Talking to Dragons: The Enchanted Forest Chronicles, Book Four

Oh how bittersweet it is to come to the end of a series.I hope the author will consider stories about the new dragon's princess and eventually the new king of the forest.There's action, adventure, mysteries, war, and humor in this series.This being the first story written, there is a part that "recaps" the other books quite cleverly.

The author said in her foreword that she didn't originally intend this to be a children's book, but her editor wanted it to be a children's book. Thus, it's one of those rare books that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. I was around 10 when I first read the Enchanted Forest series, and I'm nearly 35 now. These books are gems. Fun, funny, witty, intelligent, and they slyly teach good things as if by accident.As an additional bonus, Patricia C. Wrede was way ahead of her time by making dragons non-gendered until they reached an age they could decide for themselves. Not to mention how the "King of the Dragons" was the same job title regardless of whether female or male was the ruler!Get these books for the children in your lives, sure, but read them first.

I've slowly been making my way through a long list of books I've wanted to read, thanks to the recommendations of a librarian friend of mine. She couldn't sing enough praises about "Dealing with Dragons", in particular for its excellently written main character. And after reading and loving the story, I instantly wanted to check out the subsequent sequels, and after enjoying "Searching for Dragons" and "Calling on Dragons", I dove into this final installment, eager to see how this saga would end.Taking place 17 years after the end of "Calling on Dragons", the series shifts focus to Daystar--a teenager living happily with his mom, Cimorene, on the edge of the Enchanted Forest. But his peaceful, uneventful life changes when a wizard shows up at his house and attacks his mom. Even more shocking is when Cimorene easily dispatches the wizard, then produces a magic sword, gives it to Daystar, and tells him he has to leave home and go on a quest...the reasons for which she refuses to tell him. Now with the help of a feisty fire witch and a few familiar faces, Daystar will have to use everything he's learned to survive the magic forest and fulfill his destiny....if he can even figure out what that destiny is.It really makes me wish that THIS were the plot to "Shrek" instead, as it does the "twisted fairy tale" much better. It doesn't rely on pop culture jokes and is instead funny just by the simple act of taking the usual fantasy clichés and messing with them. Admittedly, it was weird to suddenly jump to using first person to tell the story, when all the other books were in the third person, but it makes sense, since Daystar's been left in the dark on what he's supposed to do (the reasons for which are eventually explained). As such, we're along for the ride as he makes his way through the Enchanted Forest, meeting all sorts of colorful characters, like an overly dramatic princess, an inexperienced dragon, and a bumbling knight. And many more, the reader will recognize, like Morwen the witch, Telemain the magician, and Kazul the dragon.Daystar is a nice protagonist. He gets understandably frustrated, but is always polite and welcoming to everyone he meets, and isn't too proud to admit when he's made a mistake. He always listens and takes everyone's advice to heart. The most notable new addition is Shiara--a young fire witch who started off annoying, but grew more likeable, especially when she realizes she has to be polite in order for her magic to work.However, there IS one negative. The author states in a note in the beginning that this was actually the first book written, and then the books preceding it were written sort of as prequels, even if they weren't treated as such when the series was finally published....and it shows. Personally, I think this should've been the FIRST book in the series, with the other three flashing back to show what led up to this point. Instead, by going in sequential order, there's many scenes throughout this that can get super frustrating when we, the audience, already know who the characters are and who Daystar truly is and what he has to do. As such, many explanations that Daystar has to sit through is super repetitive to the audience, and could've easily been cut out or trimmed down.Still, after having been left on such a cliffhanger in the previous book, it was nice to finally get an entertaining conclusion to a series of adventurous and charming novels that constantly twisted the stereotypical fairy tale tropes. All good things must come to an end, but it was fun while it lasted.

Talking to Dragons is one of my favorite books. The first copy I purchased fell apart from being retread so often and I was fortunate to be able to replace that book with the lovely illustrations by J. Mitchell with the same edition. This Kindle version is based on the later 2003(?) edition, which is not as good. This version is wordier and does not read as well.As an example:1985 edition:"I knew right away he was a wizard. He had the same sort of feel of magic that unicorns and griffins have...""I knew right away he was a wizard. Not because of his brown beard or his blue-and-brown silk robes--although no one but a wizard can walk around in blue-and-brown silk robes for very long without getting really dusty. It wasn't even his staff. I knew he was a wizard because he had the same feel of magic that unicorns and griffins have..."This is a great story, but I will remain true to the original, since I prefer the way the it is written.

When I was a teenager my grandmother would buy me books to t and get me to read. I pick this one up when I was 13. Took me a month to read but after that I went on a fantasy Binge that has not ended 25 years later. I have reread this book at least ten times. One of my absolute favorites.

In the final installment of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles, 16 years have passed from the events of Calling on Dragons. Now Daystar, Cimorene's and Mendanbar's son, is given the magic sword and told to go into the Enchanted Forest. For what reason? He isn't sure. But along the way he encounters a surly and impolite fire witch named Shiara, a cool lizard, a random dragon, and all sorts of folks who live in the Enchanted Forest. And if you're reading this book last then you know what Daystar is meant to do.Yes, this book was written first. But its events occur last. I liked reading it from Dealing with Dragons and ending with Talking to Dragons. Plus this book has been rewritten to fit into the internal chronology. So my suggestion is to read it last.

I've read this book countless times, since I was in elementary. What's funny is that is this the last book in the series but I read it first. I usually hate reading books out of order, but I really love the books where it doesn't matter even if you accidently do. This is definitely one of them. Even as an adult who's 29 I couldn't shake off the feeling to re-read her series again even if I had to buy it. It never fails to entertain and impress me to read her stories. I really am glad she decided to write this series, and she is one of the most genuine, delightful and funny authors I have ever had the pleasure of reading a book from.

Happily ever after... except the bad wizards. In fact I'm not sure if they had any afters at all!Considering this was actually the first book written in this series, it actually makes a very good final book.Well worth reading and will probably be back to read again and again... which is the best recommendation I can give a book.

Good book for kids (it’s 4th and last of the series)

Think Terry Pritchett meets Ursula Le Guin- Fab,Clear and practical instructions on encountering enchanted forests and talking to dragons

I loved it