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laraloops's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really liked this book it's a good second book, building further on the themes and mysteries of the last book. There were revelations that were not super huge as they've been building even from the last trilogy (Assassin's Quest specifically) - the "parasites" the tangle was talking about about mid way through the book still caught me off guard.
For many people this was better than the first book - while I do like the action it had I felt like the way it climaxed felt more of a second book's climax, I didn't feel like it was as much of a climax as a preparation for the next book . That said I immediately got the third book and will keep reading it.
As with any Robin Hobb book the characters felt realistic and changed in their own ways. Wintrow is slowly getting more used to the pirate life, Kennit is continually being a piece of shit that everyone keeps interpreting as having a heart of gold (I find he is a very realistic depiction of men in power/men who have been abused and who fall back into the cycle of abuse). I love all the women in the Vestrit family. Malta especially grew in a realistic waythough I do continually feel uncomfortable with the fact she is continually referenced as adult/grown for her age at 13/14. I'm hoping it gets better in the next book but I am continually side eyeing Reyn . There was definitely more sexual violence in this book and those bits were harder to read through. I do not mind their inclusion though I feel like some parts could have been less descriptive - I feel like the way SA is included in Assassins Quest or even Ship of Magic did the job well enough without as much description. This is more of a product of the time and is more of a nitpick.
I found Kennit's point of view to be fascinating. The beginning had me actively wishinghe would survive and the line that he would not breathe again made me put down the book. Of course, ,by the end I was back to thinking maybe it would have been best if he stayed dead. He is undoubtedly a terrible guy with terrible thoughts and you can very clearly see the moments that his internal monologue conflicts with what he is actually feeling. The plans he has with Etta and Wintrow directly conflict with his actual feelings and he doesn't recognize it - his conversation with Etta later on in the book is so good at showing his actual feelings though his inner narration tries to convince him otherwise. His full backstory is not revealed yet, but his charm gives enough that you can guess what abuse he faced and it makes me worry for the next book.
One improvement in this book is that there is no Regal - a man who is terrible and continues to be terrible and in power. I felt at times in Farseer that he was just a villain and not much more than that (though I felt his end was very interesting). The closest too him is Kylewho by this time is squestered away and slightly worrying me with what he could be up to or convince people to do. or Satrap. The Satrap is the most like Regal and I feel the consequences of his actions have impacts on himself unlike Regal throughout most of the three books. He indulges in his vices and there are real consequences to his land and the Bingtown traders. In other words I feel that the antagonists are some of the most realistic we have seen.
I could continue on with this book, it may not be my favorite but it continually gives me things to think about. Unlike other fantasy books that I could not say much about other than to say they are good I feel this one has real weight to it that lends to literary analysis.
For many people this was better than the first book - while I do like the action it had I felt like the way it climaxed felt more of a second book's climax, I didn't feel like it was as much of a climax as a preparation for the next book . That said I immediately got the third book and will keep reading it.
As with any Robin Hobb book the characters felt realistic and changed in their own ways. Wintrow is slowly getting more used to the pirate life, Kennit is continually being a piece of shit that everyone keeps interpreting as having a heart of gold (I find he is a very realistic depiction of men in power/men who have been abused and who fall back into the cycle of abuse). I love all the women in the Vestrit family. Malta especially grew in a realistic way
I found Kennit's point of view to be fascinating. The beginning had me actively wishing
One improvement in this book is that there is no Regal - a man who is terrible and continues to be terrible and in power. I felt at times in Farseer that he was just a villain and not much more than that (though I felt his end was very interesting). The closest too him is Kyle
I could continue on with this book, it may not be my favorite but it continually gives me things to think about. Unlike other fantasy books that I could not say much about other than to say they are good I feel this one has real weight to it that lends to literary analysis.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Slavery, Violence, and Rape
Moderate: Sexual content
briely's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death, Sexual assault, Rape, and Sexism
errie's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Murder, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Torture, Violence, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, War, Rape, Toxic friendship, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Misogyny, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Trafficking
turidt's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, and Violence
lentzar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Trafficking, and Violence
Moderate: Rape and War
bebby92's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, and Death
caroclaw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The last time I picked this series up was about ten years ago, and I can't even remember if I finished this one. I found the middle chunk of it so slow paced it was insurmountable.
This time, I deliberately relaxed through it and took it chapter by chapter, relishing the thoughtful characterisation and trying to pick up on those hints at the great mystery of this series that Hobb is so good at threading through her books. It was so much easier, and reading this with the eyes of an adult certainly tinted many parts with different colours- particularly parts to do with Malta.
As usual, no matter how the pace dawdles through 85% of the book, Hobb sure does body slam you right at the end. I'm hoping the final Liveship Traders novel is complete chaos, because I have only the tiniest clue where this is going.
This time, I deliberately relaxed through it and took it chapter by chapter, relishing the thoughtful characterisation and trying to pick up on those hints at the great mystery of this series that Hobb is so good at threading through her books. It was so much easier, and reading this with the eyes of an adult certainly tinted many parts with different colours- particularly parts to do with Malta.
As usual, no matter how the pace dawdles through 85% of the book, Hobb sure does body slam you right at the end. I'm hoping the final Liveship Traders novel is complete chaos, because I have only the tiniest clue where this is going.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Violence
Moderate: War, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
jeoonwoo's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Violence
atalea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The Liveship Traders is slowly becoming one of my all-time favourite series. Robin Hobb's character work is some of the best out there and this series really highlights that. All the characters undergo interesting developments in a natural way and you've got to love/hate her villains. I don't know how she does it, but I loved (almost) all the characters in the book and wasn't interested in all of the POV's.
Between the two, I do prefer Ship of Magic over Mad Ship because I felt more was happening in that book. In Mad Ship we take a slower pace. Mysteries of the world are slowly being unraveled. Most of the book felt like set-up for the conclusion of the story and focused instead in character development. I don't mind a slow burn (I mean that's Hobb in a nutshell), but it was only 3/4 into the book that things started going down, so it dragged a bit.
I am very interesting to see how Hobb will bring everything together in the end and can't wait to start the final book in this trilogy.
Between the two, I do prefer Ship of Magic over Mad Ship because I felt more was happening in that book. In Mad Ship we take a slower pace. Mysteries of the world are slowly being unraveled. Most of the book felt like set-up for the conclusion of the story and focused instead in character development. I don't mind a slow burn (I mean that's Hobb in a nutshell), but it was only 3/4 into the book that things started going down, so it dragged a bit.
I am very interesting to see how Hobb will bring everything together in the end and can't wait to start the final book in this trilogy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Slavery
Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, and Misogyny
Minor: Confinement, Animal death, Infidelity, Addiction, Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse