Dark Fire (The Last Dragon Chronicles) facts for kids
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First edition
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| Author | Chris d'Lacey |
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| Cover artist | Angelo Rinaldi |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Last Dragon Chronicles |
| Subject | Dragons |
| Genre | Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc. |
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Publication date
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July 2009 (UK), May 1st, 2010 (US) |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 567 |
| ISBN | 978-1-84616-954-0 |
| OCLC | 319210568 |
| Preceded by | The Fire Eternal |
| Followed by | Fire World |
Dark Fire is an exciting fantasy novel by Chris d'Lacey. It is the fifth book in The Last Dragon Chronicles series. The book was first released in the UK in July 2009 and in the US in May 2010. It continues the adventures of David Rain and his friends as they face new threats from dark forces and discover more about the world of dragons.
The Story of Dark Fire
A Dangerous Start
The story begins with three friends, Arthur, Lucy, and Elizabeth, meeting Rupert Steiner. They receive a mysterious note from a dragon named Gadzooks. The note mentions "Scuffenbury," which is a special burial mound. Legend says a powerful dragon rests there.
Meanwhile, back home, David Rain learns more about Gwilanna. She is a powerful but dangerous sibyl. Gwilanna is threatening to use a dark magical item called the Dark Fire Tear. She wants to use it to get what she wants.
Sad News and New Powers
One night, David and his girlfriend Zanna find out their neighbor, Henry Bacon, is very ill. Henry later passes away. At his funeral, Gwilanna appears and warns David. She wants the obsidian stone and the Dark Fire.
The group meets Henry's sister, Agatha, who is a powerful sibyl. They also learn that Henry left money to Liz and Lucy. David inherits Henry's Arctic collection, and Zanna gets his house. Agatha then teaches Zanna special healing magic.
Attacks and Journeys
Zanna goes to open her new shop with her friends Alexa and Gretel. On the way, they are attacked by strange, dark creatures called semi-Darklings. They are saved by Tam, who uses his spirit Kailar to defeat the creatures. Zanna uses her new healing powers to mend her own wound.
Tam tells David about Rupert Steiner. Rupert has found ancient dragon language translations from a glacier expedition. Lucy also tells David that his ex-girlfriend, Sophie, wants to talk to him. David decides to travel to Africa to find Sophie.
Trouble in Africa
When David arrives in Africa, Sophie's wildlife sanctuary is on fire. His dragon, Grockle, helps put out the flames. Sadly, Sophie has been killed. Her dragon, Grace, is about to shed a special Fire Tear. The semi-Darkling that started the fire is still there. It wants to turn Grace's tear into dark fire.
Sophie's fiancé, Pieter, tries to fight the creature but is also killed. David distracts the Darkling with some dark fire he already has. He captures it and sends it back to the evil Ix, warning them to leave the Pennykettle dragons alone. David leaves Africa, taking Grace's stone body with him. Another dragon, Groyne, catches Grace's Fire Tear during the fight.
Big Revelations
Back home, David tells Zanna a big secret: Alexa is an "angel." She is a special link between dragons and humans. He believes that when dragons are finally revealed to the world, everyone will want to be like Alexa. He also says that people will travel to Ki:mera, which is the home world of the Fain.
A Risky Plan
In the Dragon's Den, David gathers his dragons. He wants to change the dark fire back to normal and return it to Gwillan. Gollygosh will take the dark fire from the obsidian stone. Groyne will mix it with Grace's Fire Tear and some icefire to make it safe. G'reth will wish for Gwillan and Grace to come back to life.
However, Gollygosh is briefly affected by the dark fire. It releases the dark fire too soon. The dark fire enters Liz and her unborn baby, knocking her unconscious. While Zanna helps Liz, David sends Lucy and Tam to Scuffenbury. He doesn't notice that Gwillan is secretly taking Grace's life force for himself.
Scuffenbury's Secrets
Lucy and Tam travel to Scuffenbury. Lucy reads an article about the last meeting of dragons. It says that eleven of the last twelve dragons shed half their Fire Tears and went into a deep sleep. The twelfth dragon, Gawaine, took all eleven tears. Gawaine planned to use them to defeat the evil Ix.
Lucy and Tam arrive at a guesthouse run by Hannah and Clive. They also meet another guest, Mrs. Gee. That evening, they climb Glissington Tor, where the dragon is buried. That night, Lucy has a scary dream about a magical cat.
Strange Happenings at Home
Back at Wayward Crescent, Liz is still unconscious but safe. Gwillan suddenly wakes up. Melanie Cartwright and her mother, Rachel, visit with their dragon, Glade. Glade can sense feelings. Gretel puts the humans to sleep so they don't get in the way. Glade goes upstairs and finds Liz is okay, but the baby's body is in a deep sleep. The baby's life force has moved to Gwillan.
The Cartwrights leave, and David contacts G'Oreal. He tells G'Oreal that Grockle is destroying the semi-Darklings.
Waking the Dragon
Early the next morning, Tam and Lucy climb Scuffenbury Hill. They see a unicorn. As they watch, ancient stones from a monument begin to rise and rebuild the monument. They reveal a chalk carving of a unicorn's horn. Mrs. Gee, a sibyl, rebuilt the monument to wake the unicorn and the dragon.
But Hannah, who knows the Tor's secrets, warns that this legend is wrong. Waking the dragon needs a red-haired girl who is touched by a dragon's spirit. She explains that the dragon in the deep sleep is Gawaine. Gawaine came to Scuffenbury for the unicorn Teramelle's healing powers to help her give birth. Hannah offers to help Mrs. Gee claim the dragon in exchange for one of its scales.
Betrayal and Escape
Gwendolen, Lucy's dragon, is left at the hotel to watch for the mysterious cat. She is surprised to find the cat is real and can do magic and talk! The cat says she is a girl named Bella, turned into a cat by Mrs. Gee.
News reports show dragons being freed worldwide. Hannah tells Lucy that she can wake the dragon by touching it and singing. There is a tunnel under the monument that will let Lucy touch the dragon.
At Wayward Crescent, Zanna is confused by emails Lucy is getting. David tells her they are from other "daughters of Guinevere." He also gives her Tam's article. It says that Gawaine, the dragon in Scuffenbury, was Gawain's mother. Gawaine was chosen to fight the Ix. Her plan was to draw the Ix to her and then sacrifice herself in the Fire Eternal. The new group of dragons, the New Wearle, has adopted this plan.
Tam and Lucy go through the tunnels to wake Gawaine. As the dragon begins to stir, Hannah betrays them. Tam is trapped underground, and Lucy is captured by Mrs. Gee. But Bella helps Lucy escape. In the chaos of the dragon waking up, Mrs. Gee, Hannah, and Clive are all killed. The hotel collapses.
Meanwhile, Melanie and Rachel Cartwright are attacked by the last semi-Darkling. It injures them both and captures Glade. Glade sends a distress signal to the Pennykettle dragons, which Gwillan intercepts.
The Battle Begins
Lucy calls David for help, and he sends Grockle. With Grockle's help, Lucy places some of her tears in Glissington cairn. Bella tries to stop her. The tears reflect moonlight onto the unicorn's horn, bringing it to life. The unicorn frees Gawaine.
However, Zanna discovers through an email from Bella that Gawaine was betrayed long ago. One of her children was murdered by a sibyl disguised as a red-haired maiden. When Gawaine sees Lucy, she attacks her. Grockle tries to defend Lucy, but since Lucy is Gawaine's relative, the flames don't harm her. This distracts Gawaine long enough for David to arrive.
The Darklings Rise
The last semi-Darkling takes Lucy's life force from the tears she left at Glissington Cairn. It uses this power to become stronger and call the Ix. A full Darkling is born, and it can create copies of itself. Soon, there are four Darklings.
Realizing the danger, David gives Lucy a special narwhal tusk. He thinks it's Groyne, and it will transport her home. But it's actually Gwillan, who has taken Groyne's powers. Lucy is only moved across the valley.
Gawaine and G'lant (David and Grockle combined) begin to fight the Darklings. One Darkling tries to enter Gawaine's mind before she destroys it. G'lant helps Gawaine recover. Another Darkling distracts G'lant while the other two attack Gawaine. One destroys her wing and poisons her blood. It is badly injured and falls near Lucy and Bella. As it tries to attack the girls, Tam emerges from the ground and destroys it.
A New Hope
Zanna tries to contact Agatha Bacon, but Gwilanna arrives at Wayward Crescent instead. Zanna leaves for Scuffenbury. She arrives near Gawaine, who is badly hurt, and tries to heal her with Teramelle's help. The unicorn warns her to hurry because Scuffenbury is a portal to the Fire Eternal, and it will open soon.
Meanwhile, Gwilanna wants to deliver Liz's baby. She refuses to listen when Arthur explains that Gwillan now has the baby's life force. She uses a spell to trap Arthur. Using Gawain's special claw, she draws the dark fire out of Liz. The dark fire turns the claw black. Then, it kills Gwilanna before traveling to Scuffenbury. Alexa, who was locked outside by Gwilanna, grows full wings. G'Oreal of the New Wearle takes her to Scuffenbury.
The Final Sacrifice
At Scuffenbury, G'lant continues to fight the two remaining Darklings. Gwillan traps one, purifying its life force and turning it into a dragon. It is no longer a threat. Seeing Gwillan, the Ix give all their power to the last Darkling. It overpowers G'lant. But Gawaine drags it into the Fire Eternal, sacrificing herself to save G'lant and complete her mission to destroy the Ix. Teramelle, affected by the dark fire, follows her.
In the chaos caused by the dark fire, David, Zanna, Alexa, and Gadzooks come together. Gadzooks begins writing a word. David tells Zanna that everything will be okay, but things will be different. Then David, Lucy, Tam, Zanna, Bella, and the dragons disappear. The book ends with the word Gadzooks was writing: "sometimes."
Main Characters
Humans
- David Rain - An author who spent time in a different world called Ki:mera. He discovers he is a Fain, a special being. He can combine with his dragon Grockle to become G'lant. He also has other dragons: Gadzooks, Gollygosh, Groyne, and G'reth.
- Zanna Martindale - A sibyl with special healing powers. She is Alexa's mother and David's fiancée. She owns a natural healing shop. Her dragon is Gretel.
- Alexa - Zanna and David's daughter. She is an "angel," a bridge between humans and dragons. She can create magical things.
- Elizabeth (Liz) Pennykettle - A "daughter of Guinevere" who creates animated clay dragons. She is pregnant with her son, Joseph Henry. She falls into a coma when dark magic enters her. All the dragons obey her.
- Lucy Pennykettle - Liz's daughter and another "daughter of Guinevere." She helps wake the dragon Gawaine. She is in love with Tam. Her dragon is Gwendolen.
- Arthur Merriman - A physics professor, Liz's partner, and Joseph Henry's father. He was blinded in a past encounter with the Ix.
- Tam Farrell - A reporter with special powers, including the ability to turn things into ice.
- Joseph Henry - Liz's unborn child. His life force transfers to Gwillan, and his human body goes into a deep sleep. He shows amazing power at the end of the book.
- Gwilanna - A sibyl who desperately wants to connect with a dragon. She is killed by the Dark Fire at the end of the book. She can disguise herself.
- Rupert Steiner - Arthur's friend who translates ancient dragon language.
- Melanie Cartwright - Lucy's old friend. Her dragon is Glade.
- Rachel Cartwright - Melanie's mother.
- Sophie Prentice - David's ex-girlfriend, who is killed in a fire. Her dragon is Grace.
- Pieter - Sophie's fiancé, killed by a dark creature.
- Mutu - One of Sophie's co-workers.
- Henry Bacon - The Pennykettles' neighbor who passes away early in the book.
- Agatha Bacon - Henry Bacon's sister, a powerful sibyl who helps Zanna. Gwilanna sometimes pretends to be her.
- Bella - A "daughter of Guinevere" who was turned into a cat by Mrs. Gee. She knows the legends of Gawaine.
- Ms. Gee - A sibyl who travels to Scuffenbury to claim Gawaine. She is killed when Gawaine wakes.
- Hannah - A local who knows the secret of waking Gawaine but betrays Lucy. She is killed when Gawaine wakes.
- Clive - Hannah's helper at the hotel. He is killed when Gawaine wakes.
- Teramelle - A unicorn who tries to heal Gawaine. She is also known as the Scuffenbury Horse.
The IX (Evil Forces)
- The semi-darklings - Eleven dark creatures that work for the Ix. They are hunted down by Grockle.
- The darklings - Powerful evil creatures born at the end of the book. The Ix use them to fight the dragons.
Dragons
- The Old Wearle - The last twelve dragons from an ancient time.
- Gawaine - A powerful mother dragon chosen to destroy the Ix. She enters a deep sleep in Scuffenbury after giving birth. She is freed and sacrifices herself to defeat the Ix.
- Gawain - Gawaine's son and an ancestor of Liz and Lucy.
- The New Wearle - A new group of dragons, helped by the Fain.
- G'Oreal - The leader of the New Wearle.
- Grockle - A dragon born in a previous book. He combines with David to form G'lant.
- Godith - The god of all dragons, who created the universe.
- The Pennykettle dragons:
- Gwillan - A house dragon who created the dark fire. He comes back to life by combining with Joseph Henry. He shows amazing power.
- Gollygosh Golightly - A healing dragon who accidentally releases the dark fire into Liz's baby.
- Gorin - A mysterious dragon that can catch fire without being harmed.
- Groyne - David's dragon, who can turn invisible or become a special narwhal tusk.
- Gadzooks - David's dragon, who can change dark matter by writing.
- G'reth - David's wishing dragon, created by Lucy Pennykettle.
- Grace - Sophie's dragon. She sheds her Fire Tear after Sophie's death but is brought back to life by David.
- Glade - Melanie Cartwright's dragon, who can sense feelings.
- Gretel - Zanna's potions dragon, who helps her with healing.
- Gwendolen - Lucy's IT dragon, who can connect to computers.
- Guinevere - Liz's dragon, who helps create every Pennykettle dragon.
- Gawain - Liz's dragon, created in the image of the real Gawain.
External sources
