Ship of Magic

Robin Hobb

Liveships are sailing merchant ships made out of wizardwood. The are expensive and rare. After three of the family members/owners die on their decks, the ship themselves come alive. They can then communicate with the blood family members/owners. The Vivicia comes to life at the beginning of this tale. This intriguing story takes place in the land Hobb created in the Assassin's Quest series (which I have not read).

Althea, the Vivicia's captain's daughter, expects to inherit Vivicia when her father dies. She communicates with the ship, cares for her. Her brother-in-law, who is captaining the ship in her ill father's stead, does not understand the bond with the liveship. He instead only sees a girl trying to do something a man should do instead.

The Paragon is another liveship that has been beached. His family died on him, and no one else would come near him. Yet Althea and a few others visit him on occasion. Kennit is a pirate that would like to capture a liveship. He also dreams of becoming the first King of the Pirate Islands. He believes his luck and fate will deliver one to him.

This is a frustrating book. It is well written (although occasionally tends to wander a bit much in explanations and descriptions) and mesmerizing. But not a single story is resolved. There are at least five different stories going on to all the people and serpents involved. Althea is one story line, her nephew Wintrow and his father are another, her niece Malta and her sister are another, Kennit the pirate is another, Vivicia, Brashen, Vivicia's first mate under Althea's father, Paragon, Maulkin the serpent, and Amber the wood carver among others.

This book was published in 1998. The next part of this new series (triology? I don't know) is due to be published this year. If you don't mind waiting for resolution, you can start this one now. But it is not a stand alone, and you may want to wait until they are all written and published. This did attract me, and I want to read the Assassin's Quest series now.

This book was added at . They have tongue-in-cheek abbreviated versions of this and other great books that you can read in a minute or less. You'll enjoy it!