Live Ship Traders

[hodor]

Yes they are as good Ericka.

[AryaUnderfoot]

My only complaint with the Liveship series was that I didn't feel completely satisfied at the end of them. I do agree that they can be read separately, but they do spice things up. I loved the sailing theme, but I did find the sea snake chapters a bit dull. I skipped over those completely when I re-read the series.

[erickad71]

Originally Posted by hodor

Yes they are as good Ericka.

Does Malta remind you of anyone from the ASoIaF series?

[hodor]

Aye, Sansa.

[erickad71]

I thought Sansa at first too...but now I think she is more like Cersei would have been when she was younger. Malta is both spoiled and very good at using people, while Sansa is merely spoiled. I was going to ask if she changes at all during the Mad Ship book...but I changed my mind, I want to find out myself.

[hodor]

Originally Posted by erickad71

I thought Sansa at first too...but now I think she is more like Cersei would have been when she was younger. Malta is both spoiled and very good at using people, while Sansa is merely spoiled. I was going to ask if she changes at all during the Mad Ship book...but I changed my mind, I want to find out myself.

I figured you would say that so I left out any potential spoilers. It is a good series and I would definitely chalk alot of that up to Hobb's characters. You picked a good series to tackle while in wait for the FFC's book I now you are dying to get your hands on.

[erickad71]

Originally Posted by hodor

I figured you would say that so I left out any potential spoilers. It is a good series and I would definitely chalk alot of that up to Hobb's characters. You picked a good series to tackle while in wait for the FFC's book I now you are dying to get your hands on.

That's a serious understatement.

Now, if only AFFC came out as soon as I get done with this series.

[dwndrgn]

I agree that the sea serpents portions of Liveship are rather annoying - but they provide some important info that is related to the rest of the story. I felt she probably could have shortened it a great deal and still given enough of the info without going into such detail.

I also got the feeling (and this could be completely wrong) that at some point she would tell the story of how the 'lost civilization' (trying not to give any spoilers) got that way. Maybe she plans to revisit that later or just to leave it for our own imaginations. Who knows.

[hodor]

Originally Posted by erickad71

That's a serious understatement.

Now, if only AFFC came out as soon as I get done with this series.

Well if that was the case you wouldn't be able to read The Tawny Man next (assuming you have already read The Farseer trilogy).

[erickad71]

Originally Posted by hodor

Well if that was the case you wouldn't be able to read The Tawny Man next (assuming you have already read The Farseer trilogy).

I've only read the Liveship books...I'm hoping my library has the others. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

[erickad71]

Originally Posted by dwndrgn

I also got the feeling (and this could be completely wrong) that at some point she would tell the story of how the 'lost civilization' (trying not to give any spoilers) got that way. Maybe she plans to revisit that later or just to leave it for our own imaginations. Who knows.

I don't find them annoying, but I can see everyone's point.

I have been very curious about that "lost civilization" as well. I think I would like it if she gave some more information about it.

[dragonqueen]

I'd go and read the Farseers books right now, but my library doesn't have them! It only has about 3 copies of each of the other six books! Crazy~ I found Malta really annoying at the start of the series, but towards the end, I came to like her~ I think Karl got everything he deserved too! The one problem was I read them all at once over a short period of time, and since they're such big books, I was really ready to finish with them at the end~ it gets that was when you only read for days on end! I was sailing at the time too

[Neon]

I just finished Ship of Magic, and loved it! I have to admit that going into the series I was a bit hesitant regarding a series of seafaring books, but Hobb is an absolutely great writer and I was swept into the story. I've just started on Mad Ship and look forward to finishing it and the last book in the trilogy.

Regarding the characters..... my favorite right now is Brashen, although at the current point in the story he's kind of backsliding into doing the cindin/drinking again. And of course there's the underlying love story with him and Althea that I'm sure will continue to develop. As with some of you, I too have found Malta annoying but it looks like (from your reviews) she gets better with time.

[Amber]

I read this series first, well after one of the Assasain books, and it was totally by accident- I needed something to read over the weekend, I picked the thickest book I could see and scurried out with it. Enter the Liveship traders *_*

Wow, I liked them so much, that the following day, I told the whole story to my dad- including the details about Wintrow cutting off his finger and chucking it into the sea, and Vivacia catching it and eating it. My dad looked like this ----> 0_0

I liked Althea because I like strong woman characters, Amber and of courseWintrow sorta sneaked in, though I didn't like how passive he was really. Even Malta had a sneaking regard from me by the end of the series.

The worst had to include Etta, Kyle and some others

[Princess Ivy]

hm, is the second time i'm trying to read ship of magic. i know i've skimmed it before. i just find that the drama is to drawn out. to many small not totaly relevant scenes. and not enough conclusion at the end of the story. i do like my series to have each novel being self contained. its agravating me that there are so many loose ends here. maybe if i try the farseer first. which IS the first book in the entire series? and which is the second in the live ship traders series?