Giveaway - "Dragon Keeper" by Robin Hobb

I have a couple of terrific giveaways for today and the first is Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb. Robin Hobb is one of my all time favourite fantasy authors, whether she is writing as Robin Hobb (Farseer, Liveship Traders, Tawny Man, and Soldier Son trilogies) or as Megan Lindholm (Harpy's Flight, The Windsingers, The Limbreth Gate,Wizard of the Pigeons and more). Dragon Keeper is the first book in The Rain Wilds Chronicles.

I have two (2) copies of the hardcover (released January 26) to giveaway. To enter leave a comment telling us what you favourite book, story or series about dragons is. Full giveaway details at the end of the post.

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 safepassage, 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.

Thanks to Harper Collins/EOS for the promotion. Read an excerpt of Dragon Keeper.

GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES:

1. Two (2) copies of Dragon Keeper to giveaway.
2. Leave a commenttelling us about your favourite book, story or series about dragons.
3. Open to residents of the US and Canada.
4. Leave a way to notify you if you should win.
5. Blog, tweet, post on Facebook or other social network sites for an extra entry. Leave a comment here to let me know.
6. Giveaway open until Midnight, March 1, 2010 EST.