Rating: 
Summary: High Expectations-Poor Turn Out
Review: I opened the first page of Ship of Destiny with excitement. The first two books had been a refreshingly divergent form of Fantasy. The Characters were well developed, and the plot had been well executed. My only misgiving was that the first two books had been substantially longer than the final installment, and it made me wonder if the story was going to suffer the lack. I had no idea how right I was. More than halfway thru the book none of the storylines were near completion, and I knew that cliche was going to finally take hold on this impressive series. I have had it with unbelievably well tied up endings where even the unfortunate incidents end up contributing to the overall good. I had hoped for much better. I feel another two hundred pages could have made the difference. This book feels sloppy, rushed and very uninspired compared to its preceeding volumes. I feel that Robin Hobb has displayed a wonderful creativity and talent for Fantasy writing. I hope that she will live up to the potential she has demonstrated she possesses. The overall series would rate 4 1/2 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: A Great End to a Fine Trilogy!
Review: Robin Hobb concludes her Liveship Traders trilogy in fine fashion, weaving an incredibly vibrant tapestry of pirates, dragons, romance, danger, and political assignation. In particular, the second half of this book is packed full of action as the author deftly maneuvers her characters through rough seas, both literally and figuratively, and brings the entire epic to a thoroughly satisfying conclusion.Essentially, the book begins, with bringing us up to speed on the three major plots that had formed from the last book: 1) Althea Vestritt and her drive to reclaim the stolen liveship Vivacia, 2) the pirate, Kennit, and his quest to rid the Pirate Isles of the slave trade, and 3) and the events back in Bingtown and The Rain Wild River where war has broken out and an uneasy alliance is just beginning. There is much ground to cover in this volume and so the pace of the more mundane events picks up a notch from book two, and it is not long before the three individual plots begin to overlap and build upon each other. Some of the lesser characters from the first two books, including Reyn, of the Rain Wild folk, the Satrap and his companions, and Althea's all-but forgotten sister forge new roles and become instrumental in the plot development. All of the characters have come a long way since the beginning of the series, and to see their growth as characters is one of the most fascinating aspects of the entire series. It is fun to watch as they transform from weak-willed adolescents into fulfilling their various roles, whether as full-fledged leaders or as political scapegoats. Thankfully, the author has not kept us in suspense regarding all of the secrets and intrigues of the first two books. Here we at last discover the true nature of the serpents, the wizard wood, the liveships themselves, and we uncover the mystery surrounding Paragon (the Mad Ship) as well as Kennit's background. And, yes, the dragons not only finally make their appearance but also take center stage. This book is a "10". It combines exactly the right amount of tension, danger, romance, build-up, comic relief, and everything else that makes a great story come to light. Many novels come close but never quite reach such a pinnacle. It simply succeeds on so many levels. Some may read it for the great fantasy adventure it is while others will take away a far subtler but fascinating undertone that provides key insights on human relationships of all forms. And, truthfully it is, plain and simply, original. The settings, the characters, the plot, are wholly original. The ability to create such a believable fantasy setting and populate it with such colorful characters is truly a remarkable gift. And yet Ms Hobb doesn't let this perfection stand in the way of a truly rousing adventure tale.
Rating: 
Summary: The trilogy deserved a better end
Review: The first two books were excellent and imaginative. The idea behind the story is terrific. But this last book was very unsatisfactory. The end was too unrealistic. Some characters' ideas sounded too modern to me, all the feminism and the democracy.
Less romance would be nice too, I don't like Danielle Steele. I'm sorry but a lot of that was not only completely unnecessary but also annoying, especially the parts involving Brashen and Althea.
And I used to think characters surviving against all odds were OK but George R. R. Martin spoiled me.
I also agree with a previous review that the series could be trimmed down a lot. A lot of details weren't very relevant to the overall picture. She focused too much on what the characters were thinking and less on what was happening. Sometimes she could have let the characters' actions speak for themselves. It would have made the story a lot shorter and more enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent series, but needs another book
Review: Overall, this is one of the best fantasy series' I have ever read. I came off of the Assassin series with a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, because I really disagreed with the ending. I have no problem with some sadness in books, but the ending to the Assassin series was downright depressing. Which was a shame, because I loved the books. Hobb doesn't quite have the skill at creating a believable world that Robert Jordan does, but what she DOES have is an unbelievable skill with character personality and interaction, and language skill. Ms. Hobb truly has a gift for the English language, and anyone who appreciates writing above a 6th grade level (which so much popular writing is now) will love these books. The only problem I have with the series is that, as one reviewer said, it could use another book. I realize she probably wanted to keep the series as a trilogy, but I do think the ending left too many things hanging, such as the future of Bingtown and the Pirate Isles. She may have wanted to leave it to our imaginations, but I do believe that, in some way, she went from one extreme in the Assassin books to the other extreme with these books. Everything seemed a little TOO good at the end of this trilogy. I was certainly glad to not have to read a depressing ending, but the fact of the matter is that it's highly unlikely that everything would go smoothly after the end of this book. Maybe she's planning another trilogy? I don't know. But I would love to see more Liveship Trader books in the future. And besides the lack of real finality in the ending, I do believe Hobb is ranked up there with Jordan, Goodkind, and Martin as one of the best fantasy writers in recent history.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful end to a great trilogy
Review: I sat down and read this book in one day. It's a great book. I agree with many other reviewers when they say the ending is rushed. It in no way detracts from the overall story, I just wish certain parts had been a bit more fleshed out. Certain characters meet for the first time and we don't get to see it through their point of view: it is described for us through human eyes. I was mostly interested in the serpents/dragons/liveships storyline: their lost destiny, their struggle, their fight between memories of a past snatched from them or to just follow their current fate. To me, a high fantasy novel lets us expand our minds and imagine what it would be like to be Vivacia, Maulkin, Tintaglia... or even Althea, Wintrow, Malta or Kennit. I don't mind if the storyline shifts between human or magical creatures. As for the humans, I liked how Malta turned out to be someone I could admire. She was such a disagreeable brat in the first book! I have mixed feelings about how Wintrow turned out, but am pleased with Etta's evolution. I'm upset about how Althea was treated towards the end of the book but she still remains one of my favorite characters (along with Brashen). I loved Seldon's character but could not completely sympathsize with Kennit and definitely not with Kyle. I hope Robin Hobb writes about the Elderlings, or what happens with Reyn, Malta and Seldon after this trilogy... as well as telling us more about the mysterious Amber. All in all, a great book, that left me heartbroken for the characters who had no hand in their fate, for those who perished along their journey--- but I am elated that the overall ending of this imaginative trilogy was wonderful.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!!
Review: I love this book! I won't tell you it's a flawless book because I do believe it could have been shorter and that not all of the sub plots're captivating. It just that this book is suit my taste in every aspect. I'm a sucker for seafaring/swashbuckling adventure especially when it features pirates and their conquests. I love how the author managed to fill her story with well-developed and accesible characters that make me FEEL for them or even love some of them including the bad guys. But most of all, I love Hobb's creativity in creating the live ships and made them truely ALIVE by combinding her own imagination with the existing creature in fantasy world we've known. Reading this trilogy gave me the time of my life. It might be too long for most people but it absolutly worth your time. Though judge by this book alone I'd give it 4.5 stars, I did find companion Serrilla's so annoying, Ryen's truely a lovesick fool I felt he didn't deserve a happy end and Kyle's role in his reappearance's totally pointless. However, judge by the deep feeling I felt for the characters and how I good I felt after reading the last page, I can careless about those flaws.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but could have been GREAT with careful editing
Review: Robin Hobb is a powerful writer, who visualizes a realistic world that is awash with the color of fantasy. The compliments stop there. This book (and indeed the whole series) is too long, and needs a lot of the fat skilfully cut out of it. The dialogues are inane and the characterization is repetitive. The pro-feminist stance goes from intriguing to irritating to downright embaressing. And no, Robin cannot be forgiven for being an all-powerful woman writer. What would we all think if one of her male peers in the fantasy publishing world were to take a pro-male stance? We know that answer... I love the story but I felt it became stodgy towards the last 200 hundreds pages of each book. PLEASE RE-EDIT THE TRILOGY AND RE-PUBLISH AS ONE 1,500 EPIC!!! The flab in the novel is surprising considering the tame and unsatisfactory ending. I got the feeling Ms. Hobb got bored of the whole project when she first put pen to paper on the third instalment. A pity because the dragons and liveships and serpents are excellent. Pity about those cardboard, cliched good girls and impotent bad men. I would have fed the lot to the serpents two books ago! I am now going to indulge in a good bit of Wilbur Smith reading just re-acquaint myself with that good old fashioned testosterone-rousing action novel: for MALES!!!
Rating:
Summary: Astounding.
Review: This is the third and last book of The Liveship Traders (after Ship of Magic and The Mad Ship). "King" Kennit of the Pirate Isles is now captain of the Liveship Vivacia. After discovering his main city Divvytown had been raided by slavers and all but destroyed by Chalcedean patrol ships, he sails to Others Island with his woman Etta and the former priest-boy Wintrow Vestrit, now his fervant follower. There, Wintrow will have his fortune told by the Oracle, but instead ends up rescuing the crippled sea serpent She Who Remembers from her prison-pool, scalding his body with her toxins in the process. And when the serpent touches Vivacia, the Liveship suddenly realizes who, or what, she truly is. New destinies are set into motion. Further to the North, after doing up the Paragon, Althea Vestrit, Brashen Trell and Amber finally set sail to claim the Vivacia back from the pirate king, barely in time before a treacherous attempt on the Satrap's life is made. Indeed, on the evening of the Summer Ball, war breaks out in Bingtown, and the Old Traders families are forced to flee to Trehaug, the treetop capital of the Rain Wilds. But as Malta and her little brother Selden are exploring the ruins located under Trehaug, answering the dragon Tintaglia's pleading calls for rescue, a terrible tremor shakes the Earth and the underground city collapses over them. Helping the dragon escape is their only chance of survival. The setting free of She Who Remembers and Tintaglia marks the beginning of a new era for both humans and dragons, who will have no other option than to collaborate for their kins to survive. And as the pages turn and the story flows, new alliances are made, and others unmade, as all parties are slowly converging for a final battle on the choppy seas of the Cursed Shores. Although as a whole I'd say I preferred her Farseer trilogy, Robin Hobb's Liveship Traders is an astounding, thrilling pirate adventure tale, with an extremely well-thought-of plot and real, three-dimensional characters. The hardships the heroes are going through reshape them, such as young Malta, who matures from a spoiled little brat to a fine diplomat, or Wintrow and Brashen, who gain more self-confidence throughout the series. In turns, you'll be fascinated by the mysterious prophet Amber, enraged by Althea's stubbornness and pride, seduced by Reyn's exotic figure and kindness, and you'll even feel pity for the "baddies". Fantasy books just don't come any better than that!
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent
Review: Robin Hobb creates a magnificent world in this trilogy. Nice character development and description. This entire series makes the Farseer Triology and the Tawny Man trilogy all the more enjoyable. I do recommend reading the Farseer Trilogy first, though. If you read that trilogy first, then the Liveship Traders and finally the Tawny Man trilogy (only 2 out so far) you'll appreciate the pieces much more.
Rating:
Summary: Not the best ending
Review: "Ship of Destiny" is, in a word, disappointing. While it is worth reading, it's not up to the same standard as "Ship of Magic" or "Mad Ship". Hobb does bring a conclusion of sorts to the series, but a lot of the book seems to be either too silly or too forced to fit in with the first two volumes. "Ship of Destiny" does have some good moments, but I really expected something better from this work. We start where "Mad Ship" left off, with Bingtown mostly destroyed while in Trehaug, Reyn has just managed to release Tintaglia, the last dragon. Farther south, Vivacia is struggling with the knowledge of where wizardwood comes from, while Althea and Brashen try to figure out how to locate Kennit and get their ship back. I realize that it must be difficult to successfully wrap up a story where so many different things are happening, but the plot of "Ship of Destiny" really seems to rely too heavily on amazing coincidences. A huge group of characters all meet at the same place and time by random chance, a character avoids a difficult dilemma because two events conveniently happen at the same time, and so forth. Like most readers, I think that characterization is one of Hobb's biggest strengths. There are some characters in "Ship of Destiny" who manage to remain both believable and sympathetic, most notably Althea, Ronica, and Brashen. However, some of the others seem to have their personalities change so fast that it's not really credible. I wouldn't necessarily say that the author does a bad job with characterization in this book, just that it appear a little bit hasty and sloppy at times. Another gripe that I have is that all of the resolutions reached among various groups that help bring about the happy ending are a bit of a stretch. For instance, all of the groups in Bingtown, including the Old Traders, New Traders, former slaves, and Three Ships families, are surprisingly willing to put aside their differences and get along with each other considering the distrust and animosity that they showed in the last book. Other than those complaints, "Ship of Destiny" is still a pretty strong book compared to the rest of the fantasy genre. Hobb's writing is still adept, and she has an excellent ear for dialogue. And there are some well-written scenes in this book where you actually feel for the characters and experience some suspense about what will happen next. For those who enjoyed the first two volumes of the Liveship Traders series, I certainly wouldn't discourage you from tackling this one as well. I just think that it's generally below the level of quality that we've come to expect from Hobb.
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