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leannarapier's reviews
106 reviews
Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I didn’t even know how to rate this book. Anything between 1-5 stars depending on what part of the book I was reading, so I gave it an average.
I have so much to say about this book—the first will be general information without spoilers and then more specifics that will include spoilers. I will divide it by asterisks, so you can safely read without spoilers until you get to them.
First, I want to say I loved Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy, so my expectations for this book were already set high. The Farseer Trilogy was an emotional journey that was written in an immersive first person POV, and that is where I think the author’s talent shines. This book, the first of the Liveship trilogy is written in a multi-third person POV, and I struggled to get attached to the characters. In fact, I almost DNF the book about 10%. It really does finally start to come together, but it takes a good third into the book.
However, the world building and story weaving of this novel is fantastic. And once you get deeper into the novel, you will be emotionally attached to the characters, particularly Wintrow, who is my favorite.
Also, be aware that there are two sex scenes in the book, not super graphic, but more description than needed. It’s not a romance book, and they aren’t long, so you can skip past them and it won’t affect your understanding of the story, which begs the question of why the author felt them necessary. One takes place in a brothel, and for the love of our sacred eyes, we all know what happens there. Spare us. As the book is a massive 830 pages long, you can skip past these 2 scenes and still have plenty of great story to read.
*****
Okay, spoilers past this point. I wanted to talk about the characters.
Althea—one of the main characters. She was one of the reasons almost DNF this book. She is intolerable in the first half of this novel. She comes across as spoiled, entitled, and dramatic. Yes, she has most certainly been wronged, but she never even attempts to understand anyone else’s position. Kyle actually makes some good points, as terrible as he is. Althea won’t even have a discussion with her own mother, a reasonable person, who would have cleared up at least the reasons her family made the decision that they did. She’s proved herself not ready to captain by her own undisciplined disposition and behavior. I disliked her so much that I rejoiced every time mishap befell her. She slowly begins to improve (a little) later.
Keffria—sister of Althea. I didn’t mind her as a character. Rather, I felt that the author implied that Keffria’s desire to be a stay at home mother and leave running the business to her husband somehow made her weak. Nor is Kyle’s desire to want his wife to be able to focus on the home in itself a bad thing. As a stay at home mom myself, this felt insulting. And I am supremely thankful for the sacrifices my husband makes so I can be with my children. Plus, taking care of a household is a job in itself. That said, Keffria seemed to have neglected to influence and guide her children, particularly her daughter Malta, who was spoiled and entitled as much as Althea, although in a different way.
Brashen—I won’t say a lot about him. He is a likable character who also unfortunately lacks discipline and this deserves much of what befalls him. But I have no ill will toward him.
Kyle—husband to Keffria and antagonist to Althea. He becomes the leader of the home after Althea’s father passes away. Her father and mother agree upon this. If the author had written him as someone who was trying to do what was best for the family, but through pride had made poor judgments, and if the author had made him redeemable, then I would have found him a more interesting antagonist. Instead the author had him spiral into a villain that seemed to be a caricature of what the author perceives a “patriarchal conservative white male.” He turns the family merchant ship into a slave ship and forces his eldest son (age 13) to leave the priesthood to serve on the ship. This might have still be a fine storyline, again if the author had left some conscience and compassion in the man that he might have seen the error of his decisions. But instead he just spirals from stern father to pure evil. Beating his son, enslaving his son, and even almost killing him (although there may have been dragon influence on that last part). It was just too extreme for me to feel like he was a real person.
Wintrow—son of Kyle. This is where the story’s heart is. He is the reason I kept reading. I had to know what happened to Wintrow. He has character and courage to stick to his principles even when it causes others to misjudge or mistreat him. That’s not to say he’s without faults. He should have had patience to wait it out and submit to his father until 15 when he would have been judged an adult. Then he could’ve gone back to the monastery. But I understand why he did it. He worried that life on the ship was changing him. He tried to run away and ended up as a slave. He’s also only 13, and I don’t expect him to act perfect. If the novel had focused solely on him like the Farseer did Fitz, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
Vivacia—the Liveship. This is such a unique and interesting feature of this novel. After three family deaths aboard the ship, she becomes quickened. The Vivacia is as much a character as any in the novel. Having a ship as a POV character is a fun twist.
Kennet—pirate. An extremely well-written villain. He is absolutely reprehensible and yet his fellow pirates and the slaves he frees (not because of any goodwill on his part) all love him. He is a narcissist and devoid of empathy, and yet others around him can’t seem to see this. Even me as the reader, knowing the truth and his real motivations can’t help but silently cheer his victories. You know you should hate him and yet love him anyway. Perfect villain.
The sea dragons—I’m still not sure of their purpose in the novel. I haven’t yet determined if they are evil, neutral, or simply misunderstood.
I have so much to say about this book—the first will be general information without spoilers and then more specifics that will include spoilers. I will divide it by asterisks, so you can safely read without spoilers until you get to them.
First, I want to say I loved Robin Hobb’s Farseer Trilogy, so my expectations for this book were already set high. The Farseer Trilogy was an emotional journey that was written in an immersive first person POV, and that is where I think the author’s talent shines. This book, the first of the Liveship trilogy is written in a multi-third person POV, and I struggled to get attached to the characters. In fact, I almost DNF the book about 10%. It really does finally start to come together, but it takes a good third into the book.
However, the world building and story weaving of this novel is fantastic. And once you get deeper into the novel, you will be emotionally attached to the characters, particularly Wintrow, who is my favorite.
Also, be aware that there are two sex scenes in the book, not super graphic, but more description than needed. It’s not a romance book, and they aren’t long, so you can skip past them and it won’t affect your understanding of the story, which begs the question of why the author felt them necessary. One takes place in a brothel, and for the love of our sacred eyes, we all know what happens there. Spare us. As the book is a massive 830 pages long, you can skip past these 2 scenes and still have plenty of great story to read.
*****
Okay, spoilers past this point. I wanted to talk about the characters.
Althea—one of the main characters. She was one of the reasons almost DNF this book. She is intolerable in the first half of this novel. She comes across as spoiled, entitled, and dramatic. Yes, she has most certainly been wronged, but she never even attempts to understand anyone else’s position. Kyle actually makes some good points, as terrible as he is. Althea won’t even have a discussion with her own mother, a reasonable person, who would have cleared up at least the reasons her family made the decision that they did. She’s proved herself not ready to captain by her own undisciplined disposition and behavior. I disliked her so much that I rejoiced every time mishap befell her. She slowly begins to improve (a little) later.
Keffria—sister of Althea. I didn’t mind her as a character. Rather, I felt that the author implied that Keffria’s desire to be a stay at home mother and leave running the business to her husband somehow made her weak. Nor is Kyle’s desire to want his wife to be able to focus on the home in itself a bad thing. As a stay at home mom myself, this felt insulting. And I am supremely thankful for the sacrifices my husband makes so I can be with my children. Plus, taking care of a household is a job in itself. That said, Keffria seemed to have neglected to influence and guide her children, particularly her daughter Malta, who was spoiled and entitled as much as Althea, although in a different way.
Brashen—I won’t say a lot about him. He is a likable character who also unfortunately lacks discipline and this deserves much of what befalls him. But I have no ill will toward him.
Kyle—husband to Keffria and antagonist to Althea. He becomes the leader of the home after Althea’s father passes away. Her father and mother agree upon this. If the author had written him as someone who was trying to do what was best for the family, but through pride had made poor judgments, and if the author had made him redeemable, then I would have found him a more interesting antagonist. Instead the author had him spiral into a villain that seemed to be a caricature of what the author perceives a “patriarchal conservative white male.” He turns the family merchant ship into a slave ship and forces his eldest son (age 13) to leave the priesthood to serve on the ship. This might have still be a fine storyline, again if the author had left some conscience and compassion in the man that he might have seen the error of his decisions. But instead he just spirals from stern father to pure evil. Beating his son, enslaving his son, and even almost killing him (although there may have been dragon influence on that last part). It was just too extreme for me to feel like he was a real person.
Wintrow—son of Kyle. This is where the story’s heart is. He is the reason I kept reading. I had to know what happened to Wintrow. He has character and courage to stick to his principles even when it causes others to misjudge or mistreat him. That’s not to say he’s without faults. He should have had patience to wait it out and submit to his father until 15 when he would have been judged an adult. Then he could’ve gone back to the monastery. But I understand why he did it. He worried that life on the ship was changing him. He tried to run away and ended up as a slave. He’s also only 13, and I don’t expect him to act perfect. If the novel had focused solely on him like the Farseer did Fitz, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
Vivacia—the Liveship. This is such a unique and interesting feature of this novel. After three family deaths aboard the ship, she becomes quickened. The Vivacia is as much a character as any in the novel. Having a ship as a POV character is a fun twist.
Kennet—pirate. An extremely well-written villain. He is absolutely reprehensible and yet his fellow pirates and the slaves he frees (not because of any goodwill on his part) all love him. He is a narcissist and devoid of empathy, and yet others around him can’t seem to see this. Even me as the reader, knowing the truth and his real motivations can’t help but silently cheer his victories. You know you should hate him and yet love him anyway. Perfect villain.
The sea dragons—I’m still not sure of their purpose in the novel. I haven’t yet determined if they are evil, neutral, or simply misunderstood.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Be aware that there are two sex scenes in the book, not super graphic, but more description than needed. It’s not a romance book, and they aren’t long, so you can skip past them and it won’t affect your understanding of the story, which begs the question of why the author felt them necessary. One takes place in a brothel, and for the love of our sacred eyes, we all know what happens there. Spare us. As the book is a massive 830 pages long, you can skip past these 2 scenes and still have plenty of great story to read.
Homeschooling Wildflowers: Bring Your Child with Dyslexia, ADHD, Dysgraphia, Or Dyscalculia Back to Their Natural Environment by Shelby Dersa
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Homeschooling Wildflowers is a book I would recommend to parents considering homeschooling or who have just started out homeschooling. Even though the book is specifically addressing parents of kids with ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia, the truths here are relevant to all children. Veteran homeschoolers have probably already discovered on their own much of what is covered in this book, but it could still be a refreshing reminder. I would definitely pass this book on to a new homeschooler.
Great quotes in the book:
“Like many, I thought the school work, the daily schedule, and the expectations [for homeschooling] had to be the same, even though I was choosing homeschool for the very reason that the conventional method was not only not working, but did not allow space for my children to bloom.”
“[Homeschool] does not only need to focus on weaknesses and struggles, but a large emphasis can be placed on interests and strengths.”
“The broken school system sometimes convinces us that our child is the one who is broken, and we must constantly try to change them so that they will fit into a classroom environment.”
“Although childhood is short, homeschooling allows for more time to enjoy it. It is not just another type of education, but a whole different way of human existence.”
“Children don’t need a schedule that is constantly busy. Homeschooling allows time for a simpler kind of life. In all aspects of your child’s day, always put the quality over the quantity whether it’s pertaining to academics, extracurricular, or socialization.”
Great quotes in the book:
“Like many, I thought the school work, the daily schedule, and the expectations [for homeschooling] had to be the same, even though I was choosing homeschool for the very reason that the conventional method was not only not working, but did not allow space for my children to bloom.”
“[Homeschool] does not only need to focus on weaknesses and struggles, but a large emphasis can be placed on interests and strengths.”
“The broken school system sometimes convinces us that our child is the one who is broken, and we must constantly try to change them so that they will fit into a classroom environment.”
“Although childhood is short, homeschooling allows for more time to enjoy it. It is not just another type of education, but a whole different way of human existence.”
“Children don’t need a schedule that is constantly busy. Homeschooling allows time for a simpler kind of life. In all aspects of your child’s day, always put the quality over the quantity whether it’s pertaining to academics, extracurricular, or socialization.”
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A solid classic and foundational novel for pirate adventures. It’s easy to read and moves at a good pace. It was fun to note where Pirates of the Caribbean borrowed from this tale.
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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
Fast-paced and exciting read, yet thought provoking at the same time. I look forward to continuing this series.
Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-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
Excellent storytelling. Especially for a debut novel. That said, Sanderson’s debut doesn’t read like a newbie author. I honestly recommend this book as the best starting place. Everyone recommended that I start with Mistborn and I dnfed it because the story dragged and I couldn’t connect with the characters, and there was no way I could even imagine myself beginning with a novel as thick as The Way of the Kings. I would probably have never attempted another Sanderson book if it wasn’t for the “secret project” novels which were right up my alley of weirdness. And I went from them to Elantris because the premise of this novel intrigued me. A city of basically living dead? Count me in. I was not disappointed.
The Queen and the Shadow Witch by Leanna Rapier
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
This is my debut novel! (Not giving it a star rating).
The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The Dragonet Prophecy is a fun MG read for kids who like fantasy, dragons, and battles. My daughter (age 8) liked the graphic novel version, but the regular novel was too long and complex for her. We will revisit later when she’s older. It feels more suitable for children ages 10+.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
There are a few detailed dragon deaths that may bother a sensitive child.
Beyond the Wind Music by Mary Emma Sivils
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
5.0
Yay for a story with a mom as the main character! Emotional and filled with hope. Highly recommend, esp. for moms, or just anyone feeling discouraged by routine life or feel like they’re not getting anywhere.
The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
I loved the wit and humor of this book. It included many of my favorite tropes: portals, alternate dimensions, time travel (sorta), amnesia. Strangely, I loved the inserts from the guide book perhaps even more than the story. A different sort of book than the other “secret projects” and more scifi than fantasy, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Dandelion Fire by N.D. Wilson
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I loved the first book of this trilogy, and was excited for this one. I’ve been reading aloud to my 11yo son. This book could have been great. It had an intriguing premise, but was only okay because it was executed poorly. There were too many characters. The plot confusing and prose overly wordy. I still don’t know who the boy Richard is (introduced in the first book) or why he is in the story.