Ship of Magic is a 1998 fantasy novel by American writer Robin Hobb, the first in her Liveship Traders Trilogy. Synopsis Setting A liveship is a ship made of Wizardwood, a mystical substance from up the Rain Wild River. When three generations of a ship's owners die on board, a liveship "quickens", becoming a sentient being with a personality, the memories of the dead ancestors, and a psychic connection to living family members. Only a liveship is capable of crossing the perilous Rain Wild River to trade with the Rain Wilders, who have valuable goods plundered from an ancient Elderling ruin. Vivacia is the ship bought by the Vestrit family, who are still in debt to the Rain Wilder for the price of the Wizardwood. The Vestrits live in Bingtown, which borders the sea, Jamaillia, Chalced, and the Rain Wilds. Their charter comes from Jamaillia; however, the Satrap, the current leader of Jamaillia, has ignored the promises his ancestors made with Bingtown. Chalced's influence and customs are spreading throughout the world. In Bingtown, the culture is increasingly patriarchal and the practice of slavery puts a financial strain on many Trader families. Plot summary Captain Ephron Vestrit dies on the Vivacia and she quickens. His daughter, Althea, thought she would be the ship's new captain and is shocked to learn that Ephron has given Vivacia to her sister, Keffria, who in turn gives captainship to Kyle, her Chalcedean husband. Kyle believes he can restore the family fortune by entering the slave trade and banishes Althea from the ship. Althea sets off to prove she is a capable sailor. Amber, a foreign carpenter in Bingtown, aids her before she leaves. Because a blood relative of the Vestrit family must sail with the ship, Kyle forces his son Wintrow, who wants to be a priest of Sa, to serve aboard the ship. Wintrow has a growing bond with Vivacia but finds it hard to adjust to life on the ship and cruel treatment from Kyle and the crew. The ambitious pirate captain Kennit desires to unite all pirate townships under himself as king. He intends to capture and sail a liveship in order to pursue his goal. Kennit's first mate convinces him to capture slaver ships to free the slaves while throwing the slavers overboard. Because of this, Kennit gains support, influence, and legendary status in the pirate townships. Etta, a whore in