The Fire Chronicle

By: John Stephens

Narrated by: Jim Dale

It's been six months since Kate, Michael, and Emma confronted the Dire Magnus, but the trail to their long-missing parents remains cold. Then Michael and Emma find a man who saw them ten years ago—three days after they disappeared. He knows about a map of a distant land, a place shrouded in mystery that may lead them to their parents.

Meanwhile, Kate's connection to the Book of Time is growing stronger and stronger, until a dangerous trick gets her stuck in the past, searching for a friend to help her.

Only a perilous quest and a daring risk will help the children to harness the power of the Books of Beginning. But will it be enough to save them?

Critic reviews

Starred Review, Publishers Weekly, October 8, 2012:
“Fans of The Emerald Atlas will find much to love: the adventure-driven plot, a scattering of deliciously scary moments, and Stephens’s offbeat take on Tolkienesque dragons, dwarves, and elves are sure to delight.”

Starred Review, School Library Journal, October 1, 2012:
“Fans of the first book won’t be disappointed, and will eagerly anticipate the next one. The Emerald Atlas was very good. This one is even better.”

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2012:
“Irreverent humor and swashbuckling adventure collide in a fetching fantasy.”

Jim dale is wonderful as always. good story,

endless cliffhangars, derived from many prior books such as harry potter and lord of the rings, enjoyable anyway

As wonderful as the first book

John Stephens has continued to keep the quality of his wonderful new series high and interesting. The value and enjoyment of these books are even greater because of Jim Dale's award winning skills as a narrator. If you liked the first book you will also like this one. It's definitely a series for younger people but that never stopped me from enjoying a book. Have fun!

Entertaining for all ages

Jim Dale is a excellent narrator for this type of adventure and much loved from his Harry Potter readings. That may explain why this series and plot thus far are so similar to Harry Potter. Michael with glasses and Harry with glasses! Even the studies of dwarves, elves, dragons and trolls appear borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. So while the first 2 books are enjoyable, it’s surprising how much of the stories influenced each other to become shared ideas.

Very entertaining

I am an adult, and as such not really the target audience for this series. Just an FYI. I chose this because I loved the work that Jim Dale did in the Harry Potter series.

This story is very good. Compelling, and keeps moving forward. The kids actually behave in reasonable ways. The magic is fun. I enjoyed it.

The one difficulty that I had was actually with the Dale narration: He uses a variety of voices and does them well, but it sounds odd when there is an echo of one of the Potter characters in the "voice" of characters in this series. It's just a bit disconcerting.

Still, very well done with plot, ends nicely, and I do love the narrator.

Thoroughly Enjoyable

Even if a bit predictable, it is a well written, and a well constructed story that you can lose yourself in. And Jim Dale is the best performer so it is highly recommended.