Dragon stories are always popular with young readers. The fantasy of seeing dragons in the sky and interacting with humans is hard to resist. Of course the story has to keep one interested and with DAWN OF THE DRAGONS, a prequel to NEW DRAGON CITY, it has succeeded.

You can read this one on its own and actually the 2 books can be read in any order. I like seeing how things began with the plot so I’m happy to have started with this engaging story.

Twelve-year-old Lucas was supposed to be spending most of his summer at camp but dangerous fires have sent him back home. Now all he can do is be a friend and companion for Noah, a younger neighbor boy and be constantly reminded of his beloved pet cat who died recently.

Noah’s dad believes dragons are causing the fires and pose a great risk to all humans. So much so that he leaves town with his family for a underground bunker.

Lucas is not sure what he believes but sets out on a hike in the mountains to find the answer.  To his amazement he comes across a young Dragon named Cinder who is injured and unable to fly. His compassion wins out and he takes the creature home They soon discover that they can communicate and their friendship grows. They both want humans and dragons to get along and live peacefully together. The opposite happens and it seems like the two have caused a war with destruction for the enemy on the minds of both the government and dragon royalty. It’s soon apparent Noah and Cinder are the only ones who can bring peace, if it is even possible.

Chapters shift from Noah’s perspective to Cinders and their thoughts are much the same in that they want the best for their families. The pacing through the 41 chapters and and epilogue is excellent. You’ll be anxious to get back to the story every time you put it down. DAWN OF THE DRAGONS is a great read for middle graders and even those in their early teens.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: September 2, 2025 PAGES: 320

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: DAWN OF THE DRAGONS by Mari Mancusi

1. Lucas and his father have some memorable moments. Dad becomes more supportive the more he listens to his son.
2. The dual perspectives worked so well here and that’s not always the case with writers using this technique. You really get to know Lucas and Cinder on a much more personable level.
3. Figuring out how humans and dragons interact within their own world and with each other was a memorable part of the story. Lucas and Cinder had to get the older characters to believe and understand. Not an easy task.
4. Jumping to conclusions and passing judgement on the actions of a few has great discussion potential when compared to today’s real world.
5. By the end of DAWN OF THE DRAGONS, the setup for the original book in the series has you anxious to begin reading NEW DRAGON CITY.

About the Author:

Mari Mancusi is an Emmy award winning former TV news producer and author of more than thirty books for kids, teens, and adults. Her bestselling series have been awarded spots on major state reading lists (including Texas Bluebonnet and Florida’s Sunshine State lists) and have been featured selections in the Scholastic Book Fairs and clubs.

She also writes tie-in novels for Disney Press (Frozen, Nightmare Before Christmas) and Netflix (Wednesday). In addition to writing, Mari is an avid cosplayer, horror fan, and MMORPG gamer. A graduate of Boston University, she lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, Jacob, and daughter. (Author Website)

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