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pinch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Rape, Slavery, and Murder
Moderate: Pedophilia
sir_dagonet's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Slavery and Rape
caroclaw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This time, I deliberately relaxed through it and took it chapter by chapter, relishing the thoughtful characterisation and trying to pick up on those hints at the great mystery of this series that Hobb is so good at threading through her books. It was so much easier, and reading this with the eyes of an adult certainly tinted many parts with different colours- particularly parts to do with Malta.
As usual, no matter how the pace dawdles through 85% of the book, Hobb sure does body slam you right at the end. I'm hoping the final Liveship Traders novel is complete chaos, because I have only the tiniest clue where this is going.
Graphic: Slavery and Violence
Moderate: War, Sexual assault, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
cossty's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Firstly, the romantic relationship between a young teenage girl (13) and a much older man (22ish) felt uncomfortable and left a bad taste in my mouth. While the author intended to make the male character relatable or likeable, his interest in such a significantly younger partner raises red flags. Furthermore, the possibility of marriage between these two individuals only serves to further normalize this behavior. It's essential to acknowledge that this type of dynamic can be particularly damaging and unsafe for the minor involved.
Regarding the second issue, the book employs the troublesome trope where a female protagonist must suffer from sexual violence to undergo some form of transformation. This arc suggests that trauma is necessary for women to find their inner strength or discover themselves. Not only is this narrative dangerous and misguided; it also perpetuates harmful myths about the impact of sexual assault on survivors. The idea that trauma has any redeeming qualities should be carefully examined and avoided in fiction.
Despite these concerns, the rest of the book is impressive and enjoyable to read. The plot structure, character development, and world building all showcase exceptional skill on behalf of the author. Had these problematic elements been addressed or handled differently, I might have given the book a full five-star rating. Nevertheless, it's crucial to critically evaluate our entertainment choices and encourage creators to prioritize responsible storytelling that avoids normalizing harmful behaviors or tropes. In short, while “Mad Ship” has its flaws, it still offers thought-provoking content worth exploring – just be prepared to critically examine these questionable aspects alongside the more praiseworthy features.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Slavery and Pedophilia
atalea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Between the two, I do prefer Ship of Magic over Mad Ship because I felt more was happening in that book. In Mad Ship we take a slower pace. Mysteries of the world are slowly being unraveled. Most of the book felt like set-up for the conclusion of the story and focused instead in character development. I don't mind a slow burn (I mean that's Hobb in a nutshell), but it was only 3/4 into the book that things started going down, so it dragged a bit.
I am very interesting to see how Hobb will bring everything together in the end and can't wait to start the final book in this trilogy.
Graphic: Violence and Slavery
Moderate: Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, and Misogyny
Minor: Confinement, Animal death, Infidelity, Addiction, Child abuse, Alcoholism, and Drug abuse
soggypotatoes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Rape
skyeoak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Violence, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Death and Slavery
kirstym25's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery
mvanhaas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Murder, Violence, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Addiction, Classism, Sexual violence, Gaslighting, Death, Murder, Slavery, and Adult/minor relationship
jferguson1138's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Whether it was politics in Bingtown, Malta’s transformation, Wintrow’s growth, or even the dawning realization that there’s way more to these serpents, all of it had me engaged.
Listened to this on audiobook and had to turn it up to 1.5x speed to get through some of the really slow parts, but it paid off. Really good book that had me marathon reading big chunks towards the end.
Moderate: Slavery