Deborah Obida's Reviews > Ship of Magic

The man who worries about what will next be happening to him loses this moment in dread of the next, and poisons the next with pre-judgement.

If there was ever a book that exceeded my expectations due to its uniqueness its this book, this book is one of those books you didn't know you needed till you read it. There is a praise by The Times written on the cover of this book As addictive as morphine, and I couldn't agree more.

I know its wrong to compare but I just cannot help myself, this book is a thousand times better than the Farseer trilogy in all angle. There isn't much action or magic in this book, what this book has is great well written characters and plot.

Just like all Hobb's book the writing is to die for, its so addictive, this book is written in third person multiple POV which is my favourite, I get to know what the characters are thinking. The characters in this book are all selfish with ulterior motives, there isn't a single character in this book that is selfless but I still adore them, my favourite been Kennit, I just can't help myself. Althea isn't all bad but she is such a spoilt brat and Wintrow is way too self righteous. Malta is just the worst, I just want to enter the book and hit her upside her head.
The world building as always blew my mind, the depiction is just so explicit, herebis one of my favourite

Sorcor, as always, was dressed in a wide array of fine clothes in colours that bedazzled the eye. The silk scarf that belted his waist had come from the plump, pale shoulders of a noblewoman they had ransomed. The jewelled dagger stuck in it had come from her son, a brave boy who had not known when to surrender. He’d had the yellow silk shirt tailored in Chalced. Given the bulkiness of the man’s muscled shoulders and thick chest, the wide expanse of fluttering fabric reminded Kennit of a ship under sail.

This book is about a Bingtown trader family, a pirate and his crew, Brashen a disgraced trader family's son, Amber and some Liveships.
Ephron Vestrit is the head of the Vestrit family, his wife is Ronica, they have two daughters Keffria and Althea, Keffria is married to Kyle Haven and together they have three children, Wintrow and Malta are the only ones that have POV in the book. The family own a Liveship. A Liveship is a sentient ship that can come to life after three family members die aboard it.

Kennit is the pirate, he is cold, heartless man and his dream is to become the king of the pirate and own a Liveship even though everyone knows a Liveship will only sail for its family members.

Brashen and Amber are sort of wild cards cause I don't know how their story will become one with the initial plot. The more wilder cards is the narrative of sea serpents, I have no idea how that is related to the plot, can't wait to figure it out.

The Liveship are awesome, just two has a POV in this book and their thought is just so touching, Paragon is a sad and crazy ship while Vivacia is a young and inexperienced ship.
Ophelia is the third Liveship featured in this book and I love her, she is curious loves to gossip and meddle in people's lives.

Finally the addition of slavery in this book, I love the way the author depicted the inhumane confinement of the slaves, you have to be heartless not to feel how wrong it is.