Customer Reviews

DragonQuest (Dragon Keepers Chronicles, Book 2)

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Kale and her friends return in this mesmerizing sequel to DragonSpell. Two weeks into her training at the Hall, Kale, a dragonkeeper for Paladin, is summoned to help the aging Wizard Fenworth with the meech dragon she quickened. Two minor dragons and a furry young street urchin are already under her care, but there's also an irksome someone to report on her and train her to defend herself - Bardon, a structured older boy called the Snitch behind his back.

Facing danger even to get to Fenworth's, the group soon finds that their journey is only beginning. The evil Wizard Risto has seized another meech to further his plans of taking over Amara. As they travel to free dragons already enslaved by Risto's influence, the mystery surrounding the mother Kale never knew begins to be hampered by more questions.

Rich in adventure, deep in insight, and filled with the intriguing creative touches that fantasy readers love, this book is a must-read for all ages. Seven high races and seven evil races people Amara, portrayed in detail and kept distinct. Multi-dimensional characters become friends you wish you could meet. Dragons permeate the story like a flock of tropical birds, with vivid coloring and varied personalities. The author also adds mind-speaking abilities, wizardry, gateways to travel long distances instantly, and a cloak with pockets that don't bulge, but these elements are only frosting to deeper issues like trust and discipline. A twisting and suspenseful plot finishes the novel on a high note but leaves room for sequels to come. The Dragonkeeper Chronicles are books sure to captivate every lover of fantasy. - Katie Hart, Christian Book Previews.com

Kale was once a slave, but was freed by her village elders when she found a dragon's egg; they sent her to study at Hall, but on her trek there she found more eggs and battled an evil wizard (see DRAGONSPELL). Eventually she made it to the Hall where she expected to be in service, but instead is a student, a difficult adjustment for one who has always been in servitude.

The Wizard Fenworth learns of the exploits of the dragonkeeper of Paladin as Kale is known; he sends for her to come to The Bogs as his apprentice and to nurture his youngling a recently hatched meech dragon-infant. Her teachers at the Hall send swordsman and fellow student Bardon to accompany her. Kale dislikes Bardon, but the journey is long and dangerous and he seems to always be there when she needs him until the evil Wizard Risto makes his latest move. He has attained a new meech dragon that makes him nearly invincible; he plots vengeance on the slave girl who defeated him recently before conquering Amara.

This spectacular sequel stars a delightful young heroine still struggling to understand the change in her circumstances from servitude to student. Bardon is a fabulous sidekick as he irritates and fascinates Kale, whose just discovering the attractive non-mischievous side of boys. The evil villain Risto is the perfect adversary in DRAGONQUEST as he obsessively needs to defeat the little girl who humiliatingly defeated him before and then conquer the world. Donita K. Paul provides a delightful fantasy that both the Potter and Tolkien crowds will treasure.

Harriet Klausner

Wow, and I thought that DragonSpell couldn't get better. I was so wrong. DragonQuest was awesome!!!

Kale and others (including the hilarious Wizard Fenworth, a personal favorite of mine) go questing again - this time to find another Meech Dragon and keep Wizard Risko from being his evil self again.

I loved the new characters, and I thought that it was cool how far Kale has come since the frightened girl we met in the first pages of DragonSpell. I was (again) fascinated with the painting that "came to pass," or whatever, and I will certainly be keeping my eyes out for more such paintings in the next books.

Speeking of the next books, I certainly hope they come out soon, I can't wait to find out more!

In Paul's first book in this series, "DragonSpell," the world was well developed but some of the character development seemed to be lacking; seeing the events through only Kale's perspective seemed to almost be a hinderance instead of a help--it almost limited the understanding of the characters to only her (and perhaps Dar, who was actually quite well-developed in the first one). But in "DragonQuest," though the perspective is still strictly Kale's, the character development is indeed excellent.

Bardon and Toopka, the two new additions to the Dragonkeeper cast, are extremely well defined. Without them, the story wouldn't be nearly so good, and when Lyll is added, it solves a bit of mystery surrounding Kale that I and perhaps some others expected to see solved in the first book. It this book, Paul pulls it out beautifully, all the while bringing out another mystery, this one having to do with Bardon.

In short, the plot is very similar to "DragonSpell," but the addition of new characters is what makes it unique. I almost expect a little romance between Kale and Bardon in the coming books--Donita Paul HAS written several romance works and I don't think she'd pass up the opportunity. I look forward to the next installment!

If you liked DragonSpell you'll love DragonQuest.
I have read DragonSpell a few times and like it very much, so when I heard about DragonQuest, its sequel, I decided to get it. It took me only a few hours to read. I couldn't put it down. Now I've read both books many times over and eagerly await the next in the series. All the characters are well developed, and their personalities shine. The people in it like Toopka and Wizard Fenworth make the story very funny, but others like Leetu Bends put a serious touch to it. It is a perfect mixture of humor and suspense in these stories making them very enjoyable.

The sound of words being eaten, eaten away.

Confession time: I made several negative comments in my review of DragonSpell (which I still agree with). But I also made several predictions, negative ones, and I have to say I was completely wrong.

I could tell by the first page of this book that Ms. Paul's writing style had improved. I could tell about twenty pages in that her characterization had improved. And I could tell about fifty pages in that this book had a really, really compelling plot. Best of all, the "moral dilemma" I had so begged for had come, too, with Kale's mother number 1 and mother number 2.

Did I mention there was a lot more humor, too, which is always nice with Christian fiction?

Dar is better, funny and loyal. Kale is better, smart and interesting. Two new dragons are introduced. The meech egg from Book 1 is back, almost fully grown, and there's another meech dragon too, a female in bondage to the evil guy, Risto. And the protagonists being who they are, they must rescue her.

And -- wait for it -- this book actually has a BATTLE at the end! A real one! Involving real danger!

Quite exciting. I was hoping DragonQuest would be better, I really was, because the premise of the series had so much potential, and I'm always up for reading Christian fiction as long as it isn't too preachy. The preachiness died in this book. Granted, it's obvious that it IS Christian fiction. But the characters aren't robots who spew Paladin's teachings all over the place (or, in non-fantasy Christian fiction, robots who become Christians and a week later know fifty Bible verses by heart). They're real, flawed, funny people.

Why, then, did I give it only four stars?

Well, there are little annoying details such as some awkward dialogue, confusing scenes, and just an edge of predictability. (Though, in all fairness, I was surprised when it was discovered that the dragons really hadn't deserted after all.)

So, of course it wasn't perfect -- but what is? It was compelling, and MUCH better than the first, so I'll be borrowing DragonKnight as soon as I can.


Rating: Very Good

I've always loved anything that has to do with dragons, so when i saw DragonSpell i wanted to read it, when i finished it, i was sad that i had. you know that feeling when you're coming to the end of the book and your happy your gonna finish it, but your sad that you are gonna finish it? yeah, thats how i felt. when i finished it, i looked into the author, and learn a little more about, to find out she already wrote two more! i was so happy, and imediatelly ordered DragonQuest. It is a great story, but if you haven't read the first one, you're going to be clueless. lol I can't wait to read what happens to Bardon and Kale in the next one, DragonKnight! BYE

DragonQuest is to DragonSpell what "The Order of the Phoenix" is to "The Sorcerer's Stone."

Donita K. Paul's writing has matured tremendously since her first foray into her world of Amara. The characters are amazingly diverse and well written.
In Dragonspell, I only found Dar and Kale likeable and sympathetic. In Dragonquest, it would be hard to find someone you can't understand and sympathize with.
The addition of Toopka and Lyll are especially good.

When all is said and done, the book is a solid one and a good read. The characters make the story better than it would be without them. I look forward to the sequel.

The book DragonQuest is an amazing sequel to the book DragonSpell, which I highly recommend reading. Miss Paul does a great job detailing the characters not only through the main character's, Kale's, eyes but through almost all of the supporting characters. It is an action packed adventure novel that anyone in the family will love.
Hope this helps,
Austin

I liked this book even better than the first in the series! The story here picks up just a couple weeks after the events of the previous book, DragonSpell (Dragon Keepers Chronicles, Book 1). Since we already know the characters, the story here is able to take right off without needing to take time to introduce the reader to everything and everyone.

Most of the same characters from DragonSpell are back, with the addition of several new ones as well. I especially enjoyed the addition of Toopka, as she adds a bit of fun and mischief, and also Bardon, who adds a nice layer of mystery/intrigue. These two really added alot of life to the pages, I'm hoping they will be present through-out the rest of the series!

As I said in my review for DragonSpell, this series is not "kids-only". People of many ages can enjoy it, there is something for just about everyone here! The allegory is still present as it was in the previous book, I really like this angle as it gives you a different way to look at certain things. And of course, there's lots of adventure, that seems to be a staple for this series! And don't forget the dragons!

I'll soon be starting the next book in the series, DragonKnight (Dragon Keepers Chronicles, Book 3), and I suspect that more adventure awaits!