The Fire Ascending (The Last Dragon Chronicles #7)

The Fire Ascending is a surprising and amazing coda to The Last Dragon Chronicles, the mind-blowing fantasy/sci-fi story by Chris D'Lacey. In this volume, D'Lacey weaves together the stories of the alternate universes he has developed over the first six volumes: Earth, Ki:mera, and Co:pern:ica, and another timeline (or two) that I don't want to say too much about so as not to spoil it for those who have yet to read it. He starts the book, however, not with David, Zanna, the Pennykettles, and the dragons, nor with David, Rosa, the Librarium, and the firebirds, but instead with Agawin, whose legend we have been getting in bits and pieces throughout the series. Now we get the back story, and some bendings of that story, as D'Lacey explores paradoxes and the implications of the butterfly effect: if you change one thing in the past, do you change everything? The things that make this volume and the entire Last Dragon Chronicles series special are the memorable, unconventional characters and the philosophical sophistication of the series. I like the way this author does not assume that kids can't handle anything but a happy tale about dragons. There is philosophy and physics in this volume as well as a rollicking, well-plotted fantasy narrative. There is also an awareness that every choice one makes comes with a cost. There are those who will not like the final sections of this volume because of those costs, yet I think the ending fit, and pulled everything together while leaving just enough of a question at the end. My now 4th grade daughter introduced me to this series last year and we have immensely enjoyed reading them together. There is an interview with the Chris D'Lacey at the back of the book and it is clear that he thought long and hard about the importance of having a good ending to a long-running series. I think he delivered!

The last book in The Last Dragon Chronicles satisfyingly pulls together the many threads of "reality" created by author Chris D'Lacey. The previous installment, "Fire World", may have left many readers confused and even angry with the sudden shift to the world of Co:pern:ica. Where were the beloved Pennykettle characters and, most importantly, dragons? A bold move by D'Lacey, "Fire World" created just that - a new world. Or was it? For those who thought that in this final book he'd just pick up from there and bring the parallel characters of David and Rosa to join with David and Zanna to save the day at the Battle of Isenfier, D'Lacey boldly (again) takes the story in a different direction. Or does he? "The Fire Ascending" immediately jumps in to the tale of Agawin, a novice seer, set many years in the past of Earth. Dragons are a part of this world, not yet myth. He meets Grella, the kind-hearted girl who raises the Sibyl, Gwilanna, after her "unusual" birth. It also introduces an Ix/Darkling villain, Voss. Intent on poisoning the last dragon, Galen, with the evil Ix, Voss instead is destroyed (or is he?) and Agawin catches Galen's fire tear. Agawin illumines with him and his role in the history of dragons (and the Pennykettles) is begun. Agawin experiences shifts of time and dimensions, and becomes the means to wrap up all the different storylines and worlds from Earth to Co:pern:ica to Ki:mera. He meets Guinevere, the famous red-haired ancestor of the Pennykettles. He encounters David and Rosa from Co:pern:ica, who Travel to the Earth dimension to try to stop Gwilanna (Gwyneth in the Co:pern:ica dimension), who is trying to unravel the timeline by helping the Ix/Darklings triumph. The complete story of Gwilanna and her importance is revealed. Alexa (the winged daughter of David and Zanna) is finally explained. That is a most interesting plot twist and will not be ruined by "spoilers", but it involves Joseph Henry, the human child of Elizabeth Pennykettle and her husband, Arthur, who chose to be born as a dragon. Eventually, through the efforts of Agawin and Joseph Henry, as well as David, Zanna, Lucy, the ice bears (of course) and the rest of the original Pennykettle characters and dragons (yes, they're back), the final battle of Dragons vs. Ix is waged, if not in the where and when that might be expected. D'Lacey himself described the whole process of writing the books as "organic". He allowed the story to grow and develop as it needed to, and it worked. What might have appeared irrelevant when first read turns out to be significant and D'Lacey weaves all the threads together as completely as the Isenfier Tapestry. There will no doubt be readers who will be somewhat confused with the resolution and upset over the loss of a beloved character at the end. That should be viewed as a tribute to D'Lacey and his ability to create a world (or worlds) that became so endearing to its readers that they were willing to invest themselves so strongly in the story. At the end, and perhaps in a nod to these readers, he adds a scientific twist to the concept of "reality", which, should the reader choose, gives them the hope that, maybe, it all could be possible. Sometimes...

This story is amazing in all ways except one, but that is what makes it good. It is written so that you can barely even infer (unless your a physcic then of course you would know) what will happen next. The only thing I think is not top rate is the organization. When this story starts straight out, I was completely stunned and confused. The last story put us in a whole new setting without warning, but this one was super confusing since this one didn't even have the main characters of the whole series, till midway. And the book keeps switching from setting to setting, making the whole book confusing to read. Are you still with the dragon or are you with David or maybe Alexa? But that is what lets the readers want to keep reading, if they miss a single detail during the intermission of the more suspenseful story, they would miss an important key. Bravo Chris for writing such a book that covers up its disadvantages.

The item was in great condition and read well.

Lovely twists and turn, an intricate plot, and a sense of a profound journey; it is about something bigger than the characters. Wonderful read!

my daughter loved this series

The entire series was beautifully crafted and there is no way to say what I properly feel in written words

At the start it was hard to get into also to understand but it got more interesting and hard to let go of. Overall this is a very good book though in a way I wish there was more books to read because there's always that empty feeling of what to read next after finishing a set of books.

Came in a timely manner considering point of origin