Customer Reviews

Dark Fire (The Last Dragon Chro)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In DARK FIRE, the fifth book in the New York Times bestselling fantasy series Last Dragon Chronicles, author Chris d'Lacey simultaneously explains and deepens the mysteries surrounding dragons and the dark fire, a malevolent force that has the potential to overturn the harmony of the planet.

Dragons, the spiritual guardians of the Earth, have been persecuted into dormancy and extinction. When the last dragon on Earth, a powerful male named Gawain, lay down to die, it shed a last tear known as a fire tear that contained its spirit or auma. That tear was meant to seep into the Earth, but was instead preserved in ice by a woman who loved dragons. Her descendents, Liz Pennykettle and her teenage daughter Lucy, have inherited some of the gifts of dragons. In particular, Liz can create miniature clay dragons and give them the spark of life.

DARK FIRE takes up the story at the moment that David Rain, bestselling author and Liz's erstwhile tenant, has come back to the Pennykettle home after five years in the Arctic, during which he had been given up for dead. Upon his return, he meets his estranged wife Zanna --- a sibyl or wise woman who is still discovering her talents --- and their young daughter Alexa, who bears gifts beyond anyone's imagining, not the least of which is that she can communicate telepathically and foretell the future.

David and Zanna's struggles to reestablish a relationship are complicated by the mysteries now surrounding David and the time he spent with angelic beings known as the Fain. What does David know about the mist that has abruptly risen over the Arctic and what it may be hiding? Since David shook up her world with his sudden disappearance years ago, Zanna is no longer sure how much she trusts him with her wounded heart. The sibyl is also much warier of him since she has learned that David isn't quite human --- he was created by the Fain to bring the dragons back to Earth.

David has also returned from the Arctic with a crazy assertion --- that their five-year-old daughter Alexa holds the key to destroying the evil posed by Ix, the enemy of the Fain and of dragons. Zanna fears for her daughter's fate, since she knows the extent of the evil that the Ix can unleash; after all, it is the Ix who were responsible for blinding Liz's partner, Arthur. They had even possessed young Lucy at one time and nearly driven her to kill her mother and the baby Liz carried in her womb.

When Arthur, Liz and Lucy receive tantalizing hints that they must go to Scuffenbury near Glissington Tor, the supposed site where a buried dragon lies with a horse or horse-like creature guarding it, they are faced with a difficult decision. Things are tense at home. Gwillana, a crazy and dangerous sibyl, has been causing mischief again, and this time she may be aided by darklings, twisted creatures of the dark forces that seek to rule the Universe. The group splits up so that some of them can stay behind at Wayward Crescent, while others seek out the mysteries at Scuffenbury.

In the midst of all this turmoil, Liz unexpectedly suffers an injury that threatens her life and that of her unborn son, Joseph Henry, who it appears is not without big secrets of his own. Could it really be that the baby has been communicating with and perhaps controlling the Pennykettle dragons, all while still in his mother's womb? But it remains unclear if Joseph Henry's powers will turn out to be for the good or for the evil, and where his eventual fate lies. The outcome of the battles that all the characters are forced to wage, both at Scuffenbury and at home in Wayward Crescent, will determine the fate of all of them and indeed the Earth itself.

Fans of the Last Dragon Chronicles will not be disappointed by this latest volume. DARK FIRE has plenty of suspenseful twists and complicated storylines to keep readers engaged for the 500+ pages that make this the longest and most complex book of the series. Readers familiar with these novels will be glad to find all their old favorites back in DARK FIRE --- from David, Zanna, Liz, Lucy and Tam Farrell, to the natural dragons like Grockle, and clay dragons like Gwillan, Gadzooks, Gwendolen and Grace.

A complete list of characters at the start of the book would have greatly aided a newcomer to the series. Keeping their names straight in one's head, especially when it comes to the many dragons that populate the book (all of which have names that begin with the letter G), becomes challenging on occasion. This is especially true of the Pennykettle and other clay dragons, all of which have confusingly similar names but very different magical abilities that play important roles in moving the plot forward at various times. In spite of this minor drawback, both fans and newcomers will find themselves drawn into a complex and engaging world in which dragons and unicorns coexist with humans, angelic beings and creatures of the dark.

This is one well written, engaging, "can't put it down" series. David Rain the main character is still a mystery. I thought it would end with the 3rd book, but it didn't. Nor did it end with the 4th or this last one, Dark Fire. So I wait for the next one. All of these books are a must read if you are into dragons, mystical beings, or destiny. However, don't expect it to end!

*Spoilers may be contained within, proceed with caution those who haven't read yet*

Whenever I read a new book in "The Last Dragon Chronicles," I feel a bit conflicted. On the one hand they pretty much always turn out quite well, on the other hand with each new addition to the series the plot gets more convoluted each time and I wonder how the author will bring it to a respectable end. As for the book itself, I can't help but feel that the protagonist (David) went from a boy who was dragged into something he didn't understand but wanted to and was working to, into a know-it all holier than thou messiah like figure who; while the author tries to portray him as a teacher figure of sorts and an understanding person, comes off more as a pretentious unfeeling jerk. And a character attribute switch like that is so night and day it's like they're a different person altogether, and makes it a bit of a poor choice on his end I believe. Also, it's a bit of a stretch to say that people would be THAT accepting of dragons just emerging out of nowhere like they do by books end, there should be more skepticism than that, even for a fantasy novel. And the fain/ix plot points could do with a bit of straightening out as well. Perhaps a separate book delving into their backstory would be in order? Still, I must say that while it's a bit poor in some areas, I still overall enjoyed the book.

All in all however, this book is a bit weaker than previous installments, although still a good read. I'd definitely suggest starting with the first book and working your way up though, as anyone who decides to start here or with the Fire Eternal will be hopelessly lost. Here's hoping that Mr. D'lacey can bring the series to a respectably well end, and that it doesn't fizzle out with the last book or two.

My boys love Chris d'Lacy books. We have the five hard back books, and well worth it.

I just don't understand. How can anyone enjoy this book, let along give it five stars, after what Chris D'Lacey has done to David Rain?

Ok, so all I can really remember from this insult was that the Pennykettle gang continuously discovered shocking things about the lovable David Rain. Examples include: David Rain is really a fain, David Rain is not a real person and came to Earth from a black hole on his address, David Rain should've been Arthur and Liz's son, etc.

As I read this book, I was appauled by what the author was turning David into. From this kind college boy who assisted young Lucy in her rabbit hunting to this monster from space that's some weird guru and transforms into polar bears. I didn't even recognize him anymore! I started pretending it wasn't even the same person because I was so disgusted. Does anyone remember how down-to-earth and nice the first book was? Well what the author did was take the first book and MUTATE it into this.... i won't even call it a book.

After reading so much about the awful things of David, I closed the book, stowed it away in the back of the book shelf, vowed never to read it again, and ever since I've been pretending the information from the fourth and fifth don't even exist and life is normal for the Pennykettle gang.

I enjoyed the first three books very much. I was satisfied with the original trilogy. I was excited about the next three to see what the author would do next, but ended up disappointed and utterly disgusted. I don't understand how someone would like this that read and understood the first. It's an enigma to me.

I got the book as expected and everything was great. Had several other books in same order. All came in great time and excellent condition. This is one of the best ways to shop. The prices for all the books in this series could not be beat. Have bought same set in bookstore before and paid a lot more. Awesome service.

Grandson now has all books printed in this series and loves them ...looking forward to last book to come out soon

I loved that D'Lacey brought back characters back like Sophie even if it was a small scene. My only problem is there are so many character now (not to mention races) that I get confuzzled especially since I haven't re-read the earlier books and do not have the time.

I did like this book better then the 4th book The Fire Eternal. I am more interested in the story of dragon and girl then all the alien like beings you can scratch those or the polar bear which are okay in the story but it is just too much.

So I did enjoy the book but just had some issues with it.

Loves the series. needed the next 2 books in the series. Perfect for boys lazy reading afternoon

Bought two of these books, one for my daughter and one for my grandson who have both read the series and loved them. Wish he was keeping the series going, the kids have really enjoyed reading them.