The Robin Hobb Collection discussion

Ch 16 They seem to be getting closer to Kelsingra. They find some ruins and a heating stone.

Greft tries to steal blood from Kalo, and gets tossed for his efforts. Too bad he didn't get eaten.

Ch 17 So Kelo demands a new Keeper to replace Greft and selects Davie. Spit takes Carlson, who I think agrees as much for Sedric as for his nephew.

So my guess is that Thymara is growing wings of her own from the sore on her back based on her dragon's thoughts.

Ch 18 I forgot to mention how annoyed I am with Tats for his "you don't really love me because you won't have sex with me crap."

This miscarriage is a good reminder of the consequences.

Greft runs away and takes Sedric's samples. He comes clean to Carson, but will he come clean to Alise. Can he keep it from the dragons? What will happen if they find out?

ch16 - poor erek! he wants to visit detozi so badly, and she just replies a thank you.

Greft, goh! finally, that pain in the ass has been dealt with (somewhat) at least. loved skelly making sure that Greft's blood wasn't seeping into Tarman.

Ch 19 Sedric tells Alise the truth and she seems to forgive him that was a nice scene.

Called it! Wings!

And Heeby and her keeper are alive and flying! And found Kelsingra.

On to the final chapter!

Ch 20 Sintara flew and The bird keepers are engaged!

I really liked this book more than the first. When can we start book 3?

I was going to do the S&L alt pick next, but I'll keep going if you guys are ready. Not sure how much reading time I'll have the next few weeks though. Then January will be another S&L pick, plus Malazan of course.. So many books..

Finished! Just couldn't stop anymore.

ch17 - Given Sintara's thoughts about something unprecedented an all the aches Thymara had, i was guessing wings or fins. Wings were preferred of course, i'm not sure what a human would do with a back fin.

ch18 - Jerd's baby was indeed a good reminder. No legs, but a partial tail like a serpent.

ch19 - and wings it is!!
And Heeby did fly and discover Kelsingr. I was jumping up and down, so glad! I just love Heeby, which is more than can be said about Sintara.

ch20 - really nice ending than book 1. i think it's such a shame they split that original book in two, the first one really didn't do what it should do.

Now I want to see if Thymara flies in future books. Nice call on Heeby Rob. Those warming baths really seem to help with the development of the dragons. Sintara gets to fly as well. An overall satisfying conclusion.

i think she will, why else give her wings? perhaps it's a new generation of elderlings :)

Rob wrote: "Ch 18 I forgot to mention how annoyed I am with Tats for his "you don't really love me because you won't have sex with me crap."

This miscarriage is a good reminder of the consequences.

Greft ru..."

Oh, I really couldn't stand Tats at all in this book (or the previous one - haven't read the next two yet). It irritates me that Hobb wasn't making a bigger thing of how terribly Thymara and Tats are suited for one another.

Two problems I had: Heeby/Rapskal returning and Thymara getting wings. Both read like wish-fulfillment, and both were really predictable. And the Thymara thing recapitulates the same plot points as Malta's crest back in Liveships.


On the dragons and the humans: what I found interesting was the way that the themes of domestic abuse, with Hest and (incipiently) Greft were mirrored in the dragons, who are basically Hest but more so. I wasn't sure if this was meant to intentionally undermine the whole 'world with dragons is wonderful' thing that Hobb's always been pushing. Guess I'll have to read the next pair of books.

[These two were one book and should have been published as one book]

i agree that these should have been published as one book. we are now able to read them immediately after one another, but at the time it was published this must not have made much sense. i guess money is a big driver to split things up :(

Re: hest and the dragons. I think that's an interesting remark. Personally i don't think that hobb was pushing the 'world with dragons is wonderful' thing without also giving us plenty of notification when it was not wonderful. They do feel superior to humans and see them as their servants. After that it depends pretty much on the character of the dragon how they treat their servants (much like kings and queens i guess). That's why Sintara will never be my favourite dragon, but Heeby comes close!

I guess that feeling of superiority is common for both Hest and dragons, but Hest delivers pain knowingly and purposefully. I'm not sure the dragons operate in that same way?