Dragons of Summer Flame is a High Fantasy novel by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. They are the second trilogy in the Dragonlance series.
The Irda, a race of beautiful magically-gifted ogres, break the Graygem of Gargath in order to protect themselves from the newly-created Knights of Takhisis. This releases an entity known as Chaos, who proceeds to ravage the entirety of Krynn. Caught between the Knights of Takhasis conquering most of Ansalom and the forces of Chaos trying to wipe out all things, the world enters a new dark age with the Chaos War.
Meanwhile, a young orphan girl named Usha Majere was adopted by the Irda. She believes she is the half-ogre daughter of Raistlin Majere. Palin Majere, nephew of Raistlin, loses his two brothers in a battle with the Knights of Takhasis before being recruited to find some way of reimprisoning Chaos. The two team up with Tasslehoff Burrfoot to do one final adventure to the world of Krynn.
This book marked the end of the 4th Age of Krynn and the start of the massive Retool that was the Fifth Age.
Dragons of Summer Flame provide examples of:
- A Lighter Shade of Black: The Knights of Takhasis are far less evil than the majority of servants to the Dark Queen. This is actually not a good thing because it means that they are more effective than the Army of Thieves and Whores she had before.
- Beautiful All Along: Usha is painfully beautiful but doesn't know this because she grew up among the superhumanly lovely Irda.
- Bittersweet Ending: Chaos is defeated through the use of the Graygem Tasslehoff's Heroic Sacrifice but the gods of Krynn must leave, this time for good. Also, magic as it used to be will no longer be available to the people of Krynn. On the other hand, Palin and Usha are together as well as Not Blood Siblings.
- Darkest Hour: As horrific as the Cataclysm and War of the Lance was, this is by far the worst time Krynn has ever had. Whether the Knights of Takhasis win or Chaos, Krynn is doomed unless Palin and Usha Take a Third Option.
- Dropped a Bridge on Him: Tanis and Sturm Majere die in a meaningless encounter with the Knights of Takhasis.
- Giant Space Flea from Nowhere: While the Graygem of Gargath had an important role in lore, Chaos, itself, was never even hinted at existing before with the High God (his closest equivalent) being a God Is Good character.
- God's Hands Are Tied: Paladin and the Gods of Light are outvoted by the Gods of Neutrality who think its better to let Takhasis win than Chaos.
- God Is Evil: Chaos is the most powerful of all gods in Krynn and the father to all of the other ones. He's also utterly insane and evil.
- Grand Finale: While it was not intended to be so by TSR, Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman were leaving TSR and used the book to wrap up all of their loose ends. As such, the Gods of Krynn leave and take magic with them as well as proclaim it the "Age of Mortals."
- Evil Versus Oblivion: The Knights of Takhasis versus the forces of Chaos are a group of fascists versus beings that want to eradicate everything.
- Generic Doomsday Villain: Chaos has no interest in ruling the world and intends to simply exterminate all life on Krynn as well as the gods to punish them for imprisoning him.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Tasslehoff dies while sealing a drop of blood of Chaos into the Graygem.
- Hoist by Their Own Petard: Takhasis made her knights A Lighter Shade of Black in order to avoid some of the problems she had when her minions all suffered Chronic Backstabbing Disorder. Unfortunately, this results in them being unwilling to abandon Krynn when she wants to take them to conquer a new world.
- Horrible Judge of Character: Gilean sides with Takhasis in hopes of the Knights of Takhasis slowing Chaos down. Instead, she plans to Screw This, I'm Outta Here to another world. Which, as anyone knew Takhasis, could have predicted given she is a Dirty Coward.
- Noble Demon: The Knights of Takhasis attempt to weaponize this as they are actually honorable, noble, and loyal to each other rather
- Not Blood Siblings: Usha has grown up her entire life believing Raistlin Majere is her father. Raistlin informs her that, in fact, she's just a random girl the Irda adopted.
- Retgone: One of the powers of Chaos' minions is that they can not only kill someone but erase all memory of that person ever existing.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Takhasis attempts to flee to another world in order to take it over. She plans on taking her knights but they say no.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Despite the fact that Sturm and Tanis Majere have Heroic Lineage, they die in an ordinary battle against the Knights of Takhasis.
