One of my absolute favourite books – one I have re-read many times over – is Assassin’s Apprentice by Robin Hobb. It is the first in a fantasy series, which contains sixteen books, across five sub-series. The books are situated in a medieval European landscape where dragons once ruled the skies, but have been brutally killed and made extinct by humans who want to rule the world. Yet, without dragons to keep people in check, their lust for power grows unchecked, with dark consequences for the whole world. The story follows a group of remarkable individuals who set out to find the last dragons, and save them – to save the world. Hobb is a powerful writer whose books can make you weep – and laugh. A writer who is profoundly connected to nature, her books (while following many of the epic fantasy tropes) are a philosophical exploration of the human impetus to control the natural world and the dangers of letting such an impetus grow unrestrained.

While there are many fantasy books about dragons, this series swept me along. For Hobb, dragons are not just another species of animal. They are akin to a massive mountain range or the unfathomably large ocean – a reflection that nature may not care about humans, but we must care about it for our own survival. Reading the books reminds me of the times I saw a beautiful sunset or gazed at an unending forest range and was moved to tears. Tears of joy and sorrow, but also tears of awe.

Nature is not passive or subservient to humans, however much we may have deluded ourselves to think that it is. The majesty of nature is beyond human understanding, let alone human control. The appeal of Hobb’s books is that they bring this basic fact to life in a way that any reader can understand.