"Ship of Magic" by Robin Hobb

This book was totally written with trilogy in mind. It ends with all kind of loose ends. But credit to Hobb, she breaks all the story lines off at a good spots. Even those new ones that she created near the end of the book. They are hints of what is to come.

The basis of the story is the Vestrit family. They live in Bingtown, and are one of the famous “Bingtown Trader” families. Essentially the Satrap (king) gave parcels of lands to these families, and then these families made business deals with another race, the Wild River clan. The deals were for liveships. These liveships are made of wizardwood, sail better and faster then regular ships, and can tackle the strange waters where the Wild River clan live. This way enabling them to trade for their goods, which can be turned into a hefty profit.

There is more to the liveships, as they get to a point where they are “quickened”, or come alive. And the are many politics going on within the Vestrit family to who is sailing the ship (named Vivacia), and what “goods” they are trading.

The story is far from over. But it has been great so far. I have never read a book that was over 800 pages, and yet didn’t drag anywhere. The pacing was excellent, and the storytelling is wonderful. There is so much going on, and you learn so much, yet there is so much yet to come and so many possibilities. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy, and maybe even more of Hobb’s work in the near future.

10/10