The Sacred Scales

Dragons of Camelot #1

by Bryan Davis

A middle grade faith-building fantasy adventure from the bestselling Dragons in Our Midst story world.

In King Arthur’s Camelot where dragons are outlawed, a poor apprentice boy and a dragon-raised orphan girl unravel an evil plot to exterminate dragons from this world and the next.

Hawk spends his days trying to survive as a lowly apprentice in the harsh employ of Master Andrew—a sly shopkeeper making illegal bargains with dragons. But when Master Andrew is hired by Lady Morgan to cheat the dragon Clefspeare out of his promised gemstone payment, Hawk’s faith in God spurs him to action.

Sabina hasn’t had contact with humans in years, not since the kind-hearted dragon Legossi rescued her from the ruins of her burned village. But the forest is no place for a young girl to come of age, so Legossi agrees to have a knight take Sabina to Lady Morgan’s estate. Yet Sabina quickly realizes Lady Morgan has a sinister scheme to wipe out dragons in this realm and beyond. Can Hawk and Sabina warn the dragons and foil Lady Morgan’s plans before it’s too late?

Readers of Bryan Davis’s previous books will devour this fast-paced read following the thrilling adventures featuring new characters.

This epic adventure

Centuries-Old Dragon Scales from the First DragonSuspenseful Chases and EscapesAncient Riddles from King Arthur’s Advisor MerlinStrong faith themes focused on power of prayer Action adventure, portal fantasy, supernatural mystery Fantastic creatures like dragons and a supernatural dog Male and female main characters Multiple POVsOther Books In the Dragons In Our Midst Story

Raising Dragons (Dragons in Our Midst #1)The Candlestone (Dragons in Our Midst #2)Circles of Seven (Dragons in Our Midst #3)Tears of a Dragon (Dragons in Our Midst #4)Eye of the Oracle (Oracles of Fire #1)Enoch’s Ghost (Oracles of Fire #2)Last of the Nephilim (Oracles of Fire #3)Bones of Makadios (Oracles of Fire #4)Song of the Ovulum (Children of the Bard #1)From the Mouth of Elijah (Children of the Bard #2)The Seventh Door (Children of the Bard #3)Omega Dragon (Children of the Bard #4)

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Middle Grade, Dragons

240 pages, Paperback

Published June 3, 2025

About the author

Bryan Davis is the author several speculative-fiction series, including Dragons in Our Midst, Oracles of Fire, Children of the Bard, Dragons of Camelot, The Reapers Trilogy, The Time Echoes Trilogy, Tales of Starlight, Dragons of Starlight, the Oculus Gate, Not So Famous Dog Tales, Astral Alliance, and Wanted: Superheroes.

Bryan and his wife, Susie, have homeschooled their four girls and three boys.

Bryan was born in 1958 and grew up in the eastern U.S. From the time he taught himself how to read before school age, through his seminary years and beyond, he has demonstrated a passion for the written word, reading and writing in many disciplines and genres, including fantasy, theology, fiction, devotionals, poetry, and humor.

Reviews

[Amanda (BookLoverAmanda) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sacred Scales by Bryan Davis
4 Stars
Book 1 in the Dragons Of Camelot Series
Blog Post: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...

OK Y'ALL I need to read all of Bryan's books, this was so great! As a lover of middle grade books and stories such as Narnia, The Hobbit, LOTR....This reminded me of those type of epic stories! Perfect for middle school kiddos and really people of all ages because I had SO much fun reading this. The ending has me needing the next book ASAP too!

This is a Christian Fantasy with mentions of Jesus as their Lord and savior, praying to God and standing for truth but also has mixed in fantasy elements with Arthurian legends -- like Merlin, King Arthur, dragons...etc. It's a great opportunity to remind those reading it that while the faith in the story is real and powerful, the magical elements are just part of the make-believe world. I loved how Bryan tied all that together as he really invites you in to this fun fantasy world.

We follow Hawk and Sabina as they team up to protect dragons from a sinister plot that threatens their very existence. Lots of wild rides, escapes, riddles, twists - overall a good read with themes of faith, courage, the power of prayer and friendship.

I would recommend this for older middle school kids and up as there are themes of battles, some characters being burned, mentioned of death etc.

🐉 Read If You Like:
- Dragons, danger, and daring rescues
- Faith-filled fantasy adventures
- Arthurian legends and dragon lore
- Stories about standing up for what’s right
- Action stories with strong Christian themes

Thank you to Tyndale Publishers for a copy of this book to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

[Lotta Z · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for this ARC!

🤍 Tropes 🤍
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Found Family
🐉 Dragons
✨ Magic
✞ Faith

⚠️Warning⚠️
╰➤Death
╰➤Witches
╰➤Description of Injuries
╰➤Christian Content

Unfortunately this book just didn’t work for us. There were lots of fun moments between the two main characters, Hawk, Sabina and the dragons. We enjoyed the setting of Camelot. But the book did not hold our attention and I found myself changing the story at some points as I didn’t like some of the content that I was seeing there. My son is 9. Possibly this might be better for older children but I didn’t like the deaths in the story and the mention of witches in Christian literature. That just my personal preference.

Some of the faith stuff came across to me as a tad bit preachy too. There are quite a lot of references to Jesus and God, which is fine, but I felt like it got in the way of the story.

Thanks for reading!

[Jamie Gordy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Tyndale House Publishers (Tyndale Kids), NetGalley, and Bryan Davis for the complementary eARC of this novel. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Hawk is an apprentice to an evil shopkeeper who is making illegal bargains with dragons and the evil and scheming Lady Morgan. Sabina has been living with the kindhearted dragon, Legossi, for a few years, but is convinced by Morgan’s people that she needs to come live with her. Once there, she and Hawk begin to see things are not what they seem. They must work together with the Merlin and the dragons to stop a war between the humans and the dragons that Lady Morgan is trying to force on King Arthur.

I thoroughly enjoyed this middle grade Christian Fantasy book. Bryan Davis knows how to write a book that will keep the attention of a middle grade student. The story moves at a quick pace as to keep a young reader’s attention. I love that it is fantasy, but yet is full of faith. This was the first book I have read from this author, and while it not completely take me out of the reading experience, I believe reading the earlier books set in this world would have enhanced my understanding of the setting and the characters. It is good for kids that the story moves fast but there are some points that it almost moves too fast. One last minor critique is that some might complain that the faith content comes across a tad on the preachy side. All of the main characters of the book, both humans and dragons, were well written. However, my issues with this book are very minor because as a whole this book kept my attention beginning to end. I was invested in the story from beginning to end and I can not wait to read the next book.

I would recommend this book for readers from 8-12 years of age that like dragon books but don’t want to read books that are contrary to their belief systems. This is a book that parents would definitely not have to worry about their children reading something that is disturbing. I would not recommend this book for children who are sensitive to witches or evil characters or to people who don’t like blatant faith.

#TheSacredScales #NetGalley

[Daniella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet story! I loved revisiting characters from Bryan’s Dragon in our Midst series and the introduction to new lovable characters. Sabina and Hawk are great protagonists and I look forward to joining them in their next adventure.

[Viola Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm definitely not the intended demographic, so take this with a grain of salt.

There were many interesting aspects - dragon fantasy set in the time of King Arthur and a Christian religion. Unfortunately, those things just kind of didn't work together for me. It was especially strange to have the actual Christian faith in a fantasy book - I don't know if I have ever seen that before and it was a bit jarring. It kind of took me out of the story.

I also thought there were some weird transitions and moments that the characters had. It sometimes felt a little stilted in that way. The magic system felt just a little confusing, but often that develops throughout a series.

BUT...if my 10-year-old was interested in dragon stories, I would definitely hand this to her without a worry in the world. She may even like it without having an interest in fantasy, and I'd be okay with her reading it.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I don't usually read middle-grade books, The Sacred Scales is part of a larger world of which I've read previous installments. Those earlier books shaped my love of reading and dragons, and so, whenever Bryan Davis comes out with a new book, especially one set in the same world with all those familiar characters, I can't not read it. And I'm so glad I did.

The Sacred Scales was a great way to get back into the world I loved so much growing up. Though there were new faces, the familiarity of the old faces left me with such a nostalgic feeling. While I highly recommend reading the prior books to understand some of the information, it is possible to read this story without having done so. I think Mr. Davis did an excellent job of integrating information from the other books while still making this one stand on its own.

Sabina and Hawk were great characters. I loved how Hawk patiently taught Sabina about the things she didn't know, whether it was how "normal Camelot girls talk" or his faith. I thought that was a great way to go about that. It did feel like they didn't have any agency of their own and were just swept into an adventure, however. Though that's not really an issue, it did feel like they lost a bit of their purpose along the way because of it. Although I suppose I don't really know what their "purpose" was initially, so maybe it isn't that big of a deal.

While I would have liked to learn a bit more about the world and how it works, I also know that that's the epic fantasy lover in me talking. As this is a book for a younger audience, I think there was just the right amount of world-building so that it didn't overwhelm younger readers. The Sacred Scales was an all-around enjoyable time, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the series goes from here. I think it's also high time I do a reread of the whole series, seeing as I still enjoy being immersed in this world that Mr. Davis has created.

I received an advanced copy of The Sacred Scales from the publisher and Netgalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rachel Feeck]

Dragons in our Midst was one of the iconic series for me growing up. To have modern ordinary(?) teens, dragons, biblical figures, and Arthurian legend all wrapped in a chunky quartet (and then further sequels) blew me away. Although it’s been years since then, Sacred Scales brought the nostalgia back in full force, with Clefspeare and Legossi making early appearances, in addition to finally pulling back the curtain on what exactly led to Merlin’s world-altering advice to the dragons in the late days of Camelot (which had always remained a tantalizing mystery in the first prior series).

This new adventure follows Sabina and Hawk, a young girl raised by dragons and a boy who was almost killed by one, who are swept up in a plot by Lady Morgan to further her crusade against the dragons. Their new friendship is earnest and sweet (if somewhat inexplicably fast to form), and they meet other interesting folks like Sir Barlow who loves rhymes, dragon-hating Sir Devin (another familiar name), and the one and only Merlin.

All that being said, I’m not sure how accessible this book is for new readers. There’s so many names thrown about, and artifacts, that if I weren’t already familiar, I don’t think I’d grasp their significance. Sabina and Hawk are very much swept along by the tide of events about them, rather than pursuing goals of their own. While other books, notably Bones of Makaidos, set a precedent for linking this timeline to biblical history, those benefited from nearly a thousand pages to accomplish the interwoven narrative. Here, references to Noah or Balaam are interjected with little context, and I found it either sudden or confusing. The themes of devotion and faith also seemed rushed, as in very on the nose, in a way I don’t remember it being previously. But then, I’m no longer in the target audience, and young readers may find it instructive rather than abrupt.

If this book catches your interest, I recommend starting with Dragons in our Midst.

**Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC**

[Chronically Well Read · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this book had potential to be an exciting adventure, I quickly realized I am not the reader for this book. Fantasy isn't something I read much, and I felt confused and left behind by the many layers of this story. There was so much that drew me to this book- dragons, King Arthur, that it was a middle grade adventure story-, I'm disappointed that I was so confused.

This story is about Hawk and Sabina, both children who had been hurt by a cruel dragon in the past. Though During this adventure they also experience good dragons, Sabina was raised by a kind dragon named Legossi, and Hawk saw the kindness in a dragon his master tricked. The children must work to stop a war between humans and dragons and protect the dragons from King Aruthur and Lady Morgan.

I think this book does a good job of showing good and evil through the characters and the action, but I am confused why Satan needed to be a character in the book. Maybe it's because I didn't read fantastical allegories as a child, but it really made it confusing where the not real magic of the book and the real Christian values got crossed. If you are able to explain that to your child as you read, then I think this would be a fun adventure. Also, maybe a kid would just view this as a fun story of good versus evil and my adult brain is just trying too hard. I think it depends on the kid. But between the (in my opinion) crossed lines and the fires, loss, and evil characters mentioned in the story, I don't think it's a read for kids to read on their own.
Reading level wise, this would be good for confident 5 graders and up, and there were some surprise ELA learning elements thrown in from Sir Barlow.

Thank you NetGalley, Tyndale House Publishers, and Bryan Davis for giving me an ebook copy of this book to read and review.

[Ausjenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

As a child I loved reading fantasy books starting with Enid Blyton and then the Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. When I was offered a chance to read this book I jumped at it. This book is set in Camelot where dragons are part of the land. There is currently a fragile truce between Camelot and the dragons about to be shattered.

Hawk is an apprentice to an unkind master who is secretly working for the Lady Morgan. Sabina was rescued by a dragon and is now needs to go back to live with humans. She becomes Lady Morgan's ward. Hawk and Sabina work together to stop the war on the dragons and foil Lady Morgan's plans with the help of Merlin.

Throughout the book we see a Christian theme. Hawk is a Christian trying to live the Christian life. I love how bible themes are woven throughout the book like how dragons were on the ark. This book reads well, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The reading age is listed as age of 8 - 12 but I think it would depend on the child. I personally would have struggled at 8 but by 11 this would have been a book I would have loved. If a parent and child are reading together then 8 wouldn't be too young.

It reminds me of Narnia as both are fantasy. There is a true good and evil struggle and think lovers of Narnia would love this book. I look forward to reading more in the series and checking out the other series.

[Signe S. Brummerstedt]

Thank you to the publisher for the free ebook arc recieved through Netgalley

Unfortunately this was a DNF at 40% for me.

The Sacred Scales is sold as a Christian middle grade fantasy set in Camelot under the reign of King Arthur. I figured it’d be a cosy read. What I found was just chapter after chapter of long, unrealistic, dialogues that seemed more like infodumps and characters acting very brashly all the time. They were trusting each other left and right despite having experienced some pretty heavy trauma, and it just didn’t work on creating believable characters.

I will also make a small comment on the ‘Christian’ part of the genre. I was fully aware, that this book is a Christian fantasy, however, I expected it to be something either like Narnia, where the morals of Christianity shines through metaphors and symbols, or just Christian in the way, where it would not for example have people swearing etc.
But no. The characters are referring ‘the Lord’ and there’s myths about Satan and dragons and it’s written in a way that I - a Lutheranian Protestant who has been both baptized and confirmed - found to be almost aggressively christian. As if the book is trying to convert its readers, and that is not what I’m looking for, ever.

I did enjoy the idea of dragons in Camelot, and there is a real heart in the story though. With some editing to make the plot a little more active and not just infodumping, it could be a really great middle grade book!

[Lana Spelliscy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an exciting trip through a reimagined King Arthur world, with dragons and faith mixed into the fantasy magic. This is my first Bryan Davis book but I am now hooked and need to know where this trip is headed! I enjoyed how the book seamlessly put faith into the everyday lives of the characters. The setting made a great backdrop for the story to unfold on. It was so easy to see the forest and the caves laying before me as I moved through the book.
The plot pulled me in and kept me interested and the pages flipping. I wanted to keep learning more about this fantastical world and what would happen to 2 spunky and courageous children. The situations they face throughout the book kept everything interesting and engaging.
This book is a great fit for children around 8-12, as long as they can handle some times of higher emotion and loss of family.
Bryan Davis does a masterful job of creating a new twist on an older fantasy tale that will keep readers entertained and engaged. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a great fantasy story with faith flowing through all aspects of the book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an exciting ride! Even though I don’t usually read fantasy besides Narnia and LOTR, I couldn’t resist this book because of its fascinating premise and gorgeous cover. How could I pass up a wholesome fantasy in Camelot? I enjoyed this story’s setting, interesting plot, and likable characters.

This is definitely best for middle school grade kids or older - not just because of some advanced vocabulary, but because of the discernment and maturity needed. There are some very dark moments in the book (e.g., someone is burned alive; a witch threatens to skin someone alive). There is also a mix of dragons and Arthurian legend with Biblical stories that may confuse younger children. Christian parents may wish to have clarifying conversations with their kids around some aspects of the story.

Even though this wasn’t quite a five-star read for me due to a few small inconsistencies and a few places where the writing didn’t feel as strong, it’s still a great read. I could see myself reading this to my kids when they’re older, and perhaps this will be a new hit in Christian fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for the free eARC. I post this receive with my honest opinions.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sacred Scales is the start to a new series, Dragons of Camelot. Faith based that puts good vs evil as its theme.

A Christian Fantasy that mixes the Arthurian legends along with strong elements of Biblical faith. There are authentic characters, nice world building and a plot that was intricately woven...plus it has dragons. Following along with Hawk and Sabrina on this journey to protect the dragons was a story of courage and friendship. I'm looking forward to the next book in series, yes that door is open for a sequel.

This is my first time reading a Bryan Davis book, I've been eyeing them in our church library though. I requested as soon as I saw this on offer on Netgalley. A Christian fantasy that fits right along side of Narnia and geared for middle grade readers. I am much older then that and quite enjoyed the ride and can't wait to introduce my grandsons to this book.

My thanks to Tyndale House for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

[Libby · Rating 3 out of 5]

While Bryan Davis has been on my radar for awhile, this middle grade fantasy is the first of his books that I've read. The plot kept my interest, but I struggled with how he tried to link the King Arthur legends and the early days of the world in Genesis. I also found myself cringing whenever one of the characters pointed out a "faith fail." There wasn't room for nuance that let characters doubt even as they believed, something Jesus honors with the father who said, "I believe, help my unbelief."

I won't necessarily be recommending this book widely, but I do see a subset of Christian 8-12 years olds who will enjoy it.

Review based on a Digital ARC received through NetGalley.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great comeback from Dragons in our midst. Some recognizable characters in the kingdom of Camelot, including Master Merlin. Light plot, easy to read, and fast-paced. Dragons Goliath is to humans what Sir Devin is to Dragons; their hatred for the other species makes them hunt their prey non-stop. Morgan plans to keep her youth and remain powerful, for she needs one last scale. My favorite character is Sabina, who has lived the last 4 years in the woods among Dragons and the rest of the good Dragons.

[Jennie Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story for kids! Interesting premise for a story-you'll have to find out about the scales when you read the book. :) Set in and around Camelot with humans, dragons, Merlin, King Arthur, and evil women as the book's characters, it's bound to be interesting! I don't love the way the author makes King Arthur look kind of like an idiot, but other than that, it's good.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book! All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[ETHAN KING · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am sure when this is released, I will be scrambling to get a copy!!! Brian Davis is a very skilled author, and I am excited to have heard that this book will be geared towards an 8+ age group. This will be a great way to introduce my siblings to Brian Davis.

[Christine Barth · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a few things that I don't think would make sense without reading at least the author's first series and one of the most enjoyable parts was meeting the characters in their younger days. I did have to Google what time period this was set in though.

[Meredith Nunley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. I feel like this book suffered from two main things: 1. Assuming the reader had read the author series this author wrote and therefore leaving plot holes in his world building. And 2. Too much telling not enough showing.

I would still read the next in the series.

[The Bookish Pilgrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bryan Davis's The Sacred Scales is an absolutely riveting fantasy tale of dragons and knights errant. Set in legendary Camelot, you discover there are good and evil dragons, according to this novel. The enchantress Morgan Le Fay has hatched a plot to wipe them all out and two brave children - Hawk and Sabina - are embroiled in the whole affair, as they race against time, trying to stop Morgan Le Fay from achieving her ends. What exactly are her ends, though? Only Morgan and the author know that.

Will Morgan succeed in her nefarious schemes?

There is plenty of action, plot twists and turns to rival a maze, shining nuggets of truth to live by and ponder on, making this book a pleasure to read.

A word of caution, there are some gory descriptions and so I'd recommend this for children above 9+ years.

I'm normally extremely cautious of the fantasy genre, even Christian fantasy. I requested this book on a whim, never expecting to be captivated by it.

I was given an ARC copy to read, but my opinions are my own.