Is Fitz Happy?

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 Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

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 Elderlings.

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 the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

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 the Elderlings.

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 themselves after the Bingtown riot. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

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 Vestrits leave early but highwaymen waylay them on the road back home. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

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 reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings. Happy 4 years to us! Thank you to everyone who has listened, shared, commented, and been a part of our community.

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 Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

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 Council. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

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 distracted with Dragon thoughts. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

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 Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

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 be growing tired of Etta and wants his plans to come to fruition, so he pushes Etta to teach Wintrow some of her knowledge. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

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 face. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

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 ruminating on her situation onboard Paragon and others' opinions of him. She is trying to settle into her new role with Brashen as Captain and getting used to working with the new crew. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

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're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

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 Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

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 getting out from under Cosgo's thumb, looking towards Bingtown with hope. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

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, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

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 weakening to a certain dragon's requests. We're reading Mad Ship by Robin Hobb, book 2 of the Liveship Traders in The Realm of the Elderlings.

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 in The Realm of the Elderlings.