Dragon Bones

The Unwanteds Quests #2

by Lisa McMann

Ten years after Alex and Aaron Stowe brought peace to Quill and Artimé, their younger twin sisters journey beyond Artimé in the second novel in the New York Times bestselling sequel series to The Unwanteds, which Kirkus Reviews called “ The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter.”

The Artiméans have suffered some devastating blows.

After years of peace, the recent daring adventure of twins Thisbe and Fifer Stowe have brought about dire consequences. Thisbe has been captured, Fifer is injured, and Sky is lost at sea. The twins’ older brother Alex, head mage of Artimé, is paralyzed with fear of losing anyone else he loves. Fifer must convince him to finally trust her to help in the battle ahead now that their true enemy has been revealed.

Meanwhile Thisbe is trapped underground in the catacombs, where the ancient dragon rulers are buried. Along with fellow prisoners, Thisbe’s job is to transport dragon bones from her crypt to the extracting room, where others extract the magical properties dormant in the bones. When it appears no one is coming back to rescue her, Thisbe must train in secret, trying to learn how to control her fiery magic and use it to escape. As her situation becomes more grave, she might even have to align herself with the ultimate evil.

Unfortunately it’s a risk she has to take.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Dragons, Adventure, Fiction, Young Adult, Magic

416 pages, Hardcover

First published February 6, 2018

About the author

Lisa McMann lives and writes in the Phoenix area. Her newest middle grade fantasy series is called The Forgotten Five. Book one, Map of Flames, was an instant NYT bestseller. It's about five supernatural kids, raised in a deserted hideout, who enter civilization for the first time to search for a hidden stash left behind by their missing, criminal parents.

Book two, The Invisible Spy, is on sale now! Book three, Rebel Undercover, is coming summer 2023, and book 4 will be out in spring of 2024.

Also out now: CLARICE THE BRAVE. It's a story of hope against all odds, about sibling mice who get separated in a mutiny and vow to find one another again.

Lisa's other books include the NYT bestselling THE UNWANTEDS and UNWANTEDS QUESTS series, the GOING WILD trilogy, the YA paranormal WAKE trilogy, the VISIONS trilogy, CRYER'S CROSS, DEAD TO YOU, and INFINITY RING: The Trap Door.

See what's new and where Lisa will be at her
LinkTree.
You can find more info at Lisa'a website, lisamcmann.com, interact with her on Facebook or Twitter, or ask questions on her Instagram.

Reviews

[Andrew Basurto · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ending hit me good, it was expected but sudden.

[raya · Rating 1 out of 5]

why alex????????????????????

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Edelweiss and Aladdin for the arc, but wow do I regret reading this now. I am devastated, and now I'm looking at probably a year and a half wait for book 3. After something of a shaky start to the new series in Dragon Captives, book 2 took off at a run that put it on par with the best books from the original series. Lisa McMann pulls NO punches, and I love her for it even as I despise her for it.

[Annabella Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wasn’t the biggest fan of this installment. I have been reading this series since the beginning. It’s been seven years of reading. I have obviously gone from a child to a much more mature reader. I can go back and read the first book and be completely captivated with the story because it’s one of those books that feels like Harry Potter esq and all ages could read it. With this I struggled because the dialogue was terrible, and the story was a little to dumbed down. While the two main girls could have been written in a way that made them look immature, the author wrote almost every character that way making even the adults look childish. We have characters that we know and love who have been reduced to having no personality simply because they are just there to appease fans and have no subplots to them. They always seem to be around to offer a generic sentence once or twice throughout the story. However my biggest issue with this book is how the author is reusing and recycling her previous plot lines. What she is essentially doing is changing some details, adding in some subplots wrapping it up and calling it a book. The ending especially. Her cliff hanger wasn’t at all remarkable and if anything probably turned long time fans off of purchasing the next. The author isn’t selling us a new story, so fans who have made us this far are looking for our beloved character...if you take that away, what’s left?

[Karly · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHy did it have to end like that

[Karissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really wish I could give it 4.5 stars. It was way better than the first one, but it was still kinda meh.
I really liked certain parts of it, but I did get slightly bored at times.
The plot twist at the end, though, that was chefs kiss.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG WHAT JUST HAPPENED I CAN'T FREACKING BELIEVE IT!! The thrilling journey continues. Thisbe is in the catacombs being slave for the Revinir WHO IS QUEEN EAGALA WTF. Simber and crew has brought Fifer home and is unconscious, Alex is HEARTBROKEN from all the events Thisbe gone, Sky lost and Fifer almost dead!! HOW MUCH MORE MUST HE ENDURE. IT COMPLETELY SHATTERED HIM. but he has hope that his soulmate is still alive!! The artimeans immediately plan a rescue mission for Thisbe. They must prepare themselves so Florence gives Alex and the crew magic warrior training. When fifer wakes up she is determined to go on the mission too, but due Alex heartbroken state he can't lose her so so she in secret learns the movements that Alex makes by watching him. The scenes between Alex and Fifer are really sad and difficult... meanwhile Thisbe is in the catacombs in a crypt and being Branded!! As a mark forced to move dragon bones which contain magic which The Revinir injects herself with so she can become a dragon herself MADNESS!! A boy named Rohan becomes her only friend and they secretly knock on each other's wall of the crypt. Thisbe teaches herself to control and increase her magical powers by training on the bones. But she can't lose the thought that no one has come to rescue her, she is devastated and doesn't know if Difer is still alive... the Revinir command her to be her assistant for she sees Thisbe is more bad than good. Of course she denies but her workload increase all the more. Rohan tells her that the Revinir wants revenge on the child who stole her powers.. FIFER EXPLODED HER BIRDS!! AND she wants to kill the head mage ALEX!!
A new plan is revealed, she now uses the bones in a broth to inject a testsubject. When Thisbe no longer can carry the bones and Rohan convinces her to accept so she can unreavel the secrets her new assistant is reveald. IT IS DEV!! Due the escape of the dragons The Revinir demands a sacrifice of the king who held the dragons for her. The princess offered Dev!! He has been slave HIS WHOLE LIFE!! Dev is forced to drink the disgusting broth and grows DRAGON SCALES WFT!! Revinir wants to shell the broth so she gets gold to concur the other lands and the seven Island AND WANTS THISBE TO JOIN THAT CRAZY WOMAN!!
Meanwhile in Artimé, the rescueteam is ready to go, Fifer still is not allowed to go despite begging, angry tendrums and reasoning. But Florence helps her by sending a note and present her COMPARTMENT VEST!! She has trained her birds Falcons and is ready to go on her own. Florance knows this and knows that she has trained enough to have earned her vest. Fifer goes in a hammock with the birds like a hotair balloon and travels to warbler island where she meets crow, scarlet ad copper. Crow joins her in her quest for he has cared for the twins when they were baby's. Eventually they caught up to the others and Alex and Fifer have a heart to heart. They even train together. VERY EMOTIONAL. Thisbe and Dev work on the broth until Rohan comes in and carried The BONES OF THE ANCIENT ANCESTORS!! Thisbe is forced to drink that broth when she denied, the revinir TROWS IT HER IN FACE!! IT SCORCHED HER!! and she gets the dragon scales on her arms and legs too plus weird images in her head. When the Revinir drinks, nothing happens. Thisbe and Rohan plan their escape and Dev is lead to the market to sell. There he meets the rescue crew. But the king and Revinir soldiers are there to and kill the princess. NOW THERE IS A TREAT OF WAR!! The team escape and Dev flees to the forest. Thidbe and Rohan attept there escape, they flee to the river and fight the soldiers, thisbe let magic invisible hooks appear and Rohan is on the other side, but a soldier slams into Thisbe and she falls in WHAAA, Thisbe single handed tries with all her might to fight the current with glass barriers and succeeds. SOOO STRONG!! Next the need to descend the rocked wall. After the EXHAUSTING RIVER SHE ALSO MUST CONCUR HER FEAR HEIGHTS AND MAGICALLY APPEAR HOOKS OR FALL TO HER DEAD!! her power and strength is UNREAL!! Rohan stuggles even harder than Thisbee!! Fifer, alex, crow and talon fight the soldiers in the catacombs and the rest the ones by the tube/elevator. Alex and Fifer fight together as a team until a soldier helds a swordagainst Alex's back. Crow trows a heartattack and Fifer catches it. Now alex has a sword against his throat, but he trusts Fifer to trow and not hit Alex. SHE SAVES HIS LIFE AND A EMOTIONAL SCENE FOLLOWS!! but when both teamsl fight against the remaining soldiers ad reach thisbee crypt she isn't there anymore BUT THE RENIVIR IS!! She shows them her own dragon scales and TROWS A FIRE SPEAR IN ALEX'S CHEST!! they all trow heart attacks but the don't harm her so she escapes. but there is nothing they can do to heal Alex AND INSTANTLY ALL MAGIC DISAPPEARS ALEX IS DEAD NOOOO I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS ABOSUTLY TRAGIC WHY WHY WHY I CRIED
On the other side Thisbe and Rohan are save for now, so Thisbe goes to search for food and steals from a woman. The woman later recognizes her and Thisbe too. IT IS SKY!!!
THIS SERIES IS KILLING ME

[Jack Douse · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Unwanteds series is by far, the best book series I have ever read. The Unwanteds Quests Dragon Bones is a sequel to Dragon Captives.

After being captured by the Revenir, Thisbe is forced to work the the catacombs. She has to drag an old dragon bone for miles until she reaches the lab every day. Within the first few days, she makes a new friend… his name is Dev. The Revnir is forcing her to either carry more bones or become her assistant. Back in Artime, Alex and his crew are preparing a rescue mission to go save her. Fifer is not allowed to go because it is “too dangerous”. Read the book to find out if Thisbe ever escapes the catacombs.

I think the author did a great job continuing the series. The middle of the book got kind of slow and very repetitive. I think, in most parts, that the book was entertaining. I really like how the author leaves a cliffhanger at the end of each book so you come back and are excited to read the next one.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loved The Hunger Games and or Harry Potter. It is the perfect book to read in Middle School.

[Aurora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is probably the most well-written out of the two Quests books written so far. It doesn't go too fast, or too slow; just the right amount. The words used in this novel really give you insight on how the characters are feeling. I audibly gasped and quietly cried as I tore through the pages. We get a LOT of character development, especially with Alex, Thisbe, Fifer, Seth, Talon (yes, Talon), and Florence! We even get a new character!

Even though the ending was sudden, heartbreaking, and tragic, I really recommend it!

[Arianna Hafen · Rating 5 out of 5]

HORRIBLE ENDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I need the next book

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's very sad , but very good book

[Desiree Wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

WHY DID YOU KILL ALEX

I won't even read the next book because of this. What were you thinking😠 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠

[Pigeon · Rating 2 out of 5]

HOW COULD YOU KILL ALEX.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex and company return to the dragon land to rescue Thisbe and Fifer is not invited. This upsets her so she secretly learns magic and follows Alex and the others with the help of her new bird friends. Also, Sky is missing. She got pulled under when the island she's on submerges.
I was happy to see that Alex moved on from his self-pity in this book and practiced his magic to help save Thisbe. The story flowed well and the cast of characters continues to grow. The one I am most interested is Rohan, the boy Thisbe meets in the catacombs and who she escapes with. I have a feeling there is more to him then we think. There is quite a shock for all toward the end of the book that will change things a great deal in the next book. I look forward to seeing what happens.

[Mary Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in Dragon Quests quickly picked up where the first book left off. We are thrown into the action and it doesn’t stop. Lisa McMann has succeeded in keeping her readers guessing about where this series is heading. It felt like there were major clues throughout the book about the history of Artime and I’m curious where Lisa is going to take us. I can hardly wait to put this book into the hands of my students and hear their reactions to some of the major events that unfold in Dragon Bones.

[LeeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picking up right where Book #1 left off, an injured Fifer is brought home on Simber's back to a worried and irate Alex. Hearing the news that Thisbe is lost and Sky was consumed by the volcano nearly breaks the head mage of Artime', but he soon finds what was lost inside himself and begins to train for another rescue mission with his childhood friends. They must find a way to get back across the chasm to the Land of the Dragons to find and rescue his sister from the Revinir, a long-forgotten enemy of Alex. What could possibly go wrong?

[Sarah Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series! I do,however, miss Mr. Today! Great continuation of the original storyline and look forward to the next installment.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

No words

[Ava · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good! I enjoyed reading this! I’m so glad Alex and fifer got to bond! And way to go Alex you fought in battle again! Also that ending is unacceptable no Alex did not just die and sky came back to life. This better not be the mr today problem.

[➳ Anthony ➳ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5
Date Reviewed: 17 March 2018
This Review was first posted on It’s All Anthony. For more reviews, check out the blog here.

In Dragon Bones, Thisbe and Fifer are now separated for the first time after the evil Revinir has captured Thisbe, and left Fifer gravely injured. Alex is now worried about everything after hearing the devastating news but gathers a rescue team in an effort to retrieve Thisbe. While Alex and the Unwanteds train for their rescue mission, Thisbe must transfer dragon bones for the Revinir due to its magical capabilities. As time goes by, Thisbe fears that it’ll be up to her to free herself.

It is good to back to world that is always enjoyable to read. Sometimes I forget that the series only started back in 2011. The series felt like new to me every time a new book comes out. It is probably why I usually forget that the series has been around for 7 years now and continuing.

Even when there are many books in the series to continue, it never feels old or feels like ideas are being reused. Overtime, there is something new to learn in the world of Artimé and the Seven Islands. We were introduced to Dragonsmarche in Dragon Captives, but we really didn’t learn much about it. As the rescue mission commences, we are reintroduced to the land while more explanations are given on how things are run, including how the Revinir came to be and her history with the King. We also learn of the shocking possible connection to the land of dragons to the land of Artimé. There are even new things as well like Fifer’s mysterious new army of birds and a new kind of magic. There is nothing that can make this world feel old.

When a world is expanded into 9 different books and continuing, some may think character development on certain characters would be low or non-existent. How could one further a character when they have gone through so much already? Can the character even develop anymore? McMann has the ability to keep having characters go through development no matter how long they have been the in the series for.

The best thing about the character development in the series is when a character trains and but doesn’t learn anything instantly. It takes time. Fifer trains for a period over a few months as the Unwanteds train for the rescue mission. The progress is shown over time. The same goes for Thisbe as well. Thisbe has to train by herself in secret to learn about her abilities for only a couple of hours per day. It’s not one and done. Thisbe takes about the same time as Fifer to gain control of her abilities. (It must be a twin thing…)

However, there is one thing I feel that I need to explain. When I finished the reading and went through all of the emotions , I wanted to see what other readers thought of the ending as well. I was pretty shocked to see people were not happy. I can understand where this was coming from, but I also understood how it came to be. A few even suggested they would stop reading the series because of what happened and this what I need to explain. The Unwanted Quests series is the sequel series where Fifer and Thisbe are now the lead roles. The original Unwanteds casts are now in the supporting roles. The series is all about the twins now and their adventures. As I am trying to explain, the original Unwanteds casts no longer have a certain “immunity” from being in the load roles. If you haven’t learned by now, anything is a possibility from McMann (and she certainly loves being unpredictable). Needlessly to say, do I need to remind everyone of Sky in the first book? At the end, please continue to read the series. Perhaps the unpredictability will be in our favor now.

I really can’t say anything bad about the series. It is certainly an excellent middle grade read and there are records that shows it. Also, I believe the series can be fun for the entire family or for the child at heart. The magic and creativity is there, and that is all I’m looking for in books these days. Originality needs to shine, and it definitely shines here. I can’t wait to continue the adventure in Book 3.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me open by saying this was a Shannon Messenger-worthy cliffhanger! Ug, I want the next book so badly! What have you done, Ms. McMann? And I have to wait a year, just like with Keeper! *pounds head on wall*

Now, ignoring my anger about the ending, this book was phenomenal! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and fully engaged. The plot had twists I never saw coming, and they made me go "why in the world didn't I think of that?" In my review of the previous book, I mentioned how sad it was, and thus had hard-to-read scenes. This book had none of those issues. There were proper amounts of both happiness and tragedy. The Alex thing was really tough, but considering the other three characters that "died" were okay, I can see where it's necessary. I hope he doesn't come back to life somehow.

Character growth is a key part of any story, and it's well represented here. It's primarily seen in the three youths, but Alex has some growth as well, even as an adult, which I appreciate.

The setting is realistic and I was fully immersed into the land of dragons, as I was in Artimé in the previous series. It's interesting to learn about the culture of the land. One thing I would like to see in the next book is an update on Quill. It's been ten years! Do the stubborn Wanteds still live on that burnt patch because they find magic abhorrent? How is the Purge carried out now? I mean, they probably don't chain up the Unwanteds and lead them away anymore. Did the Favored Farm get combined with the other farms, or do the Wanteds still get special treatment?

There's no technicalities for me to pick on today. It wasn't confusing or hard to get through, and the grammar was impeccable.

This series, best read after The Unwanteds, is captivating and intriguing for older and younger readers.

[Rain · Rating 3 out of 5]

I... didn’t really like this book. I tried to, but like the first Unwanted Quests, I found it slow moving and boring. The only things I really remember being interesting was the scenes with Alex but the ending... Ah well, I’ll get to that later. The first Unwanteds series in my opinion was a masterpiece and it brought something different to what I usually read. With the second book of Unwanteds Quest, I was willing to give the series a second chance because I didn’t really like the first original Unwanteds book but the second book and on were just wonderful. But sadly, Dragon Bones didn’t really grab me and I found myself fighting to get through the book because I didn’t really find it interesting. The only interesting part was the ending but the outcome of the attempted rescue of Thisbe made me so mad it made me want to stop reading this series. I understand Lisa McMann wants her stories to be unpredictable and wants to create a vibe that no one is safe. But with that said, with Alex’s death, I felt cheated and I felt like his death was unearned. As a reader, I’ve been with this character seven books and have gotten to care and fall in love with this character. In Unwanteds Quests, we see this character still struggling as a character and he hardly gets to finish his arc before he dies. After all his character development, after all he’s been through, he just dies like that? That’s it?! If he really did have to die, his death wasn’t even that good. It was a second and he was just dead like that. Like he didn’t even matter. I don’t think it was nesassary for him to die, it wasn’t earned, and overall, I felt more robbed and angry then actually sad about it. From this, I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series. There’s nothing that has really kept me going and with Alex gone, why continue? Sadly, the sequel series to the Unwanteds right now, is just something I want to block out and pretend it didn’t happen. I’m good with just the original books. The only thing that might keep me reading is hearing about what happens with Aaron as head mage and what’s going on with him. But I’m sure that’ll only take a small part of the next book since he isn’t a main character anymore. I’m really disappointed that this series hasn’t caught me. I’m originally such had high hopes for it.

[Fabian Sauceda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes place on another island because Alex and Aaron twin sisters Fifer and Thisbe and a friend named Seth go to another island to show Alex they are good enough for a component vest which is where they put their spells. Thisbe gets captured and Fifer and Seth get away. This book has a lot of action and suspense which is why I like this series. Read the book to find out what happened to Thisbe and if Alex goes to rescue Thisbe with help from Artime.

[Grace Steenwyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title connects to the story by relating to how Thisbe has to carry dragon bones for the Revinir who captured her in the land of Grimere. Lisa McMann’s writing style is very mysterious and always makes me want more. The story’s purpose is to show conflict in relationships and how to solve the problem. I think young teenagers who like adventure will appreciate these books. I noticed that the author created scenes with lots of sensory detail so we could visualize it in our heads. She also used metaphors to emphasize the importance of a certain thing in the story. I really enjoyed this! I wouldn’t change a thing about it.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I was disappointed that Alex died. I’m hoping that it is going to be remedied in the next book, but McMann could just be doing the same thing basically every novel does and killing the main characters “guide”. A little uninspired.
I knew Sky was going to be alive, so I appreciated the fact that Thisbe found her. I don’t understand why Eagala ran away in the end. She could have easily overcome all of the Artimeans. The book was just ok. I mean, I like the series, so I’m going to finish it. It’s just getting a little predictable. My younger self would be all about this book. Definitely good for 3-8th grades.

[Katt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really hope Alex gets revived somehow. I feel like it’d create too many plot threads for him to stay dead and personally I will feel really disappointed if he does stay dead. It was a great book though and I can’t wait to see what happens to everyone, especially Alex. Another thing is that I feel like Eagala was hinting a bit at her childhood and past while she talked with Thisbe, which brings up here motives for wanting total domination. I recommend this book to everyone, it really has a lot of clues and hints in it.

[Holly Foley (Procida) · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot arc of this story felt like a bad calculus problem. There was so much training, planning preparation and speculation about rescuing Thisbe ... then BAM I blinked and the whole rescue was over with pretty extreme consequences. I did enjoy the writing and many of the unique creative aspects to the story . I also took the risk of coming in on book 2 in a series. Usually in a kid series this is no problem. I feel like I may have sacrificed some bonding with a few key characters by doing this. Not an especially lovable or teachable book but ok.

[The Forest Clown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually liked this book.
Oh, and Grimere seems to be based on India, which I find that amazing. I was getting sick of the same old things. Every book I read, English names, European backgrounds, the same old white things. This was something different. I loved it.

I love this world and this magic system soo much! I'm thinking of rereading the original series. But really, the magic system is soo good! It's amazing how a mortal being can come up with this. The world is so intricate and beautiful and ugly.

Oh, and the story was nice too.

[Kym Ulicny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series and just started reading them to my daughter. But I was so disappointed with this one. I struggled to finish it. I found it boring and the interactions between The Revinir and Thisbe were frankly, unbelievable. I don’t really like the twins story and would have preferred to keep reading about Alex and the others and their adventures. I think I could be done with this series, especially if the ending of this book stays true.

[Aaliska · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is another cliffhanger! This was such a great book, can't wait to read the next book! But we have to wait another year and that is not possible.