With Ronica and Keffria back in Bingtown, it was interesting to see a bit of the political climate, as well as the unique relationship between the old trader families and the mysterious, briefly mentioned rainwild traders. With Wintrow, I loved reading his thoughts on religion, and I especially loved his conversations with Vivacia about his various philosophical thoughts. Each one brought something different to the table. While I definitely had perspectives I enjoyed reading from less, it is impossible for me to pick a favorite character. Hobb does this in such a way that feels natural and unforced, and I can’t wait to see how these characters continue to grow in the next two novels. They are stubborn and stuck in their ways, yet by the end of the story they have each transformed completely.

Instead, the story is completely driven by the characters and their individual story arcs. It is 800 pages long, and has almost no central plot. Robin Hobb does a spectacular job with writing strong characters, which is essential in a story like this. Less prominent figures in the story are Kennit–a pirate captain who desires to be king of the pirates and own a liveship, Peragon–a blind liveship who has gone mad, and Maulkin–a sea serpent who has visions of the past. The story also follows the rest of the Vestrits back home in Bingtown, where the family fortune is slipping and tensions run high within the family, as well as between old traders and new traders. With her is Brashen, the former first mate of Vivacia.

Althea, desperately wanting the ship to be hers, runs away in hopes of proving herself capable. As a result, his eldest son, Wintrow, is pulled out of priesthood. But, because he is not of Vestrit blood, he needs a member of the family to be aboard her when she sails. Her husband Kyle is a very controlling and single-minded man, and is now the captain of the Vivacia. But, it is instead given to her sister Keffria, as she is married and has a family to support. His headstrong daughter Althea has always believed she would inherit Vivacia, as she has sailed upon it with her father for many years.

After Ephron Vestrit dies, his liveship Vivacia quickens and launches a series of events both within the Vestrit family and without. Being passed down through a trader family, the wizardwood ships must have 3 generations die on its deck before it can “quicken” (awaken) and become a true liveship. The Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb is the first installment in her Liveship Traders Trilogy, an adult epic fantasy where ships come to life.

Ship of magic trilogy