Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Orchard Books (2004), 352 pages
Description
While researching the existence of dragons for an essay that could win him a trip to the Arctic, Chris opens himself to the possibility that a great, ancient treasure exists there, guarded by bears, and that he has some role in its protection.
User reviews
LibraryThing member elliepotten
This is the second book in d'Laceys 'Last Dragon Chronicles' - though it evidently works well enough in its own right, since I got all the way to the end before it even occurred to me that there might have been another book before this one! Although the simplistic cover and larger-than-normal font
Anyway, on to the book itself. David Rain is an aspiring writer who lives with his landlady Liz Pennykettle and her daughter Lucy in a house full of dragons. Not 'real' ones, mind - Liz models them from clay and has hundreds of them in her studio, fondly known as the 'Dragon's Den'. It's only when odd things start to happen that David begins to wonder. Is he really 'imagining' his writing dragon Gadzooks noting helpful hints on his paper pad? Could Liz’s listening and guard dragons really be living up to their names? It quickly transpires that not only are the clay dragons really living and moving, but something much bigger and more dangerous is afoot. Yanked headfirst into a world of dragons and fire, polar bears and ice kingdoms, seers and destinies, David and his new friend Zanna must work with Liz and Lucy to save the day and protect everything they hold dear...
On occasion the complicated storyline, with its weaving legends and histories and magic, seemed to leap away from me for a moment, and I had to stop and focus to draw the threads back together. In hindsight, one or two of those little leaps could have been more to do with my missing the first book than with the writing itself! D'Lacey has created a fascinating world, intertwining the familiar with the novel, the historical with the modern – fire with ice. I must say that the human characters were eclipsed for me by the wonderful clay dragons, at once comically anthropomorphic and achingly cute, and by Bonnington, the Pennykettles' feisty thief of a cat. I couldn't help but smile at their capers and definitely felt myself welling up once or twice at the more moving moments!
All in all, for me the overall story and characters won out over the occasional moments of confusing mythology and minor plot hops, and the sporadic bouts of less-than-stellar writing. I was well and truly absorbed in David's quest for the truth about the death of Gawain, the last living dragon, and what happened to his fire tear – his life spark, as it were - when he was gone. The chapters were snappy and ended on mini-cliffhangers, and the whole book finished on a slightly ominous note that made me want to read on. Time to buy the rest of the series, methinks - including that skipped first book!
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scream 'children's story', don't be fooled: this is actually a pretty complex little novel and its hero is a college student rather than a schoolboy. Age 13 and upwards would be about right, I think.Anyway, on to the book itself. David Rain is an aspiring writer who lives with his landlady Liz Pennykettle and her daughter Lucy in a house full of dragons. Not 'real' ones, mind - Liz models them from clay and has hundreds of them in her studio, fondly known as the 'Dragon's Den'. It's only when odd things start to happen that David begins to wonder. Is he really 'imagining' his writing dragon Gadzooks noting helpful hints on his paper pad? Could Liz’s listening and guard dragons really be living up to their names? It quickly transpires that not only are the clay dragons really living and moving, but something much bigger and more dangerous is afoot. Yanked headfirst into a world of dragons and fire, polar bears and ice kingdoms, seers and destinies, David and his new friend Zanna must work with Liz and Lucy to save the day and protect everything they hold dear...
On occasion the complicated storyline, with its weaving legends and histories and magic, seemed to leap away from me for a moment, and I had to stop and focus to draw the threads back together. In hindsight, one or two of those little leaps could have been more to do with my missing the first book than with the writing itself! D'Lacey has created a fascinating world, intertwining the familiar with the novel, the historical with the modern – fire with ice. I must say that the human characters were eclipsed for me by the wonderful clay dragons, at once comically anthropomorphic and achingly cute, and by Bonnington, the Pennykettles' feisty thief of a cat. I couldn't help but smile at their capers and definitely felt myself welling up once or twice at the more moving moments!
All in all, for me the overall story and characters won out over the occasional moments of confusing mythology and minor plot hops, and the sporadic bouts of less-than-stellar writing. I was well and truly absorbed in David's quest for the truth about the death of Gawain, the last living dragon, and what happened to his fire tear – his life spark, as it were - when he was gone. The chapters were snappy and ended on mini-cliffhangers, and the whole book finished on a slightly ominous note that made me want to read on. Time to buy the rest of the series, methinks - including that skipped first book!
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LibraryThing member woosang
Book 2 of this Children's Series, this book focus's on the dragons themselves and the people who share their lives with them. David makes a wish to know the secret of the Dragon's tear and this sets off a string of events that sees the return of Gwilanna from history. She tries to force the secret
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of the tear and create a full dragon but she is twarted by the teamwork of David, Lucy and a Polar Bear. Much better than the first book. Show Less
LibraryThing member hpluver07
This book was better than the first, but still didn't seem outstanding to me
LibraryThing member monkey22
Max, a teenage boy, is very adventurous in so many
LibraryThing member SheilaCornelisse
This was an excellent book for young readers. Filled with fantasy and suspense, it kept me interested from cover to cover. The history and importance of the dragons is far more emphasized than in the first book of this series. Although it is obviously written for readers in the 9-12 year old age
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bracket, it is an enjoyable light read for adults. Show Less
LibraryThing member PardaMustang
I am a huge dragon fan. I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel to The Fire Within. In Icefire, we are given a greater introduction to the Pennykettle dragons and the rich history behind them. D'Lacey is an excellent storyweaver and I devoured this book within a few hours. Looking forward to reading the
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next one! Show Less
LibraryThing member adventures
This was a good book, with fantasy, mystery, adventure, and answered some unanswered questions from the last book.
LibraryThing member aaron.hairstone88
This is the second book in the Dragon Chronicle series. David, finds more about the dragons, and finds out about Elizabeth's ancestors. He's about to find the secret about dragons, until Gwilan comes over. Gwilan is a sibyl, a witch.
LibraryThing member jarvenpa
Hmm. It may not be fair, after all, to pick up a book mid series and judge it. I veered wildly in my opinion of this book, from "oh, how fascinating" to "my lord, this is so badly written". But I did keep reading. I'm fond of YA books and often find they have the most creative writing around. That
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said....well, this one didn't. Though I like the author's imagination, and will likely look for others by him. Show Less
LibraryThing member rata
This book, Icefire sequel to The Fire Within was more intriguing and has restored a little enthusiasm to read on through the series. Icefire told a lot more of how dragons once ruled the world etc and by the end of this book i could finally get my head around the dragon existence thing. Once again
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David Rain is set a task when his university tutor sets him a writing project on the existence - or not - of dragons. The tantalizing prize - a fully-funded research trip to the Arctic - seems just within his grasp. David starts to research the subject and soon discovers a connection between dragons and the Arctic just as it begins to snow. Is it only a coincidence? Or could deeper forces be at work? As David starts to uncover more about the dragons, he finds himself drawn down a path from which there is no going back to a time when dragons really did exist, and their secrets were guarded by the polar bears of the Arctic. If David is going to have any chance of winning the research trip, he has to open his mind to the legend of dragons and the mysterious secret of Icefire. As in teh first book, htere is an element of romance when David falls in love wiht another student, Zanna, and goes into emotional turmoil dividign his loyalties between Sophie & Zanna. Lucy is just as annoying in this book as in the first. However Henry Bacon, the neighbour, evolves as an interesting character in this book. A much better read. Show Less
LibraryThing member JanW.B1
This book is the second book in the Last Dragon Chronicles. The same characters that appeared in "Fire Within" appear in ths book, plus a couple of new ones. Daniel get a wishing dragon and wishes that he would know the secret of Gawain's fire tear. "Aunty Gwineth" comes the next day and it soon
I think this book was very interesting and fun to read. The characters seemed slightly more realistic then the previous book(not saying that they weren't realstic in that book). Also it was more focused on dragons and bears than on squirrels like in the last book. This book also had this mythical explanation to what is happening today, global warming and stuff like that. I probably also liked it because I think bears are really cool. Even though this book had a slightly childish feel to it, the story held me on my toes and very excited. In all, keep up the good work, Mr. d'Lacey!
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becomes clear that a new dragon will be born from one of Liz's clay eggs. At the same time, Daniel is to write an essay on the existance of dragons, and the prize is a trip to the Arctic. The dragon baby is born, but Daniel with the help of his friend, Zanna defeat "Aunty Gwinneth", who turns out to be the ancient sybil Gwillanna. Daniel finds out that bears protect the fire tear, and he himself gains entrance to the world of dragons. He prepares for the trip to the Arctic, even though he didn't win but paid for the trip.I think this book was very interesting and fun to read. The characters seemed slightly more realistic then the previous book(not saying that they weren't realstic in that book). Also it was more focused on dragons and bears than on squirrels like in the last book. This book also had this mythical explanation to what is happening today, global warming and stuff like that. I probably also liked it because I think bears are really cool. Even though this book had a slightly childish feel to it, the story held me on my toes and very excited. In all, keep up the good work, Mr. d'Lacey!
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Subjects
Awards
Angus Book Award (Shortlist — 2006)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2003
2008-05-22
Physical description
352 p.; 5.16 inches
ISBN
1843621347 / 9781843621348