, she’s proposed by Grag. I wholly support this proposed union; although, I don’t see Althea willing to settle down and be a housewife.

At this point, obviously, the Vestritts don’t have Vivacia. So, one of her worries about what to do if she gets Vivacia back is a moot point. But, it’d be interesting if she could rescue her from Kennit, and she agrees to marry Grag, what would happen ... would the Teniras have two liveships? (hide spoiler)]

Satrap
(view spoiler)[ugh! I really hope he’s not gonna be as bad as Regal and Kyle. Though. I fully expect he will f it up for the Bingtown Traders. (hide spoiler)]

Malta
(view spoiler)[I guess it’s the worst thing that could happen now that she seems to have Reyn completely smitten ... (hide spoiler)]

Amber(view spoiler)[
I wonder if she’s a character we met back in Farseer Trilogy?

I expect she’d join Althea when she tries to restore Paragon to try to get Vivacia back...

Speaking of Paragon, he knows the connection between dragons and serpents ... no other Liveship seems to be aware of such connections ... (hide spoiler)]

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

I absolutely love this series and I had to be talked into it because Farseer was so disappointing to me.

[Siobhan]

Barry wrote: "End of Ch 9

Althe

So much to discuss!!

RE Althea (view spoiler)[I'm glad she's made it back to Bingtown too but the changes there are awful. I'm glad Ophelia's captain is there to help stand up against them! I hope Althea can make things up with her mother and sister because they all need to unite. I think Grag would make a wonderful husband for her, but she doesn't seem to be feeling his sensible approach. They would be a Liveship power couple! They could sail in a fleet together! :D (hide spoiler)]

RE Satrap (view spoiler)[ He seems like another Regal to me, god help us all! Stupid, childish, spoilt brat of a leader! His advisor seemed nice, hope she can regain some control. (hide spoiler)]

RE Amber (view spoiler)[I've been hoping/wondering if we would come across a character from Farseer. Who do you think she could be potentially? (view spoiler)[Starling maybe?? (hide spoiler)]
I think she'll be a good ally for Althea too.
It's interesting that Paragon seems to remember stuff about dragons and serpents! Maybe he has space to remember ancient history because he lost his log books of his family history. Although I think he's just pretending he can't remember a lot of that. (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

Scott wrote: "I absolutely love this series and I had to be talked into it because Farseer was so disappointing to me."

I really liked Farseer, even though it was dragging a bit with the depressive characters by the end. But, I adore this series so far!!

[Barry]

@ Siobhan

Re Amber (view spoiler)[I think Starling had one of her fingers broken by Regal. Not sure if that would make her unable to craft woods? That’s my first and so far only guess too. But, I think she’s not Starling. (hide spoiler)]

[Anny]

Barry wrote: "End of Ch 9

Althea (view spoiler)[ Grag is such a nice boy but I agree that Althea is not the type to stay at home. She will want to sail with a liveships, so I guess her best route would be joining Kennit and be a pirate too? I guess Kennit and Bingtown will work together in the end to oppose the Satrap and Chalchedean. (hide spoiler)]

Malta (view spoiler)[ surprisingly turned out to be a very competent femme fatale. Her interaction with Reyn will be very interesting to follow. Will Reyn prove to be her match? Or just a simpering boy for her to step on? (hide spoiler)]

Amber (view spoiler)[I hope that she may be descendants of Nettle. (hide spoiler)]

[Barry]

@ Anny
Re: Amber (view spoiler)[But, the event depicted in this series is only a few years after what happened in the Farseer. So, it couldn't be a descendant of Nettle. Nettle herself? But, Amber is, I think, almost the same age as Althea. So, I don't think it's Nettle.

I think Amber might be somebody from the Mountains or one of the people in the Outer Duchies where Regal was staying. Was there somebody with woodworking skills mentioned in the Farseer, I don't remember. (hide spoiler)]

Re : Althea
(view spoiler)[Yeah, I think somehow Kennit would play an important role in driving the Chalcedean navies and the Satrap away (and perhaps, he'd be given an honorary Trader status?). But, that would mean Vivacia wouldn't return to the Vestritt family.

Unless, Althea restores Paragon and exchanges it with Kennit for Vivacia??

I think I'm really getting ahead of myself lol. (hide spoiler)]

[Anny]

Barry wrote: "@ Anny
Re: Amber " (view spoiler)[ EH?! Is it mentioned anywhere that this takes place only a few years after Farseer? I must've missed it. The only one I remember with woodwork skill is the Fool. Somehow Amber reminded me of Kettle but that's obviously not possible. (hide spoiler)]

Althea (view spoiler)[ I think it's safe to assume that Vivacia now belong to Wintrow/Kennit. I think Althea already missed the chance to make the ship hers. At most, she will only work above Vivacia as deck hand I think. I'm still not sure Paragon's role here. Will Althea and Brashen sail Paragon to reclaim Vivacia? If so it might be that in the end Althea and Brashen will marry and sail Paragon together (maybe with Amber too). But I don't think the author will allow such a happy ending I'm afraid. (hide spoiler)]

[Barry]

Anny wrote: "Barry wrote: "@ Anny
Re: Amber " [spoilers removed]

Althea [spoilers removed]"
Amber (view spoiler)[
I don't remember the exact passage, but I believe in the first book it was mentioned that the Traders of Bingtown are suffering because of the war and the Red Raiders raiding the coast in the Six Duchies that happened a few years back. I think Amber also mentioned something about seeing a real dragon a few years back to Paragon, iirc.

Hmmm ... the Fool. Possible. He's somewhat gender-less? Could she be the Fool?? That is intriguing, if true. (hide spoiler)]

[Anny]

Barry wrote: "Anny wrote: "Barry wrote: "@ Anny
Re: Amber " [spoilers removed]

Althea [spoilers removed]"
Amber
I don't remember the exact passage, but I believe in the first book it was mentioned that the Tr..."

Amber (view spoiler)[ Oh, I already forgot about such thing. If true then yeah, Amber might be someone that we know of. The Fool is an unlikely candidate I think. He was more known as toy-maker instead of bead-maker, and I think he would've kept that trade if he travels abroad. But I think the Fool has his own story (The Fool Trilogy) right? So Amber should be someone else. (hide spoiler)]

[Barry]

End of Part I (Ch 12)

Amber
(view spoiler)[I'm still not sure, but there are some signs that indicate she could be the Fool. Firstly, she tells Althea that she's accustomed to playing many roles. Then, her remark about Althea being "the one" is similar to what the Fool told Fitz about Fitz being "the one" who would change the fabric of history back in the Farseer Trilogy. Then, of course her plan or desire to change the fate of the Bingtown Traders, Rainwild Traders and the slaves and the Satrap. And, her curiosity to discover the connection between dragons and serpents (only those who have been to the Rain Wild are would know something about the nature of the dragons). Her knowledge of what the Rain Wild Traders have been doing to the Rain Wild area is interesting (now I sort of understand why Ephron Vestritt didn't want to trade in Rain Wild goods). Last but not least, of course the woodworking connection (yes, the Fool made dolls, and Amber makes beads ...). Of course, I could be totally wrong, and Amber could totally be somebody else. But, I think the Fool is the strongest guess, right now. (hide spoiler)]

Kennit
(view spoiler)[Kennit being paranoid about Etta's or Sorcor's loyalties is amusing.

Hopefully, with his gradual return to health and stronger connection with Vivacia, he would develop into a genuinely good guy. But, knowing Hobb ... (hide spoiler)]

The Vestritts
(view spoiler)[While I don't disagree with her argument, I thought Althea mocking Kyle is, obviously, not a good way to try to get Keffria to side with her. I just don't see how the two sisters could ever be reunited, unless Keffria truly sees the terrible things that Kyle has done to Wintrow. Only then, I think, Keffria would be convinced that Kyle is not a good man. Even then, she might still side with Kyle, if Kyle could spend just one night with her sigh. (hide spoiler)]

[Solseit]

I am impressed by the progress of everyone so far! I will start tomorrow though and I cannot wait to read through your comments!!

[Choko]

I just started, Ch. 2... I feel like howling for Paragon and for all the wrongs done to the Live Ships...

[Veronica]

I just started too, have only made it through chapter three. I can already tell I'm going to hate reading Kennit's chapters...again. Which means I'm going to dislike reading Wintrow's chapters too since he's now in Kennit's clutches. This is going to be a frustrating book for me, I fear. :-( (view spoiler)[I take some comfort in knowing that Kennit's charm knows what he's really like and hates him for it. Now if only everyone else could figure it out.

Poor Paragon. I really hope Amber can save him.

So ancient dragons are the sentience behind Liveships (wizard wood)? (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Yeah, I suspected something of the sort... I wonder if they were dead or just in deep sleep... Somehow it seems wrong, doesn't it?

[Siobhan]

Chapter 10 - (view spoiler)[I love the Teniras so much, such nice, genuine people! So well mannered and friendly and honourable!
When Althea brought Amber and the captain was just so happy she would look at Ophelia's hands! ❤️ And Grag said that being Althea's friend was all the credentials she needed. So sweet man. Please don't let Hobb kill them... She does like to destroy me.

I felt so much for Ronica when Althea finally got home and she just poured out all her emotions and everything that's wrong. It's hard being so strong for so long. I hope Keffria can work with Althea somehow. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 11 - (view spoiler)[I wonder how long until they realise Vivacia has been taken. What will happen to them without that income? :( (hide spoiler)]

[Veronica]

Choko wrote: "Yeah, I suspected something of the sort... I wonder if they were dead or just in deep sleep... Somehow it seems wrong, doesn't it?"

It totally does.

[Siobhan]

Choko wrote: "I just started, Ch. 2... I feel like howling for Paragon and for all the wrongs done to the Live Ships..."

Me too ❤️

[Siobhan]

Barry wrote: "@ Siobhan

Re Amber [spoilers removed]"

It's my only guess so far (view spoiler)[as someone well versed in history and music, and someone who saw a dragon. Fair point about her fingers though. I have no clue really, maybe she isn't anyone we already know. (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

Anny wrote: "Barry wrote: "@ Anny
Re: Amber " [spoilers removed]

Althea [spoilers removed]"

Barry wrote: "@ Anny
Re: Amber "

Nice theories guys!! Definitely getting ahead of ourselves! 😂

[Choko]

Barry and Siobhan, about Amber (view spoiler)[ I am almost completely sure that Amber is the Fool... I have no idea what the connection is and why she is here, but from the start I could recognize the Fool in her... (hide spoiler)]

[Veronica]

Siobhan wrote: "Chapter 1 and Hobb [spoilers removed]

Chapter 3 - [spoilers removed]

Chapter 4 - [spoilers removed]"

Totally agree with your chapter three spoiler (which is as far as I've read so far). (view spoiler)[I can't imagine what in the world Reyn sees, or thinks he sees, in Malta. It has to be only based on the physical right now...but she's still only, what, 12 or 13? I have a 13 year old daughter who, by no means on an adult's level yet, is a lot more mature in her thinking and actions than Malta is. (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

Choko wrote: "Barry and Siobhan, about Amber [spoilers removed]"

Ooh I'm liking this theory! I'm hoping you're right coz that would be amazing. I had forgotten (view spoiler)[how good the Fool was with woodwork until Anny pointed it out above, so that is a decent clue I think!
Also, it does seem like Amber has a mission of some sort by chapter 11. She's very vague, but definitely is here with a purpose. (hide spoiler)]

[Siobhan]

Veronica wrote: "Siobhan wrote: "Chapter 1 and Hobb [spoilers removed]

Chapter 3 - [spoilers removed]

Chapter 4 - [spoilers removed]"

Totally agree with your chapter three spoiler (which is as far as I've read s..."

RE chapter 3 (view spoiler)[As you point out, it must be entirely physical, and I find that creepy because she's 12/13! Definitely not a woman no matter what she thinks. If it's not physical, she has him completely fooled with her fake personality! (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

I hate that whole situation with Reyn and Malta. Because of her games and as he said, he had never been romantically been interested in another person before, so he is inexperienced, the whole situation can be very hurtful to very many people without even meaning to. I really wish she would get her shit together and that he will slow things down...

[Barry]

Siobhan wrote: "Choko wrote: "Barry and Siobhan, about Amber [spoilers removed]"

Ooh I'm liking this theory! I'm hoping you're right coz that would be amazing. ..."
End of Ch 15

Amber
(view spoiler)[Another clue is that Amber has striking eyes. Not sure if the color has been mentioned in this book. But, I remember the Fool's eyes and hair colors were also "striking". I'm too lazy to go back and find the descriptions but so far I think Amber might be the Fool. (hide spoiler)]

Malta
(view spoiler)[ugh! Her flirting with Brashen is just sickening. How could a 12/13 year old do that? Brashen is what? 22? (hide spoiler)]

The serpents
(view spoiler)[Slowly more and more people are remembering who they are. I wonder if the original tangles = coterie?? (hide spoiler)]

[Anny]

Barry wrote: "End of Part I (Ch 12)"

Amber (view spoiler)[ Well, all her talk about fixing destiny definitely smells like the Fool. Then, maybe Jek was part of Patience's guard? Or Ketricken's guard? (hide spoiler)]

Kennit (view spoiler)[ I was thinking that Hobb is shaping Kennit to be a redemption character. He saw in Wintrow his traumatic past and seem to intent on saving Wintrow from similar fate. In any case, I do hope they get rid of that abominable Kyle as soon as possible. (hide spoiler)]

Vestrits (view spoiler)[is a total mess now and in a desperate financial situation to boot. Althea is never a people person and I don't think she know how to bridge a relationship with a sister who is a polar opposite of her. Keffria is a hopeless case, I don't know if what happened to Wintrow will change her. I'm not optimistic. In any case, the game changer here is Malta. She holds the key to their financial predicament. She, I guess, will end up jilting Reyn, and who knows how that will affect Vivacia's debt. My worst prediction is she will successfully snag Trell and marry into that family, leaving the Vestrist stranded with the debt and very angry debtor. Althea then might be forced to give herself up to pay that debt. Ooh, I desperately hope she won't get away with such schemes. (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Anny, I hope you are wrong, but I don't put anything past Malta. She is mellitus and spiteful. She is smart, but her smarts are used for cunning and bad intentions... I am so tired of her small minded interests and pettiness... I had hoped that she will understand what dire straights they are in and she will put her intellectual strength and spirit into doing something good for the family... I am patient, but she is trying my patience and I am starting to lose hope in her redemption.

The chapters with the Alzheimer's serpents break my heart!

Ch. 14... that Magnadon, I want him dead ASAP!

[Veronica]

Not much reading time, and it doesn't help that I have three books going at once (and Dust of Dreams lurking in July - eek!) so I'm only through chapter 8. (view spoiler)[They should've let Kennit die. Sorry but I'm just never going to like him and I HATE that he has the Vivacia now. I fear both the liveship and Wintrow will be sucked in by his false persona. The chapters dealing with him are too long.

I want Althea and the Vestrits to learn that their liveship has been stolen already!!! And to do something about it! I hope this entire book isn't going to be about them dickering about doing nothing very important meanwhile Kennit is warping Wintrow and the Vivacia more and more. (hide spoiler)]

And Malta...ugh...her parts on top of Kennit's make me want to drop the book altogether. More Kyle added to those toxic two would get me to that point for sure. These three characters make me want to turn more to the other two books I'm reading.

[Siobhan]

Don't worry Veronica, I'm reading 3 books at once too so I'll be here a while! XD

See, those awful characters don't put me off reading! It's like a love to hate thing. I hate them with a passion, but I think that's wonderful writing haha.

[Siobhan]

Veronica wrote: "Not much reading time, and it doesn't help that I have three books going at once (and Dust of Dreams lurking in July - eek!) so I'm only through chapter 8. ..."

RE chapter 8, I agree (view spoiler)[they should have let him die!! I hate him too and hate that he has Vivacia. I'm also very desperate for the Vestrits to find out! (hide spoiler)]

[Veronica]

Siobhan wrote: "Don't worry Veronica, I'm reading 3 books at once too so I'll be here a while! XD

See, those awful characters don't put me off reading! It's like a love to hate thing. I hate them with a passion, ..."

The three book thing is stressing me out, lol.

[Choko]

V, don't give up on the book. I am up to Ch 20 and things are happening, it just takes Hobb a while to unroll them...

[Choko]

However, Kenit is one cunning and duplicitous bastard! And Vivacia, being really a baby in social sense, is very susceptible to his games...

[Veronica]

That's what I'm afraid of, that Vivacia will fall for his crap. By the time Alethea gets her back, assuming she ever does, she may be too twisted. :-(

And for the love of chocolate, can someone please drop Malta down a deep well and board up the top? She is so shallow, materialistic, narcissistic...I can't stand her. I'm beginning to think Reyn isn't too bright. Not to mention the flirting with sexual innuendo is sleeving me out. Yuck.

[Choko]

The way she flirts with men is sickening! She has absolutely no idea what she is playing with...

[Choko]

Ch. 24... OMG! I thought it would be something like that... Poor (view spoiler)[ serpents/dragons! So they actually throw away the real gestating dragon out of its cocoon of memories, kind of like the shell of an egg, and use the shell to make the planks for the Live Ships... This is so wrong, but also so sad... (hide spoiler)]