Scan barcode
A review by ostrava
Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
5.0
Oh, man, where to even begin. Ship of destiny is everything I wanted it to be. It's so beautiful... so many of the characters I have learned to love have ended right where they belong...like jigsaws falling into place.
I'll start with Kennit. Kennit is a fun character throughout the trilogy because two things about him are established fairly early in the story: 1) he cannot lose, and 2) he will lose or die at the end of the story. The latter occurs due to the many black omens that surround Kennit, including the very necessity by the story of not allowing Kennit a total victory, or the plot will turn into a total bore.
However, anything shorter than total victory breaks the first rule and so Kennit cannot lose. What does Hobb do about this? She lets Kennit win by losing. It's genius. Kennit goes out on top, because why wouldn't he? Even his death helps him strengthening his reputation. It's a such an incredible way of making the absurd convergence of plots at the end of the trilogy feel natural and earned too. OF COURSE the common denominator was Kennit, where else could it have all ended!?
Wintrow on the other hand gets what's arguably the most bittersweet ending. He becomes captain of the Vivacia, but at what cost? Etta doesn't love him and never will, not like he wants anyway. And yet, he's tied to her and her child in a role he didn't choose knowing full well he could have been that which he was destined to become, a man of words. Now his hands are dirty, his mind is scarred and his future is uncertain but not at all grim. While I find it unlikely, I wish he would find his own sort of happiness, maybe in the form a new love beyond that of Etta, or maybe by rekindling his bond with Sa.
The rest are the rest. They are all amazing with touches of bittersweetness, but none more so than Althea and Brashen, who have everything they need, but have sacrificed too much to get where they needed to be.
And that's that. What a winner. This is top 10 fantasy ever to me. In fact, the trilogy MUST be my favorite finished fantasy story to date. I cannot think of any other book that comes even close it. An unforgettable journey through some of fantasy's very best.
I'll start with Kennit. Kennit is a fun character throughout the trilogy because two things about him are established fairly early in the story: 1) he cannot lose, and 2) he will lose or die at the end of the story. The latter occurs due to the many black omens that surround Kennit, including the very necessity by the story of not allowing Kennit a total victory, or the plot will turn into a total bore.
However, anything shorter than total victory breaks the first rule and so Kennit cannot lose. What does Hobb do about this? She lets Kennit win by losing. It's genius. Kennit goes out on top, because why wouldn't he? Even his death helps him strengthening his reputation. It's a such an incredible way of making the absurd convergence of plots at the end of the trilogy feel natural and earned too. OF COURSE the common denominator was Kennit, where else could it have all ended!?
Wintrow on the other hand gets what's arguably the most bittersweet ending. He becomes captain of the Vivacia, but at what cost? Etta doesn't love him and never will, not like he wants anyway. And yet, he's tied to her and her child in a role he didn't choose knowing full well he could have been that which he was destined to become, a man of words. Now his hands are dirty, his mind is scarred and his future is uncertain but not at all grim. While I find it unlikely, I wish he would find his own sort of happiness, maybe in the form a new love beyond that of Etta, or maybe by rekindling his bond with Sa.
The rest are the rest. They are all amazing with touches of bittersweetness, but none more so than Althea and Brashen, who have everything they need, but have sacrificed too much to get where they needed to be.
And that's that. What a winner. This is top 10 fantasy ever to me. In fact, the trilogy MUST be my favorite finished fantasy story to date. I cannot think of any other book that comes even close it. An unforgettable journey through some of fantasy's very best.