Rain Wild Chronicles

The Rain Wild Chronicles is a quartet of fantasy novels by American author Robin Hobb, published from 2009 to 2013. It is her fourth series of novels set in the fictional Realm of the Elderlings, taking place between the Tawny Man and Fitz and the Fool trilogies. Introducing an almost entirely new cast of characters, Hobb chronicled the re-emergence of dragons in the Rain Wilds region and examined the reaction of humans to a new predator in the world. Reviewers welcomed Hobb's return to the setting of the Liveship Traders, and writer Lisa Goldstein called the Rain Wilds a "strange and fascinating place". Hobb's characterization of dragons received praise. Her human characters in the first book drew mixed reactions, but the sequels fared better; the second book in particular was described by Elizabeth Bear as "highly successful". Scholar Lenise Prater noted the series' depiction of gay relationships and wrote that Hobb promoted queer themes, but felt that her writing was conservative due to its negative portrayal of promiscuity. The first book's pacing was criticized by several reviewers, but the plot of the sequels and the conclusion of the series were well received.