Cover of Mad Ship

Mad Ship

  • 1999 first published
  • 769 pages
  • ★ 4.0 (20 ratings)
  • 15 editions

Mad Ship is a 1999 epic fantasy and pirate adventure novel by Robin Hobb. Key subjects include sailing ships, pirates and magic.

Open Library readers give it an average of 4.0 out of 5 from 20 ratings, and 48 more have it on their want-to-read list. It has been published in 15 editions.

It runs to roughly 769 pages — 14–15 hours of reading at an average pace.

About Mad Ship

In the second breathtaking volume of Robin Hobb's Liveship Traders trilogy, a new tide of glory and terror sweeps forward the story of the Vestrit clan, their liveship Vivacia, and all who strive to possess her.As the ancient tradition of Bingtown's Old Traders slowly erodes under the cold new order of a corrupt ruler, the Vestrits anxiously await the return of their liveship--a rare magic ship carved from sentient wizardwood, which bonds the ships mystically with those who sail them. And Althea Vestrit waits even more avidly, living only to reclaim the ship as her lost inheritance and captain her on the high seas. But the Vivacia has been seized by the ruthless pirate captain Kennit, who holds Althea's nephew and his father hostage. Althea and her onetime sea mate Brashen resolve to liberate the liveship--but their plan may prove more dangerous than leaving the Vivacia in Kennit's ambitious grasp....From the Paperback edition.
Description from Open Library

Themes, setting & tropes

Genres

Subjects

  • Sailing ships
  • Pirates
  • Magic
  • Quests, Expeditions
  • Fantasy
  • Epic fantasy

Quick answers

Who wrote Mad Ship?

Mad Ship was written by Robin Hobb and first published in 1999.

What genre is Mad Ship?

It is usually shelved as Epic Fantasy and Pirate Fiction.

How long is Mad Ship?

The median edition has 769 pages, about 14–15 hours of reading at 250 words per minute.

What books are similar to Mad Ship?

Readers who like it often enjoy The Dragonbone Chair, Stone of Tears and The Sword of Shannara.

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