Robin Hobb, The Dragon Keeper, Nerdy on Break Time

I’m a long time fan of Robin Hobb’s various series  [The Farseer, The Tawny Man, The Liveship Traders] so when my room mate suggested I read one of the newest roll out, The Rain Wild Chronicles, I jumped on it.   Have not been able to put it down. I’m not kidding.
Literally, nose to Nook, in the break room. Co-worker comes up and taps the back of the Nook, “Hey there, what you reading?” and I begin to babble on about rain forests and dragons and magic. Co-worker finds this hilarious. I’m not even swayed.
Spoiler Alert if you haven’t read the Liveship Traders series [Really? Come on. Finish it already, it’s been out for years].

So, last we heard, Malta, the lofty, bratty, Bingtown Trader’s daughter, had helped the Dragon Tintaglia and shacks up with That Rain Wilds Fellow. Good things ensue, prompted by ancient magic.
Althea finally gets a ship and Bingtown no longer approves of slaves and it on the postwar mend. The Satrap, ruler of all, is still a big old baby, but not so snobby and has learned a few lessons, you know, after having been kidnapped by pirates, almost killed in the acid Rain Wild River and so on.
Now, a year later-ish, the sea serpents are on their way to the cocooning grounds to transform into Dragons with Tintaglia’s and human aid.
Hints and tips folks, things go wrong. Super wrong. What was supposed to be the dawn of a new age with dragons on the planet, is not what was bargained for. Now, unwanted Rain Wilders [those affected by magic at birth and ‘deformed’ with scaled and claws, usually left for dead in infancy] have been recruited to care for the dragons and take them away.

Side story: Alise Finbrook, literally the bookish, redheaded, freckled nerd in the story decides to go on a scholarly quest to talk with the dragons. Hint: It’s a hell of a lot better than what she has at home with her handsome, A-hole of a husband.

Hobb’s writing can be a little florid, and there are always some similar elements like the unlikely duo love story, the child establishing their self, the war and strife to conquer, however, I eat it up every time. When I first started reading Hobb, I approached her writing as the romance novel of the fantasy genre.
Is there some dashing rogue? Yes.
Is there an independent woman, determined not to be defined by her sex? Yes.
Is there some kind magic involved or a castle? Yes.

Good.
I found myself getting attached to the characters and being more involved in the story lines than I thought I would be. I started waiting for the next novel series. I was hooked. It’s silly sometimes. It’s fun. The dialogue is good and there are a variety of characters to choose from. I love when a writer can incorporate the viewpoints of multiple people and make it flow well.
That being said, I’m super honest that I love the trashy romance parts of her books. There’s no heaving bosoms or quivering anything. . . . or if there are, then the character is seriously mislead, embarrassed and totally deserves it.I totally cheer every time there is a win for love. Can’t help it.