Ruxandra Grrr ’s Reviews > The Mad Ship > Status Update

Malta's mind being utterly blown by hearing for the first time a man actually apologize is suuuuch a good, satisfying moment, I can't even.

OK, Robin Hobb is soooooo good, cause she made me love and appreciate Malta and I didn't think that could happen tbh.

OK, the drama has simmered and is now becoming absolutely delicious.

Since I think that Amber is [redacted], this discussion with Althea on love is even more interesting (loved to listen to this convo).

The one thing I'm disappointed with in this book is still the slavery plot. A lot of the book revolves around the slavery and we have so many POV characters, but not one is a slave (Wintrow doesn't count). Plus the one prominent slave character, the priest, is presented as a madman / almost an antagonist. Plus the themes explored, freedom & agency, are inherently connected to the slavery, which makes stuff worse.

Fuck yeah, great commentary on sex work from Etta!

So many thoughts and feelings about this, gah, it's really good in the scene to scene 😍 a new marvelous lady, really great character moments for Althea. Ofc I was happy Kyle isn't as much if a presence, but Malta really fits his post, she's like a much worse early Sansa Stark, but somehow I still begrudgingly care about her.

Oh no, the first Althea appearance in this book and it's to kind of ruin Ophelia the ship for me 😭