Ship of Magic

After reading the Farseer triology, I just wanted more of Fitz and his adventure, so I was skeptical about reading a totally orthogonal story in the realm. I am glad I listened to advise online not to skip the live ship traders. This series is just another masterpiece. The characters are all so well thought out. Robin Hobb knows how to develop a character through the story.The character journey portrayed here is the spine of the story, from Kennit to Malta, to Althea or Brashan. Add that to the intricately thought out world. I can't wait to gobble up rest of the books in the Elderling Saga.

Tardó unos días, como ya sabía al comprarlo pero llegó cuando estaba planeado y en muy buen estado

Ship of Magic is the first book in the Liveship Traders trilogy. It is set in the same world as the Farseer trilogy, although the setting and characters are almost completely different.This is the series that made me a huge fan of Robin Hobb. Although I liked the Farseer trilogy, the ending left me a bit confused and I really wanted to see the world sketched out a bit more. Hobb certainly does that and a lot more.The story begins in the port city of Bingtown, a heavily taxed but otherwise neglected exclave of the nation of Jamallia. Bingtown Trader families are famous for their liveships - vessels carved from a special type of wood that ripens into sentience after three people in the family die aboard. Althea Vestrit has been waiting all her life for their ship Vivacia to quicken - even with the sadness of her father's death accompanying it. She has grown up on board the ship and fully expects to inherit it, but when it actually happens, she's in for a nasty shock - the ship instead goes to her greedy brother-in-law Kyle. Althea's gentle cousin Wintrow is training to be a priest and greatly enjoying it, but his father Kyle is determined to make a sailor out of him - by force if necessary. The newly awakened and confused Vivacia needs someone with Vestrit blood aboard her, but all she has is Wintrow, imprisoned upon her against his will. And there's Kennit who is not satisfied with being the most successful pirate of his time, and his plans will lead him directly into Vivacia's path.Hobb is never unduly kind to her characters - she makes them work really hard and go through a lot (it's almost physically painful to read about sometimes, but at least it pays off in the end, unlike say, with Joe Abercrombie.) They are not Chosen Ones - they are just fairly ordinary people that only become heroes because they care about something very much, and will cross any obstacles for it. Althea is no exception - she's stubborn, spirited and impertinent. I found myself alternating between cheering for her and being exasperated at her obstinate sense of entitlement. She loves Vivacia and after a few days of utter despair, makes up her mind that she will do anything to get her back - including proving her seamanship by enlisting on a dangerous whaling ship. Wintrow is also very well written, especially his relationship to Vivacia. He resents her because her need for Vestrit blood has chained him to her, but he also recognises that she's sad and confused and needs his help.Another thing I love about Hobb's fantasy is that there are no straight up villains. Everyone is complex and changeable, and Kennit is no exception. He's got some backstory behind his desire to capture a liveship, and he prides himself on being just and practical, and he's even kind most of the time. He also manipulates people for his own ends, but Hobb never portrays it as evil - he's just the product of his circumstances. The supporting cast is also really well envisioned - especially other Vestrit women (Ronica, Keffria and Malta.)The plot is really just a function of the characters' natural actions - although there is the lingering issue of the sea serpents. Hobb's descriptive writing and the complex history of Bingtown and the Rain Wilds really brings the setting to life.Highly recommended, even if you've never read anything else by Hobb.

This is my first Hobb book. I tried Farseer but I couldn't get into it. I thought I'd give her another try since so many people seem to like her so much. I'm glad I did, and I'll have to give Farseer another try.Possibly spoilers here...First the good stuff. The magic was really kool. The whole system was very intricate and believable. The wizardwood was really intriguing and even though the liveships do kind of have a cheese factor, I still liked it. The story was really a pageturner, I looked forward to picking up the book everyday ( I read it on breaks at work mostly). A lot of the characters broke out of the stereotypes of pirates and such although Althea...I dunno she kind of seemed too much the spunky heroine ya know? I liked her and all...but she wasn't the most interesting of the bunch. The most I liked her was when she did something I didn't expect, which was only a couple times...the plot point of her dressing up as a boy could be seen a mile away. But it doesn't put a damper on it, I think she still has potential in the rest of the story esp with Brashen. I also liked her thing with the woodworking girl Amber...which wasn't as much as I wish it would have been. The world was nice, and I liked the family dynamics and the contract with the Creepy Traders...although Malta was a bore. Kyle...who can say why Ephrom ever trusted him for a moment?Now for some of the not so good stuff...Paragon...I don't know, he was interesting but just a bit too blank sometimes characterwise. I can see why that could be since he lost his memories...but some of the stuff with him and Amber I didn't think added much to the story.Interminable setting details...could have been A LOT shorter and tighter if some of that stuff was left out.While I really liked Kennit and his whore...I wish there were more background information about what made him the way he is...hopefully that will be brought out in the next two books...but I would have liked more in this one! It would have made him less of just a villain.Wintrow...was interesting and everything it's just I didn't find myself liking him very much at all. That's not all bad...I realize not every character has to be likable...but I had to read a lot about him and I thought he was spiteful and pompous...but I do see room for him to grow and I hope he doesI think the worst aspect of the book was the serpents...it did not go anywhere and was just a muddle. I know we'll see more...but bring it somewhere in the first book!Most of this stuff is probably nitpicking...but I gave the book four stars and overall it is a really good book...just a few things that maybe will be resolved over the course of the trilogy but I wished were brought to a better tantalizing crescendo in the first book.Happy reading!

Excellent book and seller! The item arrived early and was in the very best condition! Highly recommend both the book and the seller!