Reviews

Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb

chlsclrksn's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

UGH no woman breaks my heart like robin

rainlyt's review against another edition

Too slow. I found myself drifting. 

8bitlapras's review

adventurous dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

irbix13's review

adventurous challenging emotional slow-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexism

joshkaine04's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

abnewman02's review

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

realhuman's review

adventurous dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

alex2_0's review

adventurous dark emotional tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

mrbear's review against another edition

4.0

Despite all the negative reviews I've given Robin Hobb's books in the past, I keep coming back. The only way I can explain it is that, even though I finish every book unhappy and a tad disappointed, I have trouble denying that they are well written (certainly far above the curve for fantasy) and that the plotlines are usually well fleshed out. This book was no exception. Overall thoughts:

PROS:
Strong worldbuilding, story doesn't feel rushed, good characterization, wide array of different, equally interesting plotlines.

CONS:
Formatting! - I don't understand why chapters randomly switch narrators midway through. These should just be new chapters a la GRRM. It's not copying his idea if it's the best way to write third person with multiple viewpoints.
Pace - This is both a pro and a con. I love that the story is not rushed, and that all the characters are analyzed in detail so that they are realistic, but sometimes Hobb's books seem to move at a glacial pace. While I'm not sure if this is really a con, or just a personal frustration with her writing, it definitely keeps me from placing her amongst my all time favorite authors
SADISM - Hobb has this insane fascination with her characters being maimed, killed, or writhing in some sort of agony (either emotional or physical). While it is often realistic in the context of her stories, it makes her books overly depressing to read. To be honest, this book was less painful than the books of hers that I'd read previously, because it is not written in the first person (and thus isnt ALL about a single narrator's pain). I still am frustrated by this aspect of her writing, and really wish, just once, one of her characters would actually be happy for a few chapters.

leiferwomann's review against another edition

adventurous slow-paced

3.75