Dragon's Heart, by Jane Yolen

I may not have known  it, but I've been waiting for this book since I was ten or twelve years old.  Dragon's Heart concludes Yolen's Pit Dragon Chronicles, a fantastic series that had been left with a somewhat weak conclusion.  This book answers lingering questions, wraps up some very loose ends, and gives readers a glimpse of the repercussions of the dramatic events that took place in the second and third books of the series.

Jakkin and Akki return from their exile in the mountains to find society altered, and their place therein uncertain.  They carry with them a secret that could mean the end of the dragons of Austar IV if they aren't careful with the information.  While tormented with this uncertainty and fear they are once again dragged into political machinations and unforseen consequences. 

Fans of the original trilogy will be satisfied that the characters, plot, setting, and overall narrative feel right, true to the series despite the twenty-two year break between the third and fourth novels.  New readers should be able to enjoy this book with help from the introduction, but would do better to find the earlier books first.