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Dragonrealm #2
Ice Dragon
The dragon emperor has fallen and the remaining drake lords now vie for control. Yet, when Duke Toma, the emperor's son, turns to one for aid in revenge against the wizard Cabe Bedlam and his companions, the drake little realized understands what he unleashes. Unknown to all, the Ice Dragon has other plans for the land...cold, bitter plans that may spell the end for both drake and man.
255 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
9 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
Richard A. Knaak
282 books1,477 followersRichard A. Knaak is the bestselling author of Dragonlance novels, the Dragonrealm and Black City Saint series (his own creations), six novels for Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo series, and six works in the Warcraft universe. He has also written several non-series fantasy books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
October 18, 2017
This is the second book in the Dragonrealm series. I read the first novel (which is included in the bindup edition that I own) a few months ago. I think I enjoyed this one a bit more than the first.
The writing style is different than I'm used to, but seems to be fairly similar to the few other fantasy novels from the '70's and '80's that I've read. Now that I'm getting used to it, I think I like it more than I expected. I still wish that there was more character development, because I don't feel that attached to any of them, but I do really enjoy the story overall.
And the world is really well explored. It's similar to a lot of fantasy worlds and doesn't overkill with details, which is nice. It feeds them to you slowly, letting you ease into the world that is being created. The magic is a little lacking, but it also isn't a really big part of the overall story. There was also some nice development between the dragons and humans here, with a little more of the elves as well. I actually really liked Haiden. He was a lot of fun and possibly more developed than any of the others.
The writing style is different than I'm used to, but seems to be fairly similar to the few other fantasy novels from the '70's and '80's that I've read. Now that I'm getting used to it, I think I like it more than I expected. I still wish that there was more character development, because I don't feel that attached to any of them, but I do really enjoy the story overall.
And the world is really well explored. It's similar to a lot of fantasy worlds and doesn't overkill with details, which is nice. It feeds them to you slowly, letting you ease into the world that is being created. The magic is a little lacking, but it also isn't a really big part of the overall story. There was also some nice development between the dragons and humans here, with a little more of the elves as well. I actually really liked Haiden. He was a lot of fun and possibly more developed than any of the others.
September 25, 2024
In this second novel, we follow many of the characters from last time, sprinkled in with some new ones that I honestly have enjoyed seeing more than the mains! Not to say that I dislike the mains, they're fine, but they are also in my opinion pretty standard. Cabe does protagonist things. Gwen is interesting but I feel like she never gets the chance to really thrive now that she's married to Cabe. I want to see her do things on her own more instead of just tagging along with her husband and playing support most of the time. These are all nit-picks of course.
Following the Blue and Green Dragon Kings was fun, as was the introduction of elf characters, and the continuing conundrum of the library gnomes. The Draka made me think of a large but cute axolotl, and I hope to see more of them.
I also really enjoyed that the teaser of what would happen in this book was seen as a 'smoking gun' in Firedrake (book 1). Lovely continuity.
The only thing I'd change is oddly enough, more descriptions of things or creatures. The Ice Dragon's "Queen" for example, wasn't really described in any physical way that could give you a good mental picture. It was quite abstract.
All that aside, another great read. I've bought the rest of the series and look forward to seeing more.
Following the Blue and Green Dragon Kings was fun, as was the introduction of elf characters, and the continuing conundrum of the library gnomes. The Draka made me think of a large but cute axolotl, and I hope to see more of them.
I also really enjoyed that the teaser of what would happen in this book was seen as a 'smoking gun' in Firedrake (book 1). Lovely continuity.
The only thing I'd change is oddly enough, more descriptions of things or creatures. The Ice Dragon's "Queen" for example, wasn't really described in any physical way that could give you a good mental picture. It was quite abstract.
All that aside, another great read. I've bought the rest of the series and look forward to seeing more.
January 31, 2020
This book feels like a young author's early works. There are some cool ideas in the book. But it reads more like the summary of good scenes than the actual action. "Show not tell" is violated every single page. The pace is slow at times in the middle, with travel scenes and musings, but no real changes. I liked it, but I'm not going to keep reading the series.
February 4, 2015
Lepší než Ohnivý drak. Čtení mě bavilo, neustále mě poutalo k sobě. Linka Gryfa a vévody Tomy se mi líbila víc než Cabea a Gwen. Vystupuje tu víc dračích králů! Super. Mám hodně otázek a jsem moc ráda, že mám k dispozici třetí díl.
Svižně napsané, přečtené je to za chvíli, přesto nedám plný počet, ještě ne :)
Svižně napsané, přečtené je to za chvíli, přesto nedám plný počet, ještě ne :)
January 16, 2018
I started this book a day after I finished the first one of Dragonrealm series. I liked this one even more, though I'm not sure I fully understand how and why and what the hell made the Ice Dragon mastermind such a stupid evil plan but anyway... the book is good and worth reading!
October 24, 2017
This is a tough one to rate. I tend to hover at 3.5. I came off the first book all hot for the second but it just started off so slow that it felt like a chore to get to the real action. However, the world is still a beautiful place. The characters are what they are. I find Nathan extremely privileged and quite unrelatable.
[[SPOILERS]] His uncle saves him during these trials and tribulations nearly every single time so far. I'm always longing for Nathan to return. The Gryphon is another I struggled with. I think I liked him better in the first book. I wasn't a fan of his journey, or whatever role he played in the climax, in this book. I do look forward to Wolfhelm and his role in that tale.
Overall, I found myself enjoying other side characters. Mostly learning about the remaining Dragon Kings you had yet to see. I did enjoy the overall story being told once I felt it was actually being told.
[[SPOILERS]] His uncle saves him during these trials and tribulations nearly every single time so far. I'm always longing for Nathan to return. The Gryphon is another I struggled with. I think I liked him better in the first book. I wasn't a fan of his journey, or whatever role he played in the climax, in this book. I do look forward to Wolfhelm and his role in that tale.
Overall, I found myself enjoying other side characters. Mostly learning about the remaining Dragon Kings you had yet to see. I did enjoy the overall story being told once I felt it was actually being told.
February 5, 2019
Samotný příběh je strhující a mnohem zajímavější než Ohnivý drak. Potud jsem spokojená. Co mne ale neustále vytáčelo, byl styl vyprávění. Stále jsem byla vytrhávána z příběhu nejasnými formulacemi, přeskakováním z osoby na osobu během vyprávění (a to často v rámci odstavce). Jakmile třeba někdo vzpomínal na jinou osobu, náhle nebylo jasné, zda zmiňované detaily náleží k popisu vzpomínajícího nebo vzpomínaného a podobně. Po téhle stránce to byla velmi otravná kniha - a myslím, že je to spíš problém překladu (Huma se mi četl naprosto v pohodě na rozdíl od této série).
Takže ano i ne. Nápady, svět, postavy - zábava. Závěr vyřešený zásahem Křisťálového - budiž, dalo se to snést. Jazyk a text - ach, zase se projevily moje masochistické čtenářské sklony.
Takže ano i ne. Nápady, svět, postavy - zábava. Závěr vyřešený zásahem Křisťálového - budiž, dalo se to snést. Jazyk a text - ach, zase se projevily moje masochistické čtenářské sklony.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2020
This book, surprisingly, was better than its predecessor. It also started way slower, which brought down its score quite a bit, but the ending began to feel like an actual fantasy book. The characters have interesting quirks, but the issue is that they don't feel like people in the slightest. Sure, the Gryphon is a cool idea visually for a character, but his personality feels wishy-washy at best. The most glaring issue of this character dearth is Gwendolyn; she's boring and always unhelpful. It feels like her one role is to be beautiful and have red hair.
Anywho, this book was a little better than the first, but not enough to entice me into reading anymore of the series.
2.5/5 stars, rounded down
Anywho, this book was a little better than the first, but not enough to entice me into reading anymore of the series.
2.5/5 stars, rounded down
March 27, 2018
A dragon king has gone mad!!
Looking to cover the world in ice.
His solution, so man does not prevail in time over dragons.
Kill everyone and everything, with ice.
Once more, different races mix in.
More of the Dragonrealms back history revealed.
A first glimpse at some of the other, more secretive dragons.
As well as a few, maybe willing to co-exist with man. If a way can be found.
First they must stop there mad brother kings attempt to freeze it all.
Again main points tied up.
With the realm steadily growing larger.
As we find out about more races and kingdoms.
Looking to cover the world in ice.
His solution, so man does not prevail in time over dragons.
Kill everyone and everything, with ice.
Once more, different races mix in.
More of the Dragonrealms back history revealed.
A first glimpse at some of the other, more secretive dragons.
As well as a few, maybe willing to co-exist with man. If a way can be found.
First they must stop there mad brother kings attempt to freeze it all.
Again main points tied up.
With the realm steadily growing larger.
As we find out about more races and kingdoms.
January 15, 2019
After enjoying reading the first book, I continued the story with the second book in this series.
The story flows well and was tense till the very end. Knowing the characters by now helps to follow the storyline.
Another enjoyable read. Up to the third book...
The story flows well and was tense till the very end. Knowing the characters by now helps to follow the storyline.
Another enjoyable read. Up to the third book...
January 11, 2021
La primera obra de fantasía épica que leí en mi vida, con 8 años fue una gran revelación. Y con los años y otras obras Richard A. Knaak me ha demostrado ser un maestro dentro del mundo de la fantasía. Recordar que esta obra se escribió antes de que internet fuera lo que es hoy día.
January 31, 2018
great book! loved it!
December 4, 2023
Kniha s pomalejším začátkem, která se postupně začíná zlepšovat. Autor přináší atraktivní svět a příběh v něm se pomalu postupně rozjíždí.
January 8, 2025
Solid continuation from the first book - good development of new major actors.
February 22, 2025
This is the second of the series I have read . I enjoyed the writing more than the first and can’t wait to read the third .
March 14, 2017
I must be a proper fantasy nerd because I enjoyed this book. I liked the mythology here as well with magicians with the silver streaks in their hair, the races of beings that rose and fell, and even the cheesily named different colored Dragon Lords. The lonely Gryphon is quite likable as well as the Green Dragon and the Blue Dragon. Stereotypical but fun.
October 30, 2018
No better than the first entry of the series, Ice Dragon is weighed down by a long series of conflated names, boring political issues that we are supposed to care about, and bland heroics.
January 10, 2014
This is actually my least favorite book so far. Not that it's bad and lacks all the qualities from the first book. Only that I think this book is too much over-the-top. Everything that happens in this book is way too action packed, and sometimes the story is questionable.
Why would the Ice Dragon be so deluded he'd feed a great evil (which never kills the ice dragon) that will in the end destroy all of the dragonrealm, only because dragons and humans are getting along.
If anything, seeing as the dragons that Richard have created in his stories seem to have something in their skulls, it would be more probable that he'd rally the rest of the dragons to fight against the dragons that have sided with the humans, or try to persuade them to "come to their senses."
Instead, we're faced with a deluded, old, angry, grutty and cold dragon willing to destroy everything to maintain his last shred of honor (honor that has never been compromised at all.)
The characters in this story are still interessting, but as i said, the story is sub-par. The story gives you a lot of "flashbacks" to the previous book, wich feels like filler slots to fill in some extra pages.
All in all, this book felt rushed.
Why would the Ice Dragon be so deluded he'd feed a great evil (which never kills the ice dragon) that will in the end destroy all of the dragonrealm, only because dragons and humans are getting along.
If anything, seeing as the dragons that Richard have created in his stories seem to have something in their skulls, it would be more probable that he'd rally the rest of the dragons to fight against the dragons that have sided with the humans, or try to persuade them to "come to their senses."
Instead, we're faced with a deluded, old, angry, grutty and cold dragon willing to destroy everything to maintain his last shred of honor (honor that has never been compromised at all.)
The characters in this story are still interessting, but as i said, the story is sub-par. The story gives you a lot of "flashbacks" to the previous book, wich feels like filler slots to fill in some extra pages.
All in all, this book felt rushed.
September 17, 2024
New review would be 3.5 stars. It's not 4 just because large parts were about characters I am not that interested in, but it is WAY better than book 1, we actually get insight into Cabe and well as development, some exploration of his relationship with Gwen (although the author seems to not get the messiness of "I like you because you are kinda my ex who was your grandfather"). The secondary characters were also more fun, the Blue Dragon and the Gryphon had a fun dynamic, Toos is a character that rolled straight out of an Eddings novel, and Toma reminded me why he used to be one of my faves. The Seekers however are still annoying as a plot device and Gwen got more human but was also hugely nerfed.
The plot is tighter and more focused, the magic system could use a clearer explanation and the whole D'Shay subplot was annoying and pointless, but the ending was very satisfying.
The plot is tighter and more focused, the magic system could use a clearer explanation and the whole D'Shay subplot was annoying and pointless, but the ending was very satisfying.
June 14, 2024
This series is special to me because of who gave it to me. The whole series, what was published at the time, was purchased for me by my great aunt, someone who's been gone for twelve or so years. I can still remember the ten books tied up with hemp cord but not all in one stack. They were awkwardly tied in five stacks of two so you could see the series laid out on the table, it was a garage sale.
I've always found the series fascinating. The rise and fall of various empires each succeed by the next race. The continent is seeded with various relics and artifacts from these previous empires. Unfortunately the next book is super boring.
I don't have much to say about the story, the scene with the bandits attempting to kidnap the hatchlings is iconic and stands out in my mind.
I've always found the series fascinating. The rise and fall of various empires each succeed by the next race. The continent is seeded with various relics and artifacts from these previous empires. Unfortunately the next book is super boring.
I don't have much to say about the story, the scene with the bandits attempting to kidnap the hatchlings is iconic and stands out in my mind.
June 24, 2020
Oproti rozháranému Ohnivému drakovi je jeho pokračování atmosféričtější, dějové sevřenější a snáze se v něm orientuje, stále však trpí na uspěchanost vyprávění a nedostatek prostoru pro ústřední dějovou linii (jmenuje se to Ledový drak, ale z půlku to je vlastně prequel pro následující svazek, Vlčí přilba...a proto je tam toho ledového draka a jeho kejklí po hříchu málo). Svět Dračích říší svou lehkou bizarností a neortodoxností, naroubovanou na klasickou "magic and dragons" šablonu láká, ale spíš tak k procházce, než nadšenému sledování, co se v něm děje. A to vidím jako hlavní problém začátků této knižní ságy - svět přináší relativně atraktivní, příběhy v něm se odehrávající už ne tak docela.
August 26, 2023
Dragons and Magic, strange creatures and mysterious powers. A pleasant, light-hearted read where sorcerers are sorcerers and swordsmen are swordsmen, and even the most capable do everything in their power to avoid the ancient Dragons.
But older powers still haunt the landscape for those too arrogant to be cautious. What do you do when your most powerful heroes fail, lost for ever, and you are still under siege by two powerfully dangerous villains!
If you enjoy fantasy Knaak should be in your reading list just like Raymond E Feist, David Gemmell, Terry Goodkind, Robert E Howard, Brandon Sanderson, and Robert Jordan.
So very, very better than the likes of Darcy Coates, Alice Feeny, JK Rowling, or the Landover series!
But older powers still haunt the landscape for those too arrogant to be cautious. What do you do when your most powerful heroes fail, lost for ever, and you are still under siege by two powerfully dangerous villains!
If you enjoy fantasy Knaak should be in your reading list just like Raymond E Feist, David Gemmell, Terry Goodkind, Robert E Howard, Brandon Sanderson, and Robert Jordan.
So very, very better than the likes of Darcy Coates, Alice Feeny, JK Rowling, or the Landover series!
March 5, 2014
Really good book. As usual with Knaak's work, the buildup was intense and long, and the conclusion to the problem rather quickly, but I must say nonetheless I truly enjoyed this book. You can easilly fall in love with Knaak's characters, and his horrible (sarcasm) custom of leaving out a lot of unanswered mysteries of the history of the realms leaves you hungering for more and more. I'd totally recommend this book.
October 3, 2010
The rabbit being pulled out of the hat at the end of this book at least makes thematic sense this time. There is significant setup with the opening of the next book, whereas the previous book only contained hints as to this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2013
Another good book in the collection. Kept wanting to read more, so I've already started the next. As I read, I can't help but think that this universe would make an interesting setting for a video game or tabletop.
April 4, 2011
Second part of the 5 books on the dragons saga.
This time old folks face a new enemy that makes dragons and humans work together.
This time old folks face a new enemy that makes dragons and humans work together.
June 13, 2013
An amazing book!!!
November 10, 2014
Was a very thrilling and mysterious adventure. The finale was perfect. I loved Ice Dragon.
May 20, 2015
ok but gryphon is a boring character so far. not enough Cabe.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews