Dragon Keeper (Rain Wild Chronicles 1) by Robin Hobb

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After many years, dragons have hatched again outside the ancient city of Cassarick. But something is wrong with the creatures; each is inferior or weak in some way, and many die. Tending these stunted dragons has left the people of the surrounding area weary. The Traders Council, the city's... read more

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Summary edit see section history

For years, the Trader cities valiantly battled their enemies, the Chalcedeans. But they could not have staved off invasion without the powerful dragon Tintaglia. In return, the Traders promised to help her serpents migrate up the Rain Wild River after a long exile at sea—to find a safe haven and, Tintaglia hopes, to restore her species. But too much time has passed, and the newly hatched dragons are damaged and weak, and many die. The few who survive cannot use their wings; earthbound, they are powerless to hunt and vulnerable to human predators willing to kill them for the fabled healing powers of dragon flesh.

But Tintaglia has vanished and the Traders are weary of the labor and expense of tending useless dragons. The Trader leadership fears that if it stops providing for the young dragons, the hungry and neglected creatures will rampage—or die along the river’s acidic muddy banks. To avert catastrophe, the dragons decree a move even farther up the treacherous river to Kelsingra, their ancient, mythical homeland whose mysterious location is locked deep within the dragons’ uncertain ancestral memories.

To ensure their safe passage, the Traders recruit a disparate group of young people to care for the damaged creatures and escort them to their new home. Among them is Thymara, an unschooled forest girl of sixteen, and Alise, a wealthy Trader’s wife trapped in a loveless marriage, who attaches herself to the expedition as a dragon expert. The two women share a deep kinship with the dragons: Thymara can instinctively communicate with them, and Alise, captivated by their beauty and majesty, has devoted her life to studying them.

Embarking on an arduous journey that holds no promise of return, the band of humans and dragons must make their way along the toxic and inhospitable Rain Wild River—an extraordinary odyssey that will teach them lessons about themselves and one another, as they experience hardships, betrayals, and joys beyond their wildest dreams.

Characters edit see section history

Thymara: One of the volunteers and keeper to Sintara. She is afflicted by the Rain Wilds and was born with black claws and scales along her spine. She is much like the dragon she attends to.
Sintara: A dragon named Skymaw by Thymara as she would not give her true name. As a serpent she was called Sisarqua and is a blue dragon with stunted legs and wings.
Alise Finbok: A Bingtown traders wife, Alise is a self taught scholar on dragon and Elderling lore.
Sedric: Secretary to Hest Finbok, he is assigned to accompany Alise Finbok on her journey through the Rain Wilds on orders from Hest
Hest: Trader husband of Alise Finbok, he is a rich and important Bingtown trader
Tats: The childhood friend of Thymara and a former slave, he becomes the keeper of the dragon Fente
Paragon: A liveship Alise and Sedric travel on who is upset by the fate of the dragons
Captain Leftrin: Captain of the barge Tarman
Tintaglia: The last adult and fully functional blue female dragon
Greft: Keeper of the dragon Kalo, he is in his mid twenties and is the oldest keeper and their unofficial leader
Rapskal: An exuberant, perpetually optimistic young dragon keeper whose dragon accepted his name as 'Heeby'
Heeby: a small red dragon queen, tended by Rapskal
Kalo: a blue-black male dragon, the largest of their clan, tended by Greft
Sylve: Keeper of the dragon Mercor, she is sensitive to her surroundings.
Warken: keeper of the dragon Sestican
Carson: A hunter, a drunk and an old friend of Leftrin's
Boxter: a dragon keeper, cousin to Kase
Kase: a dragon keeper, cousin to Boxter
Skelly: Deckhand on Tarman and niece of Leftrin
Mercor: a golden dragon, tended by Sylve. Implied to have previously been the sea serpent Maulkin. He is the most understanding of the human "keepers"
Althea Trell: first mate of Paragon, wife of Brashen Trell and mother to their child
Swarge: Tillerman of the barge Tarman
Bellin: Wife to Swarge, a poleman on Tarman
Jerd: Keeper of the dragon Veras, she is implied to be promiscuous
Jerup: Father to Thymara, he is an honest trader
Lecter: a dragon keeper, foster brother to Harrikin
Hennesey: Mate on Tarman
Rogon: Friend of Jerup's
Ranculos: A scarlet male dragon
Sophie: Sedrics younger sister who is friends with Alise
Harrikin: dragon keeper, foster brother to Lecter. He is the second oldest keeper at 20 years
Davvie: hunter (bowman) and nephew to Carson
Nortel: dragon keeper; one of Greft's closest supporters
Fente: A green dragon queen with a supposed nasty temperment, tended by Tats
Sestican: an azure, male dragon, kept by Warken

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Setting & Locations edit see section history

Bingtown: A mercantile city on the coast
Cassarick: A city in the Rain Wilds built on the ruins of an Elderling city
Trehaug: A city in the Rain Wilds
Kelsingra: A fabled city that was the seat of dragons and Elderlings
Rain Wild River: A supposedly acidic river which can eat through bones when milky white or merely sting when diluted grey. Little of it is chartered as it branches off continually or routes changes with rainfall (dry one season, overflowing the next.)
Rain Wilds: A jungle/marsh sort of habitat for the Rain Wild People who live in trees. The most socially affiable live closer to the trunks while the rejects live on the thin limbs. By living there it has given 'defects' (scales, claws) to some children who are deemed more animal than human.

Organizations edit see section history

Rain Wilders: A people, sometimes marked by their environment with scales or other reptilian features, who work in partnership with the Bingtown Traders
Traders: A circle of families much occupied with business. A sort of mercantile nobility.
Elderlings: An ancient, long-lost people who lived in close proximity to dragons and displayed many magical traits and abilities.

First Sentence edit see section history

They had come so far, yet now that she was here, the years of journeying were already fading in her mind, giving way to the desperate needs of the present.

Table of Contents edit see section history

Prologue: Serpent's End
1. The Riverman
2. The Hatch
3. An Advantageous Offer
4. Vows
5. Blackmail and Lies
6. Thymara's Decision
7. Promises and Threats
8. Interviews
9. Journey
10. Cassarick
11. Encounters
12. Among Dragons
13. Suspicions
14. Scales
15. Currents
16. Community
17. Decisions

Glossary edit see section history

Wizardwood: A hard almost impermeable substance that forms serpents' cocoons. Much to the ire of dragons, it has been used to build ships which sometimes take on a consciousness of their own.
Liveship: A ship that was made by wizardwood (serpents cocoons) and has formed a consciousness.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 5 in Rain Wild Chronicles. (standard series)

Followed by Dragon Haven.

This is book 10 of 19 in Realm Of The Elderlings. (universe)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

Robin Hobb (Author)

Other Contributors:

Steve Stone (Cover Artist)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Country: United States
Publication Date: January 26, 2010
ISBN: 978-0061561658
Page Count: 493

Classification edit see section history

Library of Congress: PS3558.O33636 D73 2010
Dewey: 813.54

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

Language, violence.

Subjects edit see section history

Books › Science Fiction & Fantasy › Authors, A-Z › ( H ) › Hobb, Robin
Books › Science Fiction & Fantasy › Fantasy › Epic

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Dragon Keeper (2010) (edit title/settings)

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