The Ship of Magic is a fantasy novel written by Robin Hobb. It is the first book in The Liveship Traders trilogy and was published in 1998. The story takes place in a unique world where ships can become alive and have their own personalities and memories. The main focus of the novel is on the Vestrit family, who are the owners of a Liveship called Vivacia. Liveships are a special type of ship that are made from a special wood called wizardwood, which enables them to become alive. The Vestrit family has been in possession of Vivacia for generations, and it is considered a significant asset.
Wizardwood, the most precious commodity in the world, comes only from the Rain Wilds. But only a liveship can negotiate the perilous waters of the Rain Wild River, and liveships are hard to come by. They quicken only when three family members from successive generations have died upon their deck.
Because of Ephron s sudden illness, Vivacia has been captained for the last year by his son-in-law Kyle Haven, a savvy man but one that does not understand the ways and traditions of the Traders and their liveships. We shall see if the same holds up with the rest of the trilogy, especially because I don t remember how it ends, but I do suspect I will be going on a full Robin Hobb binge this year, because I just want more and more of the world.
The Vestrit family has been in possession of Vivacia for generations, and it is considered a significant asset. The story begins with the death of Ephron Vestrit, the patriarch of the family, which puts the ownership of Vivacia in question. Althea Vestrit, Ephron's daughter, feels that she is the rightful captain of Vivacia, but her sister Keffria believes that her husband Kyle should take control.
Ship of Magic - (Liveship Traders Trilogy) by Robin Hobb (Paperback)
Demonstrating world-building finesse, Robin Hobb begins the climatic story of a seafaring clan and its tangled destiny. Though expected to inherit her family's newly quickened liveship, Althea Vestrit loses the honor to her scheming brother-in-law, who plans to use it as a slave ship. The ruthless pirate Captain Kennit also sees a captured liveship as his key to success. Soon Althea is forced to fight both men to regain the animate, intelligent liveship, her family's most treasured possession.
Book Synopsis
The first book in a seafaring fantasy trilogy that George R. R. Martin has described as "even better than the Farseer Trilogy--I didn't think that was possible." Now in a glorious new edition!
Bingtown is a 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. Now the fortunes of one of Bingtown's oldest families rest on the newly awakened liveship Vivacia.
For Althea Vestrit, the ship is her rightful legacy. For Althea's young nephew, wrenched from his religious studies and forced to serve aboard the Vivacia, the ship is a life sentence. But the fate of the ship--and the Vestrits--may ultimately lie in the hands of an outsider: the ruthless buccaneer captain Kennit, who plans to seize power over the Pirate Isles by capturing a liveship and bending it to his will.
Don't miss the magic of the Liveship Traders Trilogy:
SHIP OF MAGIC - MAD SHIP - SHIP OF DESTINY
From the Back Cover
Bingtown is a 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. The fortunes of one of Bingtown's oldest families rest on the newly awakened liveship Vivacia. For Althea Vestrit, the ship is her rightful legacy unjustly denied her -- a legacy she will risk anything to reclaim. For Althea's young nephew Wintrow, wrenched from his religious studies and forced to serve aboard ship, the Vivacia is a life sentence. But the fate of the Vestrit family -- and the ship -- may ultimately lie in the hands of an outsider. The ruthless pirate Kennit seeks a way to seize power over all the denizens of the Pirate Isles. and the first step of his plan requires him to capture a liveship of his own and bend it to his will.
Review Quotes
"A colorful beginning to a new series."--Locus
"Hobb gives us her usual marvelously coherent setting and intriguing, multidimensional characters who refuse to be pigeonholed."--Publishers Weekly
"The characterizations are consistently superb, and [Hobb] animates everything with love for and knowledge of the sea. . . . Kudos to the author, and encore!" --Booklist
About the Author
Robin Hobb is the author of the Farseer Trilogy, the Liveship Traders Trilogy, the Tawny Man Trilogy, the Soldier Son Trilogy, and the Rain Wilds Chronicles. She has also written as Megan Lindholm. She is a native of Washington State.
This disagreement creates tension within the family and sets the stage for the conflict to come. The liveships in this world are not only alive but also possess magical abilities. They are able to communicate with their owners and have a deep connection with them. They also have the ability to navigate the hazardous Rain Wild River, which is a dangerous and uncharted river that is inhabited by a variety of magical creatures. The novel introduces a wide range of characters, each with their own motivations and desires. Among them are Wintrow, Althea's nephew, who is forced to become a sailor on Vivacia against his will, and Kennit, a ruthless pirate who aims to become the king of the Pirate Isles. The main theme of the novel is the struggle for power and control, both within families and on a larger scale. The characters are constantly battling to gain control of the liveships and the power they possess. This battle for control often leads to betrayal, manipulation, and violence. Overall, The Ship of Magic is a thrilling and engaging fantasy novel that explores themes of power, family, and the blurred lines between humanity and the supernatural. It sets the stage for an epic trilogy that will keep readers on the edge of their seats..
Reviews for "Unraveling the Legends: The Ship of Magic"
1. Linda - 2 stars: Ship of Magic didn't do it for me. I found the pacing to be incredibly slow, with long stretches of mundane details and limited action. The characters lacked depth and personality, making it difficult to connect with any of them. The author's excessive use of descriptions and repetitive phrases only added to my frustration. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Mark - 3 stars: While the concept of sentient ships was interesting, Ship of Magic failed to deliver on its potential. The writing felt disjointed and choppy, with abrupt transitions between scenes and poorly developed plotlines. Additionally, the excessive number of characters made it challenging to keep track of their individual stories, resulting in a lack of engagement and investment. The book had its moments of intrigue, but ultimately fell short of my expectations.
3. Jennifer - 2.5 stars: Ship of Magic had an intriguing premise, but unfortunately, I found it to be a tedious read. The excessive focus on sailing jargon and detailed descriptions of ships and their workings overshadowed the development of the characters and the plot. The pacing was sluggish, and it took too long for the storylines to converge, making it difficult to retain interest. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and felt it could have benefitted from tighter editing and a more engaging narrative.