Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Fire Within | 2001 | Chris d’Lacey | Buy |
| 2 | Icefire | 2003 | Chris d’Lacey | Buy |
| 3 | Fire Star | 2005 | Chris d’Lacey | Buy |
| 4 | The Fire Eternal | 2007 | Chris d’Lacey | Buy |
| 5 | Dark Fire | 2009 | Chris d’Lacey | Buy |
| 6 | Fire World | 2011 | Chris d’Lacey | Buy |
| 7 | The Fire Ascending | 2012 | Chris d’Lacey | Buy |
Chris d’Lacey’s Last Dragon Chronicles follows David Rain, a college student who discovers that his landlady’s clay dragons are magical and alive. The Fire Within (2001) introduces the world, and the series expands to encompass polar bears, ancient legends, and alternate realities. Icefire (2003), Fire Star (2005), The Fire Eternal (2007), Dark Fire (2009), Fire World (2011), and The Fire Ascending (2012) complete the series.
The early books are grounded in a domestic setting, with David living in an ordinary house where extraordinary things happen. As the series progresses, the scope grows. By Dark Fire and Fire World, the story has moved far beyond its cozy beginnings into multiverse-scale conflicts and deep mythology involving dragons, bears, and a substance called “auma.”
The series ran for over a decade, with d’Lacey releasing books every two years on average. Young readers who started with The Fire Within in 2001 could have grown up alongside the series as it matured in tone and complexity. The Dragons of Wayward Crescent spinoff series offers a lighter alternative for readers not yet ready for the later, heavier entries.