Rating: 
Summary: Rich characterisations but maybe a tad long in the tooth
Review: After reading the farseer trilogy and experiencing the depth of the novels with their rich characterisations and flowing storylines, I must admit that the Liveship Traders was just a bit too padded in some areas. As much as I don't always enjoy the "swashbuckling swords and sorcery action aplenty" sort of works by writers which shall remain unnamed, Hobb would have done better if she wove the tale that little bit closer .That said, it was one of the most interesting and original novels that I have read in a long time and after wading through much of it I really enjoyed it. The characters were believable and noone was really right or wrong in any way...as true to life as it gets. Kyle was almost pityful in the way he treated his wife and children, and yet one could understand his position and the responsibility he felt to the family. The relationship between Althea and her sister and mother was just the same of any modern day child in these days. Authors do not always give their characters such depth and feeling as Robin Hobb and for that reason she should be commended. A good read but I would recommend reading it in long sittings...
Rating: 
Summary: great book, developed characters, posessing intrigue
Review: I'm Russian and bought this book during vacations in Italy to avoid boring. but to my surprise it posessed my mind strongly (assuming English language is not my native one) the book is not just an action and 'heros with big swords' which i expected it to be - but very well developed scope of characters (scarcely seen in many fantasy books), original idea of the world author put its characters to - that was wonderful and Captain Kennit was my favourite character I liked that book very much
Rating:
Summary: One of the best I've read in years!
Review: I'm an avid reader of fantasy novels, but more and more I'mgetting bored with young nobody's suddenly turning into unbeatablewizards or godlike Conans in a quest to bring down an evil opponent. Imagine my sheer joy when I read the Otherland master pieces of Tad Williams. And imagine my sheer joy whilst reading about the really fleshed out characters in Hobbs latest trilogy. This is much more than a simple story, this is living with a whole group of persons I can really relate to, from the young Winthrow to the stubborn Althea, from the blinded Keffria to the o so real-live living ships Paragon and Vivacia. If I were a real writer (and not a hobbyist)I would like to write books like this. Hobb brings to live more than just her fabled ships. This is a Livebook. Needless to say: I love it.
Rating:
Summary: Rousing me from the depths of my dreams
Review: I was lost in the Pittsburg airport when I picked up this book, and I must say that it is the most exceptional piece of fantasy that I had ever read. In its supreme brillience, I find myself emmersing entirely with Althea with her bulk of family conflicts, and sensing the path of tears down my face as I read of her agony. Brashen in my opinion is as interesting and intrigueing as a person could be, and I sincerely wish that he and Althea would repair their differences. As it is my most prominant dream to become a fantasy novelist myself one day, Robin Hobbs is the author which I hold my own standards to; and they could not begin to reach a greater height considering that Ms. Hobbs is, by a far margin, the most magnificent writer that I have ever had the honor of reading.
Rating:
Summary: i love this book!!!!
Review: The book was great, at first i was slow reading it but then i got into the plot and couldn't put it down!!!! My only conplaint is Althea and Brashen! People who have read the book will understand, i hear in the 2nd book there is an other man!!!! I hope they {Althea and Brashen} as my bud Cal would say "get together" for good! An amazing read!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Bloody Good Read
Review: This is one seriously good read. HOBBS has come up with a really great concept of "Liveships" (which by the by, is developed incredibly well in "The Mad Ship"), and gives us some great characters. The thing that I personally like most about the characters that populate this series, is that they are not wholely good or evil. "Bad" characters do good, and heros can have addiction issues. HOBBS also gives us readers an intriguing view into the mind, motivations, and interpretations of events from the POV of Captain (TOSSPOT!!!) Kyle HAVEN. She allows us to see from his POV, why he does what he does - all with the best intentions, but doomed to failure because of his inherent flaws. Not a series of epic proportions (ala MARTIN - succeeding, and JORDAN - NOT), but having a depth appropriate to the concept. It's very easy to lose oneself in this book, and its great to have some characters that one can really feel for!! Definitely worth the price of admission.
Rating:
Summary: Read next year if you want to avoid agonising waiting
Review: I enjoyed this book hugely. It kept me in a near-trance for two days while I read it, and it's still haunting me now. There is such a wealth of detail and rich characterisation. Things appear to move slowly in places, but that's partly a function of the fragmented points of view - as we move out among the crews of the ships involved, it can be several chapters before we get back to Bingtown. The problems of Paragon in particular seem truly insoluble, and I can't wait to see how they are resolved later on. A slight gripe I had was that, as interesting as the story of Kennit was, I was annoyed at how long it took to link up with the other threads of the story. But when I re-read the book, that ceased to be a problem. Having read the Farseer books as well, I can now see how the concept of liveships followed on in the author's mind from the other story. The only trouble now is the time I have to wait to read the end. I almost wish I could have saved this book until then, so that I could have the extra pleasure of reading the whole lot in one go. But I can't honestly say I hope you don't feel the same way if you read this book. On the contrary, I hope you love it and spend the next year in a torment of waiting! On your own head be it.
Rating:
Summary: This Book is a great continuation in the Assasin tradition
Review: When I first picked up this book, I thought it was only a continuation of the Assasin triology where Hobb could milk off more money with my man Fitz. But as it turns out, it had a totally different plot, scene, and theme (Even though it was located in the Assasin world). This book is well crafted, beautifully written an all-in-all, a masterpiece. I recomend it to everybody!!!
Rating:
Summary: Just too good
Review: I'm not a huge fantasy reader especially if it has dragons in it - when I was given Princess Assassins I waited till I was totally desperate to read it - what can I say but pleasantly surprised. So I waited with baited breath for the next books - Ships of Magic not only didn't let me down it surpassed all expectations - my life was put on hold as it gripped me body and soul. Honestly I prefer it to Assassin's - perhaps for some of the most honest female characterisations I've found in any form of Literature - the mother, the daughter, the granddaughter all bound together to survive in a man's world - done so well I cried - dashing pirates with surprising soft sides - "hero" figures with addiction issues - and more mysteries to come - why do I have to wait so long for the next one!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Fabulous...Truly Catching
Review: Robin Hobb has definitely outdone herself this time. I love her assasin's series and when I found Ship of Magic, I knew I had to read it. The story was so encaptivating that I never wanted to put it down until I finished. My only problem now is trying to decide whether to spend the money for the hard back book of Mad ship or wait a year for paperback. Keep it up Robin.
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