Dragon Fire

The Unwanteds Quests #5

by Lisa McMann

Artimé is at war.

Led by the reckless new head mage, Frieda Stubbs, and swayed by her stoking their fear of the Revinir’s return, the people of Artimé have turned against the Stowe family. Aaron and his allies are captured while Fifer is left exposed to mortal danger.

Thisbe and the team of black-eyed children from Grimere journey to Artimé to help, leaving Dev behind to fend for himself against the increasingly powerful Revinir. Thisbe grapples with guilt and worry from multiple directions as her relationship with Fifer continues its downward spiral.

When things are at their bleakest and everything is on the line, Fifer is forced to make a decision that could change her destiny forever.

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

480 pages, Hardcover

First published February 4, 2020

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

[Keefe Sencen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know that dragons can be fluffy! Aww... "Mommy, mommy!! A fluffy dragon!!" Mom: "That's nice dear..."

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLLY MOTHER OF GOD WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!
ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL!! I LOVE EVERYTHING
The stakes are higher than ever before, more danger, more action, emotions, cry, happiness and CHLIFFHANGER IS KILLING ME RIGHT NOW
the story begins incredibly strong with Dev held captivr by the Revinir AND THREATEND AND TORTURED ANDTROWN OUT OF THE WINDOW THE FALL TO HIS DEATH!!! fortunately a dragon catches him with his teeth and brings him to the calelands to thr ghost dragons for the dragon is non other than DROCK!!
Meanwhile Artimé is IN A CIVIL WAR!! Frieda and her dissenters, friend vs foe, all artimeans are fighting against each other AND ATTACK THE ARTIMÉ HEROES!!
Thisbe arrives with Maoveb, Rohan and the black eyed slaves on Grogon the ghost dragon to aid Fider and team. ARTIMÉ US IN COMPLETE RUIN!! The heroes team up together to to reinstate order. Frieda spreads lies and rumors about aaron, the twins and their friends. They plan a siege to keep everyone out the mansion.
They all train and prepare. When the time arrives, aaron plans a surpise approach only to be attacked. Magical compartments and weapons are being thrown. Even thr lethal ones. Eventually the heroes are spelled frozen and are being moves to the tubes (lounge and library) to destroy the tubes. now They are in a place WITHOUT FOOD AND WATER!! HOW CRUEL!!
Fifer is even attacked with heart attack components!! At a certain moment Frieda is invisible and sledhammers are being thrown from the sky and with the ruin and without a roof the no one can hide!! The teams work on 3d window's to no avail. The situation grows more dangerous. Thisbe tells Fifer to kill Frieda, other wise they won't survive. At last Fifer manages with help from Siber to trow the Ever Never component that end Frieda. Artimé once again loses the magic. Everything collapses but the heroes are freed. Now they must decide who the next head mage will be. It is decides that Fifer deserves the titel for she has earned it. She is thorn with guild but accepts. Artimé is back again and Simber is morethan happy to have as his confidant and friend for they have a special bond.
An other part of the story, Dev gets imaes too for has had the ancient broth, he sees a palace, river and old man. He and the ghost dragon Astrid fly to the palace. She tells Dev that the palace belonged Ashguard Suresh from the Suresh family. Long ago he ruled together with the old dragons (gohst dragons) but was attacked by the king and the suresh children where forced to abduct the girl (nadia Stowe (thisbe, fifer mother) by pirates. Dev is a descendent of the Suresh line and feels a stro g pull to the palace. He stays there and find refuge for the fist time in his life he feels like he is home. Very emotional.
B1ack to Artimé, thisbe and Fifer are still cold to each other. The black eyed kids train and Maiven and Florence became friends. Fifer wants to interview the artimeans to give them a chance for remorse. The bad ones are banished to the island of dragons for it's deserted. They rebuild Artimé AGAIN!! and Fifer steps in to her roll as leader, but Thisbe wants to go back to the land of th dragos. She feels a real pull and must save it at all cost. That makes the split even more real. Rohan and Thisbe have cute scenes together and he supports her in everythin!! Fifer doesn't really bother with the land unfortunately, her heart lies with Artime and Thisbe's in thr land of the dragons. The black eyed people are the rightfull rulers!!
Dev is almost spotted by the Revinir and the dragons. He dives in the river and it's a devastated scene. POOR DEV HAS SO MUCH TO SUFFER. But he is save again for he is a true surviver. He still doesn't know why Thisbe 'left' him...
Finally thisbe and Fifer have a heart to heart and try to repare their relationship. VERY EMOTIONAL AND IMPORTANT SCENE!!
At last the Revinir appears in the jungle and TAKES FIFER AND THISBE AWAY!! they are captured in her claws and fifer sends a message to NOT COME FOR THEM!!
WHAT NOW, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SEPT!! UNFAIR I NEED ANWSERS!!

[AlaniG705 · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I'm honest, compared to the first book this one was a total disappointment. It's not that I'm growing out of it, because I read the first one again after this. It seems very rushed and straitforeward, and boring and simplistic. Also, the setting is described poorly, except when discribing the palace. So sad. But also, this book only mentions Drocks fire, which is not a really memorable point in the story, and shouldn't be the title. I only continued reading because I wanted to know what happened.

[Deanna Holdsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super fun story! You'll be turning pages quickly while sitting on the edge of your seat.
Thisbe and Fifer Stowe are twins who have drawn apart because of their different experiences over the past year or so. However, their home Artime is in danger. New head mage, Frieda Stubbs, is doing her best to get all the citizens of Artime to fight against the Stowe family. With Artime in this danger the girls, with their family and friends come to fight and restore the peace and beauty to their homeland. When family members and friends are trapped in rooms that no longer have an exit they must act fast to save them. The battle rages on....Can Artime be rescued?
Dev was left in the Revinir's castle when Thisbe headed back to Artime. The Revinir throws Dev out a window and believes him to be dead. However, with the help of a ghost dragon Dev finds himself in a deserted land that he feels belonged to his ancestors. Dev ends up living in this land alone and manages to survive one visit from the Revinir. Will he be able to survive another visit from this dragon leader?
I absolutely loved this addition to the series. The people of Artime and the other lands are so interesting they have such exciting quests too. Be sure to read this book, with the others in the series soon.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It felt like this book was more chopped up than the previous stories and the foreshadowing comments were annoying. It ended in a total cliff hanger, which I really do not like. I have stuck it out this far though, and will wait for the next (last?) installment in September. The girls really need to get over themselves.

[Cora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, though it wasn't as good as the others in the series, was still amazing. The plot was thrilling, the ending a gigantic cliffhanger, and the characters as dynamic as always. I love that the tension between Thisbe and Fifer is finally on its way to being resolved. And I love that they found people to rely on, between Sky and Florence. I need the sixth book, and I can't believe I have to wait until September!

[Kiele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more 4.5 than 4 or 5 stars. It might be the influence of me reading on my computer that makes me think this, but I don't think that is all of it. The series is starting to maybe seem a little... repetitive. Also, I was not a big fan of the whole Frieda Stubbs problem. But that ending! Oof. I want the next book, and I don't know if I can't wait until September!

[kendall₊ ⊹ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like The Unwanteds Quests has ups and downs in the series, I really liked bk. 4 but I didn't like bk. 3. I didn't really like Dragon Fire (bk. 5). I feel like I only got into it at the very end like the last 40 pages which is kinda sad. I don't really know what to expect with bk. 6.

[Sophia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 🌟 I definitely could have lived without this spin off series but all overall it was a pretty good young teen, tween series.

[Atli Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, these books aren't what they used to be and I can't believe I just gave a Unwanteds book 2 stars.

The first two books in the original Unawanteds series are two of my favorite books I've read. The biggest problem with this spinoff series is maybe mostly that I'm too old for the books now, which is sad if it's true. I just don't feel the same connection to the characters as I once did and as a much as I love Lisa as a writer, I feel she's just added to many useless characters.

I might be in the minority but kitten annoys me so much, she just feels so pointless. And don't get me started on Frieda Stubbs, basically a less magical Gondoleery Rattrapp. Where this book fails to do and quite frankly most of the books have this problem, is I don't feel like the characters are making their own decisions. They haven't seemed like really people with real emotions. I swear Lani could do something that any other character could do but Lani does it because she hasn't shown up in a while.

There are too many characters and they're so poorly written, every adult acts like they're in grade school. the older characters that were kids seem to have gotten dumber and less independent.

Also, nothing Happened in almost 500 pages. The civil war bit was so unnecessary and didn't really change much other than Fifer becoming Head Mage. Yeah, that's smart, let a 13-year-old who basically whined their whole life that they weren't given enough responsibility and no one outside of 10 or so characters actually likes, be in charge. Seems smart.

This series and the original had so much potential to be so much better. The story as a whole is interesting but there was no need for this series to be 7 books. It's starting to feel like the writing is rushed which is a shame because other than the Island of Legends the first series was fantastic. The biggest knock on the two series and the reason I struggled to finish the book is that the books haven't grown up with the readers.

Like I said I loved the first couple of books in the original series, having read them more than any other book, but that was over six years ago. It's really sad because I felt attached to the characters they had personality, their own personality, I cared for them. I was legitimately sad when Megan died.

well, if you read my rambling, you're most likely yelling at your screen at me. But I just want to say love the world Lisa has created, at points too much. I would love as much as anyone else to see this as a movie series or show. I'm just mostly upset that I've grown up and books haven't with me.

[Maria-Andrea Nivon Galvez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would you hate me if I told you I hate this?
I hate Fifer. Thisbe.
Well everyone else that I’m supposed to like I actually like. Except for Samheed. I disliked him since the first series and unfortunately, unlike Lani who I grew to admire and appreciate. Or Aaron whose feelings I’ve had towards him have been such a pleasing emotional rollercoaster. Samheed has flatlined.
Fifer and Thisbe have just plummeted. They are selfish. Self-absorbed. Ego sensitive. Self-righteous. Fleshbags.
Why is it that the ‘children’ or the younger siblings of the main hero always stink?
Marie Lu’s Legend series. Day’s brother. Stinks. You grow to like him but it’s a long ride. JK Rowling’s Cursed Child. Need I say more?
Boring. Pointless. I just feel like this series could’ve been condensed in five books. With fluff. Or perhaps three or four books with something half baked. Nothing, and I mean nothing, about this series has actually improved.

[LeeAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one might be my favorite of the spin-off series so far, but I said that with the last one too. Several quotes stood out to me, and the role of Frieda Stubbs taking over as Head Mage, and all the dissenters blindly following her hit a little to close to home right now.

“‘The older I get, the more right I am,’ said Ishibashi with a glint in his eye”(283).

“‘I’d forgotten them for a blissful little while.’ She paused, then added, ‘Sometimes forgetting is nicer than remembering’”(328).

“‘Time will tell, I suppose. That’s really all we have’”(345).

“Of all things he’d stolen, it [a book] was the only one that he regretted. Probably because books had souls...Books had feelings”(351).

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edit: still 3 stars. Just not as intriguing as books 4 and 2. Not as crazy as book 3, but just not as interesting. Fifer is starting to get under my skin.

2.5
Horrible ending. It's not a cliff hanger as much as leaving off in the middle of a sentence. Otherwise, interesting book. More questions than answers. Sad (and confusing) to see artime fall into civil war. In this series, artime is my least favorite area. All the chapters not in artime are best. Interesting that dev now has his own chapters.

[emrel woody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in two days because I have no self control when it comes to reading the Unwanteds books. This is honestly my favorite in the new series so far, and I absolutely loved it. As soon as I finished this I wanted the next book. I love how this book was more in Artime than the land of the dragons as well, and it was so suspenseful with the issues they were facing at home where it's suppose to be safe. Plus more Samheed moments= a very happy me. I don't want to go into too many spoilers, but I love this series as a whole!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was interesting to see how the story continues, but I feel like this book and the last one were kind of trying to stretch out the story when it shouldn't have been. I also feel that some of what has been said in the series prior is kind of being rewritten and changed when it shouldn't be.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is the best of the series so far! There’s a lot happening in this one and a lot of character development and pieces of the stories coming together. I am really looking forward to reading the next one in the series when it comes out. I’m really glad I re-read the others from this series to help me remember all of the stuff going on.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

My name is Simber, and I'm torn inside. As a giant winged cheetah, I've pledged to support the head mage of Artime. However, Aaron gave the position to Frieda Stubbs, and she's a despicable person. She's doing all she can to tear the citizens apart, and she's determined to kill all of the Stowes. I hate that Aaron's put me in this position. However, I told Frieda that I will not harm Aaron, Thisbe, or Fifer, so I know she doesn't trust me anymore. Most of the remaining citizens support her, while most of her opponents have left the city. Due to my pledge, I can't help anyone fighting against Frieda, so can she ever be stopped? I wish I could talk to my best friend Florence, but she rightfully doesn't trust me either. And with the Revinir ready to start a war with Artime, will peace ever return to the island?

You should read the series from the beginning. It's been difficult reading the series as it's being written, since I must wait a year or two before getting my hands on the sequels. This makes it more confusing, as the books have so many characters to remember. The cast is a mixture of humans, dragons, and other creatures with various backstories. The nice thing in this book is that most of the plot takes place in Artime. The main characters display great determination, ingenuity, and teamwork to overcome overwhelming odds. The biggest conflicts involve Frieda Stubbs's divisive leadership in Aritme, and the Revinir's mysterious movements from afar. As I've said in other posts, Frieda's behavior reminds me of political leaders using lies, fear, and "patriotism" to justify their violent strategies and rhetoric. Her supporters greatly outnumber the protagonists, but the negativity of her style creates a fragile position. The twins, Thisbe and Fifer, continue their personal conflict, but it seems out of character that they've gone so long without any feelings talk. It eventually comes to an end. Overall, I enjoyed this book more than some others in the series, since the plot seemed more focused. I assume the sequel will target the Revinir and her brain-washed dragons.

[mental ensemble · Rating 3 out of 5]

Positives: beautiful magical world with unique magical creatures. Loving found family. Mischievous twin girls with strong unruly magical abilities.
*the twins finally reconcile.

Negatives: Implied that the negative events bring out the best in people. Lack of parental guidance or appropriate adult child relationships. Inappropriately heavy leadership decisions laid on children. Idiotic adults and immature child leaders. I hate how repetitive the mistakes are. Another child mage… after another unprepared death of a head mage.

Glaring Inaccuracies
*in previous books it was clearly layed out that pressing all the buttons in the Kitchener tube leads to the jungle. For some reason this book says one button leads there.
*mrs. Octavia does not freeze when Artime disappears.

Triggers for sensitive minds

Physically violence: inhuman treatment of prisoners human and animal, cruel tyranny, slavery (work based), illness from hunger and dehydration, civil war, description of wounds, forced drinking of magical broth that causes physical changes, isolation, various forms of coercion, fighting to escape and to rescue with some lethal force used, mind control via magical animal instincts, weaponized fire, smoke inhalation.
Battle in Arteme with various magical weapons.
Death of magical statue who is revived, death of a villain. Kidnapping


Emotional pain: loss and grief of loved one, fear of death and imprisonment, abandonment, coercion, inappropriately heavy leadership decisions laid on children, grappling with the weight of taking a life.

[Amelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 20%.

I think it’s time for me to be honest with myself and admit that these books just aren’t working for me anymore. By book 5 in the original Unwanteds series, I was utterly invested - book 6, Island of Graves, is my favorite from both series - but it’s taken me months and multiple tries to pick this one up. There are so many characters, doing so many different things with various groups of people in so many different places, and I just don’t seem to care enough to keep up with the dozens of constantly-moving pieces anymore.

I ultimately picked up the audio to try and get through it once and for all. Do not do that. The audiobook is horribly, painfully bad. I understand that it must be difficult to create a distinctive voice for each character when there are 40+ in play, but every single one seemed to have a different completely nonsensical accent (especially since most of them were born and raised in the same place). More than once I was thrown completely and had to stop - never once in 11 books did I read Simber’s lines and think “slow mocking impersonation of William Shatner, but make it ~country~.” No. Just no.

[Linnéa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Det går inte bra för Artimé. Frieda Stubbs och the dissenters ökar i popularitet och plötsligt står Aaron och Fifer framför ett möjligt inbördeskrig. Thisbie kommer till undsättning tillsammans med de black-eyed children!

Ju längre jag kommer in i serien, desto mer framträder svagheterna (eller så är det jag som har blivit mindre förlåtande). Det är främst två saker jag stör mig på, först och främst är det berättartekniken som är väldigt mycket tell, don’t show. Och det är inte bara att den beskriver allt, utan att det överbeskriver (Exempel: Maja gick och pratade med Alfons om investeringar, de kom fram till att det är bättre att spara långsiktigt än att blixtinvestera i börsen. Efter deras samtal gick Maja hem och pratade med Örjan. Hon förklarade vad hon och Alfons kom fram till tidigare under dagen.). Den andra saken som jag stör mig på är att alla från Unwanteds-serien (som nu är äldre än mig, minst 25) dels inte ser problemet med att barn ska få utkämpa krig etc och att de själva inte har mognat mer än sagda barn. Inte ens statyerna som ska vara oerhört visa tänker ett steg längre… Men, det är bara två böcker kvar och denna slutade i en enorm cliffhanger, så...

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book is interesting! Nobody likes Aaron taking the role of mage for Artime. And there becomes an uprising and Frieda Stubbs is the leader of that. Aaron gives his role to Friedda but that is a big mistake because she wants to kill all the Stowes and destroy the whole mansion. She destroys everything. We find out that Maiven Taveer is the stowe’s grandma. Which makes Thisbe and Fifer a princess. And that Thisbe and Fifer’s mom was from the land of the dragons and kidnapped by pirates and taken to quill. It is all connecting and making sense. Thisbe and the others fly over to Artime on ghost dragons to help stop the civil war going. They end up stopping it and Fifer is forced to kill Frieda Stubbs to save Artime. Fifer then takes on the role of the mage. Everything starts going well towards the end of the book till the Revinir find the twins in Artime and steals them away to the land of the dragons. Lastly, Dev is still alive and goes to his ancestors castle since he feels a connection towards the place.

[Allison ♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Damn, that was pretty intense. We've now this is Civil War in Artimé, and Frieda Stubbs is STILL Head-Mage. Frieda is so full of herself, I don't know how people came close to believing her, let alone following her orders. I have to ask, why is Maiven letting kids play with giant swords, "Uhh Maiven, I accidentally cut Rohan's finger off..."
I don't really agree with Fifer being the new Head-Mage, she's only 13, that's a little too much leadership for a kid her age in my opinion. I think Aaron should have been the Head-Mage instead, just let people suck it up and deal with it. Didn't Seth have some kind of crush on Thisbe? Shouldn't he be jealous of her and Rohan? This book was a bit more confusing than the others, but it may be just me since I haven't read The Unwanteds. I can't wait to see how everything ends up.

[Tim Protiva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible turning point in this sequel series to the original UNWANTEDS. Artimé is at war!
Led by the reckless new head mage, Frieda Stubbs, and swayed by her stoking their fear of the Revinir's return, the people of Artimé have turned against the Stowe family. Aaron and his allies are captured while Fifer is left exposed to mortal danger. Thisbe and the team of black-eyed children from Grimere journey to Artimé to help, leaving Dev behind to fend for himself against the increasingly powerful Revinir. Thisbe grapples with guilt and worry from multiple directions as her relationship with Fifer continues its downward spiral. When things are at their bleakest and everything is on the line, Fifer is forced to make a decision that could change her destiny forever. As I said... the adventure just keeps going!

[Jack Kartchner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was a pretty good book and I would recommend it to other people. I gave it a four star review because it is not as good as the other book in the series and the orignal unwanteds series. I would recommend people reading this because It is still pretty good just not the best.

Spoilers

In this book the dissenters take over. Then thisbe comes back from the dragon realm. Fifer killed the leader of the dissenters and becomes the new head mage and they remake the obliviate spell

[Hannah Belyea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Artimé has been lost to the chaotic rage of its new Head Mage, forcing Fifer and her friends to take daring chances to survive until Thisbe returns with her black-eyed allies, each unaware of the clues to the past Dev is slowly traversing as he goes into hiding from the vicious Revinir. McMann will keep fans enraptured with this exhilarating entry that offers plenty of action, mystery and emotion. Will the twins be able to overcome their vast differences in time to save their home - and can they pull it off in time to save Grimere, as well?

[Joseph D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 5 of the Unwanteds Quests series. This installment picks up where the last book left off. I do not know what it is about this series, but I am having a hard time finishing it. There are only two books left and it will be a push to get through those. Albeit I am having a hard time with the series, it is still a good series and I feel that young readers could love. There is plenty of peril, although it almost has a sameness to it and I think that is my struggle. ​

Joseph McKnight
http://www.josephmcknight.com

[Lizzy (Elizabeth) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the stories of the Unwanteds and I love all the other books by the Lisa Mcmann.
I love these books and they are great! But the series is getting long, and the same things keep happing.
The entire book was them fighting Frieda Stubbs and the dissenters to get Artime back. There was a bit of Dev, and that was interesting. And Fifer and Thisbe fixed their relationship. And Fifer becomes head mage. But that was about it.
I still loved the book, and it was a great read, just not my favorite one in the series.

[Carsyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good, although like the previous one it felt more like a leg of the journey as opposed to a great standalone novel, but I really liked the first half of the book. The second half was a little disappointing, as I personally feel like it could have used a little more action, but the cliffhanger at the end has me really excited for the next book. I will definitely be on the edge of my seat for the next one when it comes out.

[Maya · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing was a little lazy, I guess. Instead of writing out a conversation, she would say 'They talked about their insecurities.' Just took away from the book.
Dev's POV was literally so boring? I feel like the plot ended at page 300 and there were still 200 pages left.
The problems, especially tensions between the characters, just seemed really silly? And the book literally didn't talk at all about the main conflict that was set up for the past 4 books.

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book so far!!! I like the punishments given. Dev is becoming more complex. Amazing fight scenes. I'm glad the house didn't go back to normal, otherwise, it would have been to easy.

Crazy cliffhanger! So unexpected. I couldn't believe my eyes. At least, there will be a reunion on the next book.

Maiven is so regal. Simber is simber. Haha.