The following version of the book was used to create this study guide: Sutherland, Tui, Wings of Fire Book 5; The Brightest Night. Scholastic Press, New York, NY, 2014. Kindle AZW file.

The land of Pyrrhia is inhabited by seven main dragon tribes, most with brutal histories and cultures that include violent transfers of power. For almost 20 years, three sisters of the SandWing tribe – Burn, Blister, and Blaze – have been fighting for control of the throne, and each has formed allies among the other tribes, dragging almost the entire country into a war. The NightWing tribe spent years manipulating the situation with plans to emerge with a new territory for their home. They made up a prophecy that predicted five dragons from specific tribes would bring an end to the fighting. Just before a volcano destroyed the NightWings' island, one of the rulers revealed that the prophecy was just another lie to ensure the NightWings gained land of their own.

The five dragonets – Sunny, Clay, Glory, Tsunami, and Starflight – bonded during their years of isolation while a group known as the Talons of Peace prepared them to fulfill the prophecy. Sunny, a SandWing who does not quite live up to the appearance of a typical SandWing, is especially invested in her role in the prophecy. She struggles now with the idea that her entire life has been a lie because the prophecy never happened. She discovers three NightWings who are not willing to accept the terms of living in the Rainforest. She follows in an effort to keep them from harming her friends. When the three arrive at a SandWing camp called the Scorpion Den, Sunny meets Thorn, the leader of a group known as the Outclaws. Thorn seems brutal and has been searching for a SandWing egg stolen from the desert six years earlier and for the SandWing who stole the egg. Within moments, Thorn realizes Sunny is her daughter. They have a joyful reunion with Thorn saying she never stopped searching for Sunny. Their joy is short-lived when SandWings loyal to Burn kidnaps Sunny and takes her to Burn's stronghold.

Sunny already knows that Burn is brutal and willing to do anything to win this war and hold the throne. Burn is away when Sunny arrives. Burn's brother Smolder takes charge. Sunny quickly realizes Smolder is a victim of circumstances like many other dragons caught up in the sisters' fight. Thorn arrives and rescues Sunny. Thorn offers some explanations, including that Sunny's father was a NightWing, which explains Sunny's odd appearance.

Sunny and Thorn part ways with Sunny returning to her friends where she convinces them they have to fulfill the prophecy, even though they know it was never real. They bring the three sisters together in the hope of finding a peaceful resolution, but Blister's “gift” of a snake killed Burn. Blister and Blaze set out to fight to the death, but Sunny feels that neither of them would make a good queen and searches for an alternative. A scavenger (human) named Flower leads Sunny to dig up the body of the dead queen and points out treasure hidden inside the skull. Sunny discovers the magic Eye of the Onyx, a gem that is always in the possession of the queen, and she realizes that Thorn is the logical choice to lead the SandWings. She hands it over, and Thorn accepts. Blister grabs the gem and immediately dies. Blaze leads the way for the SandWings, bowing to Thorn in acceptance.

As the novel comes to a close, Sunny is with a group of dragonets who have come up with a plan to open a school that will be open to dragonets of every tribe. They believe the key to having long-term peace is a greater understanding between tribes, and they hope their school will provide the basis for that.