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| Cover artist | Joy Ang |
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| Published | July 25, 2017 |
| Page count | 432 |
| ISBN | 9780545685474 (hardcover) 9780545685481 (paperback) |
| Preceded by | Talons of Power |
| Followed by | The Lost Continent |
Darkness of Dragons is the tenth novel in the Wings of Fire novel series and is the fifth book in arc two. It features Qibli as the main protagonist.
Blurb
An ancient evil, a terrible prophecy -- and five Dragonets who could save the world...Don't miss the most thrilling adventure yet in the New York Times bestselling Wings of Fire series! Qibli knows Darkstalker must be stopped. And he knows he could stop him -- if he had magic. With even a sliver of the ancient dragon's all-powerful scroll, Qibli could rewrite history the right way: end war forever; make every dragon happy; perhaps even cast a very small spell so that everyone would like him...Instead, as Darkstalker's dangerous influence spreads across Pyrrhia, entrancing or killing every dragon in the seven tribes, Qibli can only grasp the small animus objects he's borrowed from Turtle. With some clever thinking, Qibli's talons finally hold the power to make a difference. But prophecies are not easy to rewrite. Can Qibli be the magical force Pyrrhia needs, or will he be the one to bring Jade Mountain -- and his family, his friends, his whole world -- crashing down?
Plot
Prologue
Palm fled Queen Oasis’s soldiers, intent on executing her for having Smolder’s egg, threats to the SandWing throne. Drained from hours in the sun, she reached her sister Prickle’s oasis hut. After arguing about Smolder, Prickle demanded Palm’s earrings as payment for shelter. Palm gave them; Prickle wore them, learning of Palm’s failed elopement, possibly betrayed by SandWing princesses.
Soldiers arrested Prickle, mistaking her for Palm due to their similarity and earrings. Guard Agave, Palm’s old friend, stayed silent, letting Palm escape as Prickle cursed her, which was ironic due to Palm later dying by skyfire. Palm, posing as Prickle for her dragonet, fled to the mountains, ignoring scavengers en route to the Palace, planning a humble life for her child.
Storm of Sands
Darkstalker led Moonwatcher, Turtle, and his followers from Jade Mountain Academy, unaware of the village’s location. Qibli worried about Anemone and Turtle, regretting staying behind. He recalled his cruel mother, Cobra, scolding his coconut theft, and Thorn buying him, earning loyalty with praise.
Winter mocked Qibli’s moping; Qibli called him brooding. They debated History Class, Winter deeming them footnotes. In class, Tamarin sensed smoke, pained by burns and Kinkajou’s fate. Qibli wished for a talisman to fix everything. Pike fretted over Anemone; Turtle’s presence reassured, but he left despite Webs’ orders. Webs merged classes with the Silver Winglet, but Ostrich was missing. Students pushed for Darkstalker’s history; Webs complied. Sunny revealed Ostrich’s absence to Qibli.
Qibli and Sunny found Anemone’s weather bands. Learning Onyx was gone, Qibli feared for Ostrich. Turtle’s slate declared Darkstalker NightWing king. Qibli multiplied anti-Darkstalker earrings using Turtle’s bowl, with Peril’s help. Sunny’s dreamvisitor showed Ostrich with Vulture in the Scorpion Den. Qibli and Winter went to rescue her.
In the Scorpion Den, Vulture’s Talons of Power held Cobra and Ostrich, betrayed by Onyx. Qibli stalled, writing gibberish; Cobra aided escape. They exposed “Bog,” Peril’s father, and stole the Obsidian Mirror.
At Thorn’s stronghold, Qibli earringed Thorn, exposing Cobra’s assassination plot. Discussing Darkstalker’s Ice Kingdom plague, Qibli suggested earrings for IceWings. Winter, restrained from seeking Darkstalker, was earringed, fainting with Qibli. Vulture’s Talons claimed the Eye of Onyx; Thorn revealed the true Eye, fatal to the unworthy. Qibli thwarted Onyx’s attack, Smolder and Palm’s royal daughter.
Thorn and Onyx planned a crown battle. Qibli’s storm became a sandstorm, pausing it. Thorn said the Eye chose worth. Post-storm, they found injured Onyx with Smolder and Prickle, a forgotten prisoner. Ostrich cleared dungeon darkness. Turtle’s message revealed his NightWing Palace trap, begging Qibli’s aid.
King of Shadows
Qibli fretted over Turtle’s unclear message, unsure of the Night Kingdom’s location. He and Winter debated Turtle’s rescue, using the Obsidian Mirror to view friends. Moon and Kinkajou argued about Darkstalker, planning Jade Mountain’s return; Winter praised Kinkajou’s sense. Turtle was in a cell; Darkstalker offered a NightWing magic gardening powers, accepted reluctantly. Thorn and Qibli noted Darkstalker’s ease with magic. Qibli aimed for Jade Mountain to meet Moon and Kinkajou, eager to save Turtle. Checking Tsunami, they saw her as a hostage, not at the academy.
Qibli, Winter, and earring-freed Anemone reached the Night Kingdom. Winter’s earring blocked “Darkstalker’s Teeth,” an IceWing-killing spell. Darkstalker tested NightWings in an arena, plotting IceWing revenge. Spotting shapeshifted Bog, Qibli lied about Peril’s earring request, reverting him to Chameleon; Kinkajou knocked him out. Qibli reunited with Moon in the library, offering an earring. Darkstalker introduced a dull “Clearsight,” planning marriage. Moon, given an earring and skyfire, liked Darkstalker, shocking Winter, who broke a vase. Qibli revealed Darkstalker’s IceWing plague and Turtle’s cell. Anemone and Kinkajou sought Turtle; Moon and Qibli faced Darkstalker.
Darkstalker tweaked “Clearsight,” actually Fierceteeth, missing the real Clearsight. Moon called his enchantment wrong and blamed him for the plague. Darkstalker claimed IceWings were threats; Moon said peace prevailed before him. He reverted Fierceteeth, sending her to rally NightWings for war.