The dragon, Tintaglia, released from her wizardwood coffin, flies high over the Rain Wild River. And just outside Bingtown, Amber dreams of relaunching Paragon, the mad liveship. Meanwhile in Bingtown, the fading fortunes of the Vestrit family lead Malta deeper into the magical secrets of the Rain Wild Traders. Leagues away, Althea Vestrit has found a new home aboard the liveship Ophelia, but she lives only to reclaim the Vivacia and with her friend, Brashen, she plans a dangerous rescue. Held captive on board, Wintrow Vestrit finds himself competing with Kennit for Vivacia's love as the ship slowly acquires her own bloodlust. The Vestrit family's liveship, Vivacia, has been taken by the pirate king, Kennit. But her dream of taking her father's place at Vivacia's helm is not to be, for her family have other plans.Īnd the dark, charming pirate Kennit also lusts after such a ship: he well knows the power of wizardwood and has plans of his own. The liveship Vivacia is about to undergo her quickening:Īlthea Vestrit waits for the ship that she loves more than anything in the world to awaken.

They quicken only when three family members from successive generations have died upon their deck. Rain Wild River, and liveships are hard to come by. But only a liveship can negotiate the perilous waters of the Wizardwood, the most precious commodity in the world, comes only from the Rain Wilds. This is the second trilogy in the Realm of the Elderlings sequence by Robin Hobb.

The liveship traders