Is Fitz Happy?

Athel, the ship's boy, has been called before Captain Tenira while the rest of the crew is on shore for leave. Ophelia has revealed Althea's secrets and the Teniras explain a plan for her to return to Bingtown as herself. Brashen, in the first port that Springeve stopped at, finds himself drinking with an old ship mate. Old memories Brashen wants buried are brought up and he contrives to leave the...

The storm rages on and Wintrow is trying to wrestle with the morality of his situation. He and Vivacia are struggling to gain control on deck and gain control of the ship so everyone doesn't die. He asks for his father, Kyle, to help guide him through the night. Kennit, Sorcor, and Etta close in on their prey.  We're reading Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb, book 1 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm...

Onboard the Vivacia, Wintrow is submerged below decks with the slaves. He does his best to tend to their needs and meets a priest-turned-slave, Sa'Adar. Vivacia is still morose and Gantry is still determined to help her in any way he can. That leads him below with Wintrow to help bring a dying slave on deck. Sa'Adar takes advantage of the situation and a rebellion ensues. Meanwhile, Kennit insists...

Althea has been aboard the Ophelia for a few days doing various tasks but also gambling with the figurehead. Ophelia figures out Althea's secrets and wins their game to get more information. Althea lays it all bare, learns about Liveship society, and leaves feeling hopeful to either get back Vivacia or stay aboard the Tenira's ship.  We're reading Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb, book 1 of the Liveshi...

Vivacia is still feeling alone, despite Wintrow being reunited with her. Kyle is roused to anger by a serpent and threatens Wintrow, creating a chaotic scene onboard. Gantry pleads with the ship but no one can understand her plight or takes the time to listen to her. All the while, Maulkin, Shreever, and Sessurea have decided to follow her to puzzle out Vivacia's scent.  We're reading Ship of Magi...

Vivacia, in the middle of an identity crisis, is ignored. The slaves are being boarded and she is assaulted with their misery. Keffria and Ronica are waiting for their Rainwild representatives meanwhile, and are surprised that Jani Khuprus shows up talking about marriages.  We're reading Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb, book 1 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

In this chapter, Malta insists that she is a victim when she is confronted by Ronica and Keffria about the missing dreambox. She shows her inner anger and understanding, or lack thereof, to Ronica, who stalks away. Meanwhile, Paragon learns via Amber that he is being sold and that she has submitted an offer. He takes it as well as expected. Kennit, whose leg isn't healing, talks with Sorcor about...

Wintrow is brought to an auction as a slave where his father is forced to buy him. He is tattooed, turned over to Torg, and tattooed again with Vivacia's likeness. She has trepidations about the upcoming journey and is forced to confront more of her independent side in Wintrow's absence. In Candletown, Brashen and Althea both find separate ships to leave on while desperately trying not to think of...

Wintow has been locked up for days, wrestling with the decision to tell his father to bail him out or to stay a slave. Finally, he sees Torg who seems to take that decision out of Wintrow's hands. On the Marietta, Kennit is struggling to heal and keep control of himself with Etta and Sorcor worrying about his wellbeing. Etta has tortured the slaveship captives to gain information about the next li...

Amber and Paragon have been bonding in Bingtown. One day, she brings a carved necklace for Paragon, who grows suspicious of her motives. Elsewhere in Bingtown, the Vestrit household is quiet while Ronica and Keffria discuss their plans for the future. A Rain Wild gong rings out and a courting gift is dropped off for Malta, who throws a tantrum and steals it after the adults want to send it back. ...

The Reaper has docked in Candletown and Althea is ready to head back to Bingtown with a ship's ticket to claim Vivacia as her own. However, the revelation of Althea's gender forces her off the ship without it and with a deeping sense of hopelessness. In the meantime, Brashen is looking forward to continuing his relationship with Althea and waits for her to show up at his inn.  We're reading Ship o...

The Old Traders have been called by their kin, the Rain Wild Traders, to a meeting. Malta is excited to go to a party, while her mother, Keffria, and Ronica are worried about what this means. The political landscape is looking grim for Bingtown and for the Vestrits as Malta is getting them into even more trouble by introducing herself to the Khuprus family.  We're reading Ship of Magic by Robin Ho...

Wintow ventures into Jamaillia and encounters the horrors of slavery, Vivacia mourns the loss of her companion, and Kennit bites off more than he can chew with freeing a slave ship of his own. Or should we say a serpent bit off more than it could chew.  We're reading Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb, book 1 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

Captain Kennit misses another opportunity to capture a liveship, but Etta suggests a plan that might work for the future. Meanwhile, both of our liveships, Paragon and Vivacia, are in turmoil; the former from being sold soon and the latter from Wintrow leaving in the harbor of Jamaillia amidst sleeping serpents.  Althea and Brashen have to contend with a live serpent, however, trying to get a meal...

Ronica and Keffria have to deal with and confront Malta's conniving and manipulations when she invited Cerwin Trell to the Vestrit home. Ronica also has to come to grips with her lack of understanding of her own family. Keffria finally comes grasps for her place in the household and has a discussion with her mother about their future plans. Meanwhile, Vivacia and Wintrow have arrived in Jamaillia,...

Content Warning: Talk of sexual assault, rape, and consent starts at 1:15:00 until 1:30:00 in regards to Althea's past. The port town Brashen and Althea have stopped in is more dangerous than it first appears. Brashen is drugged through his ale and led to the back room, while Althea is baited there as well, barely escaping a kidnapping. After getting back to the ship, Brashen stitches up Althea's...

After Cress, Wintrow has been shunned by the Vivacia's crew for cowardice. He's lived in misery until the extent of his recent injury forces him to come to terms with losing a finger. He confronts Kyle to get it amputated, and he puts on a strong display for the crew, proving he is not a coward or afraid of pain. Meanwhile, in Bingtown, Paragon is getting introduced to our favorite woodworker, Amb...

Luke and Emma dive into Malta Vestrit's character for the first time. We catch up with her in the midst of a plan to get to the Liveship Trader Harvest Ball all on her own, with her own gown. As a 12 year old, she definitely has everything figured out and doesn't lie, get caught, and understands what everything she's doing implies. Full of frustration, we talk about Bingtown society, the role of w...

Content Warning: We briefly discuss the implied SA of Etta that happens near the end of this chapter.  Kennit arrives back at Divvytown to sell his goods and see how his reputation has spread. Sorcor and the crew show faith in their captain and a powerful merchant implies that Kennit's dream could be in reach. However, after a successful homecoming, he encounters some trouble at Bettel's Bagnio. ...

In this episode, Althea finds out she is good at something, but is still in constant danger of being discovered. Vivacia and Wintrow's bond grows closer as each of them are learning from the other. Wintrow is also starting to become closer to the crew, until a fateful trip onshore with a bear tamer puts a damper on those relationships.  We're reading Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb, book 1 of the Live...

Some time has passed and we catch up with Brashen and Althea on the Reaper, a slaughter ship. Althea is masquerading as Athel, the ship's boy, while Brashen is eaten up with guilt and worry that she will be discovered. Meanwhile, Wintrow is trying to fit in with the crew and make a new friend in Mild onboard the Vivacia.  We're reading Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb, book 1 of the Liveship Traders in...

The Vivacia sails soon and Wintrow has a hard time making friends or fitting in with the crew. Meanwhile, Althea is on a mission to collect witnesses against Kyle for her future plans. She visits Wintrow and her mother to gather those promises of help. However, Ronica is left wanting to discuss more as she tries to collect the strands of the Vestrit family left adrift by Keffria and, more importan...

Kennit lucks his way into starting his kingdom in the small slave-refuge, pirate village of Askew. He earns loyalty and adoration for reasons he can't even comprehend. Meanwhile, Keffria is once again rebuffed by Kyle in conversation and ridiculed for presuming she can help raise their kids. She desperately tries to convince herself that Kyle still means well and that he's a good man.  We're readi...

We dive into Wintrow's story and perspective as he dines with his father, Kyle. Captain Haven feels as though his son has learned his lesson and will bend to his wishes, but he and Wintrow instead butt heads, once again. Wintrow disappoints  his father again, and is relegated to being the ship's boy. Meanwhile, Ronica visits with Vivacia after reading the note Althea sent to the Vestrit house. Mai...

We start this episode discussing Brashen's guilt for his harsh advice to Althea as well as misguided thoughts. Althea meanwhile was up early, preparing to live on her own and gathering essentials. She finds herself in front of Amber's shop and finally has a face-to-face discussion with the enigmatic woodcarver that is familiarly opaque with references to fate.  We're reading Ship of Magic by Robin...