City of Dragons is a 2011 fantasy novel by American writer Robin Hobb, the third book in The Rain Wild Chronicles. It was released in September 2011 and is a direct continuation of the previous novel: Dragon Haven.
The dragon Tintaglia and her mate IceFyre fly to a sandy oasis they visit often where they are ambushed by men. They manage to fight off the men but Tintaglia is stabbed by a spear in her armpit and is struck in the wing by an arrow. When feasting on the corpses of the men a boy, still alive, reveals they were blackmailed by the Duke of Chalced in order to harvest some of the dragons body parts, which the Duke believes will cure his illness.
In a tent, Selden, an Elderling is being kept a slave and sideshow attraction.
Sintara and the other dragons have reached Kelsingra but only Heeby can fly. Rapskal takes the other keepers over to Kelsingra on Heeby and gets lost in the skill memories of a statue. He is brought back by Leftrin and warned of getting lost forever.
Malta and Reyn travel to Cassarack. Malta is heavily pregnant and must decide what to do if the baby is born with severe defects. Leftrin and the Tarman arrive in Cassarack as well and ask for payment for successfully moving the dragons upriver.
Rapskal and Thymara travel to Kelsingra and Rapskal shows her an Elderling memory where they are lovers. Sintara manages to fly across the river to Kelsingra and activates the city, lighting it up and re-starting the warming baths. Rapskal and Thymara sleep together. Sintara and Heeby spend the night in the dragon baths and become stronger.
Malta goes into labor and is attacked by Chalcedeans who wish to sell her baby as dragon parts. She escapes and brings her newborn to the deck of the Tarman. The Tarman tells her the baby will die unless he is helped by a dragon. Leftrin and his crew realize they need to flee back to Kelsingra, and are followed.
On one of the ships following the Tarman is Hest Finbock, Alise's husband who is convinced that he owns a portion of Kelsingra due to his marriage to Alise and his employment of Sedric.
The Duke of Chalced realizes that his daughter and only heir is trying to kill him. He agrees to marry her off to one of his minor lords, who brings him Selden's ear as a gesture of goodwill.
Tintaglia realizes the arrow that shot her was likely poisoned and needs to be removed with human hands. She decides to fly back to Kelsingra without IceFyre.
Minor Characters