Ship of Magic takes readers on a journey across the seas, introducing multiple characters and their stories, all while featuring living, talking ships. As a fan of the Realm of the Elderlings, I was thrilled to embark on this new adventure.

At first, I found it challenging to adjust to the large cast of characters and the slower pace of the book. Coming from the Farseer trilogy, Fitz's character had left a lasting impression on me. However, as I kept reading, I found myself rooting for the characters, and the book's strengths began to shine through.

One of Robin Hobb's most impressive talents is creating characters that come to life on the page. The characters in Ship of Magic are not just roles, but real people with unique personalities, quirks, and flaws. It's impossible not to become invested in their stories and feel strong emotions towards them.

While the book's worldbuilding is immaculate, growth is the book's central theme. The characters evolve throughout the story, and the plotline grows along with them. A pirate adventure, a treasure hunt, slave uprisings, dashing heroes on talking ships, serpents, bloody battles, and a strong cast of women fighting against the patriarchy make this book an exciting read.

Overall, Ship of Magic was not my favorite book initially, but it won me over halfway through. It's a thrilling read with dynamic characters, and I give it a 4 minus.