Dragonkeeper, Book 2: Garden of the Purple Dragon

by Carole Wilkinson

Other authorsSonia Kretschmar (Cover artist)
Paper Book, 2012

Status

Available

Call number

A823.3

Publication

Newtown, N.S.W. : Black Dog Books, 2012, ©2005. Paperback

Description

In China during the Han Dynasty, young Ping, doubting that she is the true dragonkeeper, struggles to care for the baby dragon, Kai, in the desolate mountains of Tai Shan, until fate leads her back to the Imperial Palace and the Garden of the Purple Dragon, but even in the safety of the palace, enemies abound and tempt her to try to escape her destiny.

User reviews

LibraryThing member francescadefreitas
If the first book in the trilogy was about Ping growing into her own person, this book is about trust and betrayal - by the end of it, it seems like Ping is the only person she can count on. As she struggled to look after an active baby dragon, old nightmares come back to threaten her, and old
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friends show that there are worse things than loneliness.
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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
This is the second story in the series and interesting. However, there was a bit of a reading gap between book 1 and book 2 and I found it a little difficult to get into the swing of the book. Ping is a great character and her heart is with the Dragon.

I could see some of what was going to happen
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flagged pretty clearly in the story but it was the overall story and the growth in the characters that kept me going.

Interesting series and I'm going to have to keep going with it, possibly with a quicker turnover between reads.
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LibraryThing member mirrani
Garden of the Purple Dragon wasn't as deeply rooted in dragon culture as the first book in this series, Dragon Keeper, had been, but it was still a wonderful read for me. I simply could not put this book down. The author must have spent countless hours researching the culture of China and all of
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the myth and legend surrounding the dragon in order to continue this series, because there is not a moment that has slacked in this aspect in any way.

I wasn't as pleased with Ping in this book, perhaps because she had Danzai to contrast her in the previous one, but she came across as constantly unsure of herself and very clumsy. The entire theme of the book is learning; learning to trust yourself, learning to trust others, learning to trust your instincts, learning what it is to have someone under your care.

Overall, this is a wonderful continuation to the series and I can not wait for the conclusion because I so long to have Ping and Danzai reunited again. He brings so much to these books that I deeply felt the lack of him in this story. Young readers will look forward to the adventure of discovery and will gain strength from seeing someone their own age pulling through the tough times to find something more, knowing that no matter what happens there is always hope and there is always friendship.
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LibraryThing member wishforteax
GARDEN OF THE PURPLE DRAGON had been an intriguing read. The world-building was well written out. The emotion was dead on! It was the pacing of the book that didn't do quite well for me. Overall, a good read.
LibraryThing member ritapt
did not disappoint. fantastic story. and gotta love ping and kai

Language

Original publication date

2005-09

Physical description

367 p.; 21 cm

ISBN

9781742032467

Local notes

In the time of the Han Dynasty in ancient China, a young orphan struggles to fulfill her destiny. Ping has survived her days as a slave at Huangling Palace, but new challenges await her in the desolate mountains of Tai Shan. The aged dragon Danzi is gone, and now it is up to Ping to take care of the baby dragon, Kai. She does her best, but food is scarce, and she must be constantly on the lookout for her enemies. Things seem to get better when fate leads her back to the Imperial Palace, to the Garden of the Purple Dragon. Yet even within these hallowed walls, Ping and Kai are not as safe as they believe.

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