the brightest night: part six

Burn is furious with the dragonets for disrupting her plans, and mocks them when they say the battle is over. However, Blister and Blaze arrive and she figures she can salvage the situation by killing her sisters. Blister and Burn exchange words while Blaze stays off to the side with Glaicer. The dragonets insist on a peaceful resolution or everyone will choose the new queen but Burn and Blister are uninterested. Blister makes a comment about sending a peace offering already. A box had arrived that Smolder kept in the tower with Sunny and Scarlet. Burn sends for the box, telling Blister that she already figured out it contained a dragonbite viper. She opens it, catching the dragonbite before it can bite her. That is when Blister points out that there are two snakes in the box. The second one strikes Burn, killing her. In a panic, everyone takes to the sky. Sunny and Fatespeaker try to help Starflight up but they don't make it in time. Sunny realizes one of them is going to die. Then Clay slams into them, saving them from the viper by getting bit himself.

The dragonets race to Clay, who is dying. Thorn comforts Sunny. Peril arrives and burns out the infected skin, barely saving Clay's life. She then kills the viper before it can hurt anyone else. Blister is disappointed that more of her enemies didn't die but she figures she can at least kill Blaze.

Blaze asks Glaicer to fight for her, but the IceWing queen realizes she can't. As Blister and Blaze fight the dragonets wonder how to fix the situation. Smolder joins them with Flower, and the dragonets question him about other possible heirs. The idea gets put forward that maybe someone else should be queen like how Glory is of the NightWings. Everyone wishes there was something that could name a queen. Flower gets Sunny's attention and brings her to the memorial for queen Oasis and starts digging. Glory and Tsunami come over to help and they find the missing treasure - along with the Eye of Onyx.

Tsunami and Glory tell Sunny that she could be queen. She considers it but decides she wouldn't be a very good one. Blister and Blaze stop fighting and watch to see what Sunny will do. She gives the Eye of Onyx to her mother and names her the new queen of the SandWings. As she passes it over she sees lighting and feels a jolt. Blister is furious. She admits that she stole the treasure, that she lied about waking up Burn so her mother would die, that she arranged the war so that her sisters would die so she wouldn't have to fight them for the throne. She feels the Eye - and throne - belong to her. Thorn tells her she will fight her for the throne but Blister says she doesn't have to. She takes the Eye so she can be queen but its magic turns against her, killing her. The SandWings, led by Blaze, approach Thorn and bow to her, accepting her as their new queen. The queens from the other tribes are relieved the war is over.

A month has passed, the war is over, and the dragonets are still together. They are at the Jade Mountain, along with Fatespeaker, making plans to open a school for dragonets of any tribe. Sunny has told Starflight the truth about her feelings for him and he and Fatespeaker are together now. So are Glory and Deathbringer. Sunny wonders if they will have children and if a half RainWing/half NightWing will sit on the throne. They wonder at Scarlet and Peril's locations. They know they are no longer together and wonder when Scarlet will show up for revenge. They also wonder about telling everyone the truth about the prophecy. In the end they decide to tell everyone that the NightWings lost their powers when they lost their island and that there are no more prophecies.

Okay, well clearly there will be another prophecy now! You can't say there are no more then expect that to happen. Hopefully this time it will be a real prophecy, though.

Well, they did it. They found their peaceful solution that involved none of the queens. And, two of them are now dead so they don't have to worry about then popping back up to make trouble! I hope Thorn goes easy on Smolder. I wonder if Flower can understand the dragons? How else would she know Sunny was looking for the treasure and then lead her to the very thing she needed?

I am curious about the Eye of Onyx. I wonder if that will ever be touched upon again? And about Scarlet's location. And, about the new prophecy...

the brightest night: part five

Sunny recounts her adventures. Everyone is a but upset they weren't there to protect her, but they are proud of her. Sunny us determined that they will end the war. Everyone else is unsure, since the prophecy is a fake, but Sunny feels that all the other dragons don't realize they can end the war because they are too busy waiting for the dragonets to do it for them. Sunny tries to tell them her plan but they all start talking over her, debating who to pick and how to kill the other two. Frustrated, Sunny finally gets their attention and tells them she wants a vote done by the SandWings. She waits for everyone to discount her idea but instead (after a but if discussion) they are actually receptive to it.

The reach out to the Talons first to ask them to contact Blister. Ochre leads them to the Talons and Sunny finds Ochre to be the most disagreeable MudWing ever. They immediately get into an argument with the Talons over the location of the alternate dragonets - who Sunny points out don't want to return to them. Then they realize Flame was following them. Flame is reunited with his mother and the angry Talons are told about Viper's death. Angry at the way things have turned out they demand to see Morrowseer only to discover that he is dead too. They ask to Talons to reach out to Blister and leave. Tsunami says goodbye to Riptide, who was there. She admits to Sunny that she is upset about him lying about being with the Talons but she does still have feelings for him. They leave Ochre and Flame behind.

Jambu and Mangrove are sent to disguise themselves as IceWings and talk to Blaze. Sunny and Clay leave to get a message to Burn. Along the way they see something huge in the sky, like an extra moon. As they follow it they come upon a MudWing camp. They seek out Clay's siblings and find out about the massive attack that queen Moorhen is planning. They will attack the IceWings until only one group survives. Clay and Sunny are upset and determined not to let that happen. Sunny uses a dreamvisitor to enter Moorhen's dreams and speak with her. Moorhen is dreaming about the carnage that is about to befall her dragons. Sunny talks to her and tries to convince her to instead attend the talk they are planning.

Sunny also visits the dreams of Moorhen's siblings. Then she and Clay take turns visiting the dreams of other dragons chosen at random. They return to the rainforest where they find out Blaze won't come because Glaicer won't allow it. Sunny can feel her plan falling apart. They decide to have Sunny use the dreamvisitor to speak with Blaze. Blaze misunderstands Sunny and thinks she has been chosen to be queen, but she agrees to arrive.

The dragonets head towards the meeting place, Sunny and Fatespeaker helping Starflight, who is still blind. Fatespeaker asks him about the extra moon in the sky. Even though he is unable to see it he suspects it might be a comet. They reach Burn's stronghold and find dragons from all the tribes waiting to see what will happen. Sunny wonders where the sisters are when Burn reveals herself.

Okay, I got no real comments. I have no idea how they are going to solve this when all three sisters are unfit to rule and want each other dead. It's not even like they can make the three of them co-queens or something. Maybe the comet in the sky is part of the solution? But I really don't see how especially since it just appeared out of nowhere. Instead I imagine that is probably tied to the next book series.

the brightest night: part four

Sunny convinces her mother to let her try and burn the lock off. She does so successfully. Thorn finds a paper in the library with her name on it. It is a letter from Stonemover asking her to meet him at Jade Mountain. Sunny points out that Stonemover never abandoned Thorn, but Thorn is furious that he never tried to reach out to her again. They escape and meet up with the Outclaws. Sunny tells her mother that she has to return to her friends.

Unable to reach the tunnel, Sunny goes to the mountains. A bad rainstorm causes her to take shelter so she heads for Jade Mountain. She follows a tunnel and finds her father. He is slowly turning to stone because he turned his animus magic against himself. He and Sunny talk and the conversation turns to the prophecy. She tells him she always thought she looked odd because of the prophecy, not because she was half NightWing. Confused, Stonemover tells her that the prophecy isn't real.

Stonemover realizes Sunny does know the truth. She tells him maybe Morrowseer was lying, however Stonemover tells her he was there when the prophecy was made up. She stays the night with him and dreams of Flower. She and Flower end up in another area (the burned out village) with a different scavenger who has a dreamvisitor. Sunny realizes she might be able to find the missing treasure with this scavenger.

Sunny goes to the village and waits until the scavenger from her dream arrives. She does, with another scavenger. Sunny captures them and is able to explain through a series of motions and drawings on the ground that she wants the treasure. The scavengers give it to her but the Eye of Onyx isn't there.

Sunny leaves the scavengers (even though she wants to keep them as pets) returns to the rainforest and heads to Starflight. She waits for all her friends to arrive before telling her story. She is a little a jealous of Fatespeaker, but she tries to let it go.

Sunny's father is a bit of a sad character, and Sunny feels he wallows in his personal drama a bit too much, but despite this she actually did pretty good in the parent department. Her parents want and love her. They aren't psychos who want to use her. All in all she did good.

On a different note, I can't wait to see how her friends react to the adventure she went on without them!!! Also, how are they supposed to end this war. I don't see a solution. Sunny's egg "hidden alone from the rival queens" always implied to me that maybe she was royal too. But this isn't the case. So if Sunny isn't going to be queen, and none of the other queens are worthy, and Smolder can't inherit the throne - how will the war end and who will be queen?

the brightest night: part three

Sunny meets Smolder's pet scavenger, Flower. They talk about Flower and Sunny is shocked to discover that Flower is actually pretty intelligent and draws pictures to communicate with Smolder. The move up through the tower, passing all sorts of oddities. Eventually they reach a furious and chained up queen Scarlet, who boasts that she has friends who will help her. They pass her to go higher up. Smolder regretfully chains Sunny up but promises to take her out the next day so she isn't trapped in the tower all the time. Flower insists on staying with Sunny.

Smolder arrives earlier then planned to let Sunny out. He shows her the treasure rooms and asks her if she can solve how three tiny scavengers emptied the rooms without wagons. Sunny deduces someone else must have stolen the treasure while everyone was attending to Oasis. She suspects one of Oasis's daughters but Smolder tells her that would be impossible because the war wouldn't even be occurring if that is the case. He refuses to divulge any more but Sunny deduces that owning a certain piece of the treasure must determine who the queen is - therefore one of the scavengers must have it and not one of the sisters. A messenger arrives because they are under attack. Sunny convinces Smolder not to lock her up again by agreeing to a guard. Sunny races to see what is going on and discovers the Outclaws are here to rescue her.

As the battle goes on Sunny sees Peril sneak in. Realizing she is probably there to free Scarlet she and her guard go to confront her. Peril tells Sunny that she cannot let the dragonets stop her. She tries to ask after Clay without making it obvious. Sunny tells her that Clay thinks about her, but privately she realizes probably not the way Peril wishes him to. Peril tells her that Ruby kicked her out of the SkyWing Kingdom, which is why she is here for Scarlet. Sunny has to break the news to her that Kestrel is dead. Sunny convinces Peril to put an end to the battle. Smolder surrenders gracefully. Thorn wishes to kill Addax but Sunny talks her out of it. Thorn then inquires after NightWing prisoners and Smolder tells her of a stuffed NightWing his sister has.

Everyone goes to the tower. Scarlet is cruel to Peril, but obeys her when Peril wants the stuffed NightWing body given to Thorn. It isn't who she is looking for, however. Smolder tells Thorn and Sunny that he has a paper with Thorn's name on it in the library. Peril stays behind (because she could accidentally set the library on fire) as he leads them on. Sunny asks why Thorn is trying to find the NightWing and Thorn admits it is because he is Sunny's father.

Thorn tells Sunny how she met Stonemover and how he is the animus who made the tunnel. She says one day he disappeared and Morrowseer arrived, telling her she would never see Stonemover again. Smolder brings then to the library where everyone starts sifting through the papers. A messenger arrives to tell Smolder someone is approaching. Smolder realizes it is his sister so he quickly locks Thorn and Sunny in the library (while apologizing) and leaves them.

So, not gonna lie, I really do like Smolder. I hope he gets declared king. I doubt that will happen, though. But I am convinced it won't be either of the sisters.

As for Peril, I am glad to see she is trying to change. But Scarlet is not the answer.

the brightest night: part two

Sunny spends time following the NightWings toward the SandWing kingdom. Along they way they pass by a burned out village. At first Sunny is confused by the size of the buildings, but then she realizes it is a scavenger village.

Sunny uses the mirror to discover the NightWings are going to go to the Scorpion Den and speak with the Outclaws. The NightWings are furious when the guard at the gate won't let them enter without paying. In the end he lets them pass, but only because of orders from Thorn. Afraid that the Outclaws will steal the mirror Sunny buries it then comes out of her hiding place - to find a guard waiting for her. Thorn wishes to see her as well. She follows the guard into Scorpion Den. She sees posters everywhere seeking information on Dune, Morrowseer, and another NightWing. Scorpion Den is a regular town only the Outclaws, instead of the queens, are in charge. The guard escorting her is named Six Claws and he tells her a little of their town. Another guard approaches them and appears to recognize Sunny, but says nothing. Six Claws takes her to Thorn's tent. She begs him not to let the NightWings see her. Thorn arrives and the NightWings try to negotiate with her, but she is uninterested. In the course of the argument (after discovering Morrowseer is dead) one of the NightWings attacks her and she kills him.

Sunny speaks up so Thorn won't attack the other NightWings. They, however, see an oppoyand sell Sunny out as one of the dragonets in the prophecy. Thorn inspects Sunny then asks the NightWings about a NightWing named Stonemover. All they can tell her is he went missing. Dissatisfied, Thorn orders them locked up. She then takes Sunny to private room where she admits that she has been looking for an egg, Sunny's age, of an unusual dragon and that Dune stole it. She tells Sunny that she is her mother.

Sunny is thrilled and she and Thorn get to know each other - but then a report comes of a dragonbite viper being spotted. Thorn goes to deal with it while Sunny takes a nap. She wakes up to find Six Claws. He goes to take her to her mother but they are stopped by the guard from earlier, Addax. He did recognize Sunny and he has Six Claws' daughter hostage. He wants Sunny so he can turn her in to Burn and go home. Sunny agrees.

Addax brings her to Burn's stronghold. Burn isn't there, but Smolder, Burn's rather nice brother, is. He allows Addax to come home and takes Sunny prisoner. Sunny is panicking but reminds herself to trust in the prophecy - despite a voice in the back of her head telling her it is all a lie. He brings her to a tower filled with oddities - and queen Scarlet.

I gotta say, I never figured Sunny's adventure to be a solo one. The others are all so convinced that she can't do anything on her own that I never saw her striking out on her own. I imagine they are tearing up the rainforest looking for her. Meanwhile she has thwarted a kidnapping, stole the obsidian mirror, met her mother, saved Six Claws's daughter, and now is a prisoner of Burn's. She is really getting around.

Meanwhile, Smolder seems nice. Too bad he can't be king. Maybe that is how the dragonets will solve everything - declare a king instead of a queen. That would be a nice change of pace.

the brightest night: part one

Twenty years ago Oasis images she hears scavengers stealing her treasure. She races off towards her treasure rooms, running into Blaze and Blister. Oasis reflects on her daughters. Blister unsettles Oasis - she knows that this is the dragon who will kill her. Burn, the oldest, is bigger and stronger but Oasis actually gets along with her. Blaze is ditzy - an acceptable daughter but not a future queen. She tells her daughters she is just going to check on the treasure and leaves them. Blaze goes to bed but Blister follows her. Oasis is annoyed by this but decides to let her tag along. At the treasure room Oasis discovers some treasure missing - along with the Eye of Onyx. This news gets a reaction out of Blister but Oasis doesn't understand why. She tells Blister to go wake Burn so they can deal with the scavengers together. Blister asks why she cannot help her mother and Oasis cruelly dismisses her. Oasis follows the scavengers, wondering if Blister will really get Burn. She worries that there might be too many scavengers to handle on her own. She finds them and is relieved it is only three. She moves in to attack.

A panicked Sunny races away from Morrowseer. She leaves the tunnel and finds herself in the RainWing kingdom. Glory and Grandeur are speaking to the dragons, but all Sunny can think of is the prophecy and how it is all a lie. All her life she believed she was destined to fulfill this prophecy, and now it has been taken away from her. She feels Morrowseer must be lying - that is the only thing that makes sense - but she worries her friends will not believe her. As Sunny debates what to do there is a disturbance as some of the RainWings recognize Mastermind. As Glory debates what to do Clay and Fatespeaker burst through the tunnel with a badly wounded Starflight. Sunny moves towards her wounded friend but she is grabbed and taken into the rainforest.

Sunny is unable to break free so she waits to see what happens. When the dragons get far enough away from the tunnel they stop and discuss their options for holding Sunny hostage to get Fierceteeth made queen. They decide to use the obsidian mirror, which allows you to spy on dragons, to find out what is going on back in the RainWing kingdom. Only they discover that the prophecy is a fake. Suddenly they have a new plan, one that involves selling Sunny to one of the SandWing queens. As they argue over their plan Sunny sees an opportunity to escape and takes it.

The dragons chase after Sunny but she knows the rainforest better then them so she is able to elude capture. She listens to them give up and decide instead to sell the dragonet location to the queens. Sunny debates what to do - follow them or go back and get her friends. She decides her friends won't listen to her anyway and resolves to follow the dragons.

Sunny decides to steal the obsidian mirror away from the dragons. That night as they sleep she succeeds and leaves a message for them, warning them to go back. She then uses the mirror to check on Starflight then spy on Burn. But her spying on Burn is interrupted when the dragons wake up and arguing breaks out over the missing mirror and the message. But Fierceteeth insists they go on so Sunny follows them.

Okay, first of all, I bet anything Blister fid not go and wake Burn. I bet she instead followed her mother either to make sure the scavengers killed her or to do the job herself while pinning it on the scavengers. But what is so special about the Eye of Onyx that Blister would be unsettled over the scavengers taking it? Is this why Morrowseer had her looking through scavenger dens? Wait a minute... Or, did Blister herself steal the Eye of Onyx and she was unsettled because she knew when her mother found the scavengers the Eye of Onyx would not be there? While the theft of it would not point immediately to Blister it would cause problems - problems that Blister would not want which is why she would have to kill her mother. Just what is the Eye of Onyx anyway...?

And good on Sunny for striking out on her own. However I don't see how she is going to solve the prophecy problem when all three sisters are awful, not without becoming queen herself.

the dark secret: part six

Starflight, Fatespeaker, and Glory head to the hidden tunnel. The island suddenly seems unstable. They run into princess Greatness there, who tells them that every dragon is needed for the attack so they need to join the others. Glory, while invisible, speaks up saying that they are going to talk to the queen now. Terrified, Greatness leads the dragonets to Battlewinner. Starflight grabs the map tapestry on the way. They find Battlewinner arguing with Mastermind. He has special armor for her, armor that will completely encase her and be filled with lava, but he insists it will not work. Everyone interrupts this meeting so Glory can deliver her demands - mainly that the NightWings leave the RainWings alone and stop trying to interfere with the prophecy. She also informs Battlewinner that they have already freed the prisoners. Battlewinner refuses Glory's terms and says she will kill her. Greatness is desperate to find a new home for their people and Mastermind is confused as to why they can't take the rainforest away. Starflight has an idea. He tells Glory she should allow the NightWings to move into the rainforest so long as they accept her as their queen. Battlewinner is furious with this idea - and even more furious that Greatness is considering it. Battlewinner refuses the offer but Starflight points out that she doesn't have any say because she is going to die. To prove him wrong Battlewinner leaves her lava cauldron, but she rapidly starts to turn to ice and dies.

The volcano about to erupt, everyone races away. Glory and Starflight head for the dungeon (Starflight getting the key location from Greatness) and Fatespeaker and Greatness head to the NightWings to tell them of their new home. They break Deathbringer and Splendor out of the dungeon and race away. They reach the tunnel to see the RainWings guarding it to prevent the NightWings from entering.

Starflight tells the dragons of Battlewinner's death and Glory's acceptance of them so long as they swear to her. The dragons are shocked but Greatness backs him up. The NightWings race through the tunnel, swearing loyalty to queen Glory. Mastermind asks Starflight what he should do. Starflight tells him he should ask Glory for forgiveness and accept any punishment she hands down. Mastermind agrees and leaves with the fleeing NightWings - and the map tapestry that Starflight gives him. Everyone gets through and Starflight, Tsunami, Clay, and Sunny are left facing Morrowseer. Morrowseer is furious and believes that the NightWings will betray the RainWings. He then reveals that the entire prophecy is a lie that he made up.

Morrowseer proceeds to tell them how he and Battlewinner made up the prophecy after they realized they needed to move. Starflight thinks about the words in the prophecy and realizes it can also be all about the NightWings finding a new home. Sunny is devastated by this news. Tsunami tries to comfort her by pointing out they can all live their lives now but that just makes it worse because Sunny deeply believes in the prophecy and wishes to make it come true. She takes off down the tunnel, crying. Morrowseer moves to follow her but Starflight stops him, telling him he is unwanted. Tsunami and Clay back him up. Morrowseer can't believe they will actually stop him. Fatespeaker makes her presence known by saying she will help her friends. But before Morrowseer can attack the volcano explodes. Fatespeaker runs and Starflight shoves Tsunami into the tunnel. He sees the lava swallow Morrowseer and gets hit by it himself. Then Clay picks him up and carries him away. Starflight is badly wounded and feels when they exit the tunnel. He feels Sunny pressing up against him but is confused when he hears Fatespeaker's voice instead. Someone knocks him out with a sleeping dart and he sleeps.

Blaze and Glaicer meet to discuss the dragonets. Glacier decides she needs to meet them - and possibly kill them. Blister is at yet another scavenger den at Morrowseer's insistence and she doesn't understand why. Nautilus and Squid arrive for their meeting with Morrowseer. Blister is furious that she appears to be losing allies and she can never find Morrowseer when she needs him - he completely controls their relationship. Blister blames the dragonets for Morrowseer missing their meeting and swears revenge on them. Burn gets an update from her brother, Smolder. She is frustrated with her new ally, Ruby, who seems more worried about the SkyWing kingdom then Burn's war. Burn wishes to kill someone. Smolder suggests their prisoner, Scarlet, but Burn says she intends to do away with the dragonets and the prophecy.

Now that I know Morrowseer staged the entire prophecy it all makes so much more sense. Poor Sunny. This news really devastated her.

I do wonder why Morrowseer is sending Blister around to scavenger dens - is it to find the queen's treasure? And if so, why? That won't really help Blister gain the throne. Not unless there is something in the treasure that we don't know about. At least he is dead now. That is one good thing about all of this.

I wonder how badly Starflight was hurt. And I still have a feeling Sunny will end up queen.

the dark secret: part five

Mastermind has been tasked by the queen to find a cure for Flame. He is annoyed with this since he needs to make the venom proof helmets for the attack in two days. As they talk Starflight realizes just how much his father doesn't know about the venom. He realizes that by keeping themselves separate the NightWings might be incredibly smart and mysterious but they are lacking basic knowledge. Mastermind wonders if they should ask Blister for information on curing Flame, but he knows that knowledge will have a high price. Starflight debates whether or not he should tell Mastermind the cure. Just as he decides to guards show up to bring Mastermind to the council chambers -  capturing Tsunami was a failure. Starflight decides to follow and hopes no one notices him. When they reach the chambers everyone is arguing over when they should attack. Eventually Greatness speaks. The attack will happen that night.

Starflight dashes back to his room but finds the dreamvisitor missing. Panicking, he confides everything in Fatespeaker, who decided they need to act now. They debate how to get through the tunnel to the RainWings when an idea strikes Starflight. They go find Flame, convince him to leave, and head to the tunnel.

The three of them head to the tunnel where they convince the guards that Battlewinner sent them because Flame is about to die if they don't get him the cure. The guards let them through and they make it to the rainforest. Flame is taken to the medical dragons and Starflight makes his report to Glory. Sunny arrives.

Starflight is thrilled to see Sunny, but Fatespeaker is hostile. However, as they talk they quickly become friends. Glory finds the whole situation amusing but Starflight finds it uncomfortable - but he doesn't understand why. Everyone meets up to discuss possible battle attacks but neither Glory or Grandeur think the RainWings will use their venom as a weapon, even in self defense. Sunny has an idea but everyone keeps talking over her. She whispers it to Clay who loudly announces her idea to use the sleeping darts. Everyone loves her idea and a plan quickly takes form.

Starflight confesses his love to Sunny but she is unsure what to say or do. Starflight tells her that is okay then he leaves with the attack force which consists of RainWings, himself, and Fatespeaker. In the NightWing kingdom the invisible RainWings knock out everyone they see and rescue all the prisoners (except for Deathbringer and Splendor who are kept in another area). Glory then takes Starflight with her to confront queen Battlewinner.

I have to say I feel foolish. Sleeping darts never even occurred to me! Even after Glory tried to convince herself that they were a secret war weapon in the previous book! Sometimes Sunny has the best (non violent) ideas.

As for the Starflight/Fatespeaker/Sunny love triangle... I think it is pretty obvious that Fatespeaker is in love with Starflight and Sunny is not. I also think now that Starflight has finally confessed his love to Sunny he isn't in love with her anymore. I wonder when he will realize it is Fatespeaker he actually has feelings for? I suspect, however, that Glory might have figured all of this out.

the dark secret: part four

As Starflight and Fatespeaker work their way to the throne room to seek out the queen, they stop by the library. Starflight is thrilled by the wealth of knowledge but Fatespeaker won't let him get distracted. They reach the throne room and Fatespeaker speaks to the holes in the wall, but she gets no response. Frustrated, she decides they need to seek out the queen - especially after they hear a noise from behind the wall. Searching the surrounding area they find an empty room with a tapestry map on the wall. Starflight notices that scavenger dens are marked off on it and he wonders why. Fatespeaker discovers a tunnel behind the map and they follow it. It leads into a room that over looks the council room, the throne room, and a third room. There is also a cauldron of lava in the room - but no queen. Starflight begins to suspect there is no queen until someone rises from the lava.

Starflight speaks to the queen - though she makes him figure things out for himself because she can barely speak. But he realizes she was badly wounded by an IceWing and lives in the lava to combat the freezing damage. After talking she sends them away but Fatespeaker tries to convince her that Morrowseer needs to be stopped. But Battlewinner won't hear anything against Morrowseer because saving the tribe comes first. She returns to the lava.

Starflight and Fatespeaker return to their room. Starflight is desperate to go to sleep and warn someone that Tsunami will soon be attacked. He moves through everyone's dreams but they either don't realize he is there or think he is just a part of their dreams - until he reaches Glory because she realizes he has a dreamvisitor. At first he worries about betraying the NightWings as he tells Glory everything but he soon realizes she and their friends are his tribe, not the NightWings. He wakes up in his bed, worried that someone was spying on him. He hides the dreamvisitor and goes to sleep.

The next morning Morrowseer decides on battle training. He has Flame and Ochre fight until Ochre is too wounded. He pits Fatespeaker against Flame next, and Viper begs to be allowed to join the fight and kill Fatespeaker. Morrowseer allows it. Starflight argues against it, feeling two dragons against Fatespeaker is unfair. Morrowseer taunts him, telling him to help Fatespeaker then. Starflight joins the fight, pushing Viper away from Fatespeaker just as she is about to stab her. Instead, Viper's barb slashes across Flame's face. In pain, Flame pushes Viper away accidentally knocking her into the lava. Morrowseer immediately worries about Flame. Starflight and Fatespeaker worry about Viper. Starflight begs Ochre to save Viper since his scales are heat resistant but Ochre refuses. As they argue Ochre tells Starflight that he might not have heat resistant scales. Starflight realizes that the alternate dragonets are not real, they are fake. Viper dies.

Morrowseer is furious Flame is hurt and might die. Starflight confronts him for tinkering with the prophecy but Morrowseer brushes him off then plays on Starflight's worst fears by telling him how worthless he is. Morrowseer takes off with Flame, muttering about how he now needs Sunny as well as Tsunami. The remaining dragonets return to their room. Fatespeaker is devastated by what happened and Starflight tries to comfort her. She finds solace in Starflight's normalcy since that means he isn't anything like the other NightWings. He tells her maybe they are better because they were raised outside of the NightWing tribe. He thinks of his friends and realizes he knows no one else like them - except for Fatespeaker. She sleeps and Mastermind shows up to take Starflight to the library and talk.

Two things. One, I'm glad Morrowseer's meddling is backfiring so badly. Only two of the alternates are remaining - and Morrowseer (for reasons I don't understand) clearly prefers Starflight. Soon he will only have the original dragonets. Two, I think Starflight is beginning to fall in love with Fatespeaker - but I don't think he realizes this.

the dark secret: part three

Since there is nothing there, Starflight and Fatespeaker leave. On the way out Starflight sees a dream visitor and snatches it. They head back to their beds and Starflight tries to visit his friends dreams. He fails but manages to visit Kinkajou - but she is having a nightmare. Watching Kinkajou sleep, he sees an older RainWing watching her (probably Grandeur) and Sunny and Tsunami arrive. He is unable to talk to them, but as he listens to them he discovers Glory thinks he might have betrayed them and Tsunami is having a hard time making the RainWings battle ready. Kinkajou wakes up and Starflight is expelled from the scene before him. Depressed, he goes to sleep.

Morrowseer angrily wakes up the dragonets. He leads them to the coast, warns Starflight not to try anything, and leads them away from the NightWing kingdom. Squid complains about the lack of food, causing Starflight to explain how long dragons can go without eating. The other dragonets quickly decide they dislike Starflight as much as Fatespeaker. They rest on an island at the halfway point, then reach the SkyWing kingdom. Starflight is upset to realize this means he cannot escape. There is a remote outpost and Morrowseer orders the dragonets to convince the SkyWings inside to switch their support to Blister. He keeps Fatespeaker with him, sending Starflight in her place. The dragonets are upset with their orders, feeling it is an impossible task and that they will probably be killed, but they go.

The rest of the dragonets are fine with bursting in, but Starflight is able to convince them to be smart about this. Inside the outpost the SkyWings do talk to them. Most of them are weary of the war and want it over and have their hopes placed on the dragonets. Flame takes over and tries to tell them to support Blister, which causes an uproar. Some are suspicious of the group before them - especially because of the presence of Squid when they have heard about Tsunami. Starflight quickly takes over and explains Tsunami's absence and Squid's presence. He calms the dragons down and tells them that neither Blister or Burn is the right answer, but that the dragonets are figuring it out. The SkyWings decide to take the dragonets back to the palace for queen Ruby to deal with. Starflight panics, not wanting to get taken prisoner again, when a bunch of NightWings burst into the room.

The NightWings kill the SkyWings. Starflight begs Morrowseer to stop them but it is too late. Squid angrily complains that the NightWings almost killed him and declares he quits. Morrowseer hates Squid and is fine with this. He feels that Tsunami, as much as he dislikes her, is the better candidate. He tells Squid to feel free to leave. Squid realizes he is just a child and deep in enemy territory. He wants to return to the NightWing kingdom but Morrowseer forbids it. Fatespeaker begs her so called friends for help in saving Squid but none of them will do it. Starflight comforts Fatespeaker as Squid leaves, probably to his death, and Morrowseer warns Starflight that he is running out of chances to prove his worth. Everyone returns and Morrowseer sends the dragonets off to their room. Fatespeaker tells Starflight that she has a plan to speak with the queen to stop Morrowseer.

Starflight dreams of Clay and empty scrolls that should hold all the answers he needs. Fatespeaker wakes him because Flame has snuck out of their room. They follow Flame, who is upset to discover them but he lets them tag along. He goes to the dungeon to speak with Deathbringer, wanting to know how to become an assassin. Deathbringer warns him that he cannot develop feelings for his targets and he must believe in his task completely - though he admits that sometimes it is best to question orders instead of blindly following them. Flame leaves and Starflight assures Deathbringer that everyone is doing okay. Fatespeaker tells Deathbringer of her plan to find the queen. He is opposed to her plan but he does give her what little information he can.

Morrowseer really is evil. I can't believe he killed those SkyWings just so they couldn't talk about the alternate dragonets. He really does have no regard for anyone else's life. However, these alternate dragonets really aren't good people either. None of them, except for Fatespeaker, stood up for Squid.

the dark secret: part two

Mastermind works in a lab and is delighted that Starflight is his son. He excitedly shows Starflight around, with Fatespeaker following. At first Starflight is thrilled to meet his father, thrilled that his father wants him, and thrilled that they are so alike. But then Mastermind tells him about the RainWing prisoners and his experiments on them. Starflight is horrified, and accidentally gives away information on RainWing venom by mentioning seeing it firsthand kill dragons. Mastermind is thrilled by this new information. He then shows the dragonets the RainWing that he is currently torturing.

Starflight is horrified. Fatespeaker, too, is appalled. She insists Starflight get the dragon water. He does, asking her her name. He discovers that she is Orchid. Eager to give her hope, he tells her that Mangrove is coming to rescue her. Orchid is thrilled, turning a pink color, and he realizes he said too much in front of Fatespeaker. When Mastermind sees Orchid pink he asks how Starflight did that. Fatespeaker lies for him, saying that Orchid is just grateful for the water. Strongwings arrives to take Orchid away, and Mastermind talks to Starflight about the need for venom resistant armor. Mastermind ushers them out so he can return to work. Starflight confesses to Fatespeaker that he too is a dragonet of the prophecy. Morrowseer arrives and they ask how they can both be in the prophecy. Morrowseer responds that prophecies are tricky and they are unsure which is the correct dragonet. Starflight points out that he can't do the correct thing if he doesn't know the plan. This causes Morrowseer to think, but in the end he decides that the dragonets cannot be trusted. As Morrowseer leads them away Starflight realizes he does know the plan - or at least part of it. The NightWings intend to take the rainforest from the RainWings and Blister will help them.

Morrowseer takes Starflight and Fatespeaker to the other alternate dragonets of destiny - Flame, Viper, Ochre, and Squid. Starflight is upset to learn they have a real SkyWing. Starflight realizes that Deathbringer was there for all of them but Morrowseer corrects him. He tells Starflight that Deathbringer was there to eliminate Glory then Tsunami - the rest of the dragonets still being "negotiable." Starflight quickly realizes these other dragonets are not very nice - and they clearly hate Fatespeaker, though she thinks they are all friends. Morrowseer orders the alternate dragonets to kill Starflight. They wish to kill Fatespeaker instead, but they do as they are told. Starflight, meanwhile, is told to stay alive - so he runs.

Starflight knows he has to lose the alternate dragonets and fast. He goes to where the RainWings are being kept, startling the guard. He tells the guard that he is there to observe the RainWings for a school project and the guard accepts that. When Flame and Viper follow him in the guard thinks they are under attack and calls for help. In the commotion, Starflight hides in a dark tunnel. Fatespeaker seeks him out. She hangs out in a RainWing cell and talks into the tunnel to coax Starflight out. She succeeds and they return to Morrowseer. Morrowseer tells Starflight that he did good, but he implies that Starflight succeeded accidentally. Flame and Viper have been arrested and Morrowseer needs ro figure out how to get them back. He takes all the dragonets back to the room Starflight woke up in. Exhausted and missing his friends, Starflight goes to sleep wishing he had a way to tell them everything he has discovered.

Starflight dreams of a memory, of him and Sunny looking over a new scroll Webs got him. The scroll theorizes who the dragonets of destiny are. Starflight is skipping around, reading sections, looking for clues when Kestrel shows up and destroys the scroll. Fatespeaker wakes him up. She is unable to sleep and wants to explore. Starflight goes with her and she leads him to the lava destroyed section of the fortress. They enter one of the tunnels to explore and as they talk Starflight discovers that Fatespeaker knows nothing about the animus made tunnels and that she flew to the island. They enter an abandoned room and find two dead dragons.

Well, in the parent department Starflight is doing about as good as Tsunami. Their parents are cruel and manipulative, but their parents do love them and are very tame by dragon standards. However I think Glory has them beat. Even though she doesn't know who her parents are she does have the former queen, who surrendered her throne to Glory.

As for Fatespeaker, she is not like the other NightWings at all. Actually, neither she or Starflight seem like them (Starflight's similarities to his father aside). I have to say, pretty much none of the dragonets are good representations of their tribes. Perhaps because they were raised apart from them? She actually reminds me a bit of Sunny. But Sunny similarities beside, her dragonets are not very nice. I can't believe they actually wanted to kill her - or tried to kill Starflight.

Morrowseer, as always, is awful. Actually, I think he has surpassed awful and moved on to evil. I can't wait for him to get his comeuppance. What I can't figure out, however, is why he is playing with the prophecy. What does he gain from that?

the dark secret: part one

Reed and his siblings are out with some SkyWings when some IceWings attack. They fight but when a retreat is called they fall back. They hide in the Forest until long after they are sure the IceWings are gone. Privately, Reed wonders if he is doing right. He wonders if his siblings wish they had Clay instead. As everyone starts talking his siblings begin to voice their disbelief in the war, and their wish that Clay will end it soon. Some even wish to join the Talons of Peace. Reed realizes he needs to make a decision about their future, but they assure him he doesn't have to make it yet.

Starflight drifts in and out of consciousness - wondering about Sunny and listening as some dragons discuss him. Eventually he wakes up and finds himself in a room filled with young dragonets like himself. Some are friendly while others are hostile. Looking around at the other dragonets, Starflight realizes they all look unhealthy and smell of decay. Someone realizes Morrowseer is coming and they all scatter. Morrowseer enters the room and commands Starflight follow him to meet the queen.

A hostile Morrowseer who refuses to answer any of Starflight's questions leads him to a chamber filled with dragons. Everyone is talking about attacking but they fall silent when the two dragons enter. Starflight looks around, scared that all these hostile dragons might be able to read his mind. He also realizes the lava everywhere and that these dragons don't look to healthy either. He notices a circle with holes on one wall, with a weak looking dragon in front of it. He feels this cannot be the powerful NightWing queen. He then realizes the circle behind her with the holes is where the queen is - hidden from her own tribe but watching all. Everyone starts talking about the escaped RainWing and the MudWing that was with her. Everyone starts talking over each other until the dragon in front of the queen speaks for the queen. She announces that queen Battlewinner wishes Starflight to explain everything. Starflight is placed in an awkward position of protecting his friends while appeasing his tribe and saving his own life. He admits that he thinks the RainWings might be planning an attack. A new dragon arrives, interrupting the meeting. His name is Vengeance. He feels the RainWings are no threat. He also has Deathbringer prisoner, accusing him of treason. Princess Greatness, who speaks for the queen, reminds Vengeance that he is in trouble for disobeying Deathbringer and hunting in the forest while the dragonets were there. Vengeance throws Deathbringer into the room, next to Starflight, calling him a pet of princess Greatness, and announces he was conspiring with the enemy. Deathbringer tries to silently ask Starflight something, but Starflight cannot figure out what. Deathbringer says Vengeance has no proof - Vengeance states that he does and accuses Deathbringer of not killing the dragonets. Deathbringer looks to Starflight, and Starflight realizes what the dragon wants. He silently tells him that the dragonets are alive. Deathbringer looks relieved, and he and Vengeance go back and forth in their argument. Princess Greatness interrupts to pass sentence on Vengeance. For disobeying orders, endangering the tribe, and irritating the queen he is sentenced to death. Four guards grab him and before Starflight realizes what is happening they throw him into the lava.

Starflight doesn't leap back in time (Deathbringer does) and gets hit with the lava. Deathbringer grabs him and lifts him up as Vengeance tries to escape the lava, splashing it everywhere. Starflight looks to Deathbringer, who looks somber. He realizes this might be Deathbringer's fate as well. Deathbringer thanks Greatness, but she orders him returned to a cell to be dealt with later while the charges are investigated. As Deathbringer is led away he looks back at Starflight, but Starflight doesn't know what he wants. Greatness dismisses everyone until tonight. She tells them to hunt if they are allowed and she orders Morrowseer to see if he can get more information from Starflight. Morrowseer takes Starflight hunting. Starflight realizes that the NightWings don't feel like his tribe. He also learns that Morrowseer is so indispensable to the queen that he has permission to always hunt, even though there is not much prey on their island. Starflight asks so many questions - especially when he finds out that NightWings eat carrion food - that Morrowseer deduces who his father is.

Starflight asks after his parents and Morrowseer tells him that his father is alive but his mother is dead. Morrowseer grills Starflight on the RainWings but he misunderstands Starflight's answers and assumes Glory is the same as the rest if the RainWings. Starflight doesn't bother to correct him. Morrowseer takes Starflight to see his father, Mastermind. Starflight hears someone following them. It is the alternate NightWing, Fatespeaker. Morrowseer is furious that Fatespeaker has followed them but allows her to continue with them. Fatespeaker is friendly to Starflight. She tells him that their destiny lies together. As they talk Starflight realizes just what Fatespeaker is - a dragonet to replace him.

So something is going on here. I thought at first that the NightWings were invading RainWing territory to expand their knowledge, but now I no longer think that. The NightWings are living on a dying island and they are running out of food. But what makes Morrowseer so special that he gets to eat extra? And just why is queen Battlewinner hidden from her own tribe? As for Morrowseer's alternate dragonets of destiny, prophecies don't work that way. At least, not usually. Why is he so dead set on manipulating the prophecy he had?

Fatespeaker at least seems nice. As for Deathbringer, I hope Starflight is able to take him with him when he escapes. Though, the more I think on Deathbringer and Glory, the more questions I have.

Clay has feeling for Peril, but I'm not sure they fully extend to love (though, she clearly loves him). Deathbringer is clearly in love with Glory - and Glory at least returns some of those feelings. But do dragons normally mate outside their tribe? If they do they can't really produce a half breed dragon. There are no half RainWing/half NightWing dragons running around. So do they favor one parent over the other? Like perhaps the mother (since she is the one to birth the egg)? Does one bloodline win out or do you get a mutt? And if the answer is mutt then why haven't we seen one? Glory and Deathbringer can't be the first two dragons from different tribes in the entire history of Pyrrhia to fall in love...

the hidden kingdom: part seven

Glory is shocked at there being a blind dragon. She asks Tamarin questions about how she gets around the village. Tamarin admits that she used to have problems but the tribe helped her and now she has everything memorized. This gives Glory hope for her people since they were all willing to help raise a blind baby. Magnificent names the five areas of the competition - fruit gathering, venom targeting, treetop race, camouflage, and a flower hunt. She names Dazzling for the fruit hunt. Glory huddles with her teammates to figure out which task they should each have. It is decided that Mangrove will do the fruit hunt, Kinkajou the venom targeting, Jambu the treetop race, Glory the camouflage, and Tamarin the flower hunt. Glory is worried about using Tamarin for the flower hunt, Tamarin insist she is up for the task. Dazzling and Mangrove leave for the fruit hunt and the treetop race starts. Jambu and Exquisite step forward. The race starts off even but Jambu pulls ahead. However, before he can win, a group of sloths ambush him by tangling him up in a rope.

Glory is furious that Exquisite would cheat like that but since it cannot be proven - and Magnificent denies it - Handsome has to name Exquisite the winner. Next Tamarin and Fruit Bat have the flower hunt. Fruit Bat tears up the arena looking for the hidden flower but Tamarin finds it quickly by using her superior sense of smell. Once Fruit Bat realizes where Tamarin is looking she tries to beat her to it, but she fails and Tamarin is declared the winner. Next is the camouflage contest between Glory and Magnificent. Glory is blindfolded while Magnificent hides. When her blindfold is removed she notices Exquisite and Fruit Bat staring at a tree. Fruit Bat tries to get Grandeur to look at it too but the old dragon refuses with a look of disgust. Glory realizes they are trying to mislead her so she looks to the crowd, figuring out where Magnificent is easily. Magnificent is furious at Glory's easy victory and then is blindfolded herself. Glory instantly camouflages herself before hiding so Magnificent cannot win the way she did. She decides to hide in the very tree Exquisite and Fruit Bat tried to trick her with. Magnificent looks to Exquisite and Fruit Bat for a clue as to where Glory is hiding but they are no help. Instead she decides to rush at Sunny, who is holding Glory's sloth, Silver, for her. Silver becomes startled and runs to Glory for protection. Magnificent finds her easily. Glory is furious with her for deliberately attacking the sloth - and the RainWings in the audience are shocked - but Magnificent doesn't care and is declared the winner.

Sunny and Tsunami are upset by Magnificent's behavior but Handsome assures then that she is the winner officially, though not in spirit. Magnificent is angry at this but says nothing. Dazzling and Mangrove return and Mangrove is declared the winner. Magnificent is furious and almost slips when she says that Dazzling should have brought back 19 pieces of fruit, implying that she had hidden a stock pile for Dazzling to gather. Magnificent denies any cheating on the part of her team and they move on to the final contest - venom target between Kinkajou and Grandeur. Grandeur easily beats her is distance and they move on to precision. Kinkajou is upset, feeling she has lost the competition for Glory. Glory assures her that she has done her best and that even if she isn't declared queen they will still figure out a way to save the RainWings. Glory notices Grandeur listening in to their conversation. Grandeur takes a shot at a target and then Kinkajou has a turn. They move on to the next target but as Gandeur fires a sloth moves in front of the board - and Kinkajou dives in front of it to save it, getting sprayed with Grandeur's venom.

Everyone panics and Glory furiously bemoans the lack of tracking who is related to who. She tells Grandeur to start testing her venom with others and goes first. Surprisingly Glory and Grandeur's venom cancels each other out. Glory uses her venom on Kinkajou to save her. Grandeur is shocked and tells Glory that she is descended from the original line of RainWing queens. She tells her that since none of her daughters were worthy of the throne the royal eggs were mixed in with the common ones, and Grandeur hoped to one day find a dragon who was worthy of being queen. She feels Glory is this dragon so she forfeits, declaring Kinkajou the winner. Magnificent is furious but Grandeur tells her that none of them deserve the throne. Glory is declared the new queen and the RainWings cheer, much to Glory's shock. Tsunami teases her for becoming queen when everyone thought that was Tsunami's destiny. Glory asks her for help in turning the RainWings into an army. Sunny pipes up that she has another suggestion but she doesn't get to voice it. Instead Clay shows up with the news that Starflight is gone, probably to warn the NightWings about Glory's plan.

The false dragonets are sitting around in the NightWing kingdom. They are miserable to be trapped there and don't know what is going on. Fatespeaker sees some NightWings bringing in an unconscious NightWing dragonet. She loudly declares to her friends that she is having a vision, but they don't care. She doesn't either because she knows that the unconscious dragonet is important to her destiny.

So I gotta say, all those queens were pretty lousy. I was beginning to think Magnificent would win the throne, and then maybe the RainWings would choose Glory to lead them. Grandeur forfeiting was a nice touch, though.

Starflight running off to warn his tribe was a dumb move. Everyone has this hope that their tribe is perfect - and then they wind up shitty. We already know the NightWings are shitty between Morrowseer and Deathbringer. And now they have Starflight prisoner. He should have known better, but I understand why he wanted to believe differently.

I am curious what Sunny's plan is. Since the war is about her tribe - and because she is such an odd SandWing - I am betting the key to solving this war is her somehow.

the hidden kingdom: part six

Magnificent misunderstands Glory at first, thinking she wants a turn being queen. Glory tells her no, she wants to take the throne. Magnificent doesn't understand how this is possible. Glory tells her most tribes fight to the death. Magnificent is horrified at this suggestion, feeling it is barbaric. Glory counters that leaving RainWings to die as prisoners in the NightWing kingdom is barbaric. An old dragon named Handsome speaks up with an ancient tradition to determine queen by contest. Glory agrees and Magnificent demands a day to determine what the contest should be. Handsome says it is traditional so Glory agrees. Magnificent names Handsome the judge of the contest and they leave. Outside Glory finds a couple dozen dragons that Coconut has rounded up. She is disappointed at the turn out but she also knows this news will spread fast. Kinkajou speaks up, saying how this will be a good thing because now they will have a real queen who will save their missing tribe mates. The other dragons are unsure but then Glory speaks and tells the dragons she isn't doing this so she can have the best sun time spot in the village but so that no other dragon will be taken away.

Glory tells Kinkajou to bring Mangrove to her, then she goes over to the healer's hut. While there she admits to Starflight and Sunny that she is challenging Magnificent for the throne. Starflight and Sunny are shocked, but Glory insists it is the only way to rescue the missing dragons. Starflight says maybe he should speak to his tribe before they attack and ask them to return the RainWings. Glory points out that they have the RainWings tied up and are stealing their venom - clearly they don't care about doing the right thing. She realizes that the healers are eavesdropping and there are hidden dragons outside of the hut listening in too. Sunny realizes Glory will have to kill Magnificent but Glory tells her they have a way of taking the throne that doesn't involve killing. Sunny is thrilled by this news and feels all the tribes should adopt it. Glory and Starflight are skeptical but Sunny points out that there could be rules and maybe it would make the tribes happier. Glory realizes, aloud, that being happy isn't everything. She realizes you also have to believe in something and be willing to fight for it. Kinkajou and Mangrove arrive to begin Glory's training.

Mangrove and Kinkajou give Glory a crash course in everything RainWing, then they insist she sleep during sun time. Glory argues against this, feeling she needs to train as much as possible. They point out that she also needs to rest. Realizing she is exhausted, she agrees. She lays down then opens her eyes to find Queen Scarlet standing before her.

At first Glory thinks Scarlet is really there, but then she realizes it is an image. As Scarlet moves and talks Glory can see her horribly disfigured face behind the projected image of her original face. Scarlet tells her that she is still alive and that she is talking to her with the use if a dreamvisitor. Scarlet tries attacking Glory but since she isn't actually there it doesn't work. Scarlet wants Glory to find her and free her or else she will kill her. Glory points out that Scarlet probably wants to kill her anyway so no she won't help. When Glory tries to find out who is keeping her prisoner, Scarlet refuses to say since Glory won't help her. Scarlet leaves as suddenly as she appeared. Glory wakes up full of questions.

The competition is at the arboretum. Glory has questions for Starflight but they have to wait since it is time for her competition. Plus, he and Clay are guarding the tunnel while Tsunami and Sunny have joined her. All the tribe has turned out to watch them. Magnificent arrives with her fellow queens, all of whom look furious. She announces she has decided on five competitions so that way she can include her fellow queens since it is their throne that is under attack as well. This means Glory has to pick four helpers. Glory realizes it is a trick and Magnificent expects her to pick her friends. Glory also realizes she cannot win the throne with the help of outsiders, she must show faith in her own tribe. Glory picks Kinkajou and Mangrove easily. She also picks Jambu, who is absolutely thrilled. She isn't sure who to pick for the fourth dragon. She thinks on the other other RainWings she knows, but that is Liana, Bromeliad, and Coconut - none of whom she can trust. She names Tamarin, knowing only that she is friends with Kinkajou. This choice amuses Magnificent. Kinkajou tries to have Glory change her choice but Magnificent won't let her. It is then revealed that Tamarin is blind.

So Queen Scarlet is alive? And trapped somewhere? I wonder what is going on there. My money is on another NightWing plot. Why are they so interested in making this war turn out the way they want? And what do the captured RainWings have to do with this?

the hidden kingdom: part five

As Glory listens to the NightWings talk she realizes Deathbringer might have set her and her friends up by deliberately getting captured. Panicking, she tries to escape and is knocked out again. Glory wakes up, finding herself bound and gagged, to a young missing dragonet named Kinkajou. Glory walks to the front of their cave and discovers she is in a lava filled place that is the secret home of the NightWings.

Kinkajou is talkative, but since Glory is gagged she can't get any specific information out of her. Glory quickly becomes frustrated and then even more frustrated as Kinkajou reads all the emotions on her scales. Glory hears a commotion and looks outside the cave. She sees a RainWing, who is so depressed his scales are gray, being carried away by NightWings. Kinkajou tells her this is Gibbon, and the NightWings are especially interested in his venom. Glory tries to plan an escape when some NightWings show up. One of them is interested in how different she is, since she didn't instantly turn green with fear. The others are uninterested in his observations. As they unlock Glory's mouth so she can eat she plans her attack.

The moment her mouth is free she attacks. She quickly gets pinned down but Kinkajou shocks her by joining in the fight. She uses her venom against the NightWings but is very apologetic for it. They subdue their captors quickly but the commotion alerts other NightWings. Glory tells Kinkajou to turn herself into a NightWing and send them away. Kinkajou does this by telling the others that Glory took off. The NightWings leave but Glory knows it is a matter of time before they come back. She cannot get her bindings off and knows if she doesn't she cannot get across the lava to escape. Just then Deathbringer shows up.

Clay arrives right after Deathbringer. He explains that Deathbringer told him where she went and they came here to rescue her. Clay, Glory, and Kinkajou leave. Glory wants to rescue the other RainWings but Clay feels they need to escape first. When Deathbringer doesn't join them Clay explains it away by saying he can't be seen helping them. Glory, however, wonders - especially since the wounded NightWing in the cave overheard their escape plan. They reach the tunnel they need but some NightWings are guarding it. The three dragons fight and get Kinkajou safely away. Shortly after they follow her.

The three dragons burst through the tunnel to find their friends looking for them. Glory tells them about being captured and feels they need to raise a RainWing army to rescue the missing dragons. Leaving Clay and Tsunami to guard the tunnel, Glory and her friends head towards the village. Starflight and Sunny are skeptical of her plan. Kinkajou is excited and wonders how much everyone was looking for her. She becomes upset when she realizes no one was. Glory tells Coconut, a RainWing, to gather everyone for a tribe meeting. She then leads her friends right to Magnificent's hut, cutting past everyone in line. She tells Magnificent that she found the missing RainWings but they need to be rescued. Magnificent feels it doesn't matter and that maybe they should just leave the captured RainWings. She doesn't even care when Glory tells her of the experiments or that RainWings are dying. Glory becomes furious and challenges Magnificent for the throne.

I am suspicious of Deathbringer helping Glory escape. I think he genuinely did not want her captured, but helping her escape is something else entirely. Glory is right, what about the injured NightWings in the cave? They would have heard Deathbringer telling Glory to escape. How is he supposed to talk his way out of that? Short of killing the NightWings I don't know that he can.

And Glory challenging Magnificent!!! I did not see that coming! Tsunami was always the one who wanted to be queen! But good on Glory for standing up for what is right!

the hidden kingdom: part four

Glory and Jambu are brought straight to the queen while Glory tries to figure a way out of this mess. Blaze is a bit empty headed so Glory decides to tell her that the dragonets are here to meet with her. Blaze is excited and wants to invite them for a feast. Knowing they will probably just wind up prisoners again Glory tells her no. Jambu suggests leaving right now to meet the dragonets so Glory convinces Blaze to leave the safety of her fortress with them - and without her guards. Mangrove is in the throne room and Jambu spots him. After Jambu collects their hidden friend they leave. They fly to their group and drop their disguises. Blaze is thrilled to meet a real RainWing and seems to know nothing about the missing dragons. Glory introduces the dragonets and Blaze to each other.

Blaze is confused as to Glory being their SkyWing. The dragonets question her, asking why she should be queen. Her answers are pretty empty headed. She talks about how nice she is and how Glaicer will continue to secure her throne after she wins the war. Sunny sneaks in a question about curing SandWing poison and Blaze tells her there is a cactus that grows everywhere in the desert that cures it. Deathbringer crashes their conversation. He chides Glory for not telling him the truth that morning. Glory counters that he is there is kill her. He says it doesn't have to be her that he kills and then attacks Blaze, seriously wounding her. Clay attacks Deathbringer but is knocked off. Glory attacks, wanting to know why he tried to kill Blaze. Deathbringer admits he isn't there for Blaze, just some of the dragonets, but he figured he might as well take the opportunity since it presented itself. He also says that if they let him kill Blaze he will let them escape. As Deathbringer and Glory fight, Starflight admits that this is his fault since he was ordered to convince the others to pick Blister and he didn't. Wing beats fill the air and everyone sees Glaicer and her guards in the distance.

Blaze wants the dragonets to stay and meet Glacier but they refuse. They let Deathbringer leave then escape themselves. Before going Glory tries to give some advice to Blaze, but Blaze finds it hilarious that a RainWing is trying to give her advice and doesn't listen. As they fly away Tsunami asks Glory why she didn't use her venom on Deathbringer. Glory hedges, saying she really didn't feel like Deathbringer was trying to kill her. They then talk about the NightWings trying to kill some of them. Tsunami speculates it is because like all the other tribes, the NightWings too want the prophecy to work out a certain way. They get back to the hole but it is gone, buried under the sand. As they dig it out Sunny gets the cactus they need. They travel through the hole back to the rainforest where they find Mangrove. Glory assures him they intend to find the missing dragons and will resume watching the hole to see what happens.

Glory and Tsunami watch the hole that night. They hear something approaching but cannot make out what it is. Then they hear someone else whistling, which scares away the first thing they heard. They attack the one who is whistling and discover it is Deathbringer. He pretends innocence at being in the RainWing forest. Glory asks if he is a mind reading NightWing. He responds by saying she is thinking about how good looking he is. That answer is too close for comfort so she instead asks if he is still going to kill her. Deathbringer gets quiet and says he is trying to find an alternative, but it is not his call. A plan comes to Glory and she gets Tsunami to help her tie Deathbringer up. Glory offers to watch Deathbringer for now and tells Tsunami to send Clay to relieve her. Once Tsunami leaves Glory works on her plan. Deathbringer realizes what she is thinking right away and tries to talk her out of it. But Glory is determined and tells him she intends to use herself as bait.

Glory leaves Clay with a tied up and gagged Deathbringer. She then leaves to try and get captured. Someone sneaks up on her and knocks her unconscious. She wakes up with a sack over her head in what she thinks is the tunnel. Only when they reach a room she realizes this is a different tunnel - but identical. She realizes her captors are dragons and they are taking orders from Deathbringer.

Blaze is clearly not meant to be queen. Burn and Blister were awful and cruel while Blaze is a fool. None of them are fit to be queen. I am starting to wonder if maybe Sunny is going to be queen. It clearly isn't going to be one of the sisters and Sunny is the only other SandWing we have met.

Deathbringer clearly knew what was going on with the tunnels. He got to the rainforest far too quickly, he sent away the "monster" Glory and Tsunami were tracking (nice touch with the dragonet song), and he freaked out when Glory said she intended to use herself as bait. His panic over that last one - as well as his admittance that he was looking for a loophole to spare her life - has me sure that his feelings for Glory are real.

Lastly, it was foolish of Glory to go off on her own. And now she is captured by the NightWings - which is quite possibly the worst tribe to be captured by. I'm sure their contingency plans have contingency plans, to quote Bruce Willis. I wonder what is it they want the RainWings for?

the hidden kingdom: part three

Glory waits for her friends to arrive so the tunnel can be investigated. When they arrive a debate breaks out over who should go, with Glory wanting to go alone. In the end she and Clay enter the tunnel, with a vine wrapped around them that they can tug on if they need help. As they follow the tunnel they debate where it came from, wondering if an animus dragon created it. They are shocked at how short the tunnel is, but they are even more shocked when they arrive at the end of the tunnel and find themselves in the Kingdom of Sand right by Burn's stronghold.

Clay and Glory head back to their friends and tell them of their discovery. Starflight insists it is impossible that the tunnel can lead to a kingdom half a world away. Glory feels the tunnels must be connected to the missing RainWings somehow. Jambu is no help as he doesn't know what an animus dragon is or even what SandWings look like. Sunny feels they should destroy the tunnel and while Glory feels it might be a good idea the other dragons aren't sure that they can - plus they need to find the missing RainWings first. Suddenly Mangrove bursts past them into the tunnel. They call out to him to come back but he ignores them. The dragonets and Jambu follow. When they exit the tunnel they are shocked to realize Glory is right and they really are in the Kingdom of Sand.

The dragons search for Mangrove but do not find him so they decide to settle down for the night. Glory tries to talk Jambu into returning home but he is so excited to be out on an adventure, while refusing to see the danger, and insists on staying. When Glory wakes up before anyone else the next day she decides to do some scouting on her own. She sees a black dragon in a hut. Hoping it is Mangrove she decides to check it out. Only the dragon isn't Mangrove, it is a NightWing.

She makes herself look as close to an IceWing as she can and confronts the strange dragon, accusing him of being on her land. The dragon points out that it isn't actually IceWing land yet, though it is promised to Queen Glacier if she helps Blaze win the war. As he speculates on Glacier and Blaze's plot Glory suddenly remembers that NightWings can read minds. She empties her head of everything but questions for him and resumes questioning him. The NightWing is amused by Glory and her lack of awe for him and he flirts with her. He tells her that he is waiting for some dragons to show up. He also asks her if she has seen the dragonets since rumor has it they are coming this way to meet with Blaze. Glory refuses to give him any information as he keeps trying to get her to like him. Finally she leaves, refusing to give him her name. He calls out his after her, and his name is Deathbringer.

As Glory flies away she realizes Deathbringer is probably there looking for the dragonets. She knows Morrowseer wants her dead, but now she is worried that he might want some of her friends dead too - which makes her wonder how he could want that since it should screw up the prophecy. Glory wakes up her friends and tells them about Deathbringer, leaving out how she finds him attractive. It is decided they need to find Mangrove and return to the rainforest. Glory figures Mangrove might have headed for Blaze's fortress so she wants to go there, disguised as an IceWing, to find him. It is decided Jambu should go with her since he can disguise himself as an IceWing too. They head to the fortress and remain invisible until they determine that there is no way in. They make themselves look like IceWings and approach the guards, asking to speak with Blaze when she returns. Confused, the guards tell them that Blaze never leaves the fortress and offer to bring them right to her.

I was surprised Glory would find a love interest in another tribe, but then I remembered Clay and Peril. I wonder if it is normal for dragons to mate outside of their group? Something tells me probably not. And to top it all off she falls for a dragon who is sent to kill her. I wonder if Deathbringer saw through her disguise? Something tells me he might have. I also wonder if his flirting with Glory was real? I also suspect that this is probably also true. However, my suspicions are colored by the fact that this is a kid's novel so there is less likely to be romantic betrayal and by the additional fact that everyone else found a love interest in their book so it makes sense that Glory should find one too.

Moving away from Glory's love life for a moment I doubt Blaze has the missing RainWings. Since Deathbringer is in the area I am sure that the NightWings are behind the disappearances.

the hidden kingdom: part two

Glory wakes up to a series of surprises. First she finds a sloth sleeping on herself who Jambu tells her is now her pet. Then Jambu shows her the hatcheries and she realizes that family is not really a RainWing thing and no one even realized her egg was missing. She also realizes that Webs probably knew this which is why he refused to give her information on the night he took her. Then she discovers with a venom test that she and Jambu are siblings. Discouraged with all of this she follows Jambu back to her friends.

Jambu and Glory find Starflight teasing Clay with food in his sleep. Glory feels conflicted about her people. On one hand they have blow darts and a hidden village. On the other hand they didn't even notice her egg was missing. The other dragonets start to wake up. Other RainWings show up and are amused by the friendly bickering of the dragonets. Starflight asks to see Queen Dazzling immediately on important business. This confuses Jambu and Liana, who want to take them to someone else. Glory realizes what is going on just before it is revealed that they have multiple queens who all take turns by ruling for one month at a time. When they discover there is no ruling family Tsunami asks if she could be queen since she is a princess of the SeaWings. Glory is shocked when Jambu and Liana consider this. She overrules them, pointing out that a SeaWing cannot be queen of the RainWings. They bring the dragonets to Queen Magnificent's hut where they can wait their turn. Glory decides to start asking the dragons in line ahead of them why they are waiting. The third dragon angrily informs her that his partner, Orchid, has been missing for three weeks and she is one of at least twelve missing dragons.

Glory convinces Mangrove to let her accompany him when he pleads his case to the queen. She also convinces Bromeliad, who is also there about a missing dragon who is a student of hers, to accompany them. Glory feels that the queen might be more willing to listen to two dragons instead of one. Magnificent listens to their cases and decides that Glory should investigate matters. Just then the dragonets burst in. They convinced everyone else that they should cut ahead. They explain about Webs and Magnificent allows them to ask the healers for help. Before they leave she asks Glory who she is. Glory explains that her egg was stolen six years ago but the queen seems uninterested. Glory leaves, frustrated at the lack of care in regards to anything in the RainWing kingdom.

Clay tells Glory that he and Starflight will help her while the others focus on Webs. First they seek out Mangrove for more information. They find out that even one of the queens, Splendor, is missing but no one seems to care. The general feeling is the missing dragons will return when they want to. Mangrove takes them to where Orchid last was when she went missing. There they find a dying sloth and a mysterious hole in a boulder that looks like a doorway.

The doorway feels wrong to the dragonets. The sloth dies, probably from some sort of poison since he smelled wrong. Glory wants to investigate the hole but her friends stop her, pointing out that they should wait until morning. Starflight leaves to tell the others the plan while Glory and Clay settle down for the night. Glory admits to Clay that she doesn't feel like she belongs in the RainWing kingdom and privately she feels that she got her hopes up just to be smashed. Glory and Clay hear a noise in the trees and quiet down. It heads towards the hole. They fall asleep and when they check on the dead sloth in the morning they find it gone.

So I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume that none of the dragonets are going to find what they are looking for at their home. Poor Glory. So determined to prove that RainWings are not just lazy dragons only to find out the truth is that they just really don't care about anything, including a missing queen! It certainly is a peaceful, carefree life but it is a little too carefree.

the hidden kingdom: part one

Nautilus shows off the false dragonets to Morrowseer but they are just as unimpressive as the real ones. Morrowseer decides that he needs to take the dragonets with him for training which is when he finds out that not only are the false dragonets children of members of the Talons of Peace, but that the false SeaWing, Squid, is Nautilus's own child. Much to Nautilus's horror, Morrowseer implies that everyone who knows the truth that these are not the real dragonets should be killed. Morrowseer then goes on to say any of the false dragonets that do not work out should be discarded. Nautilus begins to wonder what he has gotten himself into.

Glory and her friends work their way through the MudWung kingdom towards the RainWing kingdom. The poison is spreading through Webs and he keeps insisting on breaks. Rain pours down around them and Glary hates it. She is worried what she will find when they reach her home. They hear some MudWings approaching and hide. As Glory listens to them they speak of a monster that is killing them off. She leaves the others to follow to find out more, hears some screams, and when she comes across them again they are dead.

The dragonets discuss the dead MudWings. Out of fear some hint that maybe they should leave. Sunny and Glory argue that the RainWings can't live here and not know what is going on. Webs makes a dig at how lazy and oblivious they are, angering Glory and Tsunami. Tsunami demands he tells her anything he knows about the monster but Webs knows nothing. As everyone talks things over they realize Sunny is missing. 

As they look around for Sunny they realize Webs has disappeared too. Glory hears the wiz of something and watches as Clay disappears right in front of her. Clay is taken too and Starflight dives for cover. Glory places herself in front of Starflight and demands to speak to someone. Suddenly the trees are filled with RainWings. The dragons, led by Jambu and Liana, explain that it is just sleeping darts and this is how they bring intruders to their home. Starflight asks if they are prisoners but the RainWings seem shocked by the idea. Screams fill the air.

The RainWings explain that the screaming is just monkeys. They say the monkeys never used to scream and that it started a few years ago. Glory finds it odd that the monkeys would suddenly make a different noise, and even odder that the RainWings don't care. Glory and Starflight are led to the village while their unconscious friends are carried there. Glory mentions to Jambu that her egg was stolen six years ago. Much to Glory and Starflight's confusion, Jambu doesn't seem to care. Glory is upset that she knows so little about RainWing culture and is frustrated by Jambu and Liana's confusion and indifference. She also feels frustrated that her emotions are playing across her scales, though the same is true for the other RainWings. They explain it is sun time and that all the RainWings sleep during this time of day. The sun charges their scales and fills them. Starflight is excited to realize this is why she always takes an afternoon nap. Starflight also asks after the monster but the Rainwings know nothing. Glory joins them for a nap while Starflight stays with their friends. 

So I think there is more to the RainWings then meets the eye - after all they do have dart guns to knock out intruders - but I am also suspecting that they might be exactly what they appear to be as well. Glory is looking to prove the world wrong with a super special tribe but I have a feeling that while they probably aren't as lazy as everyone says, they probably are very relaxed - and maybe even pacifists.

I'm a bit intrigued by this group that seems so different from every other group of dragons. They don't even care that there might be something out there killing MudWings. Which has me questioning if any if their own dragons are missing. 

the lost heir: part six

The guards bring Tsunami and her friends to their cell. They allow them to stay together so long as they go peacefully. The cells are tiny islands with a waterfall blocking them in. Tsunami looks for Riptide and Webs but cannot find them through the waterfalls. She doesn't understand the cells but Starflight figures it out once he sees the electric eels that shock everyone who tries to enter the water. They work on planning their escape using Glory's venom as a secret weapon. Much to her friends shock, Tsunami doesn't want them to fight their way out - especially since some of the guards are on their side. Sunny thinks she hears something from up above but everyone dismisses her. Anemone arrives, allowed out of her harness for a bit so Auklet can be fitted for one. The dragonets ask for her help in escaping and offer to take her with them but Anemone knows if she leaves Coral and Blister will never stop hunting for her. But she can find out who tried to kill Tsunami so she spells a spear to bring the assassin to her. The spear leaves and eventually brings back Whirlpool.

Things don't go as planned. At first Whirlpool denies attacking Tsunami but then admits to it when he realizes he has been caught. He admits he did it because he didn't want to be forced to marry Tsunami - he figured Anemone would be easier to control. To make things worse he isn't upset that he has been figured out. He feels he can justify his actions to Coral and since Anemone has proven she is a powerful animus he can take the credit for her training. He plans to marry Auklet instead and let Anemone be killed by Coral using her as a weapon. Tsunami is upset because she meant to protect her sisters and now things are worse for them. There is a scuffle over Anemone's spear and Whirlpool falls into the water. The electric eels kill him. Anemone is shocked since this isn't what she meant to have happen. Tsunami wants to go to her and Starflight debates that this might be her only chance to go through the waterfall since the eels just expended their energy - but he fears he might be wrong. Tsunami feels it is worth the risk but puts it to a vote. Her friends are torn and she takes the risk. She goes through the waterfall unharmed. She sends Anemone on her way and figures out how to turn off the waterfall. She gets her friends out and Clay tells her where he saw Webs and Riptide. They locate the dragons near the entrance but fear freeing them will alert the guards nearby. Sunny insists she isn't hearing things when suddenly they realize the SeaWings are under attack. Tsunami alerts the guards.

Tsunami convinces the guards to go fight and let them escape. They free Riptide and Webs but before they can go Riptide admits he is part of the Talons. Tsunami feels betrayed and unsure of her entire relationship with Riptide. Just then the MudWing Crocodile shows up. She admits that she only infiltrated the Talons to get information. Then she convinced Webs to return home so she could follow and stage an attack. She tells the dragonets that Scarlet is rumored to be dead. Glory asks if she knows how Scarlet died to which Crocodile responds she does not. Glory spits her venom all over the MudWing's face. Crocodile runs away and everyone escapes into the battle. As they leave Tsunami sees Coral with her young daughters. She realizes despite her mother's faults, Coral really does love her daughters. Riptide leaves them to join the battle. Tsunami points out that he will just get thrown in prison again but he feels he cannot abandon his home. Blister sees them leaving and tries to kill Webs. She fails but she does wound him badly with her poisoned tail.

Tsunami and her friends have escaped. They are hiding in the trees plotting their next move. They need to get help for Webs but they don't know who to turn to. They figure while SandWings should know how to cure the poison they do not know if they can trust any of them. Starflight suggests the Talons but Webs says he cannot return to them and the dragonets should not trust them. After all if Crocodile was a spy then who knows who else could be. Tsunami suggests they visit the RainWings next. Glory is shocked but Tsunami explains they might know about the poison since they are poisonous themselves and Glory should have a chance to meet her family too. Decided everyone settles down to sleep.

Blister meets with Morrowseer. She reports to him that Webs should be dead, that Coral and her daughters unfortunately survived, and that Coral is now refusing to use Anemone as a weapon. Blister is furious with how events turned out. Morrowseer tells her they have another plan, but warns her she might not like it. He presents a SeaWing named Nautilus, who has a plan to make fake dragonets of destiny. Blister agrees and they plot the death and replacement of some of the dragonets. Blister insists that Starflight be one of the ones replaced as he was an awful traitor. Morrowseer sadly agrees. He says they do not like killing off NightWings but they will for Starflight because he was such a disappointment.

I am glad to see that someone from the group of Shark, Moray, and Whirlpool was evil! And I'm also glad to see that Coral has changed her mind about Anemone's powers. She might be a crazy, lying, and devious queen but her love for her daughters won out in the end. I will even forgive her for throwing Tsunami in prison since I believe that decision was partly motivated by fear of losing her daughter again and not just controlling the dragonets of destiny.