dramxarama's review against another edition
4.0
This book concludes this quartet in a very satisfying way! It's a 4.5+ rating I think it was the best of the four but it's not as perfect as the other books int the Realm of the Elderling series.
Still I lived a lot of those characters, and even tho the plot wasn't as deep as the other trilogies it was still pleasant!
Still I lived a lot of those characters, and even tho the plot wasn't as deep as the other trilogies it was still pleasant!
scroggin_cooper's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
It's done.
This tetralogy was definitely the most mediocre of the entire Realm of the Elderlings. I did like that we got some character development for Hest, but Thymara, Rapskal, and Tats still remain my least favorite characters in the entire Realm of the Elderlings universe. Yes, this is counting Regal, Kyle, and Kennit, because they at least have character traits. The returning characters from Liveship were a nice touch and definitely improved the book. I loved the idea of Elderlings essentially being dragonborn, I figured that's what they were gonna be because of their descriptions from Fitz. Speaking of Fitz, this epic journey shall conclude next month, and yes, I have tissues prepared.
It's done.
This tetralogy was definitely the most mediocre of the entire Realm of the Elderlings. I did like that we got some character development for Hest, but Thymara, Rapskal, and Tats still remain my least favorite characters in the entire Realm of the Elderlings universe. Yes, this is counting Regal, Kyle, and Kennit, because they at least have character traits. The returning characters from Liveship were a nice touch and definitely improved the book. I loved the idea of Elderlings essentially being dragonborn, I figured that's what they were gonna be because of their descriptions from Fitz. Speaking of Fitz, this epic journey shall conclude next month, and yes, I have tissues prepared.
books_n_bananas's review against another edition
4.0
As I think that Robin Hobb's trilogies (in this case, a quartet) are really just singular books split up into sections, I'm going to rate the whole Rain Wild Chronicles as one.
I give it a 4 solely because I don't think it stands up to the other trilogies in the series so far. It's still phenomenal and superior to most other fantasy works I've read.
Things I don't love:
1. The Thymara, Tats, and Rapskal love triangle -- I think both Tats and Rapskal come out looking like turds who only want to be around Thymara if they get to have sex with her. I do like how Rapskal's character develops in that he truly values Thymara's friendship FIRST, but then the rivalry for sex starts showing up and I just agree with Thymara-- it's stupid.
2. Some of the keepers were bystanders -- I understand why there were so many keeper characters, but it also left quite a few of them as just invisible members of the group who were only mentioned occasionally.
3. Hest's death -- too quick. Not enough karma.
Things I love:
1. The Thymara, Tats, and Rapskal love triangle -- I love that each character is so multidimensional. Rapskal has so many dimensions between being young, and playful; to the sexually awakened Rapskal; to becoming Tellator in the end. He's so complex and his relationship with Thymara follows that. Tats, I ultimately really dislike. I know he's friends with Thymara and I started out by liking him a lot, but then the sex thing started and he's just a mess. I hate how demanding he always is and it never stops. He's whiny and can't accept a relationship with Thymara in which sex isn't included. Like no. He's a jerk, but he's also so lovable and such a good friend to Thymara. See? Complex.
2. Alise's arc: I absolutely love her character. She found herself, got away from Hest and found love and friendship, purpose, and belonging. LOVE IT. I love that she was never presented as perfect, she just figured it out and accepted herself. YAS QUEEN. I also love that when Hest returned, she was still afraid of him, but she was able to overcome it.
3. Relpda: adorable. My fave.
I give it a 4 solely because I don't think it stands up to the other trilogies in the series so far. It's still phenomenal and superior to most other fantasy works I've read.
Things I don't love:
1. The Thymara, Tats, and Rapskal love triangle -- I think both Tats and Rapskal come out looking like turds who only want to be around Thymara if they get to have sex with her. I do like how Rapskal's character develops in that he truly values Thymara's friendship FIRST, but then the rivalry for sex starts showing up and I just agree with Thymara-- it's stupid.
2. Some of the keepers were bystanders -- I understand why there were so many keeper characters, but it also left quite a few of them as just invisible members of the group who were only mentioned occasionally.
3. Hest's death -- too quick. Not enough karma.
Things I love:
1. The Thymara, Tats, and Rapskal love triangle -- I love that each character is so multidimensional. Rapskal has so many dimensions between being young, and playful; to the sexually awakened Rapskal; to becoming Tellator in the end. He's so complex and his relationship with Thymara follows that. Tats, I ultimately really dislike. I know he's friends with Thymara and I started out by liking him a lot, but then the sex thing started and he's just a mess. I hate how demanding he always is and it never stops. He's whiny and can't accept a relationship with Thymara in which sex isn't included. Like no. He's a jerk, but he's also so lovable and such a good friend to Thymara. See? Complex.
2. Alise's arc: I absolutely love her character. She found herself, got away from Hest and found love and friendship, purpose, and belonging. LOVE IT. I love that she was never presented as perfect, she just figured it out and accepted herself. YAS QUEEN. I also love that when Hest returned, she was still afraid of him, but she was able to overcome it.
3. Relpda: adorable. My fave.
ohallows's review against another edition
1.5
I don't understand how the women in this book will be so independent and talk about how they do not need men to complete them or be happy but the entire narrative consistently pairs off men and women and almost exclusively makes it into a claiming. which just reduces literally every thing that the female characters say. like it's so heteronormative (even with sedric and carson thrown in there) and this was just like... so shallow YA bullshit
anyway this series was bad. sorry.
anyway this series was bad. sorry.
wranglerofwords's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
ioana_oncea's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
enchanteurlitteraire's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, wow, wow!
C’est mon tome préféré des 4, il m’a vraiment tenu en haleine du début à la fin.
On a vraiment pu explorer Kelsingra à fond et découvrir la vie des Anciens dans cette cité qui reprends vie petit à petit.
Bien évidemment j’ai été conquis par les dragons dès le début du récit et j’ai tellement aimé les voir évoluer vers leur vraie forme de dragon.
La fin épique de ce dernier tome m’a fait pensé aux Aventuriers de la Mer…
C’est mon tome préféré des 4, il m’a vraiment tenu en haleine du début à la fin.
On a vraiment pu explorer Kelsingra à fond et découvrir la vie des Anciens dans cette cité qui reprends vie petit à petit.
Bien évidemment j’ai été conquis par les dragons dès le début du récit et j’ai tellement aimé les voir évoluer vers leur vraie forme de dragon.
La fin épique de ce dernier tome m’a fait pensé aux Aventuriers de la Mer…
kolymaarasto's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
lanica's review against another edition
3.0
I think this is the best of the four Rain Wilds books. This series was a bit of a meander...I was not sure where it was going or if we were headed in the right direction, but I trusted my guide (Hobb) to get us to somewhere worthwhile.
She did. But it was a lot of work for a little reward. There were a lot of characters that were mentioned in passing but never fully developed, and there were main characters that seemed to have nothing to do with the conclusion. I expected more from Selden, more from the bird keepers, more from Icefyre, more from pretty much everyone. The ending was a nicely wrapped up package, but nothing surprising inside.
Knowing that the author writes in the same world makes me hope that this was a bridge between series. I hope this was an information dump between her more fully formed series. Perhaps we needed to know all about these characters and events so that we can fully appreciate whatever she has planned for future novels. I liked this series, but know she can write with a lot more ingenuity. I look forward to wherever she is leading us next.
She did. But it was a lot of work for a little reward. There were a lot of characters that were mentioned in passing but never fully developed, and there were main characters that seemed to have nothing to do with the conclusion. I expected more from Selden, more from the bird keepers, more from Icefyre, more from pretty much everyone. The ending was a nicely wrapped up package, but nothing surprising inside.
Knowing that the author writes in the same world makes me hope that this was a bridge between series. I hope this was an information dump between her more fully formed series. Perhaps we needed to know all about these characters and events so that we can fully appreciate whatever she has planned for future novels. I liked this series, but know she can write with a lot more ingenuity. I look forward to wherever she is leading us next.
pennym_'s review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
a great conclusion to a really solid addition to the rote literary universe. i appreciate how much there was to learn about the world and its history and dragons. i was admittedly pretty sick of the love triangle aspect with thymara and tats and rapskal, but i did find hobbs dissection of thymaras choices and firm enforcement of her own bodily autonomy interesting and refreshing; its not something i have often seen in fantasy or the love triangle trope. particularly wonderful to see was
also was surpsised at the moment of actual horror in this (). overall i had a really good time with this series even though it did take me forever. despite not exactly loving the fitz storyline, i am definitely entranced by this world, and i continue to be amazed by hobbs writing and characters
Spoiler
alise and sedric standing up to hest, and how they have both managed to find happiness without him and also have not allowed his machinactions to ruin their friendship. such a rewarding moment.also was surpsised at the moment of actual horror in this (