The Great Gaslighting
***Spoilers for Liveship Traders through chapter 29 of Ship of Destiny. Mentions of Farseer Trilogy.***
Content warning: These chapters include depictions of rape and gaslighting. Here at wizardwordship, I generally strive to provide light-hearted reactions, humor, and possibly fumble my way into an occasional insight. This post touches on heavier themes as necessitated by the story. I will do my best to discuss with the appropriate care and respect.
Up to this point, Captain Kennit has been the ultimate anti-hero for me. Charismatic and dashing, it has been impossible not to feel captivated by him. We have spent a lot of time with him as he ascends to power and does some inadvertent good along the way. I have often wondered where his arc was headed. Could he break good and happily settle down in Divvytown with Etta? (As if this is my first Robin Hobb novel). But with his rape of Althea, our questions about Kennit are unequivocally answered. He’s a monster. It’s horrifying and deeply unsettling to witness his inability to rise above his past and shut the door on redemption.
I went all the way back to Chapter 1 of Ship of Magic, where we first meet Kennit pursuing a prophecy on Treasure Beach. The Other tells him:
“You take that which is not yours, Captain Kennit, and claim it as your own. No matter how much falls into your hands, you are never sated.”
Then:
“That task, that feat, that deed which haunts your dreams will blossom in your hands.”
And finally:
“The heel that destroys that which belongs to the sea shall be claimed in turn by the sea.”
Robin doesn’t hide the truth from readers. The power of her storytelling lies not in surprise, but in the inevitability – and guaranteed emotional fallout – of it all.
Althea’s experience in these chapters is among the most difficult stretches I’ve read in my RotE journey to date. The trauma doesn’t end with the assault. From there, she is relentlessly gaslit by those around her, “friend” and foe alike. It’s heartbreaking to see her doubted at every turn, culminating in even the reawakened Vivacia questioning the validity of her memory. This leads Althea down a harrowing path of self-blame, assuming responsibility for all of the misfortunes that have occurred due to her not conforming to the life of a typical trader’s daughter. That simply daring to live life on her terms has brought suffering on everyone she loves. Robin portrays, with heartbreaking precision, the devastation of being told that living as your true self is not ok.
The main plot developments here are bleak, but hey, we aren’t journeying through RotE if we ain’t suffering, so let’s grab the spare mast and carry on.
The moment has arrived: KYLE HAVEN IS BACK!
As expected, Kyle returns in rough shape. I was a smidge disappointed we didn’t get a peek into his imprisonment, but his suffering was evident enough in Brashen’s complete lack of recognition. I can’t imagine what role he’s going to play as events unfold, but he is certain to be infuriating.
The entire Key Island sequence was interesting. (And by “interesting” I mean “kind of a snoozefest.”) It all felt a bit easy for Brashen & co., but I am happy to have them setting back out on pursuit. I wasn’t too keen on the idea of them chilling at anchorage, waiting for Kennit to show up at some undetermined point in the future.
I have to give it to Brashen, the man can really turn lemons into lemonade when it comes to repairing liveships and making do with a ramshackle crew. I do have some questions about distances and sailing times in these waters, but I’m just happy for everyone to get where they need to be. (If we all lived through season 8 of Game of Thrones, a little hip-hopping around the Pirate Isles is nothing.)
New magical ability unlocked! Listen, travel compatibility is tough, and we’ve all been trapped on a shit road trip like Tintaglia and Reyn. But we get some more insights into the transformations affecting him and Malta, and Reyn unlocks a sweet dreamwalking ability. (Can I lobby for a Fitz vs. Reyn/Skill vs. Dreamwalk battle in the future? Actually, I’d like to strike that idea from the record.)
Malta and Reyn have both been moping about how the other couldn’t possibly want them when they reunite, which is hopefully building to a very adorable scaly reunion.
Malta’s gearing up for world domination in the highest-stakes game of Let’s Make a Deal ever. Barter on, Malta!
Oh, Wintrow. You can never just get out of your own way. Upon Etta’s emotional devastation, he can’t understand why she’s so upset, until – 💡 – oh right, of course, she’s pregnant. Crazy ladies!
He’s the recipient of a lot of misplaced anger throughout the series, but I still enjoyed Althea’s, “Fuck you, Wintrow.” Cathartic.
📍Noted the mention of the need for a queen of the serpents to rise. Have to imagine that wasn’t just a random muttering from crazy ol’ Maulkin.
If Tintaglia is hungry, I’ve got someone she can eat. And he even comes with a built-in toothpick!
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