Liveship trilogy review

After reading the brilliant Farseer trilogy (also written by Robin Hobb) i has really high hopes for this. The story delivers but i was still kind of underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong it is a rather good book but, still, pretty far away from the Farseer trilogy.
Highs:
- really really really good description of a family's problems and arguments and how money can split it up.
- good description of life at sea.
- interesting premise and setting.
Cons:
- way too many characters. I understood that, unlike Farseer, this wasn't suppose to be the story of a single character but, honestly, there are too many and it kind of detracts from the overall story. Personally i think Wintrow was, by far, the most interesting character and the only one of which i actually cared.
- i have found the ending a bit weak.
-it could have been shorter. From a story wise some parts could have been removed.