Following on from the Ship of Magic the turmoil continues. Windrow faces a fight for his life as he escapes the
liveship and hardships placed on him by his father only to be captured; made into a slave with the famous facial tattoo then bought back by his father only to be made Vivacia's personal slave. Vivacia suffers at the hand of Kyle with the pain and terror of miserable and dying slaves in an on her until Pirate King Kennit captures her. Kyle is gotten rid off leaving only Windrow and Vivacia to face their capture. But, Kennit is not the barbarian that they expected. His charisma could melt the hardest of hearts and his effect on both Windrow and Vivacia is great. Kennit's luck is holding as he slowly builds he kingdom with his adoring whore, Etta at his side. However, the all their futures is abruptly changed when he decides to take Windrow to the Others Island. She-who-remembers is freed and Windrow, Vivacia and Kennit uncover a secret they never imagined. Althea, Brashen and Amber travel on Mad Ship, Paragon towards the Pirate Isles to recover Vivacia unaware of Bingtown's devastation or Vivavia's plights. Their
adventure also is endangered by treachery very close to them. The serpents provide an extra complication for both ships. Robin Hobb has depicted all of the characters well but Malta is arguably one of the best characters as readers can enjoy watching her growing from the insufferably annoying teenager that anyone would love to strangle to the powerful young woman she is destined to become. Keffria, Malta and her younger brother escape devastated Bington to the Rain Wilds with Rhyn but Malta has a strong link to the dragon that is trapped in its cocoon underground in the Elderling village. This link may save the last surviving dragon while endangering not only herself and her family but the Satrap of all Jamaillia and all who live in the Rain Wilds. The plot unfolds around all the main characters slowly and surely. Enemies become allies and danger abounds. The final installation can't come soon enough.
More summaries about the The Mad Ship (the Liveship Traders)