A review by books_n_bananas
Blood of Dragons by Robin Hobb
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.