Pyrrhia is a world ruled by dragons. Dragons are everywhere, from the depths of the sea to the mountain peaks, from the icy arctic to the tropical rainforest. Each tribe has adapted to their habitat and is fiercely hostile to outside dragons. For instance, SeaWings can breathe underwater, but they can’t produce fire like the SkyWings. SandWings have poisonous tails like scorpions, but they’d die quickly of the cold in the frozen caves of the IceWings. But all the tribes have a matriarchal system where each is ruled by a queen—and all dragons, no matter where they live, have a powerful love of treasure.
There are humans in this world, but the dragons think of them as prey, like the cows and deer and buffalo. Then again, the dragons have noticed that human prey acts a little odd sometimes. Humans keep showing up outside dragon caves, waving tiny swords and trying to start a fight (which doesn’t bother the dragons much; if the prey chooses to come to them to get eaten, that’s quite all right). The humans also seem as enamored of treasure as the dragons are themselves, and will run off with gold or jewels if they get anywhere near the dragons’ hidden hoards. As a result, the dragons see humans as annoying magpies and refer to them as “scavengers.”
Once there was tentative peace between the dragon tribes . . . but now they are locked in a war that has spread across the whole world.
The laws of succession for all the dragon tribes state that a queen may be challenged at any time to mortal combat by her daughters or sisters. If she wins, she remains queen; if she dies, her challenger goes on to rule in her place.
But eighteen years ago, Queen Oasis of the SandWings was unexpectedly killed by a human, who ran off with most of her treasure hoard. The queen’s death left behind three daughters, an empty treasury, and a power vacuum.
The three potential queens have been fighting bitterly ever since, drawing all the other tribes into their terrible war. It’s not hard to get dragons to fight one another, especially when all the tribes know that the SandWing treasure is out there somewhere, waiting for a fortunate dragon to reclaim it.
But some dragons feel that enough blood has been spilled in this war. An underground movement, the Talons of Peace, is working to bring lasting peace to the dragons’ world. It all starts with a prophecy delivered by a seer of the mysterious NightWing tribe.
The prophecy tells of five dragons with a destiny . . . but as is often the case, not every dragonet wants to have a destiny . . . and not every dragonet will do as they’re told, not even by the forces of prophecy.
When the war has lasted twenty years . . .
the dragonets will come.
When the land is soaked in blood and tears . . .
the dragonets will come.
Find the SeaWing egg of deepest blue.
Wings of night shall come to you.
The largest egg in mountain high
will give to you the wings of sky.
For wings of earth, search through the mud
for an egg the color of dragon blood.
And hidden alone from the rival queens,
the SandWing egg awaits unseen.
Of three queens who blister and blaze and burn,
two shall die and one shall learn
if she bows to a fate that is stronger and higher,
she’ll have the power of wings of fire.
Five eggs to hatch on brightest night,
five dragons born to end the fight.
Darkness will rise to bring the light.
The dragonets are coming. . . .
Beware the darkness of dragons,
Beware the stalker of dreams,
Beware the talons of power and fire,
Beware one who is not what she seems.
Something is coming to shake the earth,
Something is coming to scorch the ground.
Jade Mountain will fall beneath thunder and ice
Unless the lost city of night can be found.
Turn your eyes, your wings, your fire
To the land across the sea
Where dragons are poisoned and dragons are dying
And no one can ever be free.
A secret lurks inside their eggs.
A secret hides within their book.
A secret buried far below
May save those brave enough to look.
Open your hearts, your minds, your wings
To the dragons who flee from the Hive.
Face a great evil with talons united
Or none of the tribes will survive.
Meet the artist behind the covers and chapters of Wings of Fire: Joy Ang. Joy’s work can be found in children’s books, comics, and video games all over the world.