I couldn’t recall many of the character’s names and what happened at the end of Dragon Keeper so reread the last chapter again first haha. I’ve realised that unlike other series where each book is mostly self-contained, I really shouldn’t put off reading Robin Hobb’s books as each one leads directly into the next.
I guess I wasn’t super keen to continue the Rain Wild Chronicles because the first book didn’t really grip me. Even though I’m well aware that most first books are set-up and things tend to get better afterwards, especially with Hobb’s stories.
Before, I felt that Thymara and Alise were too similar, but I see now that’s intentional. The part where they comfort each other in front of Sintara, to Sintara’s confusion was awesome 🤣
I know people (on the internet) are pretty down about this particular series, but while I agree it doesn’t hit the heights of Fitz’s adventures, I appreciate it in a different way as I feel like the Rainwilds/Bingtown stories very accurately touch on things that women have to deal with. Thymara’s frustration at being objectified and Alise’s at being financially dependent on a man who doesn’t care for her feel very relatable. Bellin’s anguish at not being able to conceive and her harsh advice (and Thymara’s opinions) regarding Jerd and her pregnancy were unfortunately extremely practical. Damn, the not-a-whore comment was too spot on. And even though Tats seems like a decent guy, it shows how immature he is that he doesn’t (refuses to?) understand Thymara’s valid concerns.
I’m glad that Sedric managed to change by the end of the second of four novels 😝 It was obvious he truly cared for Alise, albeit it being tainted by his selfishness. I’m glad they reconciled and while corny, the locket and scale was pretty sweet (and symbolic).
It was fun trying to connect the dragons to the serpents from the Liveship series and have the dragons themselves realise their previous identities too. I felt the same way towards Greft as Thymara but honestly felt more relieved that he was removed from the picture as he really was a disaster waiting to happen.
I honestly believed Heeby and Rapschal were washed away in the flood because Hobb’s books have that realistic brutality to them (in comparison to what I consider shock factor brutality of say Game of Thrones) but at the same time wasn’t surprised when they showed up via air 😝 It felt fitting that Heeby was the first to fly. Kinda poetic that the other ‘smarter’ dragons were held back by their knowledge of what they could have been whereas Heeby, Spit and even Relpda made strides in different areas because they were not shackled in the same way. Classic example of use-it-or-lose-it as well as the fruits of hard work and practice and maybe mind over matter? But also expecting things to go badly from Relpda’s blase attitude towards creating an Elderling…
Not really sure how I feel about such an uplifting ending. So obvious that things are gonna go to absolute shit straight away in the next book haha.
Categories: Book Reviews
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