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  • Ship of Magic

  • The Liveship Traders, Book 1
  • By: Robin Hobb
  • Narrated by: Anne Flosnik
  • Length: 35 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (497 ratings)

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Ship of Magic cover art

Ship of Magic

By: Robin Hobb
Narrated by: Anne Flosnik
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Publisher's Summary

From the author of the classic Farseer trilogy, Ship of Magic is the first part of the Liveship Traders. Set in a land bordering the Six Duchies, Robin Hobb begins her epic of pirates, talking ships, magic, sea serpents, slave revolts, dashing heroes and bloody battles.

Wizardwood, a sentient wood. The most precious commodity in the world. Like many 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 for 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.

©2012 Robin Hobb (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic Reviews

"Hobb is one of the great modern fantasy writers…what makes her novels as addictive as morphine is not just their imaginative brilliance but the way her characters are compromised and manipulated by politics." (The Times)

"Hobb is a remarkable storyteller." (Guardian)

What listeners say about Ship of Magic

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    328
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    108
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    10
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Performance
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  • 4 Stars
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 Stars
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  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars

can't listen to the book, bad reader!

narrator had no intonation, can't follow the story. returning the book. might try the paper version of this book.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book!

Don't be put of by the comments on the narration. I almost was, but found it great. In fact, her tone and accent add to the tale.
Ripping great story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Worth reading to the end - when it starts!

Great story; faultlessly drawing the reader into contemplation of what pity means to be and be free. Not my favorite voice actor but the various characters are expressed well enough. The story starts slow and builds to an enthralling conclusion. I'm looking forward to part 2.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Not perfect but pretty good

The reader pronounced almost every name the opposite to how I read it in my head! Had read bad reviews about the reader's voice, but while I didn't love it, I got used to it. Great story.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story put up with the voice

I've heard a few people don't listen to this because of the narrator but the story is worth it! Put the speed to 1.25x and it's much better.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Delightful story

1.1x speed made it good listening
Is it the skill? Is it the wit? Is it something entirely?

Enthralling

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Review

Why can't I just rate books anymore?? Why do I have to write a review every time!! Chang it back, please!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • mel
  • 10-08-2023

Worth sticking with

Look I had the same reaction to the other listener’s initially. Do yourself a favour. Put it on 1.2x speed and give it a good go. You won’t regret it and after a few chapters the narrator grows on you. Book is exceptional.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful story unique narration

I’ve read this story before and decided to listen. I thought the narration performance was interesting but at times distracting. The story, as with all of R Hobbs’ stories, is wonderful. This particular is a brilliant and warming break from the Farseer books.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book but I dont like the narrator

Really enjoyed the story as with all the Robin Hobb books but the listening experience was ruined for me by the narrator. I know the Hobb books are so much better if listened to in order and that is the only reason I continued to listen! The narrator sighs out every paragraph as if it is painful to her and her character voices are even more unpleasant to listen to! Thank goodness not all the books by Hobb are read by her or I would never listen to any of them.

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10 people found this helpful

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