City of Dragons

Volume Three of the Rain Wilds Chronicles

By: Robin Hobb

Narrated by: Anne Flosnik

Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's Summary

New York Times best-selling author Robin Hobb - "one of the most important writers in 21st-century fantasy" (Contra Costa Times) - continues her enthralling fantasy saga of dragons and their keepers.

Once, dragons ruled the Rain Wilds, tended by privileged human servants known as Elderlings. But a series of cataclysmic eruptions nearly drove these magnificent creatures to extinction. Born weak and deformed, the last of their kind had one hope for survival: to return to their ancient city of Kelsingra. Accompanied by a disparate crew of untested young keepers, the dragons embarked on a harsh journey into the unknown along the toxic Rain Wild River.

Battling starvation, a hostile climate, and treacherous enemies, dragons and humans began to forge magical connections, bonds that have wrought astonishing transformations for them all. And though Kelsingra is finally near, their odyssey has only begun.

Because of the swollen waters of the Rain Wild River, the lost city can be reached only by flight - a test of endurance and skill beyond the stunted dragons’ strength. Venturing across the swift-running river in tiny boats, the dragon scholar Alise and a handful of keepers discover a world far different from anything they have ever known or imagined. Immense, ornate structures of black stone veined with silver and lifelike stone statues line the silent, eerily empty streets. Yet what are the whispers they hear, the shadows of voices and bursts of light that flutter and are gone? And why do they feel as if eyes are watching them?

The dragons must plumb the depths of their ancestral memories to help them take flight and unlock the secrets buried in Kelsingra. But enemies driven by greed and dark desires are approaching. Time is running out, not only for the dragons but for their human keepers as well.

©2012 Robin Hobb (P)2012 HarperCollinsPublishers

Story was incomplete and felt rushed

I just finished the audiobook and was disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I love Robin Hobb and most all of her books, but I knew something was wrong with this book when I saw that this book was only 13 hours when all of her others were at least 20+. Without any spoilers I felt this book was all filler drama to make an extra buck. This can't be the end of the series because there was not much progress from the last book. New problems that were introduced in this book were not even resolved. Anyways all bagging on the story aside, I was glad I read it. It wasn't horrible, it just felt incomplete and like it had no real ending.

Safe to call it Rain Wilds Chronicles Part 3A

I think some of the other reviews for this have been a little unfair.

City of Dragons is the third book in Robin Hobb's Rain Wild Chronicles. According to Hobb, the first two books (Dragon Keeper and Dragon Haven) were actually intended to be one book, but were split due to length. And the third and (forthcoming) fourth books were the same. City of Dragons is not a standalone book—it has no climax, virtually no resolution to its myriad storylines, and in fact where you would expect things to be wrapping up it only spawns new plot threads. In a genre where Pat Rothfuss can publish The Wise Man's Fear and we get innumerable Wheel of Time doorstops I'd question whether splitting the story was really necessary, but, regardless, my rating and review are with the understanding that I'm only looking at part of a whole.

Hobb's trademarks are all there: an immersive setting, lush prose, and deep, sympathetic characters. But this book doesn't feel as dark or as desperate as Hobb's other writing. There are threats, such as the fear that with Kelsingra known it will be overrun by treasure seekers, and the mysterious Chalcedean conspiracy. And problems, like the shortage of food and supplies, or the fact the dragons can't fly and so are completely dependent on their keepers. But none of these things feels particularly urgent or unmanageable. Disaster is not imminent. There are a few exceptions, such as one very desperate scene on the dark branches of the tree city of Cassarick (you'll know it when you read it)—but even that scene feels brief and truncated.

The result is that City of Dragons isn't focused on the dragons and keepers like the earlier volumes. It is a much broader book, showing the rippling consequences of Kelsingra's discovery and setting into motion all the forces that will no doubt clash in the finale.

But not every book needs to ratchet up suspense to unbearable levels. The book is a process of discovery, learning about the past and hoping for the possibilities of the future. Will the ancient society be restored, Elderlings and dragons living in symbiosis? And it is very much about relationships (romantic and otherwise). People are constantly forced to make choices about who to trust, who to be with, and then dealing with the consequences of those choices. Combine that with all the threads Hobb left in motion, and the final book promises to be an exciting conclusion to the series!

Loved It! Ready for the Next One

What did you love best about City of Dragons?

I really became invested in the characters, especially the dragons. Sintara is wonderfully developed and Thymara is her equal in every way. I frequently forgot that Mercor (was he the wise old serpent in the first Liveship book?) was a dragon and Hebe wasn’t a frisky puppy.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Thymara, of course. That girl has skills and guts. Tats was a close second.

What does Anne Flosnik bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Dragons. I never thought I'd invest in a book with talking dragons, but this one really pulled me in.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I loved when Sedric and Carson came together.

Any additional comments?

My only disappointment with the book was Hobb’s inconsistencies with Malta, one of my favorite characters. When did her dark hair become golden? And when did Ephraim Vestrit become her father? She didn’t even like the man. Kyle Haven was her adored father. Sloppy. But I’m willing to forgive and forget if Hobb writes a final book (longer this time please!) to wrap up the series.

The Best Of The Three

I must have listened to a different recording then the other reviewers. I thought this book was the best of the first three and the first two were very good. I got lots of story for my money, more character development, and dragons that are real dragons. Dragons with attitude as it should be. You can start here and enjoy the book, but you really should start at the beginning. Matter of fact I would suggest you start with Ship of Magic and read that trilogy first. Reading the liveship trader trilogy will make this a richer experience. The Liveship Trader trilogy is my favorite fantasy trilogy of all time.

CEDRIC WOULD NO MORE RUN OFF WITH A WOMAN, THEN GROW A SPINE AND ASSERT HIMSELF.

I will agree with some others that their is a lot in this book that basically sets up the next book. I find it exciting to know that these characters are going to get involved more and what is the city going to be like? Watch out for chapter 10, it is the most emotional, scary, disgusting, and fantastic chapter of any book I have ever read. If you could win an award for best chapter, Hobb should get it for chapter 10. I will admit Hobb speaks to me, I am always amazed in how well she develops her characters. I am amazed in her insight into the human condition and how she is able to write about it in story form. I will say that if you have read any Hobb, with the exception of the Tawny Man trilogy and you don't already feel the way I do, then this will not change your mind. If you love Hobb, this is more of he same.

Flosnik is perfect for Robin Hobb books. I would not want her to read The Godfather, but her voice adds to the mood and atmosphere set in Robin Hobb's books.

Disappointment

Would you try another book from Robin Hobb and/or Anne Flosnik?

Yes I have loved all her previous books on audible

If you’ve listened to books by Robin Hobb before, how does this one compare?

Yes and this one disappoints. The first help is a rehash of the the series so far. When it starts to get into new story lines it ends leaving you feeling cheated.

Which character – as performed by Anne Flosnik – was your favorite?

?

Could you see City of Dragons being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

yes I am not good at casting.

Any additional comments?

disappointed but waiting for more.

Only half a book...

Any additional comments?

This book appears to have been published to please anyone but the readers. Please finish the book before you ask us to buy it.

Sadly disappointed

I really dislike the gay content. Otherwise the story is good. I won't recommend this series.

book 3 of 4 in the subset book 12 of 16 overall

This is not a jumping on point, and if you are relying upon reviews to decide whether to keep going this deep in I think that means you are not enjoying it enough to continue...

Tar-MAN or Tarman

I only have one real fault, after listening to all previous stories in the Realms of the Elderlings series, is Anne Flosnik's interpretation of the text. Understandably the author wanted to accentuate the women's perception, as the stories in the Rain Wilds Chronicles are driven mainly from the viewpoints of Tintaglia, Thymara, Alise, and Malta, but over the course of these three books her pronunciation of some names have changed.

Feels cut in half

I liked the story, although this one felt a bit disjointed. The 2nd book wrapped up a story arc, so this 3rd book started up with some new story arcs, which felt like a weird transition from book 2. And this book ended very abruptly, to be continued in the next book (similar to how book 1 ended). Since these books are shorter than other books in the series, it makes me think that these 4 books instead should have been 2 books. Was this a cash grab? Anyways, on to the next book.