city of dragons character help

[joost]

I've read all RH's books except the Liveship Traders trilogy and am currently reading City of Dragons.

I just started a chapter about Malta who, apart from a very brief appearance in one of the Tawny Man books, I've never read anything about.
What is her story?
Is her story integral to this new book?
If so, why is it that RH has only just introduced her to this trilogy and assumed that we know all about her.

I'm a little lost...

Without Liveship traders, you miss the entire background story of Rain Wild Chronicles. Imagine reading Tawny man without the Farseer trilogy?