It's been awhile since I blew through something this long so fast! 
 This starts out in a similar vein as Ship of Magic by giving us the perspective of the serpents, now desperately making their way up river in hopes of finally becoming what they were long meant to be. I remember being immediately pulled in by their perspective in SoM prologue and it was no different here. The Rain Wilds have fascinated me since the Liveship Traders series and I was excited to have this series set more there than in Bingtown. It's just one of those locations I can instantly visualize in rich detail; the lanterns and pathways high above the ground, the deep shade and sound of rain, exotic creatures and blooms. If I could live in a fantasy world, it would be this one. It's not a Utopia, and there is some heavy karma playing out with it's inhabitants. But I am spellbound just the same. 
 There were some odd things that surprised me, like how harsh the Rain Wild Traders are about those born with the deformities they will all eventually have anyhow. Especially in a culture where children are rare and precious. Just didn't seem that how early such things happen should matter to the degree that they did. 
 I loved Thymara. I loved the funny little epistolary interludes between two keepers of messenger birds between Bingtown and the Rain Wilds who have never met. I despise Hest. I mostly pitied Alise but am hoping she will become cool. And as always there are a host of characters I cannot tell which way will turn. 
 I felt so sad for these poor dragons ... and yet also freely admit they are assholes. :-D 
 All the talk of their parts being valuable for healing and clandestine whispers about people wanting to buy one got the song 'Every Little Piece' from Pete's Dragon (1977)stuck in my head the whole time I read this. 
 It's joyfully fucked up kids movie if you've never seen it. 
 On to the next ...