The Robin Hobb Collection discussion

Definitely loving this more than the first Trilogy

Ah, now I know why Davad made sure the Rain Wilders didn't see Malta dressed as a woman being presented at the festival.

I thought Kennit was having a tender moment with Etta..some beautiful words spoken to her. And then...

"In the dimness of the captain's cabin, a tiny smile curved his wooden features"

What's that supposed to mean? It was all BS? Bastard!

David Sven wrote: "Ah, now I know why Davad made sure the Rain Wilders didn't see Malta dressed as a woman being presented at the festival."

And why is that?

David Sven wrote: "I thought Kennit was having a tender moment with Etta..some beautiful words spoken to her. And then...

"In the dimness of the captain's cabin, a tiny smile curved his wooden features"

What's that..."

What do you think it means? Hanne scares me. I'm afraid to do anything but ask questions...

Rob wrote: "David Sven wrote: "Ah, now I know why Davad made sure the Rain Wilders didn't see Malta dressed as a woman being presented at the festival."

And why is that?"

Because if she's presented as an eligible young woman she can be taken as payment for the liveships if the Vestrit's default on payment of the gold..

Aha. And someone is behind on their payments..

Rob wrote: "What do you think it means?"

I suspect he was not genuine with her and was probably just binding her loyalties to him.

Interesting theory..

Rob wrote: "What do you think it means? Hanne scares me. I'm afraid to do anything but ask questions... "

That got a very ugly witch-like laugh from me :D

many interesting chapters here.

malta is a bit of a spoiled brat, isn't she? which is ironic given that kyle has been saying that about althea, but his own daughter is possibly worse, and the money he leaves for her gives an interesting turn of events.
not really liking malta, so i was kind of hoping everyone would see her dressed like a whore...

i agree with david that the rain wild traders couldn't see malta as a grown woman yet, or they might take her instead. on the other hand, taking her to that other meeting kind of did the same thing no?

her meeting that rain wild trader was very interesting. more to come i'm sure!



another meeting i can't wait to hear about is althea and kennit, surely somehow along the way they will meet too? either because he's hiring her, or more likely: because he's going after the ship she works on?

i'm a bit disturbed by althea and brashen. somehow i have in my mind that he is like 30 years older than her. which i'm sure is nowhere mentioned, but that's just the picture i started building of brashen. fatherly figure, not lover. eek no! please let it be just the one time

also: love love love winthrow getting off that ship, and finding out that the sa' religion in jamailla isn't as clean and holy as he thinks it is.

David Sven wrote: "Definitely loving this more than the first Trilogy"

it's very different, that's for sure. story-wise there are many routes being built that have a lot of promise.
but i just adored the atmosphere that she created in farseer, which this one doesn't have.

so far, i would rate them equally. but i'm not done yet!

Hanne wrote: "i agree with david that the rain wild traders couldn't see malta as a grown woman yet, or they might take her instead. on the other hand, taking her to that other meeting kind of did the same thing no?
"

Well she wasn't being presented as an eligible woman there - But bumping into that Rain Wilder outside and accepting gifts from him...

Hanne wrote: "I'm a bit disturbed by althea and brashen. somehow i have in my mind that he is like 30 years older than her. which i'm sure is nowhere mentioned, but that's just the picture i started building of brashen. fatherly figure, not lover. eek no! please let it be just the one time"

They are pretty close in age. They grew up together.

no she wasn't, but still, you don't bring a kid to such a gathering either. so bringing her, somehow says she's grown-up?

Hanne wrote: "no she wasn't, but still, you don't bring a kid to such a gathering either. so bringing her, somehow says she's grown-up?"


Yes. It's one of the markers of adulthood for a Trader Family.

Hanne wrote: "no she wasn't, but still, you don't bring a kid to such a gathering either. so bringing her, somehow says she's grown-up?"

Well her girl friend is there and she isn't eligible yet - so maybe it is appropriate to go at a certain age without signalling eligibility?

no Delo wasn't there*, only her brother (who is a couple years older)

*that is: i don't remember Delo being there, so i think she wasn't, but i'm not betting a penny on this

Neither one of them would have been brought the year before, because they were too young. Going doesn't mark them as explicitly adults, but does mark them.

double checked, delo was not at the gathering, only her parents and brother.

You are right Hanne - though it appears one has to be officially "presented" as a woman to be considered eligible it appears

"I do not believe I have seen her at a Gathering before. Has she just entered society?”
“In truth, this is her first Gathering. She has not been presented yet. Her grandmother and I believe she must learn the duties and responsibilities of a Trader woman before she is presented as one.”