Spoilery answer to your question: The nine fingered salve boy; Wintrow was supposed to be Amber’s catalyst. Some time before the start of the trilogy, the fool/amber had a vision of the person who would be instrumental in changing the future. That person was the one who could free She Who Remembers (i.e. the last serpent who could remember the way to become a dragon), and they would be able to bond to the ship that could lead the serpents to the rainwilds. These events would result in the return of true, flesh and blood dragons to the world. Amber/the fool’s vision showed them Wintrow (the nine fingered slave boy): her catalyst that she would need to guide in order to bring about her desired outcome. So Amber went to Bingtown to find Wintrow, but she never met him. She met Althea instead. Althea looks JUST like her nephew and Amber mistook her for her catalyst and set off with her. When Amber finally met Wintrow and realised she f***ed up she thought she’s failed her mission. But it worked out anyway. Wintrow managed to (accidentally) trigger the return of dragons on his own. On that same note: the fact that Althea and Wintrow look very much alike shocks Kennit when he first meets Althea. He thinks of her as “a female Wintrow”. Make of that what you will. It’s just as dark as you’re thinking.

I'm so glad you discovered Robin Hobb. She's amazing. Live ship is great but I still love Fitz most. The final trilogy with him made me cry so much. I read the series' all out of order but there's not a single one of Robin Hobb's that I dislike. Enjoy your further discovery of her world.

Bro I just finished Ship of Destiny and that moment when Amber carved and how they described how it looked I was like HOW THE HELL DID I NOT KNOW THIS WHOLE TIME?! The hints flew over my head even though they basically lay it out for you hahaha. I read the Farseer Trilogy first and enjoyed it as well but god damn, Liveship Traders captivated me more. On to the Tawny Man books!

My literal EXACT reaction to Amber. And it was the same for me…I didn’t learn about her until I finished the whole trilogy! 😂

istg EVERY TIME i finish a robin hobb book im all "ok my brain needs a break," then elias post a new video and I have to pick up the next one immediately

Ahhh i freaked out when i saw this! [SPOILERS!] tw rape mention As someone who rooted for Kennit (he was my fave), I still feel incredibly upset when I remember what he did at the end. Robin Hobb is INSANE for writing this villain with a tragic past, and constantly teasing us with a possibility for redemption only for him to become even worse at the end LIKE!! Since he was a victim of abuse, I was desperately hoping he would "overcome" that and redeem himself somehow but instead he became just like his abuser and it broke my heart I was upset for DAYS, especially because the whole thing felt so abrupt and unresolved (which I think was deliberate). I also felt uncomfortable with how Althea's rape was more about Kennit's character arc and development and how the aftermath was super unsatisfying and just, reading that whole scene made me so viscerally sick, because these are characters we've grown to care about for the whole trilogy and aggh it's just crushing to see that happen to Althea, knowing we're at the end of the series and we won't see her grapple with that meaningfully. Like she has such an unsatisfying ending if you think about it lol. Honestly, this makes me admire Robin's writing even more because of of all the intense emotions and just having the guts to end it the way she chose. I understand the intention behind it but jesus I'm still upset that it had to happen sksjsk anyway, yeah! my top 2 best fantasy trilogy for sure, Robin Hobb's character work is on another level.

Great review, this is an all-timer series for me. Here's some great Hobb foreshadowing: in the very first chapter, when Kennit is talking to the Others, and drops the bauble he planned to steal and crushes it with his foot. The Other then says "The heel that destroys that which belongs to the sea shall be claimed in turn by the sea." And you remember what happened to that foot of Kennit's right? :P

I 100% agree ! Robin Hobb is so, SO underrated. Her characters are just the best, and the overall goal she sets for the characters is really... Poetic, sort of.

Ellias,try reading the memoirs of lady Isabella Trent . It's quite beautifully written and the imagery is so surreally vivid.

I finished the Farseer trilogy in 2019 and was put off when I found out the next trilogy would be about new/other characters... Because of the recent hype (idk a lot of people seem to read it right now?) and ESPECIALLY your recommendation I started Ship of Magic two days ago, after it stood untouched on my shelf for three years. I'm already halfway through and just amazed again how Robin Hobb can write a 900 page book that feels like 300. It's sooo hard to put down, even though I don't strongly relate to any of the characters yet. If you want to read a fantasy series with a "similar" scope in terms of worldbuilding, politics & magic, but with more modern characters I'd recommend THE GREEN BONE saga. They're my current favorite adult fantasy books. 💚 I'll come back for the spoiler part of the video once I'm through the entire trilogy!

Assassins Apprentice is on my TBR for August- high hopes that I enjoy it 😌Thank you for your review Brandon!! 💜

Loved this Ellias! Such a fun recap.

Loved watching this! I just finished this trilogy and I SHOOK toooooo!!!! Did NOT see all the things coming!!!! 😮😮😮

I'm here after finishing the Farseer and Liveship trilogies, and I am SCARED because Hobb has me by my neck at this point. Too good. Thank you for putting her and her awesome characters on my radar, Ellias.

ahhh im so glad you like them and also so happy youre spreading the good word! also like, excited for you to keep reading bc lore and stuff keeps evolving and characters and ahhh i would read in publication order, but the alternate starting point would def be liveship rather than farseer. i wouldnt read the 3rd trilogy without reading both farseer and liveship though, imo. maybe cos i was like 15 when i first read it but i loved and wanted to be althea ngl, like i see her flaws now but that makes her a better character imo? but yeah her motivations are very simple and dont change, she's almost just the starting point to follow until the other characters stuff gets going? like amber gets distracted by her too. maybe spoilers below but i think i was vague enough and yeah that character reveal is... incredible. i still cant get over it. that's why i wouldnt read the third trilogy before liveship cos it kinda spoils it. early malta is so irritating, but having kyle as a dad has consequences i guess. her development was amazing though. you get a little more malta in rainwilds quartet. wintrow i loved and related to (wanted to be althea but was a wintrow in the start ngl) but he majorly disappointed me at the end (same reason as you) and it makes sense for his character but i cant forgive him.

yessss!!!! But you have to read the rest in order!!!

I’m currently reading Ship of Magic. I agree that you need to take your time with her books. When I tried reading Ship of Magic back in March, I didn’t care for Kennit’s chapters and I would skim them. And I put the book down. I started the book again last week and it’s all I can think about lol p.s I hate Kyle

I have just finished the 2nd book in the 2nd Fitz trilogy and I love it so much. As soon as I finished the first Liveship book, I knew I had to read them all, so went back to Fitz and ordered all the books. She has not let me down yet. I think I'm more attached to the characters in Fitz, but preferred the story of the LiveShip Traders. Those character arcs! Love them so much. 2022 in the year of Hobb, that's for sure.

I swear I see Robin Hobb’s books EVERYWHERE! I bought House in the Cerulean Sea because you recommended it, and now the universe is telling me I have to buy these books now 😙So off to book depository I go …

If I had to pick one, I think the third/Tawny Man trilogy is my favorite - enjoy!

God I wanna watch the rest of the video but still haven't read the books. Anyway will come back after I finish them.

*watches spoilers/spoilers start* Me: I have awful memory, so I’m looking forward for the rest of this video Ellias: SHAME Me: 0-0 ;v;

My introduction to Robin Hobb was the Liveship Traders trilogy, and it was so worth the read. The climax of Ship of Destiny was EPIC

in my country the books are being republished, but it will take some time for the publishing company to get through all of them 🥺🥺 I don't know if I can wait that long to have the physical version of these treasures

Im gonna read this books so soon

Have you tried wheel of time? Or malazan? Those are the series with the biggesy payoffs even if it might not seem from the 1st book (specially with malazan, but by book 2 yours weeping and by book 3 its the most complex and perfect book ever)

spoilers figured out who the fool was like 200 pages into ship of magic. she mentioned something about wooden beads and pale hair and i was like bet my whole life this is the fool 😮 also malta!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ oh and edit forgot to mention: wintrow/fool thing is maybe in reference to the white prophet not being free from error? but also paragon says something like ‘its no different if a man who was supposed to be king become a philosophical recluse instead’ which sounds like fitz at the end of farseer

That is the cutest cat I’ve ever seen in my life!

No no no no no do not start with The Tawny Man trilogy. YES read in ORDER!! it all builds and connects from the start at Farseer Trilogy. Tawny Man is also in 1st person. Oh wow. The Skill (the magic that only certain people get to use) is hugely important in Farseer.... and into Tawny Man. Spoiler but not really... I missed the Amber thing until later.....just saying. Lol. There are hints in Assassin's Quest but I didn't read them the way others did. Yessss Malta....I wanted to slap her even in Book 2. Lol Hmm...I don't remember that part about Wintrow.

Can't wait to get to this trilogy.

Can you tell where you got these specific covers? I can never seem to find them, but I'd really love to. If you love this series you should check out the illustrated editions (not sure if you have?)

I want to read the series so badly but my TBR is already in 2026 lol and I want to read every single book on that list and then there’s Malazan and this oh god I am never going to read everything I want, am I? 😢

the third trilogy makes little sense without reading farseer for anyone wanting to start it without reading farseer please stop what are you doing 😭

i've been meaning to dip my toes into robin hobb and, just for this, i'll start with this series.

loved the review! -just a heads up for anyone watching, the spoilers section of the video has spoilers related to not just the Liveship Traders, but the trilogy after it as well (Tawny Man trilogy). Just a warning for anyone who plans to continue reading RotE and thought spoilers would only relate to Liveship Traders :)-

Oh gosh i haven't read these in so long

The Secons Fitz trilogy is the best but the rain wild chronicles just hit different for me

Where did you buy those editions? The covers are so beautifull!

I love this series a lot u need to make Cindy read it

Spoilers : Yessssss this has to be the best fantasy trilogy that I've read!! Her characters are 👌 and her writing is so good. She deserves sm more recognition for this series aswell as the farseer trilogy. I can't wait to start the tawny man trilogy in August! Also spoilerrrrrrrss>>>> My favourite part was also when Amber carved fitzs face into paragon I screamed 😭then when brashen commented on his broken nose and Amber said there's nothing wrong with his nose 🥺and completely agree that kennit is the most compelling character that I've ever read in a book , also when we found out that he's a ludluck and he's always saying stuff about his "luck" I was like woah that was so obvious but also very subtle it was amazing!!

Love you.

Boy got gainz, holding all 3 books the whole goddamn video. 😉

Ellias, please read Jade City!!

No- you need to read books in publication order! Each book builds upon the lore and magic of the Realm of the Elderlings. Hobb is a master- let her guide you on your way! (Yes, I feel very strongly about this!). But, there are some things in later books that aren’t going to have the same impact/make full sense unless you’ve read the previous books.

SPOILERS! . . . . . . . . I had Amber/Fool spoiled for me at the end of Mad Ship, but I was honestly super happy that it was spoiled. It completely made me rethink everything and made me want to finish out the trilogy even more. It also made me 10x more invested in Fitz as a character and made me dive into Tawny Man immediately after. That being said, the majority of my enjoyment from Liveship were the parts that fit with Fitz's storyline. Everything else that doesn't connect I didn't really care about.

Is ur name related to the guy from Wheel of Time? I like u both!!! 😊

all the trumpeting...

I really need to continue with RotE, everyone loves it. But something in the title of the video can't be right... no one does like it Robin Hobb? 😅

Told ya you'd love these books. Hehe.

Hard disagree about reading the third trilogy first 😬😬😬😬 you'd miss out on so MUCH of the angst and depth of what the characters had been through. Either farseer or madship are fine to read first, technically, but farseer first makes the most sense as a starting point overall

Start with third trilogy is faking shame I is directed continuation of "Fith and fool " story arc which is first trilogy.

MALTA!!!!!!

Hello from British Columbia Canada ♥️👋👍🇨🇦😉🌲🌲☕🌲🌲

I heard that the magic system in this world includes some sort of animal violence, is that true?

I can't accept althea's ending :(

Live Ship trilogy is probably my least favorite Robin Hobb.

SPOILERS!! . . . . . . I wanted to beat Malta over a GD rock the first book!! I hated her soo much. But I don’t think I could hate anyone more that Kyle Haven. What an actual POS. I’m so glad he died and was thrown off the side of the ship like a loser lmao god! I had to walk away cause the characters Robin be writing have me wanting to rip the book apart! 😂 Also, I’m very confused about what significant connection Amber and Wintrow had. She was looking for a 9 fingered man… for what? Someone help! Also Brashen was zaddy. Ok!

I’ve still never read a Robin hobb book 🫠