Book Review of Dawn of the Dragons
The Children’s Book Review
Dawn of the Dragons
Written by Mari Mancusi
Ages: 9+ | 320 Pages
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (2025) | ISBN: 978-0316588164
What to Expect: Dragons, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Adventure, Friendship, Telepathy, Government Conspiracy, and Apocalypse.
A young dragon’s accidental friendship with a human boy is exposed, forcing them to race against a looming war and a shadowy government agency to save the boy’s town and the dragon’s family.
Blending classic dragon lore with modern conspiracy theories, Dawn of the Dragons, prequel to New Dragon City, is a compelling coming-of-age story told from two perspectives: Cinder, a young dragon whose peaceful herd is threatened by rebel dragons and a mysterious new world, and Lucas, a boy whose life is turned upside down by his conspiracy-theorist neighbor, Noah. After a chance encounter, Lucas and Cinder form an unlikely bond, discovering that the fate of their world may depend on their ability to trust each other and stop a devastating conflict that neither side truly understands. Lucas is drawn into a secret world of fire, fear, and a desperate struggle for survival when Noah’s frantic warnings about real-life dragons prove true.
Fast-paced and engaging, author Mari Mancusi successfully builds tension by alternating between the high-stakes fantasy world of the dragons and the relatable, contemporary world of Lucas. The dual perspective effectively deepens the conflict by showing the reader the motivations of both sides, from the dragons’ desire for a safe home to the humans’ fear of the unknown. He uses prose that is clear and direct, making the story accessible while maintaining a strong sense of urgency.
Dawn of the Dragons is a thrilling fantasy adventure ideal for readers who enjoy action-packed, character-driven stories with themes of friendship, courage, and understanding different perspectives—they will be left hungry for more.
Buy the Book
About the Author
Mari Mancusi always wanted a dragon as a pet. Unfortunately, the fire insurance premiums proved a bit too large and her house a bit too small, so she chose to write about them instead. An Emmy Award-winning former TV news producer, she now works as a full-time author, having published over thirty books. When not writing, Mari enjoys traveling, cosplaying, watching cheesy (and scary) horror movies, and playing video games. A graduate of Boston University, she lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, Jacob, and daughter.
