Chris d’Lacey Books in Order

How to Start Reading Chris d’Lacey’s Dragon Universes

For most readers, the journey into the worlds of Chris d’Lacey begins with a small lump of clay that comes to life. The author is best known for his dragon mythology, which spans multiple series. If you are wondering where to start, the clear recommendation is to begin with the main series, The Last Dragon Chronicles, starting with The Fire Within. Although the shorter prequel series, The Dragons of Wayward Crescent, is set chronologically earlier, it was published later and works best as companion reading once you are already familiar with the lore.

The Last Dragon Chronicles in Publication Order

This is d’Lacey’s signature series. What starts as a cozy story about a college student named David Rain renting a room from a clay-dragon maker named Elizabeth Pennykettle quickly expands into an epic, cosmic, and ecological fantasy. The books should be read in publication order to appreciate how the mythos grows:

1. The Fire Within (2001) – David Rain moves into the Pennykettle household, meets the young Lucy Pennykettle, and receives his first clay dragon, a writing companion named Gadzooks.
2. Icefire (2003) – David investigates the connection between his writing, the clay dragons, and the ancient magic locked in the polar ice.
3. Fire Star (2005) – The stakes rise as David travels to the Arctic on a research expedition, facing ancient forces and a mysterious falling star.
4. The Fire Eternal (2007) – Taking place five years after the events of Fire Star, this installment shifts the focus to David’s daughter, Alexa, and the shifting power of the Earth’s life force.
5. Dark Fire (2009) – A darker turn in the series where the lines between clay, flesh, and ancient mythical entities begin to blur.
6. Fire World (2011) – The series takes a bold turn to a parallel world called Cooee, where dragons are a myth but a group of kids discovers a secret that links them to Earth.
7. The Fire Ascending (2012) – The final book wraps up the massive, time-spanning, and multi-dimensional plotlines of the main saga.

The Companion Guide: Rain & Fire: A Guide to the Last Dragon Chronicles (2010) is a companion volume containing behind-the-scenes insights, interviews, and lore details. Read this after Dark Fire or after finishing the entire series to avoid spoilers.

The Dragons of Wayward Crescent (Prequel Series)

Set before David Rain’s arrival at Wayward Crescent, this prequel series focuses on the early creations of the Pennykettle household. These books are shorter, heavily illustrated, and geared toward younger readers. While they can be read in any order, the standard reading sequence is:

1. Gruffen (2009) – Explores the creation of a guard dragon meant to watch the house.
2. Gauge (2008) – Centers on a time-telling dragon who helps solve a town mystery.
3. Glade (2009) – Follows a green dragon created to help with the garden.
4. Grabber (2010) – Focuses on a small holding dragon who aids in school mysteries.

Reading Note: Even though Gauge was published first, Gruffen serves as the chronological introduction to the series. Since the stories are self-contained, reading them out of order will not disrupt the overarching narrative.

The Erth Dragons

Set in a completely separate fantasy universe, this trilogy shifts to a high-fantasy, prehistoric Earth setting. It details the tense relations between a colony of dragons (known as the Wearle) and primitive humans (known as Homines). This series must be read in order:

1. The Wearle (2015) – A colony of dragons establishes a presence on a new planet (Erth), leading to tense first encounters with the native humans.
2. Dark Wyng (2016) – The conflict deepens as dark secrets about the dragons' true nature and the planet's past come to light.
3. The New Age (2018) – The final battle that determines whether humans and dragons can coexist or if one species will dominate.

The Unicorne Files (UFiles)

For readers who enjoy reality-shifting science fiction and paranormal mysteries, this trilogy follows Michael Malone. Michael possesses the rare ability to perform 'universe shifts' and is recruited by the mysterious UNICORNE agency to investigate supernatural phenomena in exchange for clues about his missing father. The reading order is:

1. A Dark Inheritance (2014) – Michael discovers his powers after rescuing an unusual dog and joins the UNICORNE agency.
2. Alexander's Army (2015) – Michael is sent to investigate a paranormal threat while searching for his father’s hidden research files.
3. A Crown of Dragons (2016) – The final volume connects Michael’s reality-altering abilities back to ancient dragon mythology.

Notable Standalones and Co-Authored Works

In addition to his long-running fantasy series, Chris d’Lacey has penned several acclaimed standalone books and chapter books. The most significant are:

• Fly, Cherokee, Fly (1998) – D’Lacey’s debut children's novel about a boy who rescues and cares for an injured pigeon. It was highly commended for the Carnegie Medal.
• Pawnee Warrior (2002) – The direct sequel to Fly, Cherokee, Fly, continuing the pigeon adventures.
• From E to You (2000) – Co-authored with Linda Newbery, this unique young adult novel is written entirely in an epistolary format through emails between two teenagers whose parents are locked in a feud.
• The Table Football League (1998) – A fun, sports-themed story centering on a tabletop football tournament.

What to Know Before You Start: The Big Tone Shift

When starting The Last Dragon Chronicles, readers should be prepared for a major shift in tone and genre. The first two books, The Fire Within and Icefire, are cozy, contemporary domestic fantasies focused on local mysteries, squirrels, and small magic. However, starting with Fire Star and accelerating through the rest of the series, the story transforms into a complex, epic space-and-time fantasy. It introduces parallel dimensions, ancient dragon spirits (the Fain), time travel, and ecological philosophy. While some readers find this shift thrilling, others miss the simplicity of the early books. Keeping this evolution in mind will help you enjoy the series to its fullest.