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youngthespian42's review against another edition
5.0
I wish I could give this a 6/5. I truly cherish these character. I can believe the journey we have gone on together. Incredible conclusions to an incredible series. I loved Farseer Trilogy but Liveships offered even more. Cannot wait to continue but I am sad leaving Althea, Malta and co. behind. Top 3 series for sure.
luise96's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Gaslighting, and Rape
Moderate: Pregnancy, Torture, and Death of parent
hollyjbates's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jessimond's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
elentikvah's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-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
5.0
This review will be for the entire trilogy that I started on for the 2nd time on 5/6/2024 - completing nearly 103hrs in just 10 days!
Liveship Traders was one of the first non-Tolkien fantasy series that I picked up randomly in a bookstore around 2007/08. It is truly a story that first reading was remarkable! At the time, little did I know that this was the 2nd trilogy in the Realm of the Elderlings series. This 2nd reading lost a touch of the mystery and revelation of the first time thru, but *none* of the magic - with every spare moment focused on continuing this tale.
If one is coming to this series from the Far Seer Trilogy, then be ready for complex world-building and multiple POVs, and characters that are flawed with character arcs that pull you fully into their world - with the added bonus of seeing a different facet of a well-known friend from the Six Duchies.
This trilogy is composed of Ship of Magic, Mad Ship, and Ship of Destiny.
Ship of Magic centers around the Bingtown Trader family Vestrit - whose liveship, Vivacia, quickens when her captain - Ephron Vestrit - is the 3rd generation of Vestrits to die onboard. Unexpectedly, the captaincy of Vivacia is given, not to Althea who for years sailed with her father in preparation for this event, but instead to her elder sister who gives it to her husband, Kyle Haven. Given that a blood relative must sail with the liveship, Althea's nephew, Wintrow is forced aboard as a companion for Vivacia. As the captain of a liveship, Kyle sets out to resolve the Vestrit financial woes by turning to slave trade. Unwittingly becoming a target of the ambitious pirate captain Kennit, Vivacia is captured by Kennit, slaves are freed, and Wintrow agrees to stay with Vivacia to keep his father alive.
Mad Ship focuses on the refit of liveship Paragon - who has killed before and suffers from past trauma. During this book, the political intriques of Bingtown-RainWilds / Jamailia / Chalced cause more unrest, with the Vestrits accused of treason. In the RainWilds, Tintaglia - a dragon - is released. Meanwhile, Kennit charms Vivacia, and Wintrow becomes his prophet in the pursuit of becoming King of the Pirate Isles. Book 2 ends with Wintrow rescuing She Who Remembers, and inadvertently sharing memories with this creature.
Ship of Destiny is the rousing conclusion to the many story lines (far more than I have detailed here!) Althea onboard Paragon pursues Vivacia. Political intrigues continue, with Malta - Wintrow's sister - brokering a deal between the Jamailian Satrap and King Kennit of the Pirate Isles. War descends and chaos ensues, eventually with Paragon finding a measure of healing, Wintrow becoming Vivacia's captain, and Tintaglia shepherding a tangle of sea-serpents upstream of the RainWilds to their cocooning grounds.
In this 2nd reading, following completion of the Farseer Trilogy, it was a joy to meet Amber in Bingtown, and I look forward to continuing the Realm of the Elderlings with The Tawny Man Trilogy.
Rating 5/5 stars "it was amazing"
Ship of Magic - 35 hrs and 20 mins (2x)
Mad Ship - 33 hrs and 57 mins (2x)
Ship of Destiny - 33 hrs and 39 mins (2x)
Audiobook(s)
Excellent re-read!
Liveship Traders was one of the first non-Tolkien fantasy series that I picked up randomly in a bookstore around 2007/08. It is truly a story that first reading was remarkable! At the time, little did I know that this was the 2nd trilogy in the Realm of the Elderlings series. This 2nd reading lost a touch of the mystery and revelation of the first time thru, but *none* of the magic - with every spare moment focused on continuing this tale.
If one is coming to this series from the Far Seer Trilogy, then be ready for complex world-building and multiple POVs, and characters that are flawed with character arcs that pull you fully into their world - with the added bonus of seeing a different facet of a well-known friend from the Six Duchies.
This trilogy is composed of Ship of Magic, Mad Ship, and Ship of Destiny.
Ship of Magic centers around the Bingtown Trader family Vestrit - whose liveship, Vivacia, quickens when her captain - Ephron Vestrit - is the 3rd generation of Vestrits to die onboard. Unexpectedly, the captaincy of Vivacia is given, not to Althea who for years sailed with her father in preparation for this event, but instead to her elder sister who gives it to her husband, Kyle Haven. Given that a blood relative must sail with the liveship, Althea's nephew, Wintrow is forced aboard as a companion for Vivacia. As the captain of a liveship, Kyle sets out to resolve the Vestrit financial woes by turning to slave trade. Unwittingly becoming a target of the ambitious pirate captain Kennit, Vivacia is captured by Kennit, slaves are freed, and Wintrow agrees to stay with Vivacia to keep his father alive.
Mad Ship focuses on the refit of liveship Paragon - who has killed before and suffers from past trauma. During this book, the political intriques of Bingtown-RainWilds / Jamailia / Chalced cause more unrest, with the Vestrits accused of treason. In the RainWilds, Tintaglia - a dragon - is released. Meanwhile, Kennit charms Vivacia, and Wintrow becomes his prophet in the pursuit of becoming King of the Pirate Isles. Book 2 ends with Wintrow rescuing She Who Remembers, and inadvertently sharing memories with this creature.
Ship of Destiny is the rousing conclusion to the many story lines (far more than I have detailed here!) Althea onboard Paragon pursues Vivacia. Political intrigues continue, with Malta - Wintrow's sister - brokering a deal between the Jamailian Satrap and King Kennit of the Pirate Isles. War descends and chaos ensues, eventually with Paragon finding a measure of healing, Wintrow becoming Vivacia's captain, and Tintaglia shepherding a tangle of sea-serpents upstream of the RainWilds to their cocooning grounds.
In this 2nd reading, following completion of the Farseer Trilogy, it was a joy to meet Amber in Bingtown, and I look forward to continuing the Realm of the Elderlings with The Tawny Man Trilogy.
Rating 5/5 stars "it was amazing"
Ship of Magic - 35 hrs and 20 mins (2x)
Mad Ship - 33 hrs and 57 mins (2x)
Ship of Destiny - 33 hrs and 39 mins (2x)
Audiobook(s)
Excellent re-read!
oltya's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
reidreids's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Rape
storygrover's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
dkadastra's review against another edition
4.0
Solid end to the series. There were definitely things I didn't love, but it was a satisfying conclusion and it definitely set things up for the next series.