Mad Ship

This book is simply superb. I can't remember a time I was less thoroughly engaged in a story, captivated by the world and characters and genuinely cared about what was happening. It's been a week or so since I have finished the book and in the week I've been comparing it often to the first book in the series 'Ship of Magic'. I think I was much more interested in the plot and characters in the first book - there seemed a lot more going on, but as a reading experience, I just enjoyed this one so much.

There is also a part of me that wants to say, 'everything I liked about the first book is in place here' and leave my review at that, but that feels like I am doing 'The Mad Ship' a disservice. That said, one of the best things about this book in terms of structure is how it addresses the 'difficult second book in a series'. I think it is a significant challenge in fantasy writing, where a second book rarely feels like a self-contained book on it's own. You kind of know you won't get a resolution to the story and it is a bridge to a finale. It is a route, but not the destination. Another major problem with fantasy series is the assumption that the reader is going to buy the next book as soon as it comes out and be instantly familiar with all the characters and recall everything that happened in Book One. There are many times where I have picked up a sequel, sometimes many years after I have read the first book and I simply don't have a clue what is happening, or remember everything about the characters and their journey. Authors - assume your readers either don't know, or have forgotten the key highlights of your earlier book!

I knew Robin Hobb was a great writer where in the first couple of chapters of this long book I instantly remembered who all the characters were, how their lives were at the end of the last book and the various relationships and key plot points without ever feeling like I was being force fed or info dumped - it was like a very gentle, and patient reminder. Robin Hobb should write courses on writing 'that second book'. Honestly, it's brilliantly done and I really appreciated how I could settle into the story.

'The Mad Ship' (as correctly predicted in my review of 'Ship of Magic' - aren't I clever?) takes some of the little sub-plots from the first book and they become the focus of this one, whereas the main plot of the first book ('who gets to captain the Vivacia') takes a backseat here. I am going to be intentionally vague here because I want to stay spoiler free for any readers, and really you do not want this book spoiled, but if I say an important element of this book is the nature of the Liveships then I have already said enough.

The Liveships are ships with a sentient figurehead which 'quicken' when three generations of the trader family which own them die on board. They are made from a rare 'wizardwood' sold by Rain Wild traders (who suffer from bodily disfigurements) to Trader families - a kind of settler establishment merchant class in a relatively independent city. The first book raised interesting ethical questions for me about the concept of 'owning' a Liveship, to what degree they are sentient or have agency, to what extent they are part of the blood relations and the connections they have with the Trader families. You work out quite quickly the nature of the Liveships in this book and all I can say is that the number of ethical questions have trebled. I also love how it brings together a whole bunch of sub-plots in the first book to make sense. It's all brilliant and I found myself rooting for a whole new bunch of actors in the story.

The other thing I love about this series and this book in particular is the characterisation. All of Hobb's characters grow and change in both books I have read. What I love about both books is that every character's actions make sense within their frame of reference, even if they do morally questionable things. Everyone does what they think is right, even if us as a reader do not agree. It's masterful to have understandable, if not relatable villains. I have to kick myself too because I googled a character to check something I had forgotten which was stupid because I discovered a HUGE spoiler which is frustrating (so don't do it everyone!).

If Althea Vestrit, the youngest daughter of the deceased last Vestrit captain of the Vivacia was the star of the first book, this second book let's her niece Malta be the star of this book. In the first book Malta is about 12 years old. She's vain, stupid, selfish and ungrateful. She's desperate to enter into society and is frustrated with being treated as a little girl. Her attempts to be seen as a woman have significant consequences in the first book, accidentally entering a courtship with someone she possibly wouldn't dream of marrying, whilst her father and brother are using the Vivacia for purposes against her nature. In this book she still starts out as an unpleasant child but by the end of the book (which I am guessing is only a few months in setting time) she comes into her own as a independent, considerate and strong willed teenager. She is very much her father's daughter in that she is all about business and her family but perhaps his unfeeling character is missing, because she still very much cares about her actions. It's important to note that Malta I am guessing is 13 in the book and she is presented as incredibly attractive to men in their late teen's and early twenties. The book also portrays Malta as being incredibly aware of her sexual power, if not a little naïve of possible implications as she flirts and tries to win hearts. I won't lie, it's quite uncomfortable to read. Thankfully, this part of her character transitions into a more mature and thoughtful one, and I find myself enjoying reading her and wanting her to succeed, and then I get brought back when I remember she's a child being courted by a much older man and it's quite icky.

Special mentions have to go to the characterisation of Kennitt the lucky pirate. He's not quite so swashbuckling in this book but he definitely pushes his luck. The relationship square between him, his partner Etta, Wintrow, the son of Malta's father and a Vestrit blood connection to Vivacia is delightful in it's complexity and changing nature. I also have to give a shout out to the serpents swimming around too and their social dynamics.

There is so much to enjoy in this book and I really want to tell everyone things from it but I'll spoil the fun. Love this series and I hope I get to read the third in the trilogy soon / in a few years!