Ship of Destiny

So another trilogy is finished. Still a decent read overall. Things do come together in the end, even if it maybe a little bit heavy-handed destiny that makes it so. I liked several of the characters and generally found the pieces fitting together. Most of the characters were imperfect in a human way, so even the two I might classify as the "on screen" villains had motivations that were generally believable (if self-centered). There's a general feeling of the world having fallen, losing legends and ancient ways, but now on the cusp of rediscovery.

On the down side, I still don't like that it took three books to resolve any of the storylines. Expectations set up in the first book aren't met, if only because situations change along the way. I suppose my biggest dissatisfaction with the series is how things go for certain characters...


The serpents' and dragon's tale goes okay, with things explained well for the most part and hope even if they are diminished. There's still a lot of question about how they're actually going to get along with humans who have all but forgotten about them, but that's okay. The tie-in with the Rain Wilders' "mutations" is a fairly good twist.

I think I approve of Etta's place at the end, though seeing Wintrow weather the end of the story as a pirate captain is a bit disheartening. I suppose he still has some sense of faith and right, but it still feels like he lost his way.

Malta always seemed such an extreme character. She went from spoiled brat to manipulative bitch and... sort of hovered around that point. Even at her best, she was hard to like.

The awakened liveships end up in a tricky spot, but not really any worse off than "normal" liveships. More independent of will, perhaps, but they are still ships.

Kyle's situation didn't feel right by the end. He taught some of the other characters the need for shipborn discipline and took an active hand in trying to save the family he married into - but he did both those things in, perhaps, the worst possible ways. When the Vivacia's fate is discovered, both Malta and Keffria want to rescue him. And yet, they both seem to "outgrow" that along the way. It's disappointing that he's swept away as a footnote rather than seeing him and those close to him having to face what he did. It's sort of the easy way out for all involved.

After spending probably two and a half books of watching Althea striving to prove herself worthy of captaincy and to regain the ship that probably should have been hers, it's actually a big let down to see her find another path. The change is telegraphed, but the reader is still faced with one of the major protagonists basically "giving up" and deciding to do something else.

But most of all, I'm disappointed, almost upset, by Kennit's fate. It was an entertaining ride to watch his self-serving efforts actually doing good for others along the way, but he still used people and disrupted their lives in such a way that feels unforgivable to me. To have him die on the deck of his liveship at the hands of an "off screen" third party force feels cheap, especially since this offered no vindication for Althea. He was an evil person, and only a handful of people will ever realize it, but even more distressing is that most of them seem willing to overlook it whether he's alive or dead. Kudos, I guess, for making a character I despise?