The short version
The Vestrit family's newly awakened liveship becomes the center of an inheritance dispute while a pirate captain seeks a liveship of his own.
Quick answers
What to know before you start
- Where does it fit?
- Book 1 in Liveship Traders Trilogy.
- Can I start here?
- Yes — this is the indexed first volume in the series.
- Is the series complete?
- Yes — the indexed series is complete.
- When was it first published?
- 1998. Edition publication dates may differ.
- How long is it?
- 848 pages in the Del Rey US trade paperback (2023).
- Is an audiobook indexed?
- Audiobook edition details are still pending.
What it's about
A spoiler-light premise
After the liveship Vivacia quickens, Althea Vestrit expects to inherit the vessel she loves. Her family's decision places the ship under someone else's command, while Kennit pursues a plan to take a liveship and control the Pirate Isles.
You'll probably like it if
Pending.
Maybe skip it if
Pending.
Ways to read
Formats & editions
Print edition
Del Rey US trade paperback (2023)
- Publisher
- Del Rey
- Length
- 848 pages
- Edition date
- Dec 5, 2023
- ISBN-13
- 9780593724309
Edition details verified Sep 21, 2026. Page count and cover can differ between editions.
Audiobook
Edition details pending
Narrator, runtime, and regional availability have not been verified yet.
Sources & verification
Where the edition facts come from
Publisher, format, ISBN, page-count, narrator, and runtime details are kept at edition level because they can vary between versions and markets.
- Penguin Random House / Del Rey Del Rey US trade paperback (2023) · checked Sep 21, 2026
At a glance
Fantasy Index scorecard
Continue in order
Liveship Traders Trilogy
The full series is available.