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Dragonology Chronicles #2
Dragon Diary
The fire-breathing fiction series continues! Two young dragonologists set off on a daring, wing-borne mission — while rushing to crack an ancient Dragonish code.
Fresh from recovering the Dragon’s Eye, apprentice dragonologists Daniel and Beatrice Cook eagerly await the hatching of the dragon’s egg in their care. But just as the shell begins to crack, their mentor, Dr. Ernest Drake, is called off to India to look for their missing parents and tend to the gravely ill naga dragons they’ve left behind. Meanwhile, the siblings receive a tip that the secret to curing dragons may lie in an age-old Dragon Diary, if only they could decipher it! Dragon lovers will soar breathlessly along with the plucky pair as (dragon baby in tow) they fly away on the furtive Dragon Express, traversing the globe on one dragon after another while struggling to solve the mystery of the Dragon Diary — before it’s too late.
Fresh from recovering the Dragon’s Eye, apprentice dragonologists Daniel and Beatrice Cook eagerly await the hatching of the dragon’s egg in their care. But just as the shell begins to crack, their mentor, Dr. Ernest Drake, is called off to India to look for their missing parents and tend to the gravely ill naga dragons they’ve left behind. Meanwhile, the siblings receive a tip that the secret to curing dragons may lie in an age-old Dragon Diary, if only they could decipher it! Dragon lovers will soar breathlessly along with the plucky pair as (dragon baby in tow) they fly away on the furtive Dragon Express, traversing the globe on one dragon after another while struggling to solve the mystery of the Dragon Diary — before it’s too late.
Paperback
First published May 1, 2008
14 people are currently reading
714 people want to read
About the author
Dugald A. Steer
179 books149 followersUntil recently, Dugald A. Steer worked as an author and editor at Templar Publishing. He is the writer behind Candlewick's widely acclaimed New York Times bestsellers, DRAGONOLOGY, THE DRAGONOLOGY HANDBOOK, and EGYPTOLOGY, as well as the forthcoming EGYPTOLOGY HANDBOOK. Dugald has now given up his editorial job to concentrate on writing full-time, especially more books with "ology" in the title. Dugald Steer lives near London and has far less free time than he imagined he would.
Pseudonyms:
Emily Sands
Lady Hestia Evans
Captain William Lubber
Professor Allen Gray
Sir Henry Hardcastle
Marshal Lancelot
Dr. Ernest Drake
Master Merlin
Pseudonyms:
Emily Sands
Lady Hestia Evans
Captain William Lubber
Professor Allen Gray
Sir Henry Hardcastle
Marshal Lancelot
Dr. Ernest Drake
Master Merlin
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
May 29, 2020
This book is at its best when the characters are actually interacting with dragons like Pantheon and the Hydra but those are few as most of the book is dedicated to just humans talking about dragons and it is kind of boring.
May 27, 2019
Summary:
This is the second book in the Dragonology Chronicles series, as we continue the adventures of Beatrice and Daniel and their human and dragon friends. This is a fun middle grade series based around the Dragonology books that came out when I was a kid, so its a lot of nostalgia and a lot of fun.
Characters 3.5/5:
The characters are really fun and engaging. I wish we got perspective from both of the children, but Daniel is easy to read from. They really serve as a vessel for these fun adventures, but we did get to explore a little more of their dynamic with the introduction of Torcher into this story.
Plot 3/5:
This story had a fun and engaging plot that wrapped up well within this installment. I think most of my love of these kinds of series comes from nostalgia, because they are very reminiscent of the era they were written in, but it was a fun romp and it was great to see the different places the kids went to and the dragons they were seeing.
Setting and atmosphere 3/5:
I wish these had a little bit more world building, because what it does have is focused very closely on the dragons and not on the way that the broader society interacts with dragons. I wanted a little bit more of that, but it might come in future installments.
Writing style 3/5:
I think this book very cleverly integrates itself with the original dragonology book, but also is easy to read and engaging. I'm not sure who actually writes these (I believe they're ghost written, but I might be wrong?) but it definitely does a great job.
This is the second book in the Dragonology Chronicles series, as we continue the adventures of Beatrice and Daniel and their human and dragon friends. This is a fun middle grade series based around the Dragonology books that came out when I was a kid, so its a lot of nostalgia and a lot of fun.
Characters 3.5/5:
The characters are really fun and engaging. I wish we got perspective from both of the children, but Daniel is easy to read from. They really serve as a vessel for these fun adventures, but we did get to explore a little more of their dynamic with the introduction of Torcher into this story.
Plot 3/5:
This story had a fun and engaging plot that wrapped up well within this installment. I think most of my love of these kinds of series comes from nostalgia, because they are very reminiscent of the era they were written in, but it was a fun romp and it was great to see the different places the kids went to and the dragons they were seeing.
Setting and atmosphere 3/5:
I wish these had a little bit more world building, because what it does have is focused very closely on the dragons and not on the way that the broader society interacts with dragons. I wanted a little bit more of that, but it might come in future installments.
Writing style 3/5:
I think this book very cleverly integrates itself with the original dragonology book, but also is easy to read and engaging. I'm not sure who actually writes these (I believe they're ghost written, but I might be wrong?) but it definitely does a great job.
January 5, 2026
Daniel and Beatrice Cook's adventure continues!
The second volume was definitely an upgrade. With a whole new journey, dragons, and magical artefacts, it brought a fresh air. While the first volume was focused on the introduction about the dragons, the second volume fully focused on the children's adventure upon finding a cure for dragons getting caught in a plague. We're going to follow Daniel and Beatrice flew upon the skies with Jamal, the dragon Dr. Drake kept in his house, and return him home to Africa. Then we would continue flying with the Dragon Express, trying to catch up with Dr. Drake to gave him clues about the dragon cure.
Welp, of course with a dash of villains and getting caught in an ice prison.
I really want to read the rest of the volume but since it is an old book, I'm not sure I would find it. Nevertheless, I'm still invested with the whole story!
The second volume was definitely an upgrade. With a whole new journey, dragons, and magical artefacts, it brought a fresh air. While the first volume was focused on the introduction about the dragons, the second volume fully focused on the children's adventure upon finding a cure for dragons getting caught in a plague. We're going to follow Daniel and Beatrice flew upon the skies with Jamal, the dragon Dr. Drake kept in his house, and return him home to Africa. Then we would continue flying with the Dragon Express, trying to catch up with Dr. Drake to gave him clues about the dragon cure.
Welp, of course with a dash of villains and getting caught in an ice prison.
I really want to read the rest of the volume but since it is an old book, I'm not sure I would find it. Nevertheless, I'm still invested with the whole story!
March 5, 2021
Once again, I absolutely love Steer's writing style and humour, even in the face of dramatic aerial battles and tense moments creeping through darkened corridors and caverns. The story follows on shortly after the events of the first book, with Daniel and Beatrice continuing their dragonologist educations, including raising an egg of their own (I am so envious it is almost criminal). But their peace does not last long and old enemies reappear, this time putting dragons everywhere at risk, so there is only one thing to do, take to the skies! How it's taken me so long to get around to reading this I do not know but now that I have and have reminded myself of how good it is, I'm going to have to quickly hunt down the next in the series.
May 2, 2022
I loved this book and I found that it fleshed out the characters out well. I loved Torcher the baby dragon and how he developed and interacted and grew. I found the diary revelation interesting and I also like the twist about the writer of the diary. I found that it tackled the dragon illness well and the finding of the cure logical. I also found the plot twist make sense that demonstrated the villainy of Alexandra of what she wanted well done. I found that the reunions handled well and the fought at the end well done too. So I would recommend this book and it's series to anyone feeling nostalgic for the first coupe of Harry Potter books!
January 10, 2025
It’s 9:55 PM, and I’m clinging to the back of a dragon as we soar through the night sky, the wind threatening to tear the paper from my hands as I furiously jot down my thoughts. The journey so far has been a whirlwind of fire, heart, and the relentless pull of destiny, with the protagonist’s struggles as raw and thrilling as the dragon’s wild flight. Suddenly, we dive, hurtling toward the ground to snatch up the third book before soaring back into the heavens in a sweeping figure eight. Below, the entire village gazes up in awe as we clutch the book close to our chest, reading its fiery pages with ferocious intensity, guarding its secrets like a treasure of our very soul.
September 3, 2019
I enjoyed this 4 book series as audio books with my 2 daughters (12, 15) (husband also enjoyed books 1&2 as we started the series while on a family toad trip). Recommend it for those who like fantasy books along the lines of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. While not quite as in depth and sophisticated as HP, it definitely captures the imagination, is exciting and engaging - good book to be shared by the whole family in the car.
January 6, 2021
I would rate this almost a 4 1/2 if I could it was a bit better than book 1 as it was more adventurous and more fast. The children and their baby dragon have to set out on their own on the Dragon Express something that very very few have ever done. Very dangerous and very scary for them but they know they have to do this to save their mentor and parents. When you finish this book make sure you have the next on hand as you will not want to wait to read the next. Very nicely written
September 1, 2025
This was a nice quick read. I didn't realise it was book 2 in the series until I was already partway through it, but I was able to read it without reading book 1 first. I feel the dragonspeak and some of the phrases may be a bit tricky for younger readers, but the story was good.
August 19, 2018
Excellent! I love this series, as does my 6 year old. We are reading it together and once again, with this book 2, it's an excellent vocabulary builder.
September 30, 2020
I loved getting to see all the different dragons living across the world and seeing Daniel and Beatrice working together again.
November 22, 2020
BEAUTIFUL, wish i could be in it!
December 20, 2017
This was a very fun read, even though I didn't get to read the first book, I still enjoyed it. This makes me want to buy the whole series, just to see what other adventures Dr Ernest Drake had.
September 19, 2015
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Plot
In The Dragon Diary we follow our favorite characters, Daniel, Beatrice, and Dr. Drake, on another exciting adventure. Daniel and Beatrice are excited at the beginning of the book as they wait patiently for the egg (received in first book) to hatch. It eventually does and I was very interested in this part of the story because everything about taking care of a new dragon was explained.
Later on, the children learn that their parents were kidnapped while attempting to make their way back home. Also, many dragons are becoming ill and dying and it is up to the children to find out the cure in an old Dragon Diary.
The premise of this book was a lot more interesting than the previous one and much more entertaining. On their travels the children encounter many more dragons than we have previously seen and I enjoyed all the accompanying illustrations. I think this was the most exciting part of the book!
The pacing of the book is perfect and there are plenty of details relating to the places the characters go and the various dragons that they meet. I really enjoyed all the descriptions in this book and felt that they really added to the story. Also, there was a great mix of information, escaping, and battles, and none of it was over the top. There was always something going on that kept me engaged in the story. It never moved too fast or too slow.
Characters
The characters in this series are fairly well developed and interesting. Beatrice and Daniel try out new things and learn a lot throughout the book. I guess they were developed a bit throughout the story, but I would like to get to know them more personally.
My favorite characters in this book were all the different dragons that Beatrice and Daniel meet on their travels. All the dragons have distinct personalities and were all interesting. I think one of my favorite dragons in this book was the hydra because they could never seem to agree on anything and even though they shared a body, each head had its own name and personality. There are lots of other dragons that I enjoyed, especially the one that hatches out the egg, but I think you should discover them for yourself. It really is the best part of the book!
The villain in this book was one we have met previously for a short time, Alexandra Gorynytchka. She is back in this novel attempting to control all the dragons and the ones she can't she will just kill. I don't really like that the villain is just purely evil, but I suppose that is expected in a children's novel. At least we find out a bit about her as the story progresses.
Writing
The writing was just as good in this one as in the first book. I don't have any complains about it and love that the text is accompanied by a few illustrations. It really adds something to the story.
Overall Thoughts
I enjoyed this book just a bit more because it was more exciting and the plot more interesting. If you enjoyed the previous novel than you should definitely read this one! It is completely appropriate for children 8 and older, and even adults will enjoy the story.
My rating: 4/5 stars!
Plot
In The Dragon Diary we follow our favorite characters, Daniel, Beatrice, and Dr. Drake, on another exciting adventure. Daniel and Beatrice are excited at the beginning of the book as they wait patiently for the egg (received in first book) to hatch. It eventually does and I was very interested in this part of the story because everything about taking care of a new dragon was explained.
Later on, the children learn that their parents were kidnapped while attempting to make their way back home. Also, many dragons are becoming ill and dying and it is up to the children to find out the cure in an old Dragon Diary.
The premise of this book was a lot more interesting than the previous one and much more entertaining. On their travels the children encounter many more dragons than we have previously seen and I enjoyed all the accompanying illustrations. I think this was the most exciting part of the book!
The pacing of the book is perfect and there are plenty of details relating to the places the characters go and the various dragons that they meet. I really enjoyed all the descriptions in this book and felt that they really added to the story. Also, there was a great mix of information, escaping, and battles, and none of it was over the top. There was always something going on that kept me engaged in the story. It never moved too fast or too slow.
Characters
The characters in this series are fairly well developed and interesting. Beatrice and Daniel try out new things and learn a lot throughout the book. I guess they were developed a bit throughout the story, but I would like to get to know them more personally.
My favorite characters in this book were all the different dragons that Beatrice and Daniel meet on their travels. All the dragons have distinct personalities and were all interesting. I think one of my favorite dragons in this book was the hydra because they could never seem to agree on anything and even though they shared a body, each head had its own name and personality. There are lots of other dragons that I enjoyed, especially the one that hatches out the egg, but I think you should discover them for yourself. It really is the best part of the book!
The villain in this book was one we have met previously for a short time, Alexandra Gorynytchka. She is back in this novel attempting to control all the dragons and the ones she can't she will just kill. I don't really like that the villain is just purely evil, but I suppose that is expected in a children's novel. At least we find out a bit about her as the story progresses.
Writing
The writing was just as good in this one as in the first book. I don't have any complains about it and love that the text is accompanied by a few illustrations. It really adds something to the story.
Overall Thoughts
I enjoyed this book just a bit more because it was more exciting and the plot more interesting. If you enjoyed the previous novel than you should definitely read this one! It is completely appropriate for children 8 and older, and even adults will enjoy the story.
My rating: 4/5 stars!
October 27, 2013
Another fantastic book in this series, The continuation of the story is immediate and the danger is much more potent in his story but still maintains the middle grade writing style and thus is not scary, just intense and involves the reader into the story.
The characters are interesting and we meet a few more in this book who although the characterisation is somewhat lacking, we can tell their personality on a basic level and see who is good / bad and so forth. One aspect I particularly enjoyed in this book was the exposure to many different types of dragons whom we had previously not encountered or whom we have heard about but only meet in this instalment.
The storyline is action-packed and intense with fight scenes and escapes taking up the majority of the adventure and this is good because the fighting is specific in who is where and it's not a vague, unrealistic chapter as some books can be.
As always Daniel and Beatrice and Dr Drake do their best under the circumstances and thus results in a fun book.
The illustrations in the story are just as immersive and enjoyable as the last book and the difference in the different dragons are plain to admire. Recommended for children aged 8 and up and anyone who loves dragons / fantasy / middle grade books.
The characters are interesting and we meet a few more in this book who although the characterisation is somewhat lacking, we can tell their personality on a basic level and see who is good / bad and so forth. One aspect I particularly enjoyed in this book was the exposure to many different types of dragons whom we had previously not encountered or whom we have heard about but only meet in this instalment.
The storyline is action-packed and intense with fight scenes and escapes taking up the majority of the adventure and this is good because the fighting is specific in who is where and it's not a vague, unrealistic chapter as some books can be.
As always Daniel and Beatrice and Dr Drake do their best under the circumstances and thus results in a fun book.
The illustrations in the story are just as immersive and enjoyable as the last book and the difference in the different dragons are plain to admire. Recommended for children aged 8 and up and anyone who loves dragons / fantasy / middle grade books.
December 2, 2011
After reading the first one, I was really looking forward to beginning the second. I was not disappointed. Volume 2 was just as adventurous as Volume 1. Daniel and Beatrice took me from England, to Paris, to Africa, to the Arctic, to Asia and finally back home. This adventure spans the eastern hemisphere. I really enjoyed continent hopping alongside the Cook children and their dragon friends. More riddles, more dragons, more friends and more enemies----Volume 2 is filled with even more fun!! I enjoyed this book, a nice read to kinda slow things down a bit and get back in touch with the imagination. =)
May 22, 2015
The second book is even more exciting than the 1st. Daniel and Beatrice are apprentice dragonologists who are awaiting the hatching of a dragon egg they are caring for. Just as the baby dragon is about to appear they learn that their parents have disappeared on there way home to be with them. Their mentor, Dr. Drake leaves them in charge of the egg and goes in search of the missing parents. The dragons are becoming mysteriously sick and Daniel and Beatrice need to find an ancient dragon diary in hopes that it contains a cure. I continue to recommend the Dragonology Chronicles to all dragon and adventure story lovers.
Read
September 28, 2011This is an awesome book! The second book in the Dragonology Chronicles, the children are eagerly awaiting the hatching of an European dragon chick entrusted to them by an injured mother dragon who could not take care of it. But almost immediately after something terrible reaches them. There is a dragon sickness claiming many casualties among the Nagas. Suddenly, the two siblings are flung into a dangerous world of evil, good, mystery, magic, and most importantly, Dragons! Not that they haven't had any experiences with these tings before.
October 24, 2014
I think I lived this book even more than the first. I think the plot was much more focused instead of the, take it as it happens, adventure of the last one.
In this story Dragons across the globe are being threatened by a deadly illness. Daniel and Beatrice's parents have gone missing and a creepy man is trying to kidnap their baby dragon, Torcher.
After every adult they trust is suddenly either arrested or missing it's up to Daniel and Beatrice to solve all of these problems on their own. With the help of some friendly dragons of course.
In this story Dragons across the globe are being threatened by a deadly illness. Daniel and Beatrice's parents have gone missing and a creepy man is trying to kidnap their baby dragon, Torcher.
After every adult they trust is suddenly either arrested or missing it's up to Daniel and Beatrice to solve all of these problems on their own. With the help of some friendly dragons of course.
February 10, 2012
Thur. Feb. 9, 2012
Book 2 of the Dragon Chronicles
This one only wets my appetite for more but i feel the pace of the book was bit fast and the story could've gotten a bit more time and detail.
I luv stuff like this but as it is for younger readers it does go by fast for me ;oP
xoDaleB.xo
Book 2 of the Dragon Chronicles
This one only wets my appetite for more but i feel the pace of the book was bit fast and the story could've gotten a bit more time and detail.
I luv stuff like this but as it is for younger readers it does go by fast for me ;oP
xoDaleB.xo
January 4, 2013
My 5-year-old loves magic and dragons, and although he is an advanced reader, I have a hard time finding books that keep his interest and stil have age-appropriate subject matter. The Dragonology series fit the bill perfectly! Intriguing, fun, and definitely exciting.
April 12, 2016
Tak toto bolo o dosť lepšie ako prvý diel. Už od začiatku sa tam niečo dialo, bolo to hrozne zaujímavé a autor vo mne konečne vyvolala zvedavosť, takže som prevracala strany rýchlosťou svetla. Teším sa na pokračovanie.
April 8, 2010
This one was suppose to come out in September but now the boys and I have to wait until December to read this one.
October 23, 2011
This was a good sequel to the first Dragonology book.
March 4, 2010
Better than the first one.
November 23, 2011
This one was...okay. It wasn't as entertaining as the first one. I don't know why. Just...the story wasn't very good, I suppose--it really lacked something, but I don't know what.
July 23, 2012
Great book can't wait to get the next one!!!!
July 8, 2013
the continuation of this cute series. it is an easy read and kids who like adventure and dragons (and adults, too) should give this series a look!
March 31, 2014
Great book, enticing and exiting!!! Good read.
Want to read
July 28, 2015AP
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews