(15 ratings) Submit Your Own Review More reviews by author A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Submitted by Liz Davies 
(Feb 17, 2002)

I would have to say this is the best fantasy trilogy I have ever read. Having been an avid Eddings fan previously, I thought I might not enjoy these as they looked a lot more serious. But my best friend, who is one of those "Fantasy books are trash", etc. type people read the books after I wrote a book review on "The Ship of Destiny" at school and loved them. So this shows that even if you are not a fantasy lover, you can still enjoy Robin Hobb. In fact, my English teacher made her daughter read them after reading my book review and I have now converted someone else to Hobb-ism . She adores them. I personally think the best character is Althea, although some other readers would think otherwise.The book tackles loads of big issues and gets away with it, as well as being incredibly gripping and a great story. It is quite complicated, as it is split into several 'parts' that jump back and forth between each other. But the thing I would like to say to say now is "Robin Hobb, when are you going to sell your film rights?This would make a great movie!!" If you haven't read this, you are seriously deprived.

I read the Assassin trilogy prior to the Liveship one's and was instantly entrapped. But unlike her first series Hobb ended these remarkably well. I absolutely loved it, I had the last three chapters to go when I went to bed that night. When I woke up in the morning I didn't bother getting breakfast or even out of bed, I just read and read. I cried with sadness, Kennit was a great character!, and with happiness. The way she summed up everyone's deeds and lives, and had a semi-sad but happy ending is beyond words. I was moping around the house for the whole day, totally lost, and smiling to myself. I must say I haven't read many books yet, I'm only 15 but so far The Liveship trilogy is up the top, beating McCaffrey, Weis and Hickman, Kerr and even Robert Jordan. I loved the character development and the subtle secrets that interwove them all together, it was just, oh, Everyone should read them!!!!!

I read the Farseer books and thought they were quite good, so I also bought the Liveship books. I have stopped halfway through the second book. It does not reach me. I find it tedious and uninspiring. Something is definitely missing in these books. A lot of characters but none seem to go over a certain shallow understanding. It looks to me as if Hobb wanted to write a more subtle Fantasy series, with a very female touch to the whole thing. Very nice , but extremely boring.

The Live Ship Traders Trilogy is an excellent work of Fantasy. Robin Hobb weaves interesting characters with a usually swift plot. She does a fantastic job with character development, as the reader gets to see characters change events, and events change characters. She blurs the line between "good" and "bad" characters as she tangles her characters lives. She creates a world that is unique and dynamic, showing more imagination and creativity than most current fantasy writers. This series is easily better than her "Assassin" series.

A unique concept in the fantasy genre. Great character development. I loved that the author was in no rush in this regard. Characters were very real. 'Baddies' had some saving graces and the 'good guys' had plenty of faults. A multi layered complex plot with many unexpected surprises kept me on the edge for the 2 glorious weeks I spent reading the 3 books in the series.I have been disappointed with the fantasy genre before, but not this time. I was satisfied beyond my expectations.