ALA Booklist (Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

McKinley and Dickinson follow up their previous collaborative work, Water: Tales of Elemental Spirits (2002), with this collection of five fiery tales. In "Phoenix," Dickinson's opening story, a boy living in a wooded conservation area tells Ellie the history of the Phoenix and how, at the age of 100, he found the god in a fire and has been living backward ever since. Dickinson's other stories follow young men discovering their destinies: in "Fireworm," Tandin must save his people from their ancient enemy, the fireworm; in "Salamander Man," Tib is chosen to free 27 salamanders from corrupt magicians. In McKinley's "Hellhound," Miri adopts an unusual dog from the pound with burning red eyes, and he proves to be a blessing. McKinley's stand-out concluding novella, "First Flight," follows a humble boy and his pet foogit as they make his brother's first dragon flight a success, shocking the Dragon Academy in the process. Dickinson's stories are told with a storyteller's cadence while McKinley's are modern and humorous, but all five are masterful in character, setting, and plot.

Horn Book (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2010)

As in Water, Dickinson and McKinley each contribute fantasy short stories united by an element, this time fire. The two writers' talents are well matched, creating a volume that's even in tone and quality while introducing novelty with every story opening. Dickinson's offerings are notable for their sophisticated magical thinking and subtlety of expression; McKinley's for down-to-earth truths and emotional resonance.

Kirkus Reviews

Five tales of fiery beasts shimmer in an uneven fantasy collection by the noted husband-and-wife team. The three Dickinson stories—especially "Phoenix," in which a girl who loves forests discovers an ancient gamekeeper's secret, and "Salamander Man," in which a slave is chosen from birth to fulfill a magical duty—seem less self-sustained narratives than world-building sketches or conceptual explorations. Only "Fireworm," a dreamlike, elegiac legend about an Ice Age tribe threatened by an igneous monster, contains any character development or plot arc. In contrast, the two McKinley tales charm with intriguing, likable characters and hopeful themes. In "Hellhound," a young woman who dreams of unicorns adopts a fiery-eyed dog, with mysterious, terrifying and oddly touching results. The irresistible novella "First Flight," by far the standout contribution, introduces a shy, clumsy youth with a knack for healing who finds himself saddled with the impossible challenge of helping a crippled dragon to fly. McKinley's fans can only hope that she will return to this world in a future novel. (Fantasy. YA)

School Library Journal (Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Gr 8 Up-In this companion to Water (Putnam, 2002), McKinley and Dickinson explore the range of their storytelling abilities. The settings of these five tales range from ancient to modern, but they are all united by encounters with magical creatures with an affinity for fire. In "Phoenix," Ellie's love for forests leads her to Dave and Welly, caretakers of the ancient Phoenix, displaced from its Egyptian home to damp, chilly Britain. "Hellhound" features animal-loving Miri, whose choice of a red-eyed shelter dog proves providential when she must face a malevolent spirit. In "Fireworm," Tandin spirit-walks to defeat the fireworm that threatens his clan, though in doing so he develops empathy for the creature and its mate and distances himself from his people. "Salamander Man" finds orphaned Tib caught up in a bewildering chain of events, which results in him taking the form of a flaming giant to free the salamanders and rid his city of corrupt magicians. "First Flight," the longest piece, deals with Ern, who helps a dragon with a missing eye find its way back into the Flame Space, which dragons use to travel quickly through time and space. All of these individuals learn something about themselves in their encounters with the fire beasts, and all are the better for it in the end. This collection of beautifully crafted tales will find a warm welcome from fans of either author, as well as from fantasy readers in general. Misti Tidman, Boyd County Public Library, Ashland, KY

Voice of Youth Advocates

What comes to mind when you think of fire? Death, destruction, chaos? Or do you picture mythical creaturesùdragons, the phoenix, or a fireworm? Fire can destroy, but it also can cleanse; it can foreshadow a rebirth. The five short stories that comprise this book discuss these things and so much more. A young girl witnesses the rebirth of a phoenix; a hell hound and his owner drive away a group of evil spirits; and a boy discovers his true nature with the help of an elderly dragon. These are stories of creatures that live and die by fire, tales of hope and acceptance that span the ages, from the present to the distant past. They are stories that will stay with readers long after they have the read the final sentence. Dickinson and McKinley are known for their powerful stories, and this one does not disappoint. These tales are steeped in mythology and folklore, and fantasy lovers will appreciate the attention that was given to this anthology. Dickinson and McKinley appear to be making their way through the four elements. Water Tales debuted the series (Puffin, 2002/VOYA June 2002), so one expects two more installments to follow. Public and school libraries should definitely consider adding this anthology to their collections.ùJonatha Bayse.