Dragons of a Vanished Moon
Overview
Dragons of a Vanished Moon is the climactic final volume in the War of Souls trilogy by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. This sweeping, emotionally charged installment brings Krynn to the brink of transformation as the truth behind Mina’s god is revealed, ancient forces return, and the very fabric of the world is threatened.
Packed with divine revelation, personal sacrifice, and magical warfare, this novel brings closure to a saga steeped in grief, glory, and the eternal struggle between faith and freedom.
Main Character: Mina
Still leading the Knights of Neraka, Mina stands as both divine instrument and tragic enigma.
Her faith in the One God begins to crumble as she learns the horrifying truth of who she serves.
Mina’s arc reaches its breaking point as she is forced to confront identity, agency, and the cost of devotion.
She becomes both the symbol of blind faith and the possibility of redemption.
Supporting Characters
Goldmoon – Aged and near death, Goldmoon offers spiritual clarity and becomes a beacon of true divine power in a godless world.
Silvanoshei – Still entangled with Mina, his love turns tragic. His emotional journey parallels Krynn’s fall into and struggle against illusion.
Laurana – A shining star of resistance, Laurana leads the last stand against draconic tyranny and becomes a martyr for freedom.
Dalamar – His arc of forbidden knowledge and redemption comes full circle as he helps unravel the mystery of Krynn’s metaphysical shift.
Takhisis – Revealed as the One God, the dark goddess returns in secret and wages a cosmic campaign for total dominion.
Paladine – Stripped of power but not of wisdom, Paladine offers guidance from the mortal plane, reminding Krynn of sacrifice and humility.
Setting
Krynn is now a world teetering on the edge of cataclysm. Entire cities fall, magical boundaries dissolve, and the stars themselves hide omens.
From Qualinesti in flames to the Tower of High Sorcery under siege, the setting reflects the spiritual and cosmic stakes of the novel.
Gods move in shadow. Dragons dominate skies. Mortals grasp for purpose as their world unravels beneath divine deception.
Plot Summary
The truth finally emerges: Mina’s One God is Takhisis, goddess of darkness, who has stolen the world from the other gods by hiding Krynn from their sight. She has manipulated Mina and others to build a mortal empire in her name.
As Mina struggles with betrayal, the heroes of Krynn rally one last time. Laurana leads a resistance in Qualinesti as Beryl, the green dragon overlord, razes everything in her path.
Goldmoon, nearing death, delivers a spiritual epiphany to Mina, planting the seeds of doubt and humanity in the girl who was once her enemy.
Silvanoshei’s misguided love ends in tragedy, marking the collapse of Mina’s mortal alliances.
Paladine, choosing to sacrifice his godhood to restore balance, becomes mortal. In doing so, the other gods are allowed to return, ending Takhisis’ reign.
In a moment of divine justice, Takhisis is destroyed—not by battle, but by the collective will of the gods. Mina is left alive but broken, her fate unknown.
Themes
The Corruption of Power – Takhisis’ manipulation of Mina and the world itself highlights how power, when unchecked, becomes monstrous.
Faith and Free Will – Mina’s journey underscores the importance of questioning belief and finding strength in one’s own choices.
Sacrifice and Balance – Paladine’s relinquishing of divinity represents the selflessness needed to restore harmony.
Endings and New Beginnings – As gods fall and cities burn, the people of Krynn must redefine their futures without divine intervention.
Tone & Style
Dragons of a Vanished Moon is grand, mythic, and emotionally layered. The tone shifts between tragic loss, philosophical depth, and triumphant closure.
The prose is rich and symbolic, often poetic when dealing with spiritual revelations and the end of eras.
Reception
The novel is praised for:
Delivering a powerful, satisfying conclusion to the War of Souls trilogy.
The emotional arcs of Mina, Goldmoon, and Paladine.
Strong thematic cohesion and moral complexity.
Some critiques:
The dense narrative can be challenging for readers unfamiliar with the broader lore.
The final divine conflict is more spiritual than action-packed.