The Waking Dragon

The Obernewtyn Chronicles: North American Editions #8

by Isobelle Carmody

The eighth book in the epic series the Obernewtyn Chronicles is full of romance, action, and suspense. Fans of George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series will rejoice to see such a breathtakingly elaborate YA fantasy series!

After years spent struggling to balance her desires with her responsibilities, Elspeth Gordie has fully embraced her role as the Seeker. Battle-scarred and haunted by memories of her beloved Rushton, she must continue her final quest to find and stop the computermachine Sentinel from unleashing the deadly Balance of Terror arsenal. But although she has long prepared for this day, nothing is as she anticipated. Elspeth’s search will take her where she never thought to go, and give her stranger companions than any she ever imagined. And it will test her, as she has never been tested before.

Award-winning author Isobelle Carmody continues the story of Elspeth Gordie, a heroine in the vein of Tamora Pierce’s most memorable and empowering characters.

“A major work of fantastic imagination.” —Lloyd Alexander, winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Post Apocalyptic, Dystopia, Fiction, High Fantasy, Science Fiction

544 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 27, 2015

About the author

Isobelle Carmody began the first novel of her highly acclaimed Obernewtyn Chronicles while she was still in high school. The series has established her at the forefront of fantasy writing in Australia.

In addition to her young-adult novels, such as the Obernewtyn Chronicles and Alyzon Whitestarr, Isobelle's published works include several middle-grade fantasies. Her still-unfinished Gateway Trilogy has been favorably compared to The Wizard of Oz and the Chronicles of Narnia. The Little Fur quartet is an eco-fantasy starring a half-elf, half-troll heroine and is fully illustrated by the author herself.

Isobelle's most recent picture book, Magic Night, is a collaboration with illustrator Declan Lee. Originally published in Australia as The Wrong Thing, the book features an ordinary housecat who stumbles upon something otherworldly. Across all her writing, Isobelle shows a talent for balancing the mundane and the fantastic.

Isobelle was the guest of honor at the 2007 Australian National Science Fiction Convention. She has received numerous honors for her writing, including multiple Aurealis Awards and Children's Book Council of Australia Awards.

She currently divides her time between her home on the Great Ocean Road in Australia and her travels abroad with her partner and daughter.

Librarian's note: Penguin Australia is publishing the Obernewtyn Chronicles in six books, and The Stone Key is book five. In the United States and Canada this series is published by Random House in eight books; this Penguin Australia book is split into two parts and published as Wavesong (Book Five) and The Stone Key (Book Six).

Reviews

[Lily]

I'm only listing this as "want to read" now for a matter of pride. I've waited so long for this series to be finished, and heard so many ridiculous reasons for the delay, I JUST WANT SOME RESOLUTION. I have no respect left for Carmody as an author - she's horrific when it comes to meeting her deadlines. (I worked in publishing. I know first hand how it works, and why releases are delayed. Specifically why every release since The Sending has been delayed.) Just... stop releasing other books, stop faffing about with press tours and your new website and all the other palava, and finish the damn story.

[Ash]

Can't wait. Can't wait. Can't wait. I have been reading this series since I was 13 and I'm now 26 so I can literally say that I have been waiting half of my life to find out how this series concludes. I know that Isobelle would not release it unless it was exactly how she wanted it and that kind of dedication takes time but oh my gosh it is hard to be patient sometimes..

[cc]

OMG, Book Depository says The Red Queen will only come out in April of 2013, WHAT???
I have it on pre-order for so long, it was supposed to come out in December of this year and now it's 2013?? What happened?! *in shock*

--Edit--
Ok, it says 2012 again. Thank God.

--Edit #2--
WTF? It disappeared from the website!! D: But, but I had it on pre-order!

--Edit #3--
Cancelled by the publisher. Just like The Sending. Goddammit!

[XXK]

JUST READING THE REST OF THE TO READ TO REVIEWS AND LAUGHING. 2012 THEY SAID AHA. THEY EVEN GOT MAD WHEN IT WAS MOVED TO 2013. AHHAAAA. AAHAHAHHAHAAHAAAAAAA.
WE WERE SO INNOCENT BACK THEN.
IF ONLY WE KNEW.
IF. ONLY. WE. KNEW.

[Hud-c]

UPDATED - FEB. 25, 2014

Checked out for updates on this one. What's the title for the North American Edition?!! I'M GETTING CONFUSED NOW! Thought it is RED QUEEN - the same as the Australian edition and now we have The Waking Dragon?

Unlike the other fans or followers of this series, I feel lucky that I didn't suffer the long wait per installments. I've read it was 10 years. And there's this comment where the reader started reading when she/he was 13 and now that person is 33 yrs old. Talk about being hardcore and this story being that old!

I've found out about Obernewtyn Chronicles/Series two years ago and was able to read the 7 books of the series. Yet, I feel for those who've been waiting for so long from the author to finally let this end.

Below is a quote that sums up my problem with the author and the publisher.

“Do not say something if you do not mean it.
Do not do something if you can't accept the consequences.
Do not promise something if you can't honor it.
In simple, do not start something you can't finish”
― Wendo L.

________________________________________________________________________

It felt so near and yet so far.

Why do I have to suffer for a year? :(

[alexander shay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am both disappointed and irritated. All this time, I was led to believe that this was the last book in the series. I was very confused because Elspeth doesn't get to Sentinel in this book. She doesn't face off against Ariel. So what the hell? This book and the last should have been kept as one book and their detail cut in half. Absolutely a total waste of time. No rising action, no character development, lots of boring travelling to no purpose.
I realized only by searching for a while tonight that The Red Queen is the last book for North American readers as well. However, as it is only available in Australia right now, I can't read it! My library doesn't have it, my bookstore doesn't have it, Barnes & Noble doesn't have it, and I REALLY don't want to buy it. The description of it on Goodreads sounds really amazing (certainly better than this book and the previous one) and I want to give it a chance but there is no release date for the NA edition as of yet. It simply says 'the latter half of this year' and I don't know if that's 2015 or 2016.

[Elle]

I don't know if i can last until April, i just re-read the series four more times and i have so many theories and i REALLY want to know how it ends. I can't imagine the pain of the people who have been with the series since the beginning and have been waiting over twenty years for this book while i have only known of it for two years and am already THIS impatient. Isobelle, you are a goddess but PLEASE hurry up with the publishing/writing process!

[Eunice · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always a magical read

Such a beautifully written story of suffering and determination which only compels the reader to read avidly. This is a magnificent series and love the journey.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

The previous 4 books are summarised in 1/3 of this book, disappointing. Boring and lazy.

[Deirdre · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is absolutely a crime what us publishers did to isobelles books.

[Linda Dowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is awesome. Very hard to put down, you just have to read the next bit. Totally loved these books.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know if it's the kindle version or what but the book abruptly stops even though it's supposed to be the final one. Very disappointed because so many questions left unanswered.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a great continuation of the series and the main plot line of the series. Somme of the previous books only touch on the main story. Ultimately I wish the author had spend more time on

I am looking forward to the next book in the series (It hasn't been released in the US which is really pissing me off). I hope the final story gives as much adventure as this one did.this part of her story than all the side stories that she builsds up through the previous books.

I am looking forward to the next book in the series (It hasn't been released in the US which is really pissing me off). I hope the final story gives as much adventure as this one did.

[Isabelle]

If this book doesn't come out soon I will literally die! (no not really)

[Maglia Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The series isn't concluded. Filled with travel, memories and not much else.

[Melliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another thousand pages and this story still isn't finished?! I can't believe it. I thought this was the final book!