Robin Hobb - The Liveship Traders Trilogy (By Anne Flosnik)

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***These are the 2010 tantor audiobooks narrated by Anne Flosnik. Not the older ones read by Roy Avers. If you like them please help Hobb and her crew keep making jewels like these by BUYING them.***



Series description:

The Liveship Trader's Trilogy takes place in Jamaillia, Bingtown and the Pirate Isles, on the coast far to the south of the Six Duchies. The war in the north has interrupted the trade that is the lifeblood of Bingtown, and the Liveship Traders have fallen on hard times despite their magic sentient ships. At one time, possession of a Liveship, constructed of magical wizard wood, guaranteed a Trader's family prosperity. Only a Liveship can brave the dangers of the Rain Wild River and trade with the legendary Rain Wild Traders and their mysterious magical goods, plundered from the enigmatic Elderling ruins. Althea Vestrit expects her families to adhere to tradition, and pass the family Liveship on to her when it quickens at the death of her father. Instead, the Vivacia goes to her sister Keffria and her scheming Chalcedean husband Kyle. The proud Liveship becomes a transport vessel for the despised but highly profitable slave trade.

Althea, cast out on her own, resolves to make her own way in the world and somehow regain control of her family's living ship. Her old shipmate Brashen Trell, the enigmatic woodcarver Amber and the Paragon, the notorious mad Liveship are the only allies she can rally to her cause. Pirates, a slave rebellion, migrating sea serpents and a newly hatched dragon are but a few of the obstacles she must face on her way to discovering that Liveships are not, perhaps, what they seem to be, and may have dreams of their own to follow.

The Liveship Trader's Trilogy contains Ship of Magic, The Mad Ship & Ship of Destiny, and is the second of Hobbs series set in the "Realm of the Elderlings". The Elderling sub-series are written in a way so that they can be enjoyed separately. But can also be read together. Chronologically it (so far) contains:

- The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince
prequel set generations before the Farseer Trilogy
- The Farseer Trilogy (Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin & Assassin's Quest)
- The Liveship Traders Trilogy (Ship of Magic, The Mad Ship & Ship of Destiny)
Set in the years after The Farseer Trilogy and containing links to it, but miles away with new characters.
- The Tawny Man Trilogy (Fool's Errand, The Golden Fool & Fool's Fate)
Returns to the characters from the Farseer Trilogy, 15 years later.
- The Rain Wilds Chronicles (The Dragon Keeper, Dragon Haven, City of Dragons & Blood of Dragons)
Following the story from the Liveship Traders trilogy, around the time of the Tawny Man Trilogy (but best read after imo)
- The Fitz and the Fool Trilogy (Fool's Assassin & ---)
First book just released, bringing us back to some of the Farseer/Tawny Man cast, taking place years later. Wonder what Hobb will bring us with this new trilogy since I haven't read/listened Fool's Assassin yet...

Book 1 Ship of Magic

Set in a land bordering the Six Duchies, it tells of a group of sea traders, purveyors of rare goods which often border on the magical. Among those, wizardwood, a sentient wood. The most precious commodity in the world. Like many other legendary wares, it comes only from the Rain River Wilds. But how can one trade with the Rain Wilders, when only a liveship, fashioned from wizardwood, can negotiate the perilous waters of the Rain River? Rare and valuable, a liveship will quicken only when three members, from successive generations, have died on board.

The liveship Vivacia is about to undergo her quickening, as Althea Vestrit’s father is carried on deck in his death-throes. Althea waits fo the ship that she loves more than anything else in the world to awaken. Only to discover that the Vivacia has been signed away in her father’s will to her brutal brother-in-law, Kyle Haven. . .
Others plot to win, or steal, a liveship. The Paragon, known by many as the Pariah, went mad, turned turtle and drowned his crew. Now he lies, blind, lonely and broken on a deserted beach. But greedy men have designs to restore him, to sail the waters of the Rain Wild River once more.

Book 2 The Mad Ship

The Vestritt family's liveship, Vivacia, has been taken by Kennit, an ambitious pirate. Captain Haven is a prisoner; his son Wintrow, who bears the Vestritt blood, finds himself competing with Kennit for Vivacia's love as she becomes a pirate ship. Althea Vestritt, in training to become Vivacia's captain, arrives home to discover her beloved ship lost. Brashen Trell, her old friend and shipmate, proposes that they sail to Vivacia's rescue in the liveship Paragon, who has lost two previous crews and is believed mad.
Malta, Althea's niece, seeks help from her suitor, the Rain Wild Trader Reyn, whose family is the Vestritt's major creditor.
Meanwhile, the sea serpents who follow sailing ships struggle to remember their history and return to their place of transformation.

Book 3 Ship of Destiny

As Bingtown slides toward disaster, clan matriarch Ronica Vestrit, branded a traitor, searches for a way to bring the city's inhabitants together against a momentous threat.
Meanwhile, Althea Vestrit, unaware of what has befallen Bingtown and her family, continues her perilous quest to track down and recover her liveship Vivacia, from the ruthless pirate Kennit.
Bold though it is, Althea's scheme may be in vain. For her beloved Vivacia will face the most terrible confrontation of all as the secret of the liveships is revealed. It is a truth so shattering, it may destroy the Vivacia and all who love her. Including Althea's nephew, whose life already hangs in the balance.