The Mad Ship is a book by American writer Robin Hobb, the second in her Liveship Traders Trilogy.

Aboard Vivacia, Wintrow saves Kennit's life by amputating the infected part of his leg.

Captain Tenira attempts to resist the Chalcedean galley that serves the Satrap and collects his taxes.

Ronica, Keffria, Althea, and Malta decide to put aside their differences to work on rescuing the ship.

The Khuprus family owns the last Wizardwood log in the Rain Wilds, and Reyn has formed a psychic connection with the ancient dragon trapped within it.

Brashen, Althea, and Amber come up with a plan to refit the mad liveship Paragon and sail him after Vivacia.

The lazy, pleasure-seeking Satrap is cruel to anyone that does not flatter him, increasingly influenced by Chalcedeans, and uninterested in politics.

When the Satrap falls ill, Serilla coerces him into signing a document that gives her his full political authority in Bingtown.

Davad is killed, the Satrap is abducted, and the Vestrits flee with Reyn to the Rain Wilds while the Chalcedeans torch Bingtown.

Reyn and Selden search for Malta in the ruins and successfully free the dragon by exposing her log to sunlight.

[1][2][3] About the plot of the book, Kirkus Reviews said "Hobb displays a wonderful imagination but has cast aside any remaining inclination toward control.