I finished this today and overall, thought it was excellent. However, I almost feel like there are too many plot threads—an awful lot will have to come together in the next book to bring this arc of the overall series to a satisfying conclusion. It’s a mixed bag—on the one hand, I love the complexity, but on the other hand, just as one storyline moves forward, Hobb abandons it to take up another, and so, the book had a rather disjointed feel to it.

Having said all that, I really liked the way the characters are developing, maturing, gaining depth and nuances. The most obvious is Malta, but also Keffria, Wintrow, Brashen, and Etta.

I suspected a connection between the sea serpents and the dragons, but not the idea that wizardwood is made of the hardened cocoons of serpents becoming dragons. The visions/memories/dreams from the buried Elderling city were enchanting, and yet, so sad. Was it a volcanic eruption that burned the city, or a severe earthquake? And the tie-in with the Farseer trilogy (the dragon graveyard) was also enlightening, that those were created dragons, artistic sculptures with relatively brief lives, not true dragons born from the serpent-woven cocoons.

Amber continues to be my favorite character, and I think perhaps she may be the Fool. I always think of the Fool as being somewhat fragile, and I don’t see Amber that way, but maybe the Fool regained his/her strength after the events in the Farseer trilogy. The Fool was changing at the end of [b:Assassin's Quest|33396914|Assassin's Quest (Farseer Trilogy, #3)|Robin Hobb|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1481883253s/33396914.jpg|503752]. When Paragon tells Amber there are two of him, Amber tells him that she has felt that way, too, and she says her “other one” was a friend with whom she used to talk a lot. She says, “Sometimes I hear myself still talking to him, and I know how he would answer.” Talking about Fitz?

I also think the change in Vivacia is so interesting—her role as a pirate ship seems to appeal to what we now know is her dragon nature. The Vivacia/Wintrow/Kennit/Etta quad is very intriguing, and one of my favorite storylines.

The next book should be quite a ride! ( )

Yet another book that has completely captured my attention. Few things that stood out in this one for me apart from Hobbs brilliant prose were :

1. I usually don't like nautical books ,but these so far just feel right. Robin Hob doesn't bog you down with her nautical knowledge on every single piece of the ship, or the commands being called out etc. It all just feels natural. It is also funny that books about ships feel much more about other things than just the ships and for me personally its a big plus!

2. Robin Hobb has this quality to her writing were you feel fully captured when reading a POV and when it switches in the next chapter it almost makes me angry. I go "HEEEY I want to know what happens , I don't care about X just now." but after few sentences I do care, and I am hooked again. I honestly was never interested in so many POVs at the same time . And all of them are VERY different , very good AND somehow connected in all of the plot that Robin has woven for us!

3. As always reading Robin Hobb I feel like watching one of those "Most satisfying Video Ever" where everything slowly and elaborately fits in places perfectly. Characters develop , grow, twist and change and slowly the puzzle pieces start to fall in places and the picture they create is looking more and more awesome with each entry.

I am truly blown away by these books, and this entry was on par with all previous entries, the satisfyingly deliberate pace , beautiful prose and excellent characters each feeling unique and walking their own path. LOVE LOVE LOVE this! Recommended ( )

Good but never going to finish this. ( )

Continuing the story from book 1. The trilogy can be read as one very long book, and the division is mostly because it would not be practical to publish such a long book undivided.

All I said about book 1 is still applicable. This is excellent, character-centered epic fantasy. As often happens with doorstoppers like this, sometimes I wish the author would get to the point, and feel that the story could benefit from some editing. On the other hand, it's an opportunity to get immersed in the secondary world. ( )

Very long and quite slow until near the end. ( )