Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Wings of Fire (novel series)
Fantasy series for young readers From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
Wings of Fire is a series of high fantasy novels about dragons, written by Tui T. Sutherland and published by Scholastic Inc.[1] The series has been translated into over ten languages,[2] has sold over 27 million copies,[3] and has been on the New York Times bestseller list for over 200 weeks.[4]
Remove ads
Setting and universe
Summarize
Perspective
Wings of Fire is set on a magical planet orbited by three moons which features two known major continents, Pyrrhia and Pantala. The two continents are predominantly inhabited by intelligent dragons that are grouped into ten tribes, seven of which inhabit Pyrrhia (MudWings, SeaWings, RainWings, SandWings, SkyWings, IceWings, NightWings) and three that inhabit Pantala (SilkWings, HiveWings, LeafWings). There was also once an additional Pantalan tribe known as the BeetleWings, now extinct; the SilkWings and HiveWings are their descendents. Dragons tend to live in their tribe's suited habitat (ex. RainWings reside in the Rainforest Kingdom; IceWings prefer the Ice Kingdom; etc.) and most regularly live among their own kind. Also, rare intertribal relationships allow hybrids of the various species to exist.
Each tribe lives in a habitat suited to its biological needs and abilities; most tribes have unique adaptations fitting for their respective habitats such as resistance to cold, the ability to breathe underwater, or camouflage scales. They are ruled by dynasties of queens. Both continents are also sparsely inhabited by humans (sometimes referred to as "scavengers" or "reading monkeys" by dragons, mostly the former term), who are (or previously were) viewed by most dragons as an inferior species or simply another prey animal. [5] However, human-dragon interactions are explored several times throughout the course of the series.[6] Many scavengers are even kept as pets by dragons.
Over 5,000 years prior to the events of the main series, humans were the dominant species of Pyrrhia. Dragons in this period were solitary creatures, with no civilizations.[7] As the human empires started having territorial disputes, they sought out new weapons to fight each other. This resulted in Cottonmouth, one of the emperor's advisors, leading a group of people to steal a dragon's egg. Other empires followed suit and soon every emperor had dragons at their disposal. Eventually, the first dragon that the humans stole from formed a group of other dragons and hunted and burnt the humans and their towns, driving most of the survivors into hiding and Cottonmouth's group across the ocean.[8]
Remove ads
Synopsis
Summarize
Perspective
The series currently consists of three arcs (soon to be four) of five books apiece, which focus on young dragons (dragonets). The first arc includes Clay (MudWing), Glory (RainWing), Starflight (NightWing), Sunny (SandWing), and Tsunami (SeaWing) fulfilling or subverting prophecies to save their world. Each arc consists of five books, and each book centers on its own protagonist, whose story is told through a third person limited perspective. Fifteen books in the main series have been released, as well as four novellas (known as Winglets), two extended-length standalone novels (known as Legends), multiple companion books and a presently-releasing series of graphic novel adaptations of titles from the main series.[9] The series has been edited by Amanda Maciel[10][11] and features covers drawn by Joy Ang;[12][13] many of the titles have been recorded as audiobooks by Shannon McManus.
Each Wings of Fire novel has been released in hardcover and paperback format (in addition to ongoing graphic novel adaptations).[14] A fourth arc has been confirmed by Sutherland to be in the works,[15] and the title of the sixteenth book has been revealed to be "The Hybrid Prince".[16]
The Dragonet Prophecy
The first arc consists of five books: The Dragonet Prophecy (2012), The Lost Heir (2013), The Hidden Kingdom (2013), The Dark Secret (2013), and The Brightest Night (2014), respectively starring Clay, Tsunami, Glory, Starflight and Sunny as the protagonists. It takes place roughly twenty years into the War of SandWing Succession, a continent-wide war across most of Pyrrhia which originated when the three daughters of Queen Oasis of the SandWings - Blaze, Blister, and Burn - each sought the throne for herself after Oasis was killed by three treasure hunting humans, which the dragons call scavengers, without a specified heir. Clay, Tsunami, Glory, Starflight, and Sunny (collectively referred to as the Dragonets of Destiny) are tasked by a prophecy ("The Dragonet Prophecy") to choose who should ascend to the throne and bring an end to the twenty-year war.
The Jade Mountain Prophecy
The second arc consists of five books: Moon Rising (2014), Winter Turning (2015), Escaping Peril (2015), Talons of Power (2016), and Darkness of Dragons (2017), respectively starring Moonwatcher, Winter, Peril, Turtle and Qibli as the protagonists. It takes place six months after the Dragonets of Destiny successfully end the War of SandWing Succession, beginning at the newly-founded intertribal school, Jade Mountain Academy, and eventually expanding elsewhere within Pyrrhia. The books follow the aforementioned five students as they face off against threats both old and new and try to prevent the catastrophic destruction foretold in the "Jade Mountain Prophecy" from coming true.
The Lost Continent Prophecy
The third arc consists of five books: The Lost Continent (2018), The Hive Queen (2018), The Poison Jungle (2019), The Dangerous Gift (2021), and The Flames of Hope (2022), respectively starring Blue, Cricket, Sundew, Snowfall, and Luna as the protagonists. It introduces a second continent, Pantala (the "Lost Continent"), located far west of Pyrrhia, ruled by the tyrannical and dictatorial HiveWing Queen Wasp. Neither continent is fully aware of the other's existence, aside from some ancient legends. The books focus on five dragons and their efforts to discover the truth behind the lies told by Queen Wasp, as well as stop the existential threat of a mind-controlling entity with the potential to destroy all of the dragon tribes.
A fourth arc was announced to be in the works and the first book in the arc (Book 16: The Hybrid Prince) will be released on March 3, 2026, starring Umber as the protagonist. On June 19, 2025, it was announced that Book 16 will take place sometime after Book 6 (Moon Rising) and on July 25, 2025, it was announced that Arc 4 will be a trilogy of 3 books, rather than the usual 5.[citation needed]
Remove ads
Supplementary works
Summarize
Perspective
Legends
Two standalone "special edition" titles separate from the main arcs, subtitled Legends, have been published: Darkstalker (2016) and Dragonslayer (2020). Each book seeks to add additional context and/or provide a new perspective on major events referred to in the series, and, in contrast to main entries in the Wings of Fire series, Legends books follow several characters' perspectives in alternating chapters. Darkstalker alternates between the perspectives of Fathom, Clearsight, and the titular Darkstalker, providing an unobscured-by-legend trio of accounts of the origin story of Darkstalker within the larger context of the dragon world.[17] Dragonslayer alternates between the perspectives of three humans - Leaf, Ivy, and Wren - and features retellings of major events from the first arc from their perspectives.
Winglets
Four short stories called "Winglets" have been published. They seek to add additional context to events that were mentioned offhandedly in the main series or Legends, and are told from the perspectives of secondary characters from the main series. Originally published exclusively as e-book titles, the four stories - Prisoner (2015), Assassin (2015), Deserter (2016), and Runaway (2016)[18] - have since appeared several times in print. They respectively star Fierceteeth, Deathbringer, Six-Claws, and Runaway alternates between Foeslayer, Arctic and Snowflake. Three titles appeared in the limited edition A Winglets Collection: The First Three Stories (2016), two in the also-limited Winglets Flip Book (2019), and all four in The Winglets Quartet: The First Four Stories (2020).[19]
Graphic novel adaptation
Collectively adapted by both Barry Deutsch and Tui T. Sutherland, and respectively drawn and colored by Mike Holmes and Maarta Laiho,[20][21] the Wings of Fire series has undergone an adaptation into graphic novel form since 2018.[22]
Other titles
Five companion books and one limited edition re-release have been released. Forge Your Dragon World (2022) is an interactive activity book with advice on worldbuilding and developing characters in the style of Wings of Fire, and is aimed at fans who want to write their own stories. The Official Coloring Book (2022), created in collaboration with artist Brianna C. Walsh, is a coloring book featuring blank lineart of many characters from the series.[23] A Guide to the Dragon World (2023) is a collection of stories and art intended to add some additional context and history to the ten tribes and the world they live in. How to Draw (2023) is a drawing tutorial book and reference book illustrated by Walsh.[23] The Official Wings of Fire Stained Glass Art Book (2024), created in collaboration with Klutz Press, features crafts in the form of vellum paper to look like stained glass. Additionally, The Dragonet Prophecy: Limited Edition (2024), a re-release of the full first book with unique cover art, an interview with the author, and an early omitted chapter, was released for a limited time.[14]
Remove ads
Themes and reception
Summarize
Perspective
Wings of Fire was written as an anti-war series,[citation needed] and series protagonists often try to put an end to major conflicts by pacifistic means while trying to prevent as many dragons from dying as possible. Despite generally being targeted toward younger audiences, the books are also noted for dealing with heavy and dark subject matter, though the series also continually works toward the idea of hope. Sutherland intentionally revolves each arc individually around its characters and sets of leading questions, such as free will versus destiny, nature versus nurture, the implications of different styles of parenting, the various aspects of expectations (both that which one projects outwards and which one receives from others), what it means to be gifted (not only referring to intellectual giftedness but to supernatural abilities as well), and the many rules of duty and responsibility.
The phrase "wings of fire" was chosen to both immediately invoke the imagery of dragons to readers, and to represent an individual's ability to overcome destiny and uncover one's full potential. Sutherland additionally explores the philosophical and moral implications of mind-reading, prophecy, and extrasensory perception through moon-bestowed NightWing powers. Darkstalker and the second arc, in particular, expand upon the role of magic in fantasy literature through the concept of "animus magic", a rare form of all-powerful magic that comes at the cost of affecting one's soul. Additionally, Sutherland's personal philosophy and upbringing have been cited as an important influence, as have her unusual religious and multicultural upbringing.
A large influence on Sutherland's process of developing the setting of the world of Wings of Fire was nature documentaries (such as Planet Earth and Life in the Undergrowth).[6]
When pitching the series to Scholastic, she noted that one of the series' primary selling points and draws was that it featured dragons as the heroes of the stories, contrasted with the supporting or antagonistic roles typically allotted to dragons.[10]
Wings of Fire has generally received positive reviews and sold over 27 million copies to date.[3] It has developed a substantial following over the years, and Sutherland has hosted numerous public events where she interacts with fans and answers questions.
Remove ads
Television series adaptation
In March 2020, an animated television series was announced to be in development with ARRAY and Warner Bros. Animation for Netflix,[24] with production commencing in April 2021. Ava DuVernay was to helm the project, which would initially include ten 40-minute episodes.[25] In May 2022, Netflix scrapped the series for unspecified reasons.[26][27]
In February 2024, it was announced that the books were picked up for production by Amazon Prime Video, and the animated series will be produced by Amazon MGM Studios with an entirely different creative team attached to the production. The announcement revealed that Jack Tar Productions, under executive producer Marc Resteghini, was assigned to the adaptation.[3] In May 2025, it was announced that Aaron Waltke will be attached as showrunner, co-writer and executive producer, with Tui T. Sutherland as co-writer and executive producer.[28]
Remove ads
References
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads