The first thing that is immediately noticeable about Dragonlords of Quentaris is that the main character is not at all perfect. While some of the other books in The Quentaris Chronicles have good, kind, well-meaning, unlikely-hero type characters, this book does not. In a way, this makes it a more rewarding read, because there is room for improvement by the end of the book, and development in characters through hardship.

Apart from a slightly rushed conclusion, Dragonlords of Quentaris is quite a well-written, well-thought-out story. As this book shifts between many different and unfamiliar worlds, rather than just the familiar landscape of Quentaris, Collins has the opportunity to paint pictures of lands strange and terrifying. He has done an excellent job of seizing this opportunity, and the imagery in this book is quite amazing in places.

In terms of Quentaris novels, this one is a complete, spectacular success. With Dragons, Medusoids, Fendonians, and an abundance of other, never-before-seen characters, this book ‘goes where no Quentaris chronicle has ever gone before’. As well as bringing back Rad and Tulcia, our old favourites from Swords of Quentaris, Collins has pulled in a myriad of other main characters from other books, including Nisha, Tal, Vindon Nibhelline and Hulk Duelph, as all of Quentaris is besieged by a problem that all of them will have to work together to solve.

Be warned, however; this is not a book to read when half-asleep. Collins has woven a complicated, thick plot, full of twists, lies, deceptions and plans. Almost too complicated a plot, one might argue, to fit in the mandatory Quentaris novel length of 160 brief pages. Only by reading attentively, thoroughly and not too fast can a reader hope to pull through this book with a full and complete understanding of exactly what happened.

Overall, I think that Dragonlords of Quentaris is one of the better novels in The Quentaris Chronicles. Recommended for fantasy lovers who enjoy a good, quick dragon story.