A review by lizziaha
Mad Ship by Robin Hobb

  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes

4.0

One thing I absolutely love about Robin hobb’s writing is that you get to see how the characters grow and develop—and the exact paths they took to get there. It’s a benefit to having books this long—they’re long enough for her to have room to do that. To have room for Malta to grow out of her childish petulance, and to see how that journey is hastened along by her family’s hardships. Room for Kennit to learn that building up can be just as ruthless as tearing down. Room for a priest to bend his god to another’s will. Room for a ship to remember. The time pushing inexorably on as it molds the characters into new shapes. 
And as exquisite as the characterization was, the pacing of the plot was a little off. The most climatic moment of the book (
when Althea baits a sea serpent with a rapist and Malta takes the worst carriage ride of her life
) came a full 100 pages before what is technically the climax of the story. It felt like the book should’ve ended soon after that, and it was hard to garner as much enthusiasm for the second (somewhat less interesting) dramatic event. 
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