Ship of Destiny

Starred review from July 31, 2000
One has to use a jeweler's loupe to find a flaw or a dull moment in this splendid conclusion to one of the finest fantasy sagas to bridge the millennium. True, there are moments in this third novel of the Liveship Traders Trilogy (Mad Ship; Ship of Magic) when things progress too easilyDthe folk of Bingtown, for example, seem to embrace diversity, equality and female empowerment too quickly to be believed. But otherwise, this book soars. Hobb weaves together multiple storylines: there's Althea Vestrit's quest for her family's liveship, Vivacia; the awakening of Paragon (the eponymous "ship of destiny"); the establishing of links between the liveships made of wizardwood and the sea serpents who, cocooned in wizardwood, mature into dragons; the appearance of the dragon Tintaglia; and the maturing of Malta Haven through rescuing the Satrap. Such a profusion of plotlines could have overwhelmed or slowed down the book, but Hobb handles them with such agility that the reader is likely to want not fewer but more stories. The most absorbing theme continues to revolve around Captain Kennit, his mistress, Etta (now carrying his child), and the conversion of Wintrow Haven into Kennit's heir as king of the Pirate Isles. (Kennit, perhaps the most interesting character in the trilogy, clearly was developed with a good deal of scholarship about the history of piracy.) This installment leaves nothing to be desired: the subplots advance in parallel; the nautical themes are handled splendidly; and the characters (including one of the more engaging and terrifying dragons in current fantasy) and world-building are of the very highest standard. Like its predecessors, this is a masterful achievement. Major ad/promo.

August 9, 2000
Unaware of the war that threatens the trading families of Bingtown, Althea Vestrit searches the sea lanes for her stolen liveship--only to discover the truth behind the origin of the sentient vessels. Hobb combines a unique fantasy vision with themes of devotion and selflessness to produce a powerful conclusion to an innovative saga. Highly recommended, along with series predecessors Ship of Magic and Mad Ship, for all fantasy collections.

Copyright 2000 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2000
Althea Vestritt isn't the Danielle Steele character portrayed in cover art for her Liveship Traders trilogy, and the account of the rebuilding of Bingtown, the traders' home, is a trifle preachy. But otherwise it is hard to carp about the triumphant conclusion to what is probably the best fantasy trilogy of the past decade and a prospective fantasy classic. Hobb handles the seafaring aspects as well as ever but focuses this grandly complex book on relations between individuals and between groups and changes in individuals and relationships. Captain Kennit remains the most complex character, despite his growing ruthlessness, but Althea runs a close second, as her quest for the family liveship "Vivacia" and her love for Brashen Tell both become star-crossed. Althea's spoiled-brat niece, Malta Haven, matures in the school of hard knocks and finds her true love in a River Wild Trader, and the "mad ship" "Paragon" becomes the ship of this book's title and crucial to reestablishing the linkage between sea serpents, wildwood cocoons, and the dragons that hatch from the cocoons. Hobb's narrative skill is great enough to guarantee that the tale's many persons, places, and objects won't throw new readers. Meanwhile, veteran readers will appreciate more than ever before the sheer splendor of the Liveship Traders' story. ((Reviewed August 2000))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2000, American Library Association.)