Blood of Dragons

February 11, 2013
The fourth Rain Wilds Chronicles epic (after City of Dragons), Hobb’s 13th novel set in the world of the Elderlings, wraps up the current set of storylines involving a new generation of dragons and the Elderlings (human-dragon hybrids) who serve and protect them. As most of the dragons and their keepers repopulate and reinvigorate the lost city of Kelsingra, the ailing Duke of Chalced sends people to hunt dragons for their life-extending and transformative properties, and the ancient dragon queen Tintaglia fights for her life. With a wide scope of coverage and a narrative that jumps among members of the sprawling cast, this tale feels both leisurely and unfocused, and knowledge of previous installments is essential to full comprehension. Hobb makes up for this breadth with a wealth of detail and language bordering on poetic.

January 15, 2013
Hobb (City of Dragons, 2012, etc.) returns to the Elderling city of Kelsingra for the fourth and final installment of the Rain Wilds Chronicles. In the first three books of Hobb's series, a dozen dragons hatched, centuries after they had been believed to be extinct. Each dragon was paired to an outcast teenager as its dedicated keeper. Through their contact with their dragons, the teenagers began to metamorphose into Elderlings, increasing their lifespans while also giving them dragonlike physical characteristics. Accompanied by the crew of the Tarman, a sentient ship similar to those in Hobb's Liveship Traders trilogy, dragons and humans set out to find the lost Elderling city of Kelsingra. This book finds them settled into the old city, but now searching for hidden wells of magical silver, which the dragons need to survive and the keepers need to revive the crumbling city to its former glory. To do so, the keepers must immerse themselves in the ancient memories still living within the city--possibly at the risk of losing their own identities. At the same time, they find themselves in danger of imminent attack by the henchmen of a decrepit duke looking to obtain dragons' blood to restore his vitality. While the previous book in this series was slow-paced and relatively uneventful, Hobb makes up for lost time here. The final third in particular is packed with action, culminating in a thrilling dragon raid on a castle with a daring midair rescue. But for all her skill with action scenes, Hobb's greatest talent remains rendering very thoughtful, fleshed-out characters, male and female alike. For example, when childhood friends Alise and Sedric stand up to Hest Finbok, the man who bedded and betrayed them, it's clear how much each character has grown since the beginning of the series. A satisfying conclusion to a superb fantasy tale.

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December 1, 2012
In this, the fourth book of the Rain Wilds Chronicles, the excitement and intensity continue as Tintaglia, the legendary dragon, has returned, but wounded by the Chalcedeans. These people are still seeking dragon body parts, but especially dragon blood, in an effort to save their despotic duke. To heal the dragon, the new Elderlings must find the elusive silver wells. The younger dragons have matured further, and their dedicated keepers, the new Elderlings, are beginning to gain deeper understanding of their roles. For a reader who has followed the story from the beginning, this episode both fulfills and leaves the reader wanting more. The characters continue to evolve, drawing the reader ever more fully into the world they inhabit. For readers unfamiliar with the ongoing story, this book may be somewhat confusing, because the story and characters are built on the prior tales. However, for those who have read others of Hobb's books set in the same world, dragons, magic, and intrigue combine to make this book a fascinating read.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)

Starred review from January 1, 2013

In their fourth series outing (Dragon Keeper; Dragon Haven; City of Dragons) the dragons and their young keepers have reached the legendary lost city of Kelsingra, but all is not well. The city's stones cause addictive visions of times past, and the silver wells that are vital to the dragons' survival remain undiscovered. When humans from the coastal city of Bingtown, in the Rain Wilds, arrive in search of plunder and valuable dragon scales, the stage is set for a war that might mean the end of the ecological cycle that links dragons, sea serpents, and the sentient ships known as liveships. VERDICT Hobb excels at telling big stories and juggling multiple story arcs. Fans of the author and of this series who eagerly await this installment will not be disappointed. [See Prepub Alert, 10/15/12.]

Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2012

Hobb wraps up her "Rain Wilds Chronicles" fantasy series, intriguing because the dragons featured aren't trouble but in trouble--they will sicken and die if they don't reach the lost city of Kelsingra. Finally, they've made it with their keepers, who are beginning to exhibit markings that link them to their dragons. But the silver wells the dragons really need still can't be found, so the keepers must do a bit of risky memory walking.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.