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The Jelindel Chronicles #2
Dragonfang
The long-awaited sequel to Dragonlinks.
Five pentagram gems
Two people want them
Only one can have them
“Anyone who has read Dragonlinks will recognise Paul Collins as a writer who truly understands the power of high fantasy. It is the power to tease the imagination with worlds so exotic, yet so seemingly familiar, that we allow ourselves to recognise within them the best and worst that we can be. From the opening battle with the deadmoon warriors to the final confrontation with the Preceptor’s fearsome legions, through the wonders and dangers of paraworlds, the Countess Jelindel, scholar, Adept and fighter, must call upon all her power, intelligence and courage ─ and trust in the loyalty of friends ─ to restore balance. Share the journey on the Dragonfang. The ride is exhilarating!"
Brian Caswell
Five pentagram gems
Two people want them
Only one can have them
“Anyone who has read Dragonlinks will recognise Paul Collins as a writer who truly understands the power of high fantasy. It is the power to tease the imagination with worlds so exotic, yet so seemingly familiar, that we allow ourselves to recognise within them the best and worst that we can be. From the opening battle with the deadmoon warriors to the final confrontation with the Preceptor’s fearsome legions, through the wonders and dangers of paraworlds, the Countess Jelindel, scholar, Adept and fighter, must call upon all her power, intelligence and courage ─ and trust in the loyalty of friends ─ to restore balance. Share the journey on the Dragonfang. The ride is exhilarating!"
Brian Caswell
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
342 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
7 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Paul Collins
244 books92 followersPaul Collins has written many books, mostly for younger readers. He is best known for his fantasy and science fiction titles: The Jelindel Chronicles (Dragonlinks, Dragonfang, Dragonsight and Wardragon), and The Quentaris Chronicles ─ co-edited with Michael Pryor ─ (Swords of Quentaris, Slaves of Quentaris, Dragonlords of Quentaris, Princess of Shadows, The Forgotten Prince, Vampires of Quentaris and The Spell of Undoing). His trade books published in America are The Earthborn, The Skyborn and The Hiveborn.
Paul has edited many anthologies which include Trust Me!, Metaworlds and Australia’s first fantasy anthology, Dream Weavers. He also edited The MUP Encyclopaedia of Australian SF&F.
Paul has been short-listed for many awards and has won the Inaugural Peter McNamara and the A Bertram Chandler awards, both of which were for lifetime achievement in science fiction, and the Aurealis and William Atheling awards.
His recent fantasy series is The World of Grrym (Allira’s Gift, Lords of Quibbitt and Morgassa’s Folly), in collaboration with Danny Willis. His latest YA book is The Only Game in the Galaxy, Book #3 in The Maximus Black Files.
His book, Slaves of Quentaris, features in 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Die (UK, 2009).
Paul’s adult books are the anthology The Government in Exile and Cyberskin. His current adult horror novel, The Beckoning, Damnation Books (US) is available from http://tinyurl.com/ny6urwy.
Other than his writing, Paul is the publisher at Ford Street Publishing, publishing everything from picture books through to young adult literature, and he manages Creative Net, a speakers’ agency.
Paul’s websites are: www.paulcollins.com.au; www.fordstreetpublishing.com and www.fordstreetpublishing.com/cnet
Awards
1980s — 2000s a handful of nominations for Best Editor and Best Short Fiction in the Australian SF Achievement Awards
1999— Winner William Atheling Award for work on The MUP Encyclopaedia of Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy; Shortlisted for the Aurealis Convenors’ Award.
2000— The Dog King, Notable Book Children’s Book Council; Shortlisted for the Clayton’s Award.
2001— Winner of the Aurealis Convenors’ Award (With Co-editor Meredith Costain) for Spinouts Bronze published by Pearson Education. Joint winner was Shaun Tan for The Lost Thing.
2002 — Winner of the inaugural Peter McNamara Award for lifetime achievement in SF.
2004 — Home Run (Illustrated by Connah Brecon), Notable Book, Children’s Book Council.
2009 -- Morgassa's Folly (in collaboration with Danny Willis), short-listed for the Chronos Award.
2010 -- The Slightly Skewed Life of Toby Chrysler, short-listed for The Speech Pathology Award.
2011 -- The Glasshouse (illustrated by Jo Thompson) chosen by international IBBY as an Outstanding Book; short-listed for the CBC's Crichton Award.
2011 --Awarded the A Bertram Chandler Award for Lifetime Achievement in Australian Science Fiction.
Paul has edited many anthologies which include Trust Me!, Metaworlds and Australia’s first fantasy anthology, Dream Weavers. He also edited The MUP Encyclopaedia of Australian SF&F.
Paul has been short-listed for many awards and has won the Inaugural Peter McNamara and the A Bertram Chandler awards, both of which were for lifetime achievement in science fiction, and the Aurealis and William Atheling awards.
His recent fantasy series is The World of Grrym (Allira’s Gift, Lords of Quibbitt and Morgassa’s Folly), in collaboration with Danny Willis. His latest YA book is The Only Game in the Galaxy, Book #3 in The Maximus Black Files.
His book, Slaves of Quentaris, features in 1001 Children’s Books You Must Read Before You Die (UK, 2009).
Paul’s adult books are the anthology The Government in Exile and Cyberskin. His current adult horror novel, The Beckoning, Damnation Books (US) is available from http://tinyurl.com/ny6urwy.
Other than his writing, Paul is the publisher at Ford Street Publishing, publishing everything from picture books through to young adult literature, and he manages Creative Net, a speakers’ agency.
Paul’s websites are: www.paulcollins.com.au; www.fordstreetpublishing.com and www.fordstreetpublishing.com/cnet
Awards
1980s — 2000s a handful of nominations for Best Editor and Best Short Fiction in the Australian SF Achievement Awards
1999— Winner William Atheling Award for work on The MUP Encyclopaedia of Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy; Shortlisted for the Aurealis Convenors’ Award.
2000— The Dog King, Notable Book Children’s Book Council; Shortlisted for the Clayton’s Award.
2001— Winner of the Aurealis Convenors’ Award (With Co-editor Meredith Costain) for Spinouts Bronze published by Pearson Education. Joint winner was Shaun Tan for The Lost Thing.
2002 — Winner of the inaugural Peter McNamara Award for lifetime achievement in SF.
2004 — Home Run (Illustrated by Connah Brecon), Notable Book, Children’s Book Council.
2009 -- Morgassa's Folly (in collaboration with Danny Willis), short-listed for the Chronos Award.
2010 -- The Slightly Skewed Life of Toby Chrysler, short-listed for The Speech Pathology Award.
2011 -- The Glasshouse (illustrated by Jo Thompson) chosen by international IBBY as an Outstanding Book; short-listed for the CBC's Crichton Award.
2011 --Awarded the A Bertram Chandler Award for Lifetime Achievement in Australian Science Fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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April 28, 2018I've devoured these books so fast, they're just so easy to read.
Though perhaps my only problem is I can't for the life of me wrap my head around the timeline!
what with Jelindel saying she's a year younger than she SHOULD be by now (Her family died in 2128, when she was 14 going on 15, but in 2132 she's STILL 17 going on 18? What?? Unless she's lying about her age, but I'm not sure she is because she never mentions it again. I've kind of just accepted it as a discrepancy.)
And I'm just dying to get some, ANY more details about the structure of the year and when her birthday is, and whether the months actually have a name and how do 420 days fit into 12 months (if there are that many). GIMME THAT WORLD BUILDING!!
Ignoring the timeline weirdness, the plot is very compelling and fast-paced - certainly enough to stop me from doing other things I should be doing.
Switching around POVs keeps you on your toes and adds fresh perspectives - without it, everything would be just way, way too confusing. I mean fantasy is always a little confusing but there's a sweet spot where it gets confusing in a RIGHT way, you know what I mean...?
Throughout the first book, I couldn't really decide whether or not I was supposed to be rooting for a romantic pair (there were two options), so I didn't. So it comes as a bit of a surprise when suddenly she wants to climb one of them like a tree when she sees him again? (And in the other guy's body.... something is funny about that.... could that have something to do with it🤔) I'd have liked a bit more foreshadowing, to be honest. I thought there was a moment with a potentially third option, but nope, he's bad and he's dead now! Which is a shame, because I thought they had a moment when he saved her and i think what they could've had would've been far more dynamic (Like, WHY WOULD HE SAVE HER IF HE WAS GOING TO KILL HER LATER????!! Oh... right, could've been to save himself too. Sigh, can't we get a villain with at least one genuine trait???) - Like, daretor, my man, you're an honourable beast on the battlefield, but in romance you're a plank of wood (can't say I blame him though, he thought Jel was a dude for nearly 2 years, so that's gotta rub off). Maybe it's because, like Jelindel pointed out, he IS like a brother to her (and thus, why the romance feels so weird).
The humour was a welcome part, yet again about these books - many scenes had me cackling at and cringing with the characters and their thought processes or the situations, and adds welcome comic relief.
One thing I'd like to see is a villain who has noble motives.... the preceptor is a superficial megalomanic, fa'red is deceptive and multilayered but he's still too mysterious to know much about him, and well, that other "third option" guy I mentioned before just turned out to be a spy with none of his own ideologies. A shame, since he was around for a little bit in book 1 and I wanted to see some development, and was expecting some big comeback. Guess it just sets the stage for new characters....
Though I'm not really sure I like the bitter path zimak has been put on .... he had his bright moments that reminded me why I love him before the pettiness and flippant debauchery got annoying (like, whoa, man, calm down, this isn't game of thrones) but the lack of empathy other characters had for him (despite his wrongdoings) grated me a bit too. Or a lot. Or it just wasn't really addressed, because he's jumped into that dimension where all characters forget about him, and their forgetfulness is LITERALLY what drives him to look for the bad guys. YOU HAD ONE JOB!!! YOU WERE A TEAM!!!)
If he ever jumps into a portal to MY world, I'LL give him the attention everyone forgets. Also I wanna learn some fighting skills....
I'll admit that romance is a main part of what keeps me reading fantasy books, but with this series, I can say is the opposite - which is kind of refreshing, in a way. There isn't the added angst of shipping ... but I guess there is the LITERAL shipping angst when they're being invaded by pirates, lol. I'll say, the battle scenes were the best parts.
So overall, plot was very good, characters very good, romance was a bit sudden and eh, the humour was on point, the lack of detail in some areas was both frustrating and a blessing, but I'm looking forward to what happens next plotwise.
On that note, I really need to get to bed, and now I'm kicking myself because I swore I'd get to bed earlier but instead finished this book which in turn ate up THAT idea, because I can't stop thinking about the darn thing. I can't even decide on a rating yet...
Though perhaps my only problem is I can't for the life of me wrap my head around the timeline!
what with Jelindel saying she's a year younger than she SHOULD be by now (Her family died in 2128, when she was 14 going on 15, but in 2132 she's STILL 17 going on 18? What?? Unless she's lying about her age, but I'm not sure she is because she never mentions it again. I've kind of just accepted it as a discrepancy.)
And I'm just dying to get some, ANY more details about the structure of the year and when her birthday is, and whether the months actually have a name and how do 420 days fit into 12 months (if there are that many). GIMME THAT WORLD BUILDING!!
Ignoring the timeline weirdness, the plot is very compelling and fast-paced - certainly enough to stop me from doing other things I should be doing.
Switching around POVs keeps you on your toes and adds fresh perspectives - without it, everything would be just way, way too confusing. I mean fantasy is always a little confusing but there's a sweet spot where it gets confusing in a RIGHT way, you know what I mean...?
Throughout the first book, I couldn't really decide whether or not I was supposed to be rooting for a romantic pair (there were two options), so I didn't. So it comes as a bit of a surprise when suddenly she wants to climb one of them like a tree when she sees him again? (And in the other guy's body.... something is funny about that.... could that have something to do with it🤔) I'd have liked a bit more foreshadowing, to be honest. I thought there was a moment with a potentially third option, but nope, he's bad and he's dead now! Which is a shame, because I thought they had a moment when he saved her and i think what they could've had would've been far more dynamic (Like, WHY WOULD HE SAVE HER IF HE WAS GOING TO KILL HER LATER????!! Oh... right, could've been to save himself too. Sigh, can't we get a villain with at least one genuine trait???) - Like, daretor, my man, you're an honourable beast on the battlefield, but in romance you're a plank of wood (can't say I blame him though, he thought Jel was a dude for nearly 2 years, so that's gotta rub off). Maybe it's because, like Jelindel pointed out, he IS like a brother to her (and thus, why the romance feels so weird).
The humour was a welcome part, yet again about these books - many scenes had me cackling at and cringing with the characters and their thought processes or the situations, and adds welcome comic relief.
One thing I'd like to see is a villain who has noble motives.... the preceptor is a superficial megalomanic, fa'red is deceptive and multilayered but he's still too mysterious to know much about him, and well, that other "third option" guy I mentioned before just turned out to be a spy with none of his own ideologies. A shame, since he was around for a little bit in book 1 and I wanted to see some development, and was expecting some big comeback. Guess it just sets the stage for new characters....
Though I'm not really sure I like the bitter path zimak has been put on .... he had his bright moments that reminded me why I love him before the pettiness and flippant debauchery got annoying (like, whoa, man, calm down, this isn't game of thrones) but the lack of empathy other characters had for him (despite his wrongdoings) grated me a bit too. Or a lot. Or it just wasn't really addressed, because he's jumped into that dimension where all characters forget about him, and their forgetfulness is LITERALLY what drives him to look for the bad guys. YOU HAD ONE JOB!!! YOU WERE A TEAM!!!)
If he ever jumps into a portal to MY world, I'LL give him the attention everyone forgets. Also I wanna learn some fighting skills....
I'll admit that romance is a main part of what keeps me reading fantasy books, but with this series, I can say is the opposite - which is kind of refreshing, in a way. There isn't the added angst of shipping ... but I guess there is the LITERAL shipping angst when they're being invaded by pirates, lol. I'll say, the battle scenes were the best parts.
So overall, plot was very good, characters very good, romance was a bit sudden and eh, the humour was on point, the lack of detail in some areas was both frustrating and a blessing, but I'm looking forward to what happens next plotwise.
On that note, I really need to get to bed, and now I'm kicking myself because I swore I'd get to bed earlier but instead finished this book which in turn ate up THAT idea, because I can't stop thinking about the darn thing. I can't even decide on a rating yet...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2021
I love rereading old favourites. It's like sitting down with old friends and having coffee and talking over adventures you took together.
Every time I reread a book, I find something new to get out of it and Dragonfang was no different. I don't remember it ever making me laugh before. There was also a line that jumped out at me because I remembered a reference to it later in the book and I didn't realise that Jelindel had stolen the line from someone else and I just sat with my mouth hanging open for a good few minutes like, "EXCUSE ME WHAT".
I have a new headcanon that Jelindel is non-binary.
Dragonfang was never my favourite in the series. I DNF'd it when I was 12 by accident (Got distracted by something, put it down and just never went back to it). I have read it all the way through a couple of times before. I think it was Fa'red's aircarrier that put me off. I think it's my least favourite invention in any fantasy story EVER; even now, I cringe at it.
Every time I reread a book, I find something new to get out of it and Dragonfang was no different. I don't remember it ever making me laugh before. There was also a line that jumped out at me because I remembered a reference to it later in the book and I didn't realise that Jelindel had stolen the line from someone else and I just sat with my mouth hanging open for a good few minutes like, "EXCUSE ME WHAT".
I have a new headcanon that Jelindel is non-binary.
Dragonfang was never my favourite in the series. I DNF'd it when I was 12 by accident (Got distracted by something, put it down and just never went back to it). I have read it all the way through a couple of times before. I think it was Fa'red's aircarrier that put me off. I think it's my least favourite invention in any fantasy story EVER; even now, I cringe at it.
February 4, 2015
This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.
There are five pentagram gems on offer, bringing with them the promise of easily accessing distant worlds - whether that's to bring back armies or missing companions. Jelindel stars again, but Daretor and Zimak have a role to play in the places they find themselves.
I have similar things to say about this one to the first in the series. Jelindel is starting to feel like a real adult, and Zimak and Daretor are progressing as characters. That being said, the plot is what makes the novel enjoyable, and makes it possible for reluctant reader to get in on the action.
We see the return of the lindraks in this novel, and see what the Deadmoon lindraks have changed. They're still cut-throat assassins, but some of them are growing conscious of the importance of saving the whole of Q'zar.
Yes it makes sense that Jelindel would want to get her companions back, but seriously, hunting for extremely magical gems at the precise time she needs to? As it is a novel, I guess that's what I should expect, but I at least want some suspense. Everything is just a little bit too easy (I'm sure Jelindel wouldn't say the same thing).
This novel seemed like a tag-on to Dragonlinks. It was like the publisher discovered that the first novel was popular, and said, 'quick, write me a sequel' without considering whether the first novel should have been a stand alone or was originally designed to be read as one.
There are five pentagram gems on offer, bringing with them the promise of easily accessing distant worlds - whether that's to bring back armies or missing companions. Jelindel stars again, but Daretor and Zimak have a role to play in the places they find themselves.
I have similar things to say about this one to the first in the series. Jelindel is starting to feel like a real adult, and Zimak and Daretor are progressing as characters. That being said, the plot is what makes the novel enjoyable, and makes it possible for reluctant reader to get in on the action.
We see the return of the lindraks in this novel, and see what the Deadmoon lindraks have changed. They're still cut-throat assassins, but some of them are growing conscious of the importance of saving the whole of Q'zar.
Yes it makes sense that Jelindel would want to get her companions back, but seriously, hunting for extremely magical gems at the precise time she needs to? As it is a novel, I guess that's what I should expect, but I at least want some suspense. Everything is just a little bit too easy (I'm sure Jelindel wouldn't say the same thing).
This novel seemed like a tag-on to Dragonlinks. It was like the publisher discovered that the first novel was popular, and said, 'quick, write me a sequel' without considering whether the first novel should have been a stand alone or was originally designed to be read as one.
Read
March 6, 2016In Book 2, 'Dragonfang', Jelindel’s epic quest and the growth of her powers continue. Though only 16 years old and still stricken by the massacre of her family, she continues to outwit mages and the plotting of the Preceptor and his ally Fa’red. Through his evil domination, the Preceptor has now become the King of Kings, and pursues his quest is to kill Jelindel/Jaelin. He must gain ultimate power over all worlds by finding the chainmail shirt that Jelindel believes she has destroyed. Jelindel, Zimak & Daretor plunge between paraworlds, each more horrifying and dangerous than the other, and end up rescuing Osric and captive dragons in another world, and ultimately saving their own world from destruction in an epic battle. But Fa’red grows in power and has plans…
October 6, 2013
This is one of the most incredible books I have read. It is a perfect continuation of 'Dragonlinks' that will keep all readers entertained. Paul Collins mixes in the perfect amount of loyalty, honour, bravery, mystery, suspense, and romance to leave you wanting more. I thought after reading 'Dragonlinks' that there was no way he could come close to replicating such a fantastically written book but I was wrong. This book is equally incredible and the twists and turns that Paul Collins came up with amazed me. The ending leaves you hanging and is even better than the one in 'Dragonlinks' and will leave any reader shocked and frantic to find out what happens next!
July 11, 2010
Here marks the return of Countess Jelindel as she is still in danger. At one point she believed herself to be safe and able to just simply live her life when once again she and the people around her are attacked. Again, she flees...
Within this sequal we watch our dear countess continue to grow and struggle to understaned her own person feelings and those for others.
Within this sequal we watch our dear countess continue to grow and struggle to understaned her own person feelings and those for others.
October 10, 2011
A história desenrola-se bem. Direi que é uma boa história juvenil. O autor é que de vez em quando parece cansado do universo de fantasia e "descamba" para a ficção científica... É nesse aspecto surpreendente e "baixa o nível" de interesse.
Read
March 25, 2014When I was 12, I attempted reading this book, and I was unable to finish it. I created a username (Dragonfang93) to remind myself to read it again. In 2013 (when I was 19), I tried again and loved it! Quite the nice tale of porting between worlds and battling your enemies to keep peace!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews