Mad Ship

The Liveship Traders, Book 2

By: Robin Hobb

Narrated by: Anne Flosnik

Length: 33 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

As the ancient tradition of Bingtown's Old Traders slowly erodes under the cold new order of a corrupt ruler, the Vestrits anxiously await the return of their liveship - a rare magic ship carved from sentient wizardwood, which bonds the ships mystically with those who sail them. And Althea Vestrit waits even more avidly, living only to reclaim the ship as her lost inheritance and captain her on the high seas. But the Vivacia has been seized by the ruthless pirate captain Kennit, who holds Althea's nephew and his father hostage.

Althea and her onetime sea mate Brashen resolve to liberate the liveship - but their plan may prove more dangerous than leaving the Vivacia in Kennit's ambitious grasp.

Spend some more time with the Liveship Traders.

©1999 Robin Hobb (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

"The novel is tightly written, with few passages not devoted to characterization, world building or action. Again, Hobb gives high fantasy a salty nautical spin that will please a great many [listeners]." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Each volume in this series is a major undertaking, but those who enjoy original, epic fantasy, characters who grow and change believably, and fine writing will not want to miss The Liveship Traders. (Amazon.com review)

Brilliant story, terrible narration

Loved the story. Can't wait for the next book to download. However, the narrators voice is just as bad as previous reviews dictate. I want to say that her voice grows on you, but really its just you being pulled into the depth of the story.

My favorite series ever

I've reread this series several times and am listening to it now with my kids ... highly recommend

Love this series

Just as the first of The Liveship Traders I found this one very emersive and hard to step away from. Their struggles seem real, the characters flawed in their own ways, constantly loving and hating them as their character develops. The narrator tends to draw out words unnecessarily, probably to add some drama though the book doesn't need the added effort. However, it's easy to get past, especially if you speed up the audio to 1.2-1.3. Still highly favored, Robin Hobb is forever my go-to auto-buy author.

Enlightening!

Enjoyed this book. Again this series is stirring the memories I have of the Rain Wild Chronicles because I read that series first. I need to find this last book so I can absorb it as well. I so enjoyed the many characters of this book. I feel as though I am reliving their very lives.

This is fun

This is a really fun series and I'm having a lot of fun listening to it.

really enjoy the story

I've been eating up the books since reading the first series and am enjoying it.

Unexpectedly fun.

More than pirates and ships! I usually run away from the genre but the series continues to surprise me. It is a great continuation within this world. I recommend reading the books in the order they came out. I made the mistake of skipping over these to dive back into the continuation of the Fool. Don’t.

Pro tip - some people complain about the narrator, which I agree is a stylistic theatrical linguistic approach that is too slow and affected. I increased the playback to x1.10 and it reads much better for my patience.

Mad crazy fun

EXCELLENT story full of adventure and suspense! All the characters grow into completely different people than from the 1st book of the trilogy.

GIVE ME MOAR

Oh man. I cannot get enough of this series. I couldn't put this book down. I can only hope no one I work with will ever read this review- I have been sitting in my cubicle, guiltily reading a few pages here and there between pretending I'm actually doing anything useful. I read on the way to the way to the bathroom, when I walk to my car, and I listen to the audiobook during my commute, while I cook, while I do the grocery shopping, and while I'm getting ready for work. I've literally been marinating my brain in this series for several days now. I think I might have a problem.

The writing style is somewhat reminiscent of Sanderson, and Jordan, and GRRM. All of whom I love. The balance of how much time is spent in a character's head vs covering actual action and dialogue just works for me. As for specifics, this book is really about Malta and Kennit, in my opinion. Everybody else plays a role, obviously, but everything is wound around their storylines. I struggled pretty hard with Malta's transition- I think to be sold more strongly on it I really would have had to see some sliver of depth earlier on to buy who she is becoming, but she was so awful at the beginning I'm just relieved it's over. And now I want more! Reyn- hot or not?! Suspense is killing me. Kennit, on the other hand, is wearing me down. I'm not really sure how I'm supposed to feel about him. By which I mean, I don't like him and I'm just not sold on Wintrow falling for it. Kennit is just too much of a sociopath to come out as a complicated protagonist. But maybe that makes his character actually awesomely well written? I dunno. I'll come back to it after the last book. Oh, and Althea? Please just go make out with your slightly troubled, tall dark and handsome sailor already. Come on, is it really that confusing? You're killing us.

PS: DRAGONS!

Kinda loved it

I did not expect this to be such a great book. At first the narrator put me off - but I sped up the narration speed to 1.1x and it was less sleepy. Anyhow, narration aside, Pirates! Magic! Philosophical conundrums! All the things! I absolutely loved it and am already on the second book.