Synopsis: The second volume in this superb trilogy from the author of The Farseer trilogy continues the dramatic tale of piracy, serpents, love and magic.
Althea Vestrit has found a new home aboard the liveship Ophelia, but lives only to reclaim the Vivacia as her rightful inheritance. However, Vivacia has been captured by the pirate, ‘King’ Kennit, and is acquiring a keen bloodlust.
Bingtown becomes embroiled in a violent political upheaval against the corrupt Jamaillian leader, while the fading fortunes of the Vestrit family lead Malta deeper into the magical secrets of the mysterious Rain Wilds Traders.
Beyond Bingtown, enigmatic wood-carver Amber dreams of re-launching the Paragon, The Mad Ship, despite the history of death and despair that surrounds him.
Secrets will be revealed – secrets forgotten by sea serpents, hidden by the disfigured Wild Rain Traders, buried deep in wizardwood coffins – secrets with startling, dramatic consequences.
Title: The Mad Ship
Author: Robin Hobb
Pub Date: 23rd April 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 906
ISBN: 9780007459735
Rating: 
I’m used to Hobb’s incredible abilities as an author; her character development is excellent; her plots evenly paced; and her world’s are believable and real. But nothing prepared me for the countless jaw-dropping moments this book had to offer.
Normally, I really dislike second books in trilogies. They are the middle crap that get you from the brilliant beginning to the epic, battle-ridden end. The Mad Ship, however, definitely shouldn’t be classed in any way as a second book. It has the hook of a first-book, and the epic battles of the last.
To make matters worse, she leaves the reader on, not a cliff-hanger (that would be annoying), but on a beginning. A new phase. A promise of oh-so-much-more to come. This means another few days of sleepless nights filled with reading, and endless days of procrastinating through work till I can get back home to read.
A Literary Mind 