(no cover art yet) Jessica Day George's website says that the upcoming DRAGON SPEAR is the last of the books she will write about Creel and her dragon friends, and now I am VERY VERY MAD at Jessica Day George. Stop writing if the books seem in danger of starting to suck, yes, but THAT IS NOT THE CASE HERE.
Creel's story begins in DRAGON SLIPPERS, with her aunt deciding that she can't/doesn't want to support her anymore, so she takes Creel and leaves her outside of a dragon's cave. Her aunt hopes that a noble lad from the village will come in and rescue her niece and marry her AND distribute the treasure around, thus making them all rich. Unfortunately for her aunt, Creel bargains with the dragon (who, in truth, couldn't be less interested in eating her) and ends up setting off for the Big City to become a dressmaker, an odd pair of shoes in her hands, and a giant adventure (with still more dragons!) in front of her.
The story continues in DRAGON FLIGHT, the second book. I don't want to say too much about the two plots because I don't want to spoil anything, but I need to tell you: these books are awesome. They're funny and really well-plotted and Creel is spunky and smart and the kind of character you wish you could know. The dragons are almost better than she is; instead of collecting treasure they all collect something different. Seriously, one dragon collects DOGS. One collects stained glass windows. It's so ridiculously great. And they all have wildly different personalities, each one so distinct and so well-drawn.
So because I don't want to spoil anything for you, I really can't tell you anything about DRAGON SPEAR either, except for this: it is too good to be a series ender. I mean, sure, if Jessica Day George (I just like to type her whole name) insists on ending it here, it has a satisfying closure to it. Unless you define "satisfying" as "clearly paving the way for thirteen or fourteen more books about Creel," which I do. I love this series NOW. I can only imagine being lucky enough to have it when I was ten or eleven or twelve (or, frankly, eight or nine, because I was a very advanced reader). When I read that the series was ending I wanted to (as my toddler daughter would say) "cwy and scweam." I am very, very, very sad about this and very, very, very mad at Jessica Day George. And DRAGON SPEAR is a very, very, very good book; a very, very, very good end to a very, very, very good series and I am very, very, very insistent that if you haven't read it you go out and start doing so immediately. Yes, I meant it. Off with you!
Preorder DRAGON SPEAR from Powell's or find your local independent bookstore.
Okay, okay. But my library is closed right now, is it permissible to wait until morning? Please and thank you in advance for the waiting till morning dispensation.
Posted by: Melody | 02/15/2009 at 04:00 PM
Oh, okay. If you MUST.
Posted by: Melissa | 02/15/2009 at 04:00 PM
Ooo, I just picked up DRAGON SLIPPERS, but I have not read it yet! It's good to hear such positive things about the rest of the series.
Posted by: Deva Fagan | 02/15/2009 at 04:00 PM
I would like to know where to get Dragonspear, as in which bookstore because i have read dragonskin slippers and dragon flight and i have been lending them to my friend if i dont get the book soon she will KILL me (unfortunately i have got her hooked and she is just as obsessed as me) i would like to keep my life long enough to read the book so please HELP!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Amber schubert | 03/17/2009 at 05:00 PM
Amber, it doesn't come out until May, so I'm afraid you and your friend are going to have to wait til then!
Posted by: Melissa | 03/17/2009 at 05:00 PM