Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful
Review: Fantasy in a different setting. The characters are good and I would now put Hobb in the top five Fantasy authors. Kennit is brilliant and Malta (who was annoying in Book 1) comes into her own. Book 3 is also great.
Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal!
Review: As a reader and author of fantasy/sci fi for more years than I will confess, I am truly impressed by Mad Ship. The incredible characterizations, the depth of scope, the sheer emotionality of the interchanges between the characters, especially the on-again, off-again relationship between Paragon and Amber, is hard to find in typical fantasy fare. I am also fascinated with the developing bond between Malta and the Rain Wild trader, Reyn. Oddly enough, the love-hate relationship between Althea and Brashen reminds me of Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler. Althea with her stubborn insistence on taking her life into her own hands, and Brashen, the young rake disinherited from his familiy's fortune who makes his way, regardless of his family or society's opinions of him. Like Rhett with Scarlett, Althea is the only person who can reach Brashen, but does she want to? Aboard the Vivaca, the competition for the Live-ship's loyalty between Kennit, the pirate with a plan, and Wintrow, the boy who went to sea and became a man, is very psychologically satisfying. Adding the ex-prostitute to the formula kept me spellbound. This is a wonderful world the author has created, strange and exciting, yet familiar without being trite. Overall, the texture, evocative characters (I hated Malta for a while!) and truly memorable events weave a holistic tapestry that is beyond most fantasy writers out there, and I've read most. I anxiously wait to find out more in the third book. It would be fine with me if this were not a trilogy but a continuing series such as Robert Jordan has created with his Eye of the World series (now 8 or 9 books, I believe). Compare Mad Ship's delivery to the Chung Kuo sci-fi series by David Wingrove, with the quest excitement of J.V. Jones' Baker's Boy series, and the authenticity of an explicit alien world and its residents to Jordan's Eye of the World. Add to that, the detailed information of Jean Auel's Clan of the Cave Bear series. Truly fabulous, a must-read. Only one problem. Although it appears large, it's over entirely too soon, and the wait between books is too long. I'll be waiting though, if Parts 1 and 2, Ship of Magic and Mad Ship, are any indication, I'm sure the author has something fabulous planned for Part 3.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: I love the way she writes, much beter then most of the other fantasy wrighters i have read. I love the way she will give you informaton early in the book and give you time to think before she tells you what the information really means. I love it when i figure out what is going to hapen before it hapens and it makes me feel more into the book itself. Great Book Robin!
Rating: 
Summary: Strong, but overly complex
Review: This is a good second novel, not a great one. Hobbs tries to collapse too much material into the alloted space, and doesn't *quite* pull it off. I would rather she had shaped this series as a quartet, and split off some of this into another book. Either that, or had an editor who would have reined in her tendancy to tell rather than show. This tendancy made for slow going, and much "why should I care?" thoughts as I read this.
Rating:
Summary: An Awesome Mixture of Great Story Telling and Adventure
Review: Mad Ship was certainly worthy of being the sequel to the equally amazing first book in the Liveship Trader Series: "Ship Of Magic." I actually found "Mad Ship" more exciting than the first! I couldn't put it down! The only thing that made me upset was that it ended way too fast! I must now wait for the third one! It was a fabulous story, and I can't wait for "Ship of Destiny!"
Rating: 
Summary: Another great book...
Review: I was torn between giving this book 4 and 5 stars, and ultimately decided on four because it's simply not as good as Ship of Magic. That said, this is a truly excellent book. A few of the little hints and the like dropped at the beginning are a little too obvious, but one gets to wonder if that's intentional. This book maintains the excellent characterization of the previous volume, but far less actually happens in the book. Rather, it's more of a transitory volume: Book one set the stage, this one moves everything to where it needs to be so that Ship of Destiny can come in and tie things up with an amazing ending. Characters are developing nicely, and there is hope for the serpents now as well. Definitely read this book and this series; Hobb is a master artist.
Rating:
Summary: On the edge of my seat...
Review: At places, the novel's a bit a melodramatic and soap operatic, but I'm more than willing to forgive Hobb for these faults because she tells a damn good story. As in her Farseer trilogy, there's a nice mixture between the personal struggles of her characters, political concerns, and revelations about the history of the world they all occur in. And Hobb is equally adept at developing all of these elements. I was particularly impressed in the way that each character has grown or matured in his or her own different, but very believable, way. I can't wait for the next book to come out! And hopefully there will be another trilogy or two after that? There's definitely enough material in the world setting to go a long ways.
Rating:
Summary: amazing!
Review: Beautifully written and completely intriguing, this series is beginning to live up to the expectations set by the Farseer trilogy. With deep and multi-dimensional characters and a complex and gripping plot, I think we can safely say Robin Hobb is one of the best writers out there today! I highly recommend!
Rating:
Summary: When will Book 3 be out?
Review: I really like this series. I like the characters and the way they are developing (There may be hope for Malta yet!). I like the flavor of tragedy that permeates this story without destroying all hope. I find it to be refreshing and original, which can be difficult even in the world of Fantasy. I find myself hoping that things work out well for Althea and her family, intrigued about Amber's origens, and wondering what will happen to Brashen beofre it all ends. And then, there are the ships...
Rating:
Summary: mad ship, book two.
Review: after the farseer books i was not that excited to read the live ship series, but the books have created an interesting setting and attention holding characters. i am writing this tonight because i was looking forward to the conclusion of the series. what is going to happen? how is it going to happen? who will be happy? will i like the ending? i guess i care about the people, the dragons, the serpents, and the liveships. i am sorry i cannot talk about the book and give away the plot, and subplots. Hope the last book is worth waiting for. Will this be a great series or a good one. Hurry up with the next novel, please.
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