Ship of Magic (The Liveship Traders, Book 1)

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Descriptive Piece of Exposition
Review: The Liveship Traders Trilogy....a very mind blowing and creative reading experience. Congrats to Robin Hobb for her fine writing ability to protray the characters as they she has. ~elaina, 18~

Rating:
Summary: Very good book, but too long.
Review: I was enthralled the moment that I picked up the book and started to read. The book is a rare find nowadays as it is always borrowed out. Even though the Ship of Magic was the first book written by Robin Hobb that I had read, I didn't feel that I really should have read the Farseer trilogy first. I will definetely encourage others to read all of Robin Hobb's books.

Rating:
Summary: Robin Hobb has done it again!
Review: After reading the superb Farseer triology, My expectations was very high when I bought Ship of Magic, and I can't say i'm the least disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Robin Hobb does it again!
Review: I highly recommend this book. With so many fantasy novels out there that are all about the same, Hobb takes you into a whole new world. Not only is this innovative and inspiring, but also an emotional journey for any reader. I found I could not put this book down, and can't wait for the sequel! Bravo and well done!

Rating:
Summary: Good book full of annoying characters
Review: I enjoyed this book but, with the exception of Althea and possibly Wintrow, every character in the book is either stupid, spineless, or downright deplorable. The men in the book suffer the most. Robin must have had some bad experiences because all the men in Ship of Magic are idiots.

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Summary: An interesting bbok in the genre of high fantasy
Review: The book started rather bumpily, but as it got off, it was smooth reading. It is very interesting for RH to incorporate modern day vices (drugs and teenage rebellion) into the a novel of myths and legends. What amaze me about RH is her writing which is pleasantly gender neutral--no prolonged soapy romantic dwelling of emotions into the heart of the female characters and lack of swashbuckling fights described in thorough details. Instead, she was able to stike a balance through her focus on strategies of the characters. More often than not it was refreshing. In fact, it prompted me to look for and read the sequel, "mad ship." Now, I am waiting impatiently for the conclusion of the triology--Ship of Destiny

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Summary: Megan Lindholm is back!
Review: Having read the Harpy's Flight trilogy (15? 20? years ago?) I have looked for and read everything by Megan Lindholm. I have not found any series in the hundreds of books I have read that match her imagination and vision. I have not liked every book she has written, particularly the Vietnam Vet in Seattle (Wizard of Pigeons?) but her books are so emotionally entralling you remember every one. I picked up Ship of Magic to find a new writer and could not put the book down. As I read and read, I was excited to find a new author that was so enthralling. As I got to the last page, and read "About the author" it should have been no surprise it was Megan Lindholm. Megan, Robin, if you read this, you are the best!

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Summary: A Dickens for the fantasy world...if you can believe it!
Review: I wil say it, and probably regret it later, but...most fantasy is trash. Don't get me wrong, I like fantasy quite a bit, but most of it is cheesy, banal, and pretty much the same stuff over and over again. What's my point? Robin Hobb is one of the few writers of fantasy today who write like fantasy is a form of literature, not an overdone sub-genre. Her characters, for instance - like him or not, Captain Kennit will jump out from the pages and speak to you. Her heroine, Althea, is at times both courageous and intelligent and yet clumsy and naive - just like a real person with real feelings. Like John Irving or Charles Dickens, Hobb isn't content to just give you a physical description and let it go from there. You will learn what makes these people good guys or bad guys... and you will be all the more entertained for Robin Hobb's efforts.

Rating:
Summary: Remarkable Book!!! In a class of it's own!!!
Review: Robin Hobb has taken this story and put emotions into it that the reader can feel. I've read many books that make me feel as though I were living the stories myself, but this story drew me into it and made me care about these people. Their hopes and dreams became mine, and the dangers they faced quickened my heart rate. The major characters are very believeable and they seem to react as unpredictable as humans often do. Ad magic and thing always seem to get really interesting. This series promises to be a very good and unstoppable read. I haven't read a better series since Steven R. Donaldson's 1st and 2nd Cronicles of Thomas Covenant.

Rating:
Summary: Depth, Substance, and Just a Great Read!
Review: Ship of Magic delivers. Hobb does a comendable job building her many plots and fleshing out her characters.