" The first third of Ship of Magic feels bogged down in exposition, which is understandable considering that it's the 800-page first novel in a trilogy. Once all the groundwork has been laid, however, the plot picks up steam and the characters really come to life. I'll definitely finish the Liveship Traders trilogy, but given the heft of the books, it'll take me a while to do it! "
— Autumnmoon, 1/30/2014