Althea Vestrit and Brashen Trell are recovering on board Paragon after Lavoy's betrayal. She comes to a decision to try and treat with Captain Kennit to win back Vivacia. In Bingtown, Serilla is establishing boundaries Mingsley and solidifying her status as an ally to the fledgeling city. Once again, Reyn doesn't know how to feel, but is determined…

Captain Kennit has learned of the Paragon sailing into Divvytown, and Wintrow learns that his aunt Althea is trying to get Vivacia back. Malta, in the meantime, is still in Chalcedean hands but is trying to stabilize her position. She starts to use Satrap Cosgo's position to demand better treatment. We're reading Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb, book…

In the aftermath of the Chalcedean attack on Bingtown, the citizens gather to await a deal from Tintaglia, the dragon. The Old Traders, New Traders, Tattooed, and Three Ships immigrants all argue about what to do when Tintaglia appears. Reyn cautions everyone against dealing with her, but his mother, Jani, strikes a deal on behalf of the town. All …

The Tenira, Khuprus, Vestrit, and Kelter families all gather in the night for their final meal. The Chalcedeans have attacked Bingtown and there's not much hope for salvation except for what flies on wings. Tintaglia comes to Bingtown to deliver her instructions and Selden Vestrit sings praises to strike a bargain. We're reading Ship of Destiny by …

Shreever and Maulkin's Tangle have traveled far in search of She Who Remembers and have reached their goal. They are granted their memories and also have conversations with Bolt. Kennit is given the reins of the serpent tangle and notices that the ship doesn't seem to like Wintrow. However, Wintrow, with guidance from Etta, figures out a new direct…

The crew of Paragon arrive to Divvytown under the cover of night. Brashen and Althea go ashore in order to gather information and spend the day on a lovely date. However, bad memories are resurfacing for Paragon and one of the denizens of Divvytown brings up Igrot's name. The resulting commotion forces the couple back to the ship, Lavoy to abandon …

The ball is starting to roll in Ship of Destiny. Keffria, Selden, Reyn, and Jani head into Bingtown and meet up with Ronica. They see the destruction and they all sit down to discuss the future of Bingtown with the Tattooed and the Three Ships immigrants. Serilla is a woman trapped by a bully that everyone thinks is her stooge, and the plan to take…

Mild Content Warning: Even if the events do not happen in this chapter, we discuss sexual assault/violence and the experiences that Paragon has had in the past. Brashen determines to complete three unsavory tasks. First, Paragon and Brashen realize how far their relationship has drifted, but Brashen reluctantly lifts the ban on speaking to the ship…

Bolt is awake and meets with the crew of the ship formerly known as Vivacia. Wintrow is horrified and wary of this dragon, while Etta is flattered and becomes friendly with Bolt. After a quick conversation, Kennit agrees to terms with her. We talk about manipulation, how scary it would be as Wintrow, and Kennit's miracles. We're reading Ship of Des…

Sneaking around and listening in to Serilla and Roed, Ronica learns about Malta and the Satrap's disappearance. She and Rache flee to the Three Ships Families to speak with Sparse Kelter. Ronica discovers that peace will be a long time coming and there's a lot of work to be done still. We're reading Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb, book 3 of the Live…

Paragon is sailing in the Pirate Isles. Amber and Althea spot a pirate ship and chaos erupts on the deck. Brashen has to take command while he tries to keep Althea safe. Amber and Lavoy have a stand off about arming Paragon wihle the ship himself is eager to fight and kill. The aftermath ends up as confusing as the start of the fight and tensions r…

Tintaglia hunts this chapter. She wonders what has become of her kind and visits a familiar city, Kelsingra. Malta, Satrap Cosgo, and Kekki are pulled from their boat onto a Chalcedean ship and into a new danger. She has to become used to a new status quo. We're reading Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb, book 3 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of t…

Wintrow Vestrit repairs his body and the dragon within Vivacia forces them to confront who the ship really is. Vivacia is overcome by the fact that she was born out of death, and there is a struggle for control. Vivacia becomes inert and dead. Kennit, Wintrow, and Etta go below to discuss what just happened and the pirate captain decides he will do…

Ronica and Rache catch up and we learn of the plan to unite all of Bingtown's groups. The Old Traders hold their first meeting since the war began and slowly start to knit the wounds together. Ronica's problems are brushed aside, but Grag Tenira steps in for her. Serilla gets increasingly flustered at the erosion of her perceived power. We're readi…

Companion Serilla is stressed. In between complaining about Bingtown not being like she thought and consolidating her power, she is sitting in her study scared of assassins. We discuss her paranoia, power-hungry attitude, and how unhelpful she is being. Meanwhile, Ronica Vestrit has set herself up as an adversary to Serilla, trying to galvanize the…

Althea is enjoying the respect she earned in the serpent attack. Things on Paragon are settling into a routine, but Paragon is as moody as ever and focused on Kennit. Lavoy seems to be cracking down on the crew and following orders, but Brashen needs Althea's opinions on the unsavory first mate. They stand at a crossroads and must choose their path…

After being born once again, Tintaglia is hungry. She settles down for a nap after her meal and suddenly remembers those pesky humans. Reyn and Selden are saved from the rising mud and Malta is spotted on the Rain Wild River. Good deed done for the decade, the dragon flies away. We're reading Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb, book 3 of the Liveship Tr…

Wintrow is struggling to recover from She Who Remember's toxins, and Kennit, Etta, and especially Vivacia are worried. He is moved to the figurehead while he tries to ignore the pain and hide from waking up. However, he meets Vivacia's dragon, who gives him a dose of reality. We're reading Ship of Destiny by Robin Hobb, book 3 of the Liveship Trade…

Ronica Vestrit is a survivor. She stays in Bingtown with Rache, and a surprise conversation with Cerwin Trell directs her ire towards Serilla. However, the Satrap's Companion wants to consolidate her current power and gain a solid foothold in Bingtown. She promises to end hostilities with New Trader and Chalcedean alike while the city is looking fo…

Malta has struggled through the night to row Satrap Cosgo and Kekki to shore and Trehaug. Unfortunately, the river is swift and both of her passengers are useless. Reyn and Selden try to stay afloat in the Rooster Chamber, while Keffria and Jani dig through the ruins and hold out hope that their children survive. We're reading Ship of Destiny by Ro…

She Who Remembers is finally free to find the serpents and grant them their memories of their dragon lives. She chooses to follow Vivacia and has an encounter with a white serpent. Things don't go to plan, and she once again ends up alone. We discuss starting Ship of Destiny, serpent loneliness, Vivacia's potential dragon awakening, and movie adapt…

Wrapping up Mad Ship, the serpents make vows to keep remembering all they can and push towards the nesting grounds. On the way, if time and fate allow, they will eat another silver provider and gain more memories. We discuss the whole of book 2 and talk about what we're looking forward to in Ship of Destiny. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, bo…

Closing in on the end of Mad Ship, Reyn and Selden struggle to survive while Tintaglia hatches in the sunlight. She renews hope in Reyn and escapes. Malta struggles on the river and Tintaglia makes a decision about her short-lived friends. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.…

We catch up with the crew of the Paragon in Captain Brashen's quarters. Althea, Amber, and Lavoy are brought on board for the next part of their journey with some slight disagreements. Tension between Amber and Lavoy rises with Brashen making some hard decisions. Althea realizes that he truly has what it takes to be a great captain. We're reading M…

Keffria wakes up to some quakes in Trehaug. Malta is missing and Jani can't comfort Keffria before everyone is needed to help excavate the trapped workers. Reyn beelines for the Crowned Rooster Chamber and encounters Selden. They're trapped and Reyn is hopeless, thinking Malta is dead. He tries to free Tintaglia. Malta, in the meantime, is leading …

Drawn forward into the Elderling city, Malta sees memories and is led to the Rooster Chamber where she meets Tintaglia. Jani is concerned for her son Reyn as he is drunkenly shouting about Malta being in danger. Malta makes a deal with a dragon, starts to free her, but has to run from a quake. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liv…

Malta has been on bed rest for a while, recovering from the attack on Davad Restart's carriage. Reyn stops by and they make strides in their relationship. Meanwhile, amidst the Rain Wild Trader Council, Keffria Vestrit offers herself for a daring plan. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlin…

Wintrow has freed She Who Remembers but doesn't escape unscathed. He is covered by serpent slime and makes a connection with her. Kennit and Etta have an encounter with the Others and try to beat them to Wintrow's side. They fight their way off the island and are rescued by the serpent and Vivacia. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of th…

Months have passed, and in that time, Divvytown is starting to be rebuilt and Vivacia has sailed to Other Island. Kennit has brought Wintrow and Etta to the Island in order to get Wintrow's fortune. Instead, Wintrow finds She Who Remembers and attempts to free her. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of…

Content Warning: From 26:40-40 minutes, we discuss attempted SA. Kennit shows his jealous side where Etta and Wintrow are concerned, but ultimately feels triumphant with the boy priest won to his side. Althea has to fight back against the crew and a serpent, and she reconnects with Brashen along the way. Ronica and the Vestrit gang collect themselv…

The Presentation Ball is off to a brilliant, if lonely, start for Malta. However, Davad introduces her to Satrap Cosgo, Reyn appears, and even Cerwin Trell stops by. There is non-stop chaos. She shares some dances but argues with Reyn and they go their separate ways. Serilla makes her power play and trouble seems to be brewing in Bingtown. The Vest…

Everyone is getting ready for the Trader's Ball. Keffria tries to get an exhausted Malta excited while her daughter is having an identity crisis. Reyn is preparing to hide Grag's identity as a Rain Wild Trader, Serilla is preparing herself to stay in Bingtown long term, and Davad plans to introduce Malta to Satrap Cosgo to secure his future. We're …

Althea is settling into work onboard Paragon and sorting out issues with the crew, while Amber offers advice and her own worries up. Kennit, on the other hand, is solidifying the beginnings of his kingdom in a burned down Divvytown. Wintrow takes the leap to defending Kennit and convinces the townsfolk to follow the Pirate King. We're reading Mad S…

Reyn reflects on his last visit with Tintaglia, the curse she lays on him, and his dreams. His mind is opened and he haunted by dragons by night and wishes he was sleeping during the day. Serilla meets a liveship and the Bingtown traders for the first time. She makes her play and now waits for the Traders to hear her and Satrap Cosgo out at the Cou…

It's all coming together. Serilla and Satrap Cosgo are arriving at Bingtown with their Chalcedean escort. She has put her plans into place to gain power and now has to execute on them. Reyn and Grag are sailing down the Rain Wild River towards Bingtown, as well. Grag is spiraling a bit about his relationship with Althea while Reyn has been distract…

Malta, Ronica, and Keffria get ready to see off Paragon on their trip. Dressed their best, they head down to the docks and send off Brashen, Althea, and Amber. Those three have finished their final preparations and despite their doubts, Paragon's fear, and the inept crew, the journey starts soon. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the …

Onboard Vivacia, Kennit has laid his foundations down for his kingdom and feelings are springing up all to plan. Vivacia is completely enamored of the pirate and has fallen in hard with his plans. Wintrow has been teaching Etta to read in close quarters and, after talking to Kennit, realizes that he has a crush on her. And finally, Kennit seems to …

Jani Khuprus sits down with her sons, Reyn and Bendir. They discuss the current political climate and their roles in the family. Jani maneuvers Reyn into forswearing the last wizardwood log with a compromise. Meanwhile, Paragon is opening up to Amber about his fears of being blind while sailing. He asks her to keep an open mind about carving his fa…

Malta is getting prepared for the Summer Ball with Keffria, Ronica, and Rache sewing her a dress. They speak on the Rain Wild and Bingtown reluctance to stand up for the Vestrit cause. Malta is quietly losing her foundation of and the belief in the strength and power of men, determined to gain power and make change for herself. Meanwhile, Althea is…

The Paragon is now ready to be launched after a lot of hard work under less than ideal conditions. Burrich, Althea, and Amber have worked hard and are trying to ensure Paragon's goodwill and cooperation for the future. We discuss the growing and mending relationship between Althea and Brashen, as well as Paragon's return to feeling like a ship. We'…

Maulkin's Tangle have gathered more serpents and are slowly trying to awaken more to their true memories. They decide to try to awaken a liveship to it's memories, as well, to figure out their purpose and destination. The serpents encounter The Ringsgold and drag him down and get a breakthrough. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the L…

Content Warning: Talk of Sexual Assault and Rape. Please take care of yourself and feel free to skip. Serilla lives a nightmare in the Chalcedean captain's cabin. We discuss her character progression, how the current events will impact her down the road, and her confrontation of Satrap Cosgo. She finds him weak in his chambers and is intent on gett…

Vivacia gives in to her blood lust chasing a slaveship. She proves herself worthy of Kennit and sparks jealousy in both Etta and Wintrow. Althea visits Grag as we learn and discuss the worsening political events in Bingtown. Althea finally confronts her own feelings and lets Grag go after his second proposal. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, b…

Brashen, Amber, and Althea are hard at work to scrounge up laborers to fix up Paragon. The deadline is moving closer and the ship is definitely working against them to scare everyone away. Brashen and Althea finally have an argument as tensions rise that may result in some introspection. Finally, Malta has fallen into hopelessness and seems to be w…

We explore viewpoints on the Vivacia regarding Kennit's manipulations, the ship's first taste of piracy, Wintrow's reticence for action, and Etta's love for the pirate. Meanwhile, Althea, Brashen, and Amber have to prepare Paragon for the news that he has been sold by his family. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders …

With Althea home, Brashen and Amber lay out their plan to save Vivacia. Keffria, Ronica, and Althea are very skeptical of the plan to purchase Paragon, but Malta stays even-keeled. The family discusses their plans and the potential pitfalls, but ultimately agree that it's the best course of action they have. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, bo…

Althea Vestrit drives Davad back safely to his estate. She confronts his serving staff for lazyness and Davad himself with his mindset of profit over morals. She ultimately leaves with a former slave boy that Davad agrees to free. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.…

Althea Vestrit gets ready for the Trader meeting, hoping to plead her family's case about rescuing Vivacia from Kennit and the pirates. However, the Bingtown Traders are fairly divided on current political topics, and there is a lot of discussion about personal versus city problems. Althea leaves defeated and finds vandalism at Davad Restart's carr…

Wintrow confronts Kennit about his missing father, Kyle. Kennit, of course, turns the situation back on Wintrow and implies Vivacia agrees with the pirate captain, not Wintrow. Wintrow has a discussion with the ship and we discuss how far Vivacia has fallen in with Kennit. We end the episode catching up with Althea, getting ready for the Bingtown T…

Captain Kennit is on the mend, and it's time to take action. He journeys out to Keyhole Island and his mother with Sa'Adar, Kyle Haven, and some former slaves in tow. We talk about Kennit's tragic backstory, his plan to get rid of his problems, and Sa'Adar's fate. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of …