What do you think?
Rate this book
Bazil Broketail #7
Dragon Ultimate
He is Called Many Names - Deceiver, Dominator, Burner of Men, Lord of Evil...
Plague after plague has decimated the Empire of the Rose. Sensing its vulnerability, a terrible army amasses for a final onslaught against its age-old enemy - a battle that will once and for all satisfy the bloodlust of the Deceiver... and render him powerful enough to challenge the High Ones with his dark and deadly magic.
...And He is Awake.
The dragonboy Relkin knows that his destiny is at hand. With the legendary battledragon Bazil Broketail at his side, he must tap into his own potent magic. Now - in a realm and reality not their own - Relkin and Bazil are the only force standing between the fragile protectors of the worlds - and the most devastating evil imaginable...
Plague after plague has decimated the Empire of the Rose. Sensing its vulnerability, a terrible army amasses for a final onslaught against its age-old enemy - a battle that will once and for all satisfy the bloodlust of the Deceiver... and render him powerful enough to challenge the High Ones with his dark and deadly magic.
...And He is Awake.
The dragonboy Relkin knows that his destiny is at hand. With the legendary battledragon Bazil Broketail at his side, he must tap into his own potent magic. Now - in a realm and reality not their own - Relkin and Bazil are the only force standing between the fragile protectors of the worlds - and the most devastating evil imaginable...
373 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1999
4 people are currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Rowley
53 books95 followersChristopher Rowley is a prolific writer of both science fiction and fantasy novels. He was born in 1948 in Lynn, Massachusetts to an American mother and an English father. Educated for the most part at Brentwood School, Essex, England, he became a London-based journalist in the 1970s. In 1977 he moved to New York City and began work on The War For Eternity, his first science fiction novel. He currently lives in upstate New York.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 13, 2025
Alas, the last book in the Bazil Broketail saga, and Rowley wraps the series up nicely! I do not know why this series has so few reviews on GR as I found it one of the best fantasy series of the 90s. Maybe the cheesy cover art dissuaded readers? The series as a whole ran with the good/evil binary, and while the good may be a bit grey, the evil is black as sin. We finally learn the greater lore of the land here, something Rowley has been hinting at for several of the installments now. The Empire of the Rose, guided by witches, has been fighting the 'masters' for centuries. This and the last installment constitute a slightly different story arc, as Baz and the Empire have to deal with the 'Deceiver', something of a fallen angel. The Deceiver has already conquered 12 worlds, killing billions, and now has his eyes on this world.
I really enjoyed the world building and the dragons. Battledragons, raised from eggs largely in small, farming towns, pair up with (typically) orphans, who become 'dragonboys', looking after the dragons (repairing their armor, stitching them up after battle, making sure they are fed, etc.). The dragons are not some mythical beast, but simply large (2 tons or more) 'beasts' with comparable intelligence to humans. Dragons and their boys typically enlist in the legions, and after serving 10 years or so, retire, usually to become farmers. The amusing banter among the dragons and their boys always brought a smile, as did their taste for beer. Yet, the evil is really grim, knocking this out of YA territory. I mean, the Masters abduct women and via some vile process induce them to breed imps until they die. Levity among grimness seems to be the trademark of this series. If you like fantasy, you might want to give this series a go. 4 dragons!!
I really enjoyed the world building and the dragons. Battledragons, raised from eggs largely in small, farming towns, pair up with (typically) orphans, who become 'dragonboys', looking after the dragons (repairing their armor, stitching them up after battle, making sure they are fed, etc.). The dragons are not some mythical beast, but simply large (2 tons or more) 'beasts' with comparable intelligence to humans. Dragons and their boys typically enlist in the legions, and after serving 10 years or so, retire, usually to become farmers. The amusing banter among the dragons and their boys always brought a smile, as did their taste for beer. Yet, the evil is really grim, knocking this out of YA territory. I mean, the Masters abduct women and via some vile process induce them to breed imps until they die. Levity among grimness seems to be the trademark of this series. If you like fantasy, you might want to give this series a go. 4 dragons!!
January 14, 2025
Dragon Ultimate was an excellent book to end the series on. It was well paced, creative, and had a heartwarming ending that made me feel good as the characters said goodbye. It also filled in quite a few of the lore holes that I had quibbled with throughout the series.
I think, over all, that lore, or lack there of, was probably the low point in the series. Ultimate finally sheds light on "the gods" and Relkin, and a few other details, but those details would have felt more at home had they been more heavily worked into the other books.
That being said, the Bazil series was strongest when it was just Relkin and Bazil together in their everyday lives, either surviving by the skin of their teeth or tending to wounds and sewing jobkins. Looking back, I felt fond of the series overall and do not regret reading it. It brought forth a pair of characters that I am glad to have known, and will certainly miss.
I think, over all, that lore, or lack there of, was probably the low point in the series. Ultimate finally sheds light on "the gods" and Relkin, and a few other details, but those details would have felt more at home had they been more heavily worked into the other books.
That being said, the Bazil series was strongest when it was just Relkin and Bazil together in their everyday lives, either surviving by the skin of their teeth or tending to wounds and sewing jobkins. Looking back, I felt fond of the series overall and do not regret reading it. It brought forth a pair of characters that I am glad to have known, and will certainly miss.
June 24, 2015
I absolutely loved all the books in The Broketail series and this book was no exception. Rowley did a fantastic job concluding the adventures of Bazil, Relkin and their friends. These seven books have been a pleasure to read and I am quite pleased to add them to my shelves. I will definitely be reading them again.
August 15, 2018
Fantastic end to the series! I am very glad I kept up through all seven books. Relkin and Bazil have a final adventure that is very fitting to their history, and just about every question up to this point is answered. I very much enjoyed the final look at the world these books presented, and hope you enjoy the series as well.
August 3, 2022
The final book in the series doesn't disappoint.
September 6, 2022
Finished the series. Now I'm sad. I'm thinking to write a letter to kind Mr. Rowley to ask if he'll write me one more book... maybe 2, maybe 3? One of the best series of ALL time.
January 17, 2013
Loved all the Bazil Broketail books. Wish they'd make'em into films.
January 22, 2016
Bazil Broketail is at it again. A great fantasy read. This is number 7 in the series.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews