Customer Reviews
6 years on and still the best - By: Isabelle Mitchell, 31 Jul 2008 
I read this series in 2003 & it blew me away; The caracters are so vivid & have such depth, the storyline & participants so unusual...Since then, I have obviously read many other good books & decided it was time to read "liveship traders" again, if anything, to check just how good it was! And I am delighted to say it was even better the second time round! I don't normallly read books twice,feeling that once I know the story, the caracters get a smidge boring. Well, that didn't happen! If anything, knowing the storyline already alllowed me to appreciate the depths of caracters even more. It is staying on my top 5 list!
As brilliant as the Farseer stories - By: N. Burgess, 11 Apr 2008 I was a bit wary of this book at first as I loved the Farseer books but wondered how a seafaring based story would work. But I underestimated Robin Hobb's talents, this is a fantastic book full of the good, the bad & the ugly in terms of the characters, a real mixed bunch of likeable & not so likeable people in true Hobb tradition. There's also a pleasing dose of magic & mystery with the living ships known & liveships, as well as the strange Rain Wild Traders who create these strange beings. A must read for any fan of the fantasy genre, or anyone who likes an intriguing story.
Not just a neccessary bridge in a series , but a brilliant book in it,s own right - By: russell clarke, 08 Apr 2008 The second instalment of Robin Hobbs peerless Liveship Traders trilogy moves the narrative on ( Rather obviously, it would,nt be much of a book otherwise) but develops unexpected plot points & characters only given brief cameo,s in "Ship Of Magic". Other characters given major roles in that book are afforded only cursory ones, here yet it alll feels like it,s whipping up nicely for the final book -"Ship Of Destiny".
As ever with Robin Hobb the characterisation is spot on & some of the characters undergo fundamental shifts in their persona as the story evolves. The Vestrit family,s relationship with the Rain Wild Traders in explored more explicitly with the precocious spoilt Malta taking on a more pivotal role & attaining a budding maturity. Althea & Brashen are brought back together by the enigmatic Amber in their pursuit to re-capture the liveship Vivacia & it,s here that the disgraced blind liveship Paragon has a major role to play.
Pirate Kennit meanwhile struggles to come to terms with the loss of his leg both mentallly & physicallly & it,s here that the former priest advocate & son of former Captain of the liveship Vivacia , Kyle Haven , Wintrow becomes part of a wider conspiracy also involving Kennits woman Etta. Haven meanwhile , a major character in the first book , is given short shrift in The Mad Ship.
The Satrap, an indulgent haughty individual is the ruler of Jamillia & has thus far in the story only been hinted at but in book two becomes a pivotal character with the employment of Chalcedean ships to stave off the pirates attacking slave ships. And the story further elucidates the reader with the relationship between the sea serpents & the dragon that plagues Malta,s dreams & we also learn more about the mysterious Others.
As is usual with Robin Hobb the book is beautifully written , the characters drawn so vividly that you actuallly care about what happens to them & like The Tawny Man series it alll feels likes its heading for an emotional & exciting climax.The Mad Ship is not just a bridge between one book to another it,s a brilliant book in it,s own right. You would be mad to miss out.
The Seafaring success gathers speed... - By: IJ, 28 Mar 2005 The transition from 'Ship of Magic' to 'The Mad Ship' is as smooth as silk, even the exposition for readers who've been away from the trilogy for a while (are there such people?!) is interlaced with the new material, so that you barely notice the subtle recounting of alll that came before. The consistancy of this author is almost obsessional, but I wouldn't have it any other way! Once again the various character stories are woven seamlessly & somtimes in a way that leaves a massive number of pages between a cliffhanger-character moment & finding out just what happens next- the anticipation-reading is off the scale!!
Contrary to the title though, this is not Paragon's story- the myriad sets of characters once again vie for the reader's attention & never does one group hog the limelight- always it is an ensemble piece, which I've discovered is just as attention-grabbing as stories that opt for a main character alone. Despite these continued unique perspectives though, I was slightly dissappointed Paragon was not given more in this book. I personallly find the character fascinating & felt somewhat cheated that many of the aspects of this character, demons that so obviously bubble just under the surface, were not hinted at more. But doubtless I will get to know everything & more in the final installlment of the trilgy- 'Ship of Destiny', which I'm now itching to read after just finishing this tremendous tale!
If you havn't already, I hope this review immediately stirs in you the need to pick up 'The Mad Ship' without delay, because book 2 in the liveship saga does not disappoint. The best compliment I can give this book is that it's an effortlessly enjoyable read, while at the same time not ashamed to tackle bigger philosohpical, religious & moral issues. Simply superb.
Outstanding - By: dragondrums, 09 Mar 2005 This second book in Robin Hobb's `Liveship Traders' series sees Althea aboard the Liveship Ophelia & trying to regain her own beloved Liveship, Vivacia. The `pirate king' Kennet is now in possession of Vivacia & has no intention of giving her up. Worse still, Vivacia seems happy with the situation & is doing nothing to help Althea regain her.
Amber, the mysterious artisan who befriended Althea in book one, is trying to heal Paragon, a Liveship who supposedly went insane & killed his owners. Paragon has been beached & blinded & is now totallly mad; no one dares go near him except for Amber. Another story thread sees Althea's spoiled & wayward sister Malta become increasingly involved with the mysterious Rain river wilds traders. A relationship seems to be developing between her & one of the masked young men of the trading people.
Robin Hobb has managed to maintain the standard she has set with her previous novels, if not surpass them. She must surely rate as one of the best fantasy writers around...highly recommended.
