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Erth Dragons #1
La horde
« Les ordres étaient clairs : interdiction de défier les écailleux, même de loin. Il suffisait de les observer avec un peu trop d’insistance pour qu’ils se mettent à cracher du feu. Nul n’avait le droit de s’approcher de leur territoire. »
Ren connaît la loi. Il connaît aussi la haine de sa tribu envers la Horde des dragons. Mais le goût de l’aventure palpite dans ses veines, et il est trop fasciné par ces majestueuses créatures pour obéir.
Quelle sensation éprouve-t-on lorsqu’on passe la main sur un dos couvert d’écailles ? Ou lorsqu’on chevauche une bête ailée ? Abandonnant toute prudence, Ren part chercher des réponses…
Ren ne peut pas retourner dans son village, pas avec Gariffred. D’autant que sa mère, qui le croit mort, a décidé d’éliminer les dragons jusqu’au dernier. Heureusement, sa route va croiser celle de Gabrial, un dragon bleu tenu pour responsable de la mort de Grystina, et qui deviendra pour Ren et Gariffred le plus improbable des alliés.
Ren connaît la loi. Il connaît aussi la haine de sa tribu envers la Horde des dragons. Mais le goût de l’aventure palpite dans ses veines, et il est trop fasciné par ces majestueuses créatures pour obéir.
Quelle sensation éprouve-t-on lorsqu’on passe la main sur un dos couvert d’écailles ? Ou lorsqu’on chevauche une bête ailée ? Abandonnant toute prudence, Ren part chercher des réponses…
Ren ne peut pas retourner dans son village, pas avec Gariffred. D’autant que sa mère, qui le croit mort, a décidé d’éliminer les dragons jusqu’au dernier. Heureusement, sa route va croiser celle de Gabrial, un dragon bleu tenu pour responsable de la mort de Grystina, et qui deviendra pour Ren et Gariffred le plus improbable des alliés.
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2015
134 people are currently reading
2484 people want to read
About the author
Chris d'Lacey
87 books1,111 followersHe was born in Valetta, Malta, but as a child moved first to Leicester and then to Bolton. After gaining a degree in biology from the University of York, he returned to Leicester and got a job at the University of Leicester in their Pre-Clinical Sciences department.
Originally his writing was confined to songs and he didn't turn to fiction until he was 32. His first piece of work was a 250,000 word story about polar bears for his wife, Jay, to accompany a stuffed polar bear he had bought her as a Christmas present.
He didn't write another story for seven years, until he heard about a competition to write a story for young children with a prize of £2,000. The resulting book, A Hole at the Pole, also about polar bears, didn't win - but he sent it off to a publisher, who accepted it.
His first children's novel, Fly, Cherokee, Fly, was published in 1998 and subsequently shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. It was inspired by the time he found an injured pigeon in Victoria Park and nursed it back to health at home. It became a family pet and lived for 14 years in a birdbox attached to the back of the house. All of its offspring were given the names of different Native American tribes, which is where the title of the book comes from.)
He has since written over twenty children's books, including Pawnee Warrior (a sequel to Fly, Cherokee, Fly), a collaborative novel with fellow children's author Linda Newbery (From E To You), and the best-selling, award-winning The Last Dragon Chronicles. His books often contain environmental themes, and events based on things that have happened to him.
In July 2002 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Leicester for his contributions to children's literature. Although writing is now his main source of income, he still works at the university as the operator of the confocal microscope.
His favourite children's books are the Paddington Bear series and The Hobbit, and his favourite children's authors are Allan Ahlberg and Roald Dahl. Chris D'Lacey has written many books like Ice Fire and Fire Star, but his most famous book was Dark Fire, the fifth book in The Last Dragon Chronicles.
Originally his writing was confined to songs and he didn't turn to fiction until he was 32. His first piece of work was a 250,000 word story about polar bears for his wife, Jay, to accompany a stuffed polar bear he had bought her as a Christmas present.
He didn't write another story for seven years, until he heard about a competition to write a story for young children with a prize of £2,000. The resulting book, A Hole at the Pole, also about polar bears, didn't win - but he sent it off to a publisher, who accepted it.
His first children's novel, Fly, Cherokee, Fly, was published in 1998 and subsequently shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. It was inspired by the time he found an injured pigeon in Victoria Park and nursed it back to health at home. It became a family pet and lived for 14 years in a birdbox attached to the back of the house. All of its offspring were given the names of different Native American tribes, which is where the title of the book comes from.)
He has since written over twenty children's books, including Pawnee Warrior (a sequel to Fly, Cherokee, Fly), a collaborative novel with fellow children's author Linda Newbery (From E To You), and the best-selling, award-winning The Last Dragon Chronicles. His books often contain environmental themes, and events based on things that have happened to him.
In July 2002 he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Leicester for his contributions to children's literature. Although writing is now his main source of income, he still works at the university as the operator of the confocal microscope.
His favourite children's books are the Paddington Bear series and The Hobbit, and his favourite children's authors are Allan Ahlberg and Roald Dahl. Chris D'Lacey has written many books like Ice Fire and Fire Star, but his most famous book was Dark Fire, the fifth book in The Last Dragon Chronicles.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 140 reviews
May 12, 2017
You know you are in trouble when the first pages of a book have to list all the characters and terms to help you keep things sorted. This is a middle grade book and I just don't see them sticking with something they have to constantly turn to the front to understand who is who and what is going on. There is a good story here (though a familiar one): dragons come to earth, take over human land, evil dragon plotting evil things, and a human boy caught between two worlds. But with little character development, rushed plots and constantly killing off characters, it is not a series I would recommend or plan to continue to read.
Want to read
October 16, 2015I can't wait to read this! I read Chris d'Lacey's Last Dragon Chronicles series when I was 12, and loved them! So pumped!
April 29, 2018
I picked up this book mainly because of the cool dragon on the cover. I also liked the premise of a teenaged dragon and a human kid having to work together.
Then I started reading, and ... that's not actually what happens at all. The story seems to forget about the young characters entirely. Instead, we follow around the adult dragons, listening in on their squabbles and power plays. I don't see how any kid would enjoy this. Like Pern before it, you have talking, singing, teleporting, time-traveling dragons. What is the book primarily about? Politics. Politics between dragon factions, politics between human factions, politics between humans and dragons. Endless debates. Dragons digging their claws into the rock and shooting out waves of flame.
Also, why do all dragons have to have whirling jewel eyes? Can we just never get away from Pern? Come on, man. It gets old.
Aside from the beginning and the very end, the human kid has no point-of-view scenes. He's just a pawn the dragons literally toss around. The baby drake has no point of view scenes, period. The teen dragon is worried about adult things, like losing his honor and courting a female. Not relatable for the target audience, very much.
I mean, I enjoyed this book because I'm an adult. But I think my kids would be bored stupid by this book.
Then I started reading, and ... that's not actually what happens at all. The story seems to forget about the young characters entirely. Instead, we follow around the adult dragons, listening in on their squabbles and power plays. I don't see how any kid would enjoy this. Like Pern before it, you have talking, singing, teleporting, time-traveling dragons. What is the book primarily about? Politics. Politics between dragon factions, politics between human factions, politics between humans and dragons. Endless debates. Dragons digging their claws into the rock and shooting out waves of flame.
Also, why do all dragons have to have whirling jewel eyes? Can we just never get away from Pern? Come on, man. It gets old.
Aside from the beginning and the very end, the human kid has no point-of-view scenes. He's just a pawn the dragons literally toss around. The baby drake has no point of view scenes, period. The teen dragon is worried about adult things, like losing his honor and courting a female. Not relatable for the target audience, very much.
I mean, I enjoyed this book because I'm an adult. But I think my kids would be bored stupid by this book.
May 18, 2017
It's about this dragon named Gabriel who is still young and still has his blue scales.He tries to find his father.What I like about this book is that there's an earth dragon.What I don't like about this book is that there's only one little young dragon when there should be more.What I like about this book is that he's exploring to find his father.
May 18, 2018
Years ago, a Wearle of dragons from the planet Ki:mera vanished. They had been traveling the universe to spread the glory of the god Godith, when they reached a planet where everything tingled with life and whispered the name Erth. Their leader messaged back home to Ki:mera to announce their discovery, but then they were never heard from again. Years later, another Wearle set out to solve the mystery of the fate of the original group. Among this second group was Gabrial, a young dragon desperate to prove himself as a true and proud member of the Wearle. However, while he was fighting another dragon over being the mating partner of one of the Wearle’s three females, a volcanic eruption occurs, resulting in an epic tragedy. Everyone blamed Gabrial for horrible event. Meanwhile, across a scorched line running from sea to sea, created by the dragons to separate their land from that of the Hom or humans, lived a Hom child named Ren. Ren was fascinated by the dragons and, despite warnings from dragon fearing elders, could not stay away. Both of these younglings, Gabrial and Ren, were outcasts in their societies, yet they were the first to see a greater threat to the existence of both species. Thus begins a quest to unite their respective species in a larger war in a desperate bid for survival. I gave this fantasy book five stars because it is very well written. Dragon books are common in literature, but D’Lacey spins this mythological tale in a way that is completely engaging and unique based on its creativity. Some of the terms the Hom and the dragons use are slightly difficult to understand with context clues, so the glossary at the end of the book is very useful. Overall, this is an amazing book with lots of adventure and I recommend it for any age, but especially for those with a reading level of 4th grade and above.
Reviewed By: Alex F., age 15, Greater Los Angeles Area Mensa
Reviewed By: Alex F., age 15, Greater Los Angeles Area Mensa
June 26, 2016
Rating: 4/5 Wearles
I remember that the day I started reading this I thought the first chapter was good and that the rest of the book was terrible. I got up to about chapter four, and then put this book down and dreaded reading it again. A few months later, I picked this up wearily and started reading it again from the beginning.
Either back then I didn't know what a good book was, or I was just really whiney.
The author knows his dragons. The dragon scenes are good. But there's also a really compelling story about the human side of things. The writing is great, and, while it isn't incredibly detailed, it easily puts you in the scene. The story actually focuses more on the human character of Ren rather than the dragons. The ending was satisfying and unexpected (at least for me, anyway), and the book didn't feel like it dragged on at times.
My only issues with this book were that you sometimes lost track of who was who because all dragons start with the letter G and that the death of a certain character felt a little bit forced and unnatural.
I think that The Wearle is definitely worth giving a go if you're looking for a fantasy that isn't told in tongues or if you're just looking for a good book with dragons.
Recommended: Yes
I remember that the day I started reading this I thought the first chapter was good and that the rest of the book was terrible. I got up to about chapter four, and then put this book down and dreaded reading it again. A few months later, I picked this up wearily and started reading it again from the beginning.
Either back then I didn't know what a good book was, or I was just really whiney.
The author knows his dragons. The dragon scenes are good. But there's also a really compelling story about the human side of things. The writing is great, and, while it isn't incredibly detailed, it easily puts you in the scene. The story actually focuses more on the human character of Ren rather than the dragons. The ending was satisfying and unexpected (at least for me, anyway), and the book didn't feel like it dragged on at times.
My only issues with this book were that you sometimes lost track of who was who because all dragons start with the letter G and that the death of a certain character felt a little bit forced and unnatural.
I think that The Wearle is definitely worth giving a go if you're looking for a fantasy that isn't told in tongues or if you're just looking for a good book with dragons.
Recommended: Yes
April 9, 2024
Interesting take, and fairly done for its audience target.
It would be nice to see such lore and world building developed more than they can be here, the same goes for characters that, as they were, I could not truly root for, and the plot which felt rushed by the end.
This being said it is a decent story with some twists, if I except some little things (like pov going from a character to narrator in a way thay lets think the character already knows something they should not, until I got it).
My personal feeling would be a 3/5 but it is in part due to target mismatch I was aware of, so it would be unfair to give that rating.
It would be nice to see such lore and world building developed more than they can be here, the same goes for characters that, as they were, I could not truly root for, and the plot which felt rushed by the end.
This being said it is a decent story with some twists, if I except some little things (like pov going from a character to narrator in a way thay lets think the character already knows something they should not, until I got it).
My personal feeling would be a 3/5 but it is in part due to target mismatch I was aware of, so it would be unfair to give that rating.
September 28, 2024
To quote one of the blurbs on the inside flap"Intruiging, Scary, Exciting, serious and magical" - James, 11 - I couldn't have said it better myself. This is just a fun middle grade book about dragons with some very serious moments.
I will say I was expecting this to be more of a "boy and his dragon" type story since the comparison's to Eragon are all over the book, however I would say its more of a prequel to that story- and that the story itself reads much more as a mix of the How to train your dragon book & movie franchises. I also wasn't aware this (might) be related to another Series by the author, most of this made perfect sense and was fine, there were some odd "weighted moments" where I was wondering if a certain location or name was supposed to mean something just because it was written in a way that felt like it should be familiar when it wasn't - but that might also just be a hindsight thing. Excited to read more from this series (and the other series).
I will say I was expecting this to be more of a "boy and his dragon" type story since the comparison's to Eragon are all over the book, however I would say its more of a prequel to that story- and that the story itself reads much more as a mix of the How to train your dragon book & movie franchises. I also wasn't aware this (might) be related to another Series by the author, most of this made perfect sense and was fine, there were some odd "weighted moments" where I was wondering if a certain location or name was supposed to mean something just because it was written in a way that felt like it should be familiar when it wasn't - but that might also just be a hindsight thing. Excited to read more from this series (and the other series).
June 22, 2024
This book healed my inner child.
January 5, 2019
Another triumph from Chris D’Lacy. This is an excellent new fantasy series for young readers.
May 28, 2023
This was such a grind to read. I wouldn't leave it unfinished. I pushed myself through. The only books you truly own are the ones that you've read, and I wanted to own this book.
It was very full of good moments! It was also very full of bad moments. It kept raising my expectations and then letting me down. I can't hope to describe everything that let me down in this book. It has intriguing world building, but it treats its dragons grotesquely, and their society seems unhealthy in more than one sense. I often found myself gritting my teeth at yet another gross description. The ultimate sin though was that I hated the characters too much. There were a very few characters to root for, half of whom , and everyone else was wretched. There wasn't a sense of people trying their best. The sense was instead that the cast was made of awful characters suffering in the societies they were making awful.
It took me far longer to finish this book than it should've. I felt like this book was attacking my love of reading! Finally, despite how upsetting it was, I finished it. It actually finished quite strong. The ending was the best part.
It was very full of good moments! It was also very full of bad moments. It kept raising my expectations and then letting me down. I can't hope to describe everything that let me down in this book. It has intriguing world building, but it treats its dragons grotesquely, and their society seems unhealthy in more than one sense. I often found myself gritting my teeth at yet another gross description. The ultimate sin though was that I hated the characters too much. There were a very few characters to root for, half of whom , and everyone else was wretched. There wasn't a sense of people trying their best. The sense was instead that the cast was made of awful characters suffering in the societies they were making awful.
It took me far longer to finish this book than it should've. I felt like this book was attacking my love of reading! Finally, despite how upsetting it was, I finished it. It actually finished quite strong. The ending was the best part.
Read
April 13, 2024Wow, this book was a bit of a journey. it's set in a time I have never read about... a time of cavemen, wildness, and dragons. I loved the world and the religious aspects to this so much. Chris made a story that worked against so many tropes I was dreading. This was slow at times but I enjoyed it as a whole and I plan to continue if possible.
Read
February 4, 2017This book was great until humans were in it. Then I just could not get into it anymore. :/
June 11, 2021
This was a really good book! And, I don’t know why, but I can’t help but read into the fact that we figured out at the end that Gabriel’s father was a mapper.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2025
At first, I thought this book was gonna be a big chore, since part one was really boring, but once it got to Ren's point of view, the story only escalated. I really liked how quickly the points of view could switch from one character to the next; it kinda reminded me of William Joyce's writing, which was very pleasant.
I await the time when I read the sequel, Dark Wyng!
I await the time when I read the sequel, Dark Wyng!
April 30, 2022
I liked the idea of this book, but it never really caught my attention. Overall I think it was a good book, just not for me.
December 28, 2022
This was great! It definitely kept me hooked.
June 16, 2020
I threw myself at D'Lacey's The Wearle because I'm binging Dragons literature at the moment, and though I could only bring myself to give this book three stars, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and am already half-way through the second book.
The Wearle brought with it the interesting story of both a young blue dragon and a young tribal boy. Though I struggled through the first third of the book, once I got to the half-way mark I couldn't stop! Some of the writing, though intentional as it is, made it hard to read and somewhat difficult to relate to. The Kaal tribe, I understood, were not as progressive as the dragons and their speech reflected that. But needing both a huge character list at the beginning of the book and a long glossary at the end made it difficult to stay immersed in the story.
When you look at the story, though, you can really see a gem. Mystery, adventure, baby dragons!? I fell in love. Gabrial, the blue dragon, quickly became a favourite dragon of mine being as relatable in his hot-headed thinking and stubborn insistence to his own innocence that any child can relate to. Even Ren, the tribal boy, was a riot to read about with his protectiveness over the baby dragon he manages to save and his insistence that dragons and men should attempt peace.
Though marketed as a book for a younger audience, this book is better understood by those a bit older. If you're looking for a dragon/fantasy novel that's not too long or full of romance, I'd definitely reccommend this.
The Wearle brought with it the interesting story of both a young blue dragon and a young tribal boy. Though I struggled through the first third of the book, once I got to the half-way mark I couldn't stop! Some of the writing, though intentional as it is, made it hard to read and somewhat difficult to relate to. The Kaal tribe, I understood, were not as progressive as the dragons and their speech reflected that. But needing both a huge character list at the beginning of the book and a long glossary at the end made it difficult to stay immersed in the story.
When you look at the story, though, you can really see a gem. Mystery, adventure, baby dragons!? I fell in love. Gabrial, the blue dragon, quickly became a favourite dragon of mine being as relatable in his hot-headed thinking and stubborn insistence to his own innocence that any child can relate to. Even Ren, the tribal boy, was a riot to read about with his protectiveness over the baby dragon he manages to save and his insistence that dragons and men should attempt peace.
Though marketed as a book for a younger audience, this book is better understood by those a bit older. If you're looking for a dragon/fantasy novel that's not too long or full of romance, I'd definitely reccommend this.
January 20, 2019
I really don't know how to put this. I REALLY enjoyed the plot, but the characters were kind of flat and the first bit was kind of a doozy to get through (the book starts with Dragon Bible Genesis, I kid you not). Maybe if it was aimed at a slightly older audience...? Give it a chance if you like mysteries and overlapping stories, but take it with a grain of salt. Also it will help a lot of if you already have familiarity with The Last Dragon Chronicles.
May 9, 2017
I LOVED this book, although a few things didn't make sense. I can't wait to read the next book(If the is one, but its ending says there is probably a next book).
February 2, 2022
Chris D'Lacey is a very nostalgic author for myself considering my adoration for the phenomenal series of 'The Last Dragon Chronicles', so to enter a familiar world that is somewhat distant from that of these fond character memories was truly enchanting.
.
The Wearle leads us into a land of human and dragon, one where the dragons are dominant of the land and humans live in the recesses in communities. The Wearle is a place of dragon dwelling and we are following the story of Gabrial; a young, blue dragon who witnesses the murder of a dragon princess and one of her offspring. But upon realising such a heartbreaking tragedy, he is accused of her death from his battle with another dragon to enchant the heart of another princess. After conjuring an i:mage, one to distract the opposing dragon in combat, he is wrongly accused of the crime and punished by being stripped of his namesake; becoming Abrial and sent to work with minerals. We are journeyed through a multitude of perspectives afterwards to uncover the mysteries of what happened to the princess, one that will reveal many secrets of the Wearle and the some dragons' dishonest hearts.
.
For a younger teen book, this narrative is a compelling tale that delivers deception, courage, bravery and relationship values that can transverse into adult beliefs and values. There is so much joy in reading younger audience books for their attention to fully realising characters with growth, depth and adoration. From Gabrial to Gretel and the young human Ren, there is a constant theme of bravery and courage that is upheld throughout their adventures and travels. And Chris D'Lacey really weaves world lore and land stories throughout to encompass a great introductory novel to what I can only imagine is a phenomenal series. I have the second book ready and waiting and will be grabbing a copy of the final installment to complete this trilogy!
.
The Wearle leads us into a land of human and dragon, one where the dragons are dominant of the land and humans live in the recesses in communities. The Wearle is a place of dragon dwelling and we are following the story of Gabrial; a young, blue dragon who witnesses the murder of a dragon princess and one of her offspring. But upon realising such a heartbreaking tragedy, he is accused of her death from his battle with another dragon to enchant the heart of another princess. After conjuring an i:mage, one to distract the opposing dragon in combat, he is wrongly accused of the crime and punished by being stripped of his namesake; becoming Abrial and sent to work with minerals. We are journeyed through a multitude of perspectives afterwards to uncover the mysteries of what happened to the princess, one that will reveal many secrets of the Wearle and the some dragons' dishonest hearts.
.
For a younger teen book, this narrative is a compelling tale that delivers deception, courage, bravery and relationship values that can transverse into adult beliefs and values. There is so much joy in reading younger audience books for their attention to fully realising characters with growth, depth and adoration. From Gabrial to Gretel and the young human Ren, there is a constant theme of bravery and courage that is upheld throughout their adventures and travels. And Chris D'Lacey really weaves world lore and land stories throughout to encompass a great introductory novel to what I can only imagine is a phenomenal series. I have the second book ready and waiting and will be grabbing a copy of the final installment to complete this trilogy!
March 5, 2025
4.5 stars. It wasn't as good as Darkstalker, but I liked it more then Rise of the Dragon Moon.
So, the good things of this book: A good love story, Grendel and Gabrial. A VERY twisty plot. I never would have expected the unremarkable Elder Givnay would have been the one to i:mage a rockslide and kill Grystina just because of something her father did.
The iffy parts of this book: It was VERY confusing; Whenever it it was a new part, I thought it meant it was that person's point of view, but it was just about the character.
Also, the humans (the Hom), I feel where very unnecessary except for Ren, because I'm glad Garrifred survived. Another thing wrong with this book: VARL REDNOSE. awful character.
Final Thoughts: I didn't enjoy how Graymere and G'vard died; I didn't particularity like either character (Especially because Graymere was getting in Gabrial's destiny to live with Grendel), but still, there was a lot of unnecessary pain and death. I think Givnay could've grown into a great villan.
I DO NOT RECOMEND THIS BOOK FOR AGES 10 AND YOUNGER,AS IT IS VERY VIOLENT.
excited for the next book!
So, the good things of this book: A good love story, Grendel and Gabrial. A VERY twisty plot. I never would have expected the unremarkable Elder Givnay would have been the one to i:mage a rockslide and kill Grystina just because of something her father did.
The iffy parts of this book: It was VERY confusing; Whenever it it was a new part, I thought it meant it was that person's point of view, but it was just about the character.
Also, the humans (the Hom), I feel where very unnecessary except for Ren, because I'm glad Garrifred survived. Another thing wrong with this book: VARL REDNOSE. awful character.
Final Thoughts: I didn't enjoy how Graymere and G'vard died; I didn't particularity like either character (Especially because Graymere was getting in Gabrial's destiny to live with Grendel), but still, there was a lot of unnecessary pain and death. I think Givnay could've grown into a great villan.
I DO NOT RECOMEND THIS BOOK FOR AGES 10 AND YOUNGER,AS IT IS VERY VIOLENT.
excited for the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2018
Read for: motherfucking dragons, fantasy politics, cool characters, super detailed world building
I remember back in the day when the scholastic book fair showed up, and one of many books I conned my mother to get me was Chris D’lacey’s Icefire. Which was actually a sequel but whatever. D’lacey’s Last Dragon Chronicles landed with me as good, but ultimately... bizarre series, and that it wasn’t the best written. But like I said, that was years ago, and more than I care to think about.
But anyways, I was in B&N’s kid’s corner, as I sometimes like to check in to for that little piece of nostalgia and wonder... and there was a brand new series from an author that stuck with me.
The Erth Dragons kicks off with a incredible bang of a plot full of twists and turns, and a lot of names and new terminology, but holy shit it works. It works so well. This series, set in the same world it seems as his first, is damn good. I can’t shut up about it and I’m dying for the sequel (which is the blurb that made me want to read this series to begin with!)
All I’m going to say is that a kid imprints with a baby dragon and if that isn’t the coolest shit, get the fuck out of my face.
I’m not 100% sure how this is only “middle-school” level, but this is definitely worth the read for any reader. For me, this is sometimes I’m going to revisit in the future.
I remember back in the day when the scholastic book fair showed up, and one of many books I conned my mother to get me was Chris D’lacey’s Icefire. Which was actually a sequel but whatever. D’lacey’s Last Dragon Chronicles landed with me as good, but ultimately... bizarre series, and that it wasn’t the best written. But like I said, that was years ago, and more than I care to think about.
But anyways, I was in B&N’s kid’s corner, as I sometimes like to check in to for that little piece of nostalgia and wonder... and there was a brand new series from an author that stuck with me.
The Erth Dragons kicks off with a incredible bang of a plot full of twists and turns, and a lot of names and new terminology, but holy shit it works. It works so well. This series, set in the same world it seems as his first, is damn good. I can’t shut up about it and I’m dying for the sequel (which is the blurb that made me want to read this series to begin with!)
All I’m going to say is that a kid imprints with a baby dragon and if that isn’t the coolest shit, get the fuck out of my face.
I’m not 100% sure how this is only “middle-school” level, but this is definitely worth the read for any reader. For me, this is sometimes I’m going to revisit in the future.
July 16, 2019
Reader thoughts: I really liked parts of this book, but other parts turned me away.
First, the good: Neat society of dragons with luminescent scales and cultural quirks with their three hearts (one for fear, one for love, and one for spirit), conflict between dragons and humans with a young boy and young drake caught in the middle, mystery surrounding fluorescent rocks and some of the more powerful dragons, courage, and a neat piecing together of scenes between pov characters.
Next, the bad: Too many characters, and dragons had too many powers (imaging, time travel, space travel, illusions, fire, poison, telekinesis, telepathy, memory transfer, consciousness transfer, etc.), too violent and killed too many characters, and it wasn't really a happy ending.
Seriously, there was too much death. I like happy. This book put me in a bad mood.
Writer thoughts: Sometimes, there are ideas that are overused (called cliches or tropes), and authors have to come up with new ways to represent them. In this book, d'Lacey took a familiar idea of dragons and merged it with something like space explorers (or interdimentionalists? I'm not sure how they actually got to this planet), and humans were the native aliens on the planet Erth. This puts dragons in a new light and makes ideas fresh.
First, the good: Neat society of dragons with luminescent scales and cultural quirks with their three hearts (one for fear, one for love, and one for spirit), conflict between dragons and humans with a young boy and young drake caught in the middle, mystery surrounding fluorescent rocks and some of the more powerful dragons, courage, and a neat piecing together of scenes between pov characters.
Next, the bad: Too many characters, and dragons had too many powers (imaging, time travel, space travel, illusions, fire, poison, telekinesis, telepathy, memory transfer, consciousness transfer, etc.), too violent and killed too many characters, and it wasn't really a happy ending.
Seriously, there was too much death. I like happy. This book put me in a bad mood.
Writer thoughts: Sometimes, there are ideas that are overused (called cliches or tropes), and authors have to come up with new ways to represent them. In this book, d'Lacey took a familiar idea of dragons and merged it with something like space explorers (or interdimentionalists? I'm not sure how they actually got to this planet), and humans were the native aliens on the planet Erth. This puts dragons in a new light and makes ideas fresh.
January 15, 2023
I picked this up because my grandson (14) had lent it to his cousin (8.5) who was staying with us over Christmas, with an enthusiastic recommendation. She wasn't remotely interested (I don't think the dragons were an issue, but perhaps just a little daunting in terms of novel length, although I think she could have managed it), and I didn't want it to go back to him unread and uncommented upon. I was prepared to be underwhelmed, and so was pleasantly surprised to be as engaged as I was. Enough so that I will read the next one – even under the pretext of giving it to my grandson for his birthday and then borrowing it. He was drawn to the development of two narratives, that of the dragons and of the humans, and the way in which they interacted. I will be interested to see how the displacement narrative unfolds. Perspective is important to the plot as well as the narrative arc. Quite what meaning will be open to construction through these perspectives is yet to be seen. I am also hopeful that the characters will become more three dimensional – there is promise here, but much that needs to be realised. To want to read this as an adult you will need to be interested in both fiction for youth and fantasy.
May 16, 2024
I wasn’t sure about this one at first, but as I slowly started to get used to the dragon names (they all start with “gr,” so you can see how it could be confusing), l was pleasantly surprised by the writing and the world d‘Lacey built.
There are two types of religion in this book. The dragons (or Wearles) are from the world Chimera and believe it was brought into existence by an all powerful female dragon. There is a bit of spirituality and superstition attached to their religion. For example, when a dragon dies, it’s life force is collected into a single tear it sheds when it dies which then releases the life force back to its maker. The humans have a simpler religion and it is mainly superstitions and the reliance on an elder who gets taken into “spiritual realms” in order to make decisions for the clans. It is very vaguely described and many of the characters don’t believe in it.
Because I’m suggesting this for an older age, I don’t see a problem recommending this title. They are obviously two made up religions that have no bearing on reality. However, parents may want to have a conversation with their reader to make sure the maturity level is there.
Found in L4M OT Volume 116.
There are two types of religion in this book. The dragons (or Wearles) are from the world Chimera and believe it was brought into existence by an all powerful female dragon. There is a bit of spirituality and superstition attached to their religion. For example, when a dragon dies, it’s life force is collected into a single tear it sheds when it dies which then releases the life force back to its maker. The humans have a simpler religion and it is mainly superstitions and the reliance on an elder who gets taken into “spiritual realms” in order to make decisions for the clans. It is very vaguely described and many of the characters don’t believe in it.
Because I’m suggesting this for an older age, I don’t see a problem recommending this title. They are obviously two made up religions that have no bearing on reality. However, parents may want to have a conversation with their reader to make sure the maturity level is there.
Found in L4M OT Volume 116.
February 23, 2025
Categorised as middle grade, this novel had the appropriate language, making it an easy ready but included death, violence, maiming, violence towards children and substance abuse resulting in violence.
With that said, it was a great fantasy read (for mature readers) with a focus on dragons, their community and their existence that differs from the usual dragons novels I have read.
When a collection of dragons called a Werle arrive on Erth to settle and discover the fate of a previous Werle, Gabrial is determined to prove himself to his elders. A freak accident strops him of that chance and sends him into isolation. At the same time, young Ren a human or Hom boy enamoured by the dragons, sneaks into their territory in the hopes of brokering peace. Tragedy follows and Ren finds himself guardian to a young orphaned dragon.
Both young males must bridge the gap between species to make peace and root out the evil that has joined them amongst the Werle.
Interesting world building and action, lower rating for its marketing and target audience. Not something I would share with an unsuspecting middle grader.
With that said, it was a great fantasy read (for mature readers) with a focus on dragons, their community and their existence that differs from the usual dragons novels I have read.
When a collection of dragons called a Werle arrive on Erth to settle and discover the fate of a previous Werle, Gabrial is determined to prove himself to his elders. A freak accident strops him of that chance and sends him into isolation. At the same time, young Ren a human or Hom boy enamoured by the dragons, sneaks into their territory in the hopes of brokering peace. Tragedy follows and Ren finds himself guardian to a young orphaned dragon.
Both young males must bridge the gap between species to make peace and root out the evil that has joined them amongst the Werle.
Interesting world building and action, lower rating for its marketing and target audience. Not something I would share with an unsuspecting middle grader.
June 23, 2018
I gave Chris d'Lacey's first dragon series a try, but had to quit by book 3 as the plots got very convoluted and even I, as an adult, had trouble following them. I have no idea how kids were supposed to absorb them. But I remembered the author's strong writing style and picked up this book, his second dragon series, and gave it a try.
I was very impressed with the world building and the rich dragon culture. We don't even meet any human characters for a while, as we focus on how the dragons live. I find the character motivations and plot points much more accessible than in the first series.
The only bit I found odd was the glossary of terminology in the back of the book, which includes dragon abilities and explanations that at no time came up in the book itself. I feel like, if an author is going to include things about his created race, they should be naturally explored in the text itself and not awkwardly shoved into a glossary in the back of the book.
Other than that, I greatly enjoyed this and will definitely pick up the next book in the series soon.
I was very impressed with the world building and the rich dragon culture. We don't even meet any human characters for a while, as we focus on how the dragons live. I find the character motivations and plot points much more accessible than in the first series.
The only bit I found odd was the glossary of terminology in the back of the book, which includes dragon abilities and explanations that at no time came up in the book itself. I feel like, if an author is going to include things about his created race, they should be naturally explored in the text itself and not awkwardly shoved into a glossary in the back of the book.
Other than that, I greatly enjoyed this and will definitely pick up the next book in the series soon.
December 31, 2020
I read this book mostly because I wanted to take a break before reading some other books, and I didn't expect it to be that good. It was. It was really good. The plot was awesome, the dragons were awesome, the humans (or Hom) were awesome, everything was awesome! Well, besides some of the characters' decision making skills. Those weren't too good. Gabriel was very, very impulsive. I was honestly surprised that he didn't get sent back to Ki:mera. Ren was pretty cool, the whole thing with Grystina was a bit out there, but it was still semi-believable. I think i:maging needed to be explained a bit more, because it took me a while to figure it out. Actually, all the dragon powers needed to be explained a bit more. So did their hierarchy, because it took me a while to figure out the difference between De:allus dragons and normal dragons. Other than that, everything was good, and I'm really glad I found this series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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