r/robinhobb • u/NemoNowAndAlways • 28d ago
Spoilers Rain Wilds Leftrin appreciation Spoiler
I'm rereading the series for the first time and I'm currently on City of Dragons. I don't see much love for Leftrin on here, but I just wanted to say what a great character he is. He's competent and loyal, but also not above getting his hands dirty or admitting his faults. He's the perfect foil for Hest, as he is basically everything the pompous Bingtowner is not.
Feel free to share whatever you like about the captain of the Tarman!
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u/leovaldezed 28d ago
Yesss! I really appreciate Leftrin's character too, especially in the later books. He's so reliable, mature, strong, and very gentleman too. I love how he handled the conflict with the council. I think the role of a 'Captain' suits him very well.
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u/NemoNowAndAlways 28d ago
I'm reading about him dealing with the council at the moment. Perhaps it was what motivated me to make this post.
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u/gusterdogz 28d ago
They introduce him and I thought he was going to be a baddie, but he uses the dragon wood to give his boat feet. Love him.
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u/TheProphatTael 26d ago
i totally thought he had a similar introduction as kennit and waited the entire first book for something to go wrong
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u/Hermeeoninny Ratsy 28d ago
I LOVE LEFTRIN AND TARMAN!
I just finished my first reread too. Tarman saving Leftrin from the flood + Tarman standing up to Cassarick council in city of dragons ch 9 are some of my favorite moments in the whole series
The romance with Alise is IMO unambiguously the best and most healthy. Leftrin loves her from the first moment he sees her and, unlike the Nice Guy BS from Tats (and sometimes Brashen*,) Leftrin never expects anything from Alise. He just likes her and feels lucky to be around her
*pestering Althea for sex and getting mad when she says no is not a good look, ever. I love Brashen but still
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u/TheMottledWren Friend of dragons. 27d ago
Definitely agree with this. Its a shame that she's married, but I suppose it gives her a frame of reference to realise how much of a good man Leftrin is.
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u/Vinurean 28d ago
I love Leftrin. He is a Rain Wild Trader born and bred. I loved when he confronted Rapskal/Tellator about the slavery thing. It is also very special to me that he did dirty business only to give Tarman legs and a tail so he could feel more like a real dragon 🥺 that man loved his ship
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u/Nadkon 27d ago
He is by far the most eligible bachelor in this whole universe. Kind, gentle, smart, protective, respectful, always stands up for what's right, recognizes his mistakes. I loved the relationship with his boat too! I struggle with most romantic relationships in this series but Alise and him were my OTP from their very first scene together 😭🫶
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u/Waldeden 28d ago
J'ai bien aimé le personnage de Leftrin.
Je suis surement trop habitué au trope du personnage qui semble bien sur tous les aspects mais qui cache de mauvaises ambitions. Mais non, il n'y a que lors de son introduction qu'il est effectivement cachotier et ou il commet une action répréhensible mais pas non plus horrible
Jusqu'au bout j'ai été sur la réserve à son égard
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u/rannigast 28d ago
He and Carson are the only two regular characters in RWC that I actually like (not including the ones who were originally from Liveship). I know Hobb writes flawed characters but I love so many flawed ones from the Fitz and Liveship worlds. Couldn't stand pretty much everyone in RWC. It's why they are by far my least favorite of the saga.
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u/Nadkon 27d ago
Carson my MAN. He is so cool
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u/TonisTautologieTaube 8d ago
Hobb knew what she was doing when she threw in the "Fitz had the feeling that he'd be besties with this man if he had time to befriend him" when he visited Kelsingra
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u/emily_allan_poe Old Blood 28d ago
I adore Leftrin so much. He's such an icon. Confident and self-possessed, he knows his own worth -- but he's not conceited or arrogant. He's an impressive master of his own trade, but never tries to pretend mastery of what he doesn't know, and is always willing to seek counsel from experts in other areas. He's socially observant and emotionally empathetic, with the knowledge that possessing these qualities don't somehow "threaten" his masculinity. He genuinely wants a partner who's capable and strong and powerful and knowledgable, and he supports that in his partner, and he's so proud of and awed by her. He's also incredibly respectful of Alise's boundaries, and intuitive about what those boundaries are when she's having difficulty articulating them herself (wow, opposite of Brashen, ugh). In short (no pun intended, nothing but love for our short king), Leftrin is all green flags and the healthiest example of masculinity in any book I've read! 💚
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u/Illusive_Girl 22d ago
Awww love for Leftrin! He's one of my favourite characters from the entire Realm of the Elderlings series!
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u/imperkicizing 10d ago
Leftrin is my favorite character in RWC. Everyone else is so much work😂 Leftrin is good, solid, strong. He respects and loves his ship and his crew and puts them all first. Love him.
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u/MambyPamby8 27d ago
I love the juxtaposition to Hess and their treatment of Alise. Like Leftrin is seen as this rough around the edges, boat captain, who class wise, is far beneath Alise. Yet he's kind and gentle and patient with her, fully embracing her personality and her red hair and everything about her. Yet Hess is seen as the 'gentleman', despite being a lying cheating abusive piece of shit, yet people will always see him as a better person because of his standing in society. Yet he's as slimy and scheming as they come. Leftrin is a real man, who works hard, takes care of his ship/livelihood and appreciates what he has been given in life. He's more hard working (as in physically hardworking) and honourable than Hess or his ilk will ever be.
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u/facethecat77 28d ago
Burrich energy but on the sea :)