"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 is set in a fictional world called the Realm of the Elderlings. The novel follows the lives of various characters who are connected to the liveship "Vivacia." Liveships are special ships that have been magically imbued with a consciousness, making them sentient and alive. The story takes place in a city called Bingtown, which is a trading hub that relies heavily on the livelihood brought by the liveships.
Althea and Wintrow are two of the three key characters in Ship of Magic; many others have points of view, but they are the ones in the midst of all the sea-based action. Althea is on a mission to prove her competency and regain her ship, while Wintrow is trapped on the Vivacia, bonded to her but unable to reconcile with the violence of his father and the demands of a sailor. The third key character is Kennit, a pirate captain with ambitions of becoming Pirate King. Part of his plan involves the capture of a liveship to enhance his fleet, though it is not something that has ever been done. Kennit is a difficult character, because though his ambitions and charisma drive his chapters forward and kept me hooked, he is not a good person. His surroundings and the different perspective he gives to the plot are what give him a greater importance in this first book, though there are hints of a dark past and in the latter half of the book he has a few other interesting characters surround him.
His surroundings and the different perspective he gives to the plot are what give him a greater importance in this first book, though there are hints of a dark past and in the latter half of the book he has a few other interesting characters surround him. 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 story takes place in a city called Bingtown, which is a trading hub that relies heavily on the livelihood brought by the liveships. The liveship "Vivacia" is a member of the Vestrit family, a wealthy trading family in Bingtown. The ship has been in the Vestrit family for generations and is highly coveted for its magical properties.
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.
From the Back Cover
However, when the patriarch of the family dies, the ownership of the ship is thrown into question. The story revolves around the various conflicts and power struggles that arise due to the ownership of "Vivacia." The ship's consciousness also plays a significant role in the story, as it struggles with its own desires and sense of self. Additionally, the liveships are sought after by pirates who believe that consuming pieces of the ship's flesh can grant them immortality. Throughout the novel, the characters grapple with questions of identity, loyalty, and the consequences of their actions. The author explores themes of family, duty, and the price of power. As the story progresses, the liveship "Vivacia" becomes a central figure in the lives of the characters, shaping their decisions and influencing their destinies. "The Ship of Magic" is a richly textured and immersive fantasy novel that delves into complex character dynamics and explores the blurred lines between human and non-human consciousness. It sets the stage for the subsequent books in the trilogy, building a vibrant world filled with intricate magic systems and compelling storytelling..
Reviews for "The Role of the Ship of Magic in Fantasy Fiction"
1. Emma - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Ship of Magic" based on all the positive reviews I had seen, but I was extremely disappointed. The story was confusing and disjointed, with too many characters and subplots that didn't seem to connect. I found myself struggling to keep track of who was who and what was happening. The pacing was also slow, and it felt like nothing was really happening for the majority of the book. Overall, I felt like this was a wasted opportunity for an interesting and unique fantasy novel.
2. David - 1 star - I couldn't finish "Ship of Magic". The writing was overly descriptive to the point of being tedious, and it felt like the author was more interested in showing off her vocabulary than crafting a compelling story. Additionally, the characters lacked depth and were difficult to connect with. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen, but it felt like the plot was going nowhere. This book was a complete letdown for me.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I struggled to get through "Ship of Magic" and ended up skimming through the last few chapters. The world-building was interesting, but the pacing was incredibly slow. There were too many unnecessary side stories that didn't add much to the overall plot. The characters were also unlikable and didn't develop much throughout the book. I was disappointed because I had high expectations for this novel based on the synopsis, but it fell flat for me.
4. Michael - 3 stars - "Ship of Magic" had an intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it didn't deliver for me. The writing style was dense, and it took a lot of effort to get into the story. The large cast of characters was overwhelming, and I found it hard to connect with any of them. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. Overall, while there were some interesting aspects, I was ultimately left underwhelmed by this book.