DragonLight (DragonKeeper Chronicles, #5) by Donita K. Paul

DragonLight (DragonKeeper Chronicles, #5) Reviews

• 
  Madisyn Carlin

  It is always bittersweet when you end a wonderful series. On one hand, you can always go back and reread the books. On the other, you still have to bid the characters farewell.
  
  DragonLight is a fun, adventurous book and the last in an absolutely epic series. Donita K. Paul truly is one of the all-time champion authors of Christian fantasy, and has set high standards other books in this genre are compelled to meet.
  
  I love Kale and Bardon. They make quite a team and their personalities just jive so well, even when Kale wants to hit her husband over the head. The dragons, too, have their own personalities, which adds hilarity to the story. The supporting characters are well-done, as always, and the nasty antagonists...well, they fully deserved what happened. I was quite pleased when a certain scene for a certain dragon occurred.
  
  The faith elements are, as usual, excellent. I really appreciated how Paul was staunch about how any religion that deviates from the Bible is false. We need more writers who aren't afraid to speak the truth no matter how it might "offend" society. And the way the settings were wrought either gave me good chills or bad chills. The story is quick-paced and sweeps the reader into danger, excitement, and the battle of good versus evil.
  
  I did have a few minor complaints, but nothing that detracts from the five star rating. One, what was up with Gilda? When had she become so unpleasant? I get the reasons behind it, but they didn't seem catalytic enough to make her as aggravating as she was at times. Still, I liked how that particular issue was ended. Two, the ending felt rushed. I really wanted to know more about Gilda, Regidor, and their egg (when it hatched, what it's name was, etc.), but we aren't given the pleasure of knowing.
  
  Ah well. This is still a delightful book, and I was loathe to turn the final page because it meant bidding these adorable characters goodbye. I do want to know what type of adventures Kale and Bardon's children are swept into, but I doubt I will ever receive those stories, seeing how these books were written when I was a youngster. That usually indicates there won't be a followup series.
  
  If you haven't read this series, you need to. I thoroughly enjoyed four out of five books (the fourth I just couldn't get into--nothing against the author, characters, or book itself). Paul truly is a master storyteller.
• 
  Abby Burrus

  AHHHH IT'S OVERRRRRRRR!!!
  Well, there's another series down in the books, and I think it's safe to say I'll probably be rereading it. This is definitely my favorite book in the series, with the exception of the fact that Fenworth was not involved :( But all the other characters really came into their own and that is part of what really made the book for me. Random thoughts...
  I find the plot with the 'Followers' very interesting. SPOILER: Their truth was so close to what was really true, but with a subtle but important difference that made it complete heresy.
  And that was the difference between grace and works for our salvation. This is a distinction we need to be aware of in the Christian faith, the bedrock of it all, and this one little lie of us earning our salvation, no matter how much truth surrounds it, is deadly.
  The minor dragons are SO CUTE and I want one of my own!!!!
  Toopka and her child-like nature, and what she became in the end, was perfect. She was a mystery until the very end, but always adorable.
  Gilda was UNBEARABLE until the very end. Her arrogance towards Kale and the minor dragons was nearly insufferable. SPOILER: My poor Gymn being so insulted!
  SPOILER: Oh, and one of the best parts was definitely Kale and Bardon having their first child!
  Finally, the humor in this book was top notch. It was so fun and alive and colorful!
  Overall, I really enjoyed this Christian fantasy series. My one problem with this book and other books in it was that the ending went too quickly. But that's it and not the worst thing.
  Also, I think it's safe to say I'll be heading on to the companion series that occurs in this same fantasy world.
  
• 
  Janna Ryan

  Some of you have probably heard of the Dragon Keeper Chronicles Series by Donita Paul. It is an amazing series that currently has 5 books in it - DragonSpell DragonQuest DragonKnight DragonFire DragonLight We enter the world of Amara with Knights, Wizards, Dragons and of course clear lines drawn between good and evil. Donita has created many kinds of creatures and other amazing characters that take us through many adventures. One of my favorite parts is definitely the dragons themselves. There are different kinds with different gifts usually based on what color they are. They each have different personalities and are quite captivating really. This is a world that will pull you in and have you begging for more. I was a little behind the times with this series - I came in on book #5 (DragonLight) but was able to get the first one and read it before reading DragonLight. I loved them both and have since gotten the middle three and can't wait to go back to Amara and follow those journeys! This is a series written for YA but designed for anyone that likes fantasy and using their imaginations...
• 
  Maria

  A fantastic conclusion to the series!!
  I've honestly enjoyed this series so much. At first, I was slightly put off by the dragons because all the dragons that have featured in the books I've read have been evil, but here there were good dragons. And boy, did I fall in love with them! Each of them were unique and fun to read about.
  This novel tackled a different enemy than the former novels. This time the enemy came from 'within' and dealt with themes of compromise and deceit, which I think was well-done.
  I loved stepping back into the wonderful creation that is Amara, and throughout the whole series, I've enjoyed every minute I've spent in there.
  I was delighted to catch up with my favourite characters, especially Kale and Bardon. They are so cute together and it was so good to see the husband and wife duo working together.
  With fun adventures, fascinating creatures, and magical inventions, this novel is not to be missed!
  I would recommend this to lovers of Christian fantasy.
• 
  Becky

  I want to love these books, I really do. I've found so much to like in each of them, but I just can't get past the heavy-handed preaching. In this last one we find out that it's not just wrong to disagree with the mainstream religion, diversity of thought is more evil than a mountain-sized, man-eating dragon. I find that kind of message more terrifying than the lackluster villains in these books. Evidently, it's ok to look and act differently, as long as your beliefs fall in line with the "correct" principles.
  
  It is certainly possible for evil men to use religion to lead people into death and destruction, but that is the risk you take when you allow people to choose for themselves. I prefer a world where we are still free to choose our own thoughts and beliefs, even if your idea of God is radically different from mine. I respect your beliefs and expect you to respect mine. It seems that this author feels differently and that bothered me and constantly stood between me and the story.
  
  As for the story itself, it's passable. I enjoyed the baby elements and the new kind of dragon was nifty. I thought the ending was flat and predictable. It's not a bad book, just a flawed one.
• 
  Natalie

  I LOVE THIS SERIES!
• 
  Robert

  I have to say, this final installment was the weakest in the series. Let me tell you why:
  
  Donita introduces two menaces:
  
  The Followers, a cult of Wulder extremists, and An ancient evil dragon named Mot Angara of truly mountainous (literally) size. Both of these are great threats to the Amarans: one trying to establish a dictatorial theocracy, and the other threatening to destroy the world.
  
  Here's how they were dealt with:
  
  While the Followers seemed a great menace, and seemed like they would be a true bane on the land and might actually win out, they are suddenly, quickly, and easily dealt with, and barely even blip on the events we actually see. It all happens "off screen", and those events barely even affect the story we do get to see, which is Mot Angara.
  
  Now, Mot Angara is a true terror, of ancient terror. We get a lot of background into the history of the various dragons, learn a great deal about the Meech, and see a lot of events that makes everything more difficult for the characters and truly makes you wonder how they will succeed. It creates a lot of tension that I enjoyed. But then, at the end, I felt cheated. The best way I can describe it, without giving away the ending, is as a gamer: Imagin playing a roleplaying game where you spend months building up and preparing your characters to face the great villain at the end, but then that villain is so powerful that you can't defeat it despite all your preparations, and so the DM has to intercede with an uber powerful NPC in order to give the story a "Happy Ending". I was very let down by the ending of this book.
  
  Also, I realized that the characters have a double standard, it seems. In the last book, they were ready to kick a valuable party member out of their group because he expressed opinions that the faith of the main characters isn't the only faith in the world, and that all of these faiths contained similar themes. In this book, another character, who shows less value in my opinion, frequently makes statements that to the others should be blasphemous, statements that outright deny that their god Wulder has any true power, and yet they tolerate it as all "misguided talk" and that this character has "had a rough past, and so they;re lack of faith is understandable". The double standard is so obvious and powerful that it upset me on many levels.
  
  Now, with all that said, the build up throughout the books was very good, and I did greatly enjoy reading about the adventure. If you have read the others, this one is definitely worth reading, but in my opinion, don't expect it to feel like a Grand Finale, because to me it fell short of that distinction.
• 
  Sarah

  This is like . . . 3.5 stars? 3.75 stars? Not quite a full four stars, because the twists regarding Toopka are super weird. Also, Gilda is intensely annoying, and I spent most of the book wanting to slap her (even if she did have her better moments, and I could appreciate her direct approach at times). But in general, this is better than I remembered it. Kale and Bardon continue to be adorable, and I appreciate that being married (and pregnant!) isn't a reason to stop having adventures — it's almost a reason to continue having them. Plus, this is just kind of an unusual book in multiple respects as far as fantasy books go, and I quite enjoyed it? So, yeah. It's still my least favorite book in the series, but that doesn't mean it's bad. Just that the others are better.
• 
  AnneDrawsArt

  DragonLight by Donita K. Paul, this was the epic final book in her series with Kale. I read this book series every year as one of my very top favourites. this book was so much fun to read and as always I felt sad to stop at the end, but with the perfect ending. if anything I'd love to see a sequel series about her son Penn and all his adventures. this series as a whole really is perfect for me, with it starting with a young Kale, to her finding her family, all the while dealing with a very different group of people and learning her talent with dragons. my favourite characters are sir Dar and Topka both Donell's and one hundred percent cool. love your work Donita K. Paul.
  Amelia Eckert.
• 
  Jacquelin

  good series!
• 
  Stephanie -BooksLessTravelled

  One of my favorite books, the world was realistic and detailed enough to entrance me, the characters were my friends! Such a good book!
• 
  Elizabeth Dragina

  *ATTENTION* "Trial Review" Friends... please read my review and tell me if you like the way I review books so I can do more in the future!
  
  
  Review for Dragonlight : The land of Amara is at peace and all is well. Kale is now watching out for her dragons instead of going on dangerous quests. But their is a hidden evil in the land. What are these "Followers" up to? Why do black dragons attack Kale and no other? Where do these black dragons come from? Where is the colony of the meech and are they friendly? Can Bardon and Kale figure out what Topeka's secret is? Can they answer these questions in enough time to stop the evil from spreading?
  
  I absolutely LOVED this book! A beautiful end to the Dragon Keeper series! Donita K Paul did a marvelous job writing this Series and I can't wait to get my hands on the next books by her out their!
  
  Will all those who have read this and liked how I review books tell me so I can do more in the future!? Thanks!
• 
  Denali Christianson ~Semi-active~

  I gotta be honest: I was disappointed in this book. If we're talking prose, dialogue, character development, and world-building, Donita K. Paul is at the top of her game in Dragonlight. In fact, I think in those departments, Dragonlight was the best of the Dragonkeeper chronicles. Hoooowever, in the way of plot, Dragonlight was missing a lot. There were too many loose ends left at the end of the story - and yet they say that this is the last book of the series. Who does that? It was like reading the second to last book of a series and then realizing that the author doesn't intend to write another book. Horror. Utter horror. The author then proceeded to make multiple half-hearted attempts at plot-twists that honestly didn't make hardly any sense at all. All that being said, though, if you love the first four books of Dragonkeeper, Dragonlight is worth reading. Just don't look forward to a booming, blazing finale because you won't get it.
• 
  L Gregory Lott

  My wife and I absolutely loved this series and was sorry to see it end. We have passed the books onto our grandchildren. I would have to say that books four and five were our favorites of all. The writer is good at drawing you into the story and the series as a whole. After reading each book in the series we wanted to read the next one. What we especially liked about the series is how she developed the characters; how they matured and what they were able to accomplish and lived their lives for Wulder. Kudos to Donita K. Paul for her DragonKeeper Chronicles!
• 
  Cheryl Okimoto

  I enjoyed the end of this series, but would have liked more in the epilogue. Mrs. Paul didn't tell us what happened with some of the minor but important characters in the ensuing two years. I also didn't like that dragons were such a minor part of the story. Kale and Bardon so often left their dragons elsewhere on the quest. Seems that in a "dragon" series, the dragons should have been more integral. Still, it was a good story with some good spiritual/moral lessons.
• 
  Susie

  I read earlier books many years ago. So many that I don't really remember what happened. Either I missed a book or two in between or I just flat out can't remember. Regardless, this was a good story. The writing felt a little stilted at times but not so much that I gave up on the book. I have the sense that it might be written for teens but I'm not sure. Its got a nice subtle yet obvious Christian flavor to it.
• 
  Mark Merris

  Awesome conclusion
  
  I have so enjoyed reading this series and the final book was a great conclusion. Donna's vision for the world she created was amazing and so parallels what I have come to appreciate about our walk with God. She has made me appreciate His presence even more and the hope to come.
• 
  Kaylee Warzecha

  A great ending to the series! Like most of the previous books, the plot builds and builds and then comes to resolution in like 10 pages. The storyline is great, but I would love to have a bit more meat to the end of the series. But if you’re looking for a clean series then this is a great place to start.
• 
  R.M. Lutz

  (4.5/5 Stars) The conclusion to the DragonKeeper Chronicles brings its fair share of joyful adventure, character exploration, and fantastical landscapes, but does contain some of the deus ex machina that Christian fantasy is known (and criticized) for. Nevertheless, it's a worthy conclusion to the series and I would recommend the series as a whole to fans of middle-grade/teen Christian fantasy.
• 
  Karen

  The last book follows in line with the others. Kind of exciting, but issues with world-building distracted me. The solution to the problem kind of seemed to come from nowhere, and though it was foreshadowed, it still didn’t make a lot of sense to me.
  
  Granted, it’s the end of a very long school year and my brain isn’t working so well.
• 
  Elzbeth

  This book wasn’t not well written. It moved terribly slow in parts and zoomed through others. It’s jumped around with bad editing near the end. I still don’t understand what happened to the kid and the author basically realized she had 70 pages of story to tell in the last 30 pages of the book.
• 
  Linda Louise Carol

  Dragon Keepers again, excellent!
  
  This was the fifth in the series an it was very, very good, excellent and inspirational! I would recommend it to any Christian out there looking an easy, fun an inspiring book to read this Dragon Keepers series.
  I loved these books.
• 
  Kat

  I don't think I'll read this series again but it's a good series.
  Christian fantasy and the christian themes are very obvious
• 
  Eliza G

  Absolutely stunning!