The Mad Ship is the second book in Robin Hobb’s Liveship Traders trilogy. I came to this series after enjoying her Farseer trilogy (though finding it quite depressing), and read all three books in sequence shortly after publication.

The premise of living ships made from dragon cocoons has potential, and Hobb’s world-building remains detailed. However, several aspects didn’t work for me.

The trilogy leans heavily into themes of mental illness and trauma. Characters spend considerable time processing their psychological wounds rather than taking action. If you enjoy character introspection, this may appeal to you. I found it slowed the narrative and made the books feel like they were about suffering rather than adventure.

The mysteries Hobb sets up—the nature of the liveships, the sea serpents, the wizardwood—were predictable. I saw the revelations coming well in advance.

None of the characters were particularly likeable. Althea Vestrit comes closest, but she often felt passive when I wanted her to act. The liveships themselves, meant to be fascinating magical beings, struck me as pathetic. I don’t enjoy reading about pathetic people (or ships) suffering.

I also question the core premise. A ship with rudimentary awareness would have advantages, yes, but it’s more like having an extra crew member than a vessel that can dramatically outsail the competition. The supposed superiority felt overstated.

Looking back, I realized my core issue: this was marketed as epic fantasy adventure but reads more as a relationship-focused drama. Once I identified that mismatch, my disappointment made sense. It felt like bait and switch.

Rating: 3/5

I wouldn’t recommend this to readers seeking action-driven fantasy. Those who enjoyed the Farseer trilogy’s introspective style or prefer character-relationship narratives may find more to appreciate here.