Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb (The Liveship Traders: Book 1)

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Rating 9.5/10

Hobb keeps up the high standards in this new trilogy.

The Ship of Magic is book one of the Liveship Traders trilogy written by Robin Hobb. First published in 1998, the series is set far to the south of The Six Duchies, the setting for the excellent Farseer Trilogy.

After having read and thoroughly enjoyed the Farseer trilogy I was expecting more of the same again. I was not disappointed; in fact I found the writing of even higher calibre. This is no small compliment as I find Robin Hobbs’s use of the English language superb and a joy to read.

The story is unique, the character development excellent. In just a few chapters the characters are well drawn and take on a life of their own. There is a distinctly nautical feel to the Liveship Traders but it is in no way important that you have a passion for the sea as the story could be based on land, sea or air, it really wouldn’t matter.

The event upon which the story is central is the “quickening” of the liveship Vivacia. Once three family members of separate generations have died on board the ship it will become “alive” and share the memories of the deceased and become a being in it’s own right. This is a wonderful notion and adds certain freshness to the story that remains throughout.

Once the liveship Vivacia has been wakened, the pace of the narrative slows down; the characters are further developed, at this, a key moment in the lives of all the main characters. The inevitable infighting that plagues families times of bereavement also affects the Vistrits and they are a family torn apart. Kyle Haven exerts his newly foundcontrol of the family and this drives a further wedge amongst them.

It is at this point that Paragon once again returns to the narrative. Paragon (or Pariah) is a half-crazed liveship, renowned for being cursed and bad luck. It is to this ship that Brashen and Althea turn in their hour of need. This is a very interesting sub plot and hopefully will play a bigger part in the subsequent books.

The second half of the book follows Althea, Wintrow and Brashen as they endevour to find contentment within their new lives. Alongside their stories is the social-drama that is life in Bingtown for Keffria, Ronit and Malta. There is a definite class system in place and image very important. Keeping up appearances even though they have fallen on hard times is very important to the Vestrit family.

Wintrow's troubles however far outweigh the rest of his families. He is a figure that is easy to fall in behind, a soft, gentle caring boy who is thrust into a life that he does not wish for.

You can add to this story a pirate by the name of Captain Kennit and have an excellent nautical tale fall of excellent characters.This is a large book and takes some reading. It is an orignal theme that has very good characters and a gripping storyline. Thoroughly enjoyable.

The book's cover illustration's are by the John Howe.

"Refreshingly original" Jenny Wurts

The Liveship Traders 1: Ship of Magic (Amazon.co.uk)

Author: Robin Hobb
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 896
Publication date: 2008-02-04
Publisher: Harper Voyager

RRP: £8.99
Lowest new price: £1.89
Lowest used price: £0.48

Gripping first instalment of a new series from the author of The Farseer Trilogy.
Product Description

Ship of Magic (Liveship Traders) (Amazon.co.uk)

Author: Robin Hobb
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 896
Publication date: 1999-03-01
Publisher: Voyager

RRP: $16.50
Lowest new price: $5.08
Lowest used price: $1.95

Robin Hobb's acclaimed Farseer trilogy--Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin, and Assassin's Quest--wove a spellbinding tale of magic, passion, and glory. Now, in the first book of a new trilogy set in the same world, she tells the magnificent story of a proud seafaring clan and the enchanted ships that carry them on far-flung, ferocious tides....Not far from the Six Duchies lies Bingtown, hub of exotic trade and home to a merchant nobility famed for its liveships--rare vessels carved from wizardwood, which ripens magically into sentient awareness. Bingtown's Old Traders, their wealth eroded by northern wars and the rapacity of southern pirates, now face an influx of upstart merchants who bring change to a complex society.The Vestrit family's only hope of renewed prosperity is the Vivacia, a liveship they have nurtured for three generations. Now, as old Captain Vestrit lies dying in Bingtown, the Vivacia cuts homeward through the waves, about to quicken into a living being. The ship carries Vestrit's daughter Althea and the conniving son-in-law he has named as the Vivacia's next captain.But lovely, wild-spirited Althea, sailing the Vivacia with her father since childhood and sharing its half-awakened memories and ocean secrets, has bonded with the ship in her deepest soul. Joined by Brashen--her father's first mate, now demoted by the Vivacia's new commander--she will stop at nothing in a bitter quest to claim its captaincy.Meanwhile, in the rocky cays known as the Pirate Isles, a ruthless man lusts after his own kind of power. The pirate captain Kennit, in his scheme to be king of this outlaw realm, has vowed that he will wrest a liveship from its owners and turn it to his own use. His twisted ambition will bring him into a strange partnership with a boy-priest turned seaman--and into violent conflict with the wizardwood magic of Althea and Brashen.From the peculiar magic realm of the Others to the bawdy, raucous lair of the pirates, Ship of Magic sweeps a dazzling cast of characters into an epic of terrible beauty and mysterious sorcery.
Product Description

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