Dragon Keeper - (Rain Wilds Chronicles) by Robin Hobb (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The first book in Robin Hobb's New York Times bestselling Rain Wilds series, set in an immersive world full of dragons, magical ships, and unforgettable characters--reissued with beautiful cover art by renowned illustrator Jackie Morris.

New York Times Bestseller

Too much time has passed since the powerful dragon Tintaglia helped the people of the Trader cities stave off an invasion of their enemies. The Traders have forgotten their promises, weary of the labor and expense of tending earth-bound dragons who were hatched weak and deformed. If neglected, the creatures will rampage--or die--so it is decreed that they must move farther upriver toward Kelsingra, the mythical homeland whose location is locked deep within the dragons' uncertain ancestral memories.

Thymara, an unschooled forest girl, and Alise, wife of an unloving and wealthy Trader, are among the disparate group entrusted with escorting the dragons to their new home. And on an extraordinary odyssey with no promise of return, many lessons will be learned--as dragons and tenders alike experience hardships, betrayals, and joys beyond their wildest imaginings.

Review Quotes

"Nevare's journey through war and peace is both timeless and timely." - Library Journal

"Hobb is a remarkable storyteller." - The Guardian

"Hobb has a positive genius for using fantasy themes to set up ethical conflicts. . . . There are no easy victories, no all-conquering forces on either side in Hobb's work, and both sides are sufficiently well characterized in their vivid settings that there are very few straw men in evidence." - Booklist (starred review)

"Hobb does an admirable job of creating a complex and engaging medieval fantasy world ...with originality and subtlety [she handles] such traditional fantasy elements as dragons and magical items...A nicely imagined fantasy setting that will engage readers and raise anticipation for the second installment. - Kirkus Reviews

"At once harrowing, unexpected, and morally complex." - Locus

"In a novel as good as it is massive, the first of two Rain Wilds Chronicles...Hobb continues to occupy a perch at or near the top among contemporary fantasists. This book is imaginative, literate, and compassionate from first page to last." - Booklist (starred review)

"Hobb's meticulously realized fantasy tale is a welcome addition to contemporary dragon lore." - Publishers Weekly

"Full throttle . . . [a] thrilling conclusion. . . . Hobb's writing unfurls here with muscular and self-assured bravado, the characters fascinating and three-dimensional." - Realms of Fantasy Magazine on RENEGADE'S MAGIC

"FOREST MAGE presents a darker and more complex hero in Nevare . . .Ms. Hobb has given a lot of thought to her world and characters. Dark as they are, they stand out like jewels on velvet." - Romance Reviews Today