saluki's review against another edition
5.0
Robin Hobb never disappoints. I have no words, except... sheer brilliance.
Starting Ship of Destiny immediately!
Starting Ship of Destiny immediately!
3kojou's review against another edition
4.25
really enjoyed seeing everyone come into themselves in this one! didn't really enjoy the sections with the vivacia or the pirates, but everyone else i was super invested in. also, amber is the love of my life. really loving the commentaries on womanhood, all of the different ways that it's experienced and expressed, and how the patriarchy treats women. excited as always to see how everything else unfolds in the next book.
anitadisguised's review against another edition
4.0
even though some pov's kind of lose me at times (the [redacted]) i love all the well-written female characters and the story overall.
llmacrae's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I’ve read this year. I don’t know how Hobb does it.
I’ve never hated and loved characters so deeply. I love the world, the dragons, the serpents, the rain wilds, the magic, the memories, all of it. Wintrow has grown in my estimation, as has Kennit. I just don’t know whether to hate him or agree with him. Malta was a character I despised and now she is growing into one of my favourites.
Paragon, Althea, Amber, Brashin, Etta. Even Reyn was intriguing!
None of the characters really are whoever I think they are/will be on first meeting. Even side characters have more depth than most main characters, and they are all hugely part of this world and their own stories.
The only part of this I liked less was the sub plot with Sirilla and the Saytrap and his companions. Rape is not a thing I want to read about in books, and often put books down when I encounter it (especially if it is explicit) - thankfully that is not the case with Mad Ship, but definitely made me want to skip those parts when some of the awfulness was happening.
I adore this series so much. It is on another league to the Assassin’s Apprentice books, in terms of characters, world building, intrigue, plot, magic, mystery, even pacing. It trundles along at a consistent speed and I found I wasn’t even aware of everything building up until it was too late and we were thrust head first into the climax.
There is so much to enjoy about this book. Loyalty. Betrayal. Hope. Fear. Mistrust. Love.
I can’t really put my thoughts into a cohesive order. It’s just. I adored the first book and I don’t know how but this one is even better. It's too much to process. It's beyond epic. Hobb really is a queen!
I’ve never hated and loved characters so deeply. I love the world, the dragons, the serpents, the rain wilds, the magic, the memories, all of it. Wintrow has grown in my estimation, as has Kennit. I just don’t know whether to hate him or agree with him. Malta was a character I despised and now she is growing into one of my favourites.
Paragon, Althea, Amber, Brashin, Etta. Even Reyn was intriguing!
None of the characters really are whoever I think they are/will be on first meeting. Even side characters have more depth than most main characters, and they are all hugely part of this world and their own stories.
The only part of this I liked less was the sub plot with Sirilla and the Saytrap and his companions. Rape is not a thing I want to read about in books, and often put books down when I encounter it (especially if it is explicit) - thankfully that is not the case with Mad Ship, but definitely made me want to skip those parts when some of the awfulness was happening.
I adore this series so much. It is on another league to the Assassin’s Apprentice books, in terms of characters, world building, intrigue, plot, magic, mystery, even pacing. It trundles along at a consistent speed and I found I wasn’t even aware of everything building up until it was too late and we were thrust head first into the climax.
There is so much to enjoy about this book. Loyalty. Betrayal. Hope. Fear. Mistrust. Love.
I can’t really put my thoughts into a cohesive order. It’s just. I adored the first book and I don’t know how but this one is even better. It's too much to process. It's beyond epic. Hobb really is a queen!
natcommon's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Part of this rating could be because I really didn’t like the narrator, but I also feel like it was too long for me and my attention wasn’t always there. But there were some very interesting events that happened in this book where I’d like to know how it ends. But I will be physically reading it.
Part of this rating could be because I really didn’t like the narrator, but I also feel like it was too long for me and my attention wasn’t always there. But there were some very interesting events that happened in this book where I’d like to know how it ends. But I will be physically reading it.
enbyglitch's review against another edition
3.0
I continue to enjoy Hobb's worldbuilding, and seeing the history and magic of this world from a different angle is fun.
But also this book is 850 pages long and I just don't care about the politics plotlines. It also feels like a lot of the mystery has been revealed, which makes me skeptical about the sequel - not to mention the other series that apparently follows this one.
And um, fuck the Satrap + Serilla plotline. This book already has plenty of female characters who could be better empowered without overcoming nauseating abuse.
But also this book is 850 pages long and I just don't care about the politics plotlines. It also feels like a lot of the mystery has been revealed, which makes me skeptical about the sequel - not to mention the other series that apparently follows this one.
And um, fuck the Satrap + Serilla plotline. This book already has plenty of female characters who could be better empowered without overcoming nauseating abuse.
tilly_and_the_books's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
c_ainley's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
swalker251's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5