Dawn of the Dragons

New Dragon City #0

by Mari Mancusi

Find out if the dragon sightings are true in this thrilling, dystopian adventure story, perfect for fans of Wings of Fire and Impossible Creatures.

A million years ago, temperatures dropped, and the dragons went underground to save their species. Now the Earth’s temperatures are rising, meanwhile the dragons are waking too… 

Twelve-year-old Lucas doesn’t know much about dragons, except what he’s read in books and seen on TV. But when his friend’s father warns him that the dragon apocalypse is near, Lucas can’t shake the feeling that what he’s saying may be true. 

Afraid yet curious, Lucas is drawn to sight of smoke in the nearby mountains, and there, he discovers an injured young dragon named Cinder. Inspite of all known danger, Lucas rescues her to safety and is amazed to find she's not the monster he was warned to fear. Soon begins a friendship against all odds, and Lucas realizes, beyond the surface of scales and skin, they’re more alike than different. 

Still, every day, more dragons are appearing, towns are burning, and a simple misunderstanding has spiraled into violence and bloodshed. Will humans and dragons find a way to coexist?

Genres: Dragons, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Dystopia, Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published September 2, 2025

About the author

Mari Mancusi grew up where the north wind meets the sea (otherwise known as Massachusetts), but has since made her home in the great state of Texas, mostly due to her love of summer. (And tacos.) A former Emmy Award winning TV news producer, today she is the author of more than two-dozen books for kids, teens, and adults, mostly of the sci-fi/fantasy variety. In addition to writing, Mari loves traveling, video games, and cosplaying. She is also Mom to an eight year old Frozen superfan who, when recently asked by her teacher to describe her hero answered: “My Mom!” (Okay, fine, she said Kristin Bell.)

You can find Mari online at www.marimancusi.com. She knows several Samanthas.

Reviews

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dawn of the Dragons by Mari Mancusi
New Dragon City series #0. Companion book. Middle grade paranormal adventure. Dystopian.
A long time ago, the dragons went underground to sleep during the earth’s ice age. With warming temperatures, the dragons are awakening to a whole new world.
Twelve-year-old Lucas doesn’t know much about dragons. Who does? When a friend warns Lucas that dragons are awake and will be attacking soon, he’s not sure what to believe. After his friend and father scientist leave to hide in a secured underground facility, Lucas starts to believe. Finding a baby dragon hurt in the mountains near his house is amazing as the two find a way to communicate. Cinder isn’t a monster. But it’s clear that not everyone agrees when cities go up in flames.
Lucas and Cinder are learning together but will it be good enough to save the town? Or the world?

A special friendship grows between Lucas and Cinder. But they are children in the eyes of their kind. Getting their families to understand is a start but how do they save the world?
A wonderful adventure and sequel, or prequel to New Dragon City. Their friendship is special and the two can have an impact.

🎧 I listened to an audiobook narrated by Everette Plen and Shiromi Arserio. The two brought the story to life with their performances.

Enthusiastically recommend.

[Krissi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute and fun middle grade books that can be read before or after the first book that was released New Dragon City. We follow Lucas who we find has a friend whose Dad is obsessed with dragons and is sire of their existence. While everyone thinks he's batty, Lucas finds himself one day faced with a baby dragon Cinder and helps her out of a harrowing situation. We learn more about Cinder and her origin, but also come into conflict between the humans and dragons.

This was done very well with cute characters, and interesting plot, and good pacing to keep you engaged. The intended audience will enjoy this and I myself rather enjoyed it and will be picking up New Dragon City as well.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prequel to New Dragon City takes place 5 years before Book 1
Who doesn't love dragons
Great read with a refreshing POV
Loved the story

[Jason LaRue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book. A prequel to New Dragon City, this was a perfect way to describe what happened when the dragons arrived. Hoping a 3rd book comes out 🤞

[Ashley Yungbluth · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Dawn of the Dragons" by Mari Mancusi is part of the "New Dragon City" series. I absolutely loved this book. It was fun following Lucas and his friends as they tried to save their city and the dragons from each other. He is trying to keep Cinder, a dragon, safe from all the people who are trying to capture her. Cinder is trying to keep Lucas safe from some of the dragons and prove that not all humans are bad. I liked the scene where Cinder brought Lucas a "gift" it was such a cute scene. The whole book was a great read, and I look forward to reading more by Mari.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Set five years before New Dragon City, this book alternates between the experiences of Lucas, who lives in a small town, and Cinder, a young dragon. Cinder and her brother Flame are being raised by their mother, the queen of their band of dragons, after their father is killed when rogue dragons try to take their territory. When Cinder gets separated in new territory from her family, she is rescued by Lucas. Lucas and his friends Jace and Jacinda Alvarez are interested in dragons, but it isn't until their friend Noah Miller (the main character in New Dragon City, 2022) and his father raise the alarm that the dragons are back that they take the existence of the creatures seriously. Lucas is missing his dog, Max, and his mother, father, and sister think that his grief is manifesting itself in an unhealthy interest in dragons. This isn't the case; Lucas has met Cinder, fed her beef jerky, and even brought her home overnight, since the two could speak telepathically. Sadly, Cinder accidentally sets fire to Lucas' house, which his parents think is suspicious, and they want Lucas to get counseling. When people start to show up in town, buying beef jerky and watching a video of Cinder and Lucas, he's worried that he has caused a problem. For her part, Cinder tries to convince the dragon council that humans are good and want to help. She plans to bring a gift to Lucas' town and explain the help that the dragons need. Unfortunately, Cinder's idea of a gift ends up being a horse, Mr. Bean, who is beloved by the town. Even though Lucas tries to explain, the townspeople are angry, and the event ends with another fire caused by Cinder. When Flare goes down to eat his sister's gift (why should it go to waste?), he is captured. Special agedne Gerda visits Lucas and his family and tells them that they should just stay put, and that things will be okay. When Lucas sees a video of Flare in captivity, he knows this isn't the case. After he and his friends save Flare, they fly to talk to Cinder's mother, and are able to convince the dragons that the humans don't mean them harm. Unfortunately, the rogue dragons are also loose on the world, and humans are scared. They want to attack any dragons that come near. Eventually, Lucas and his family relocate to the new territory of the dragons, and are eventually joined by Noah and his father.
Strengths: Even though this went back and forth from Cinder to Lucas' viewpoint, it wasn't confusing at all, and I am often very confused by fantasy books. Mancusi's writing makes me believe that Cinder showed up, Lucas thought to feed her beef jerky, and the two just hit it off! The fact that there has been talk in the wider society about a dragon uprising is simmering in the background, so it's not too much of a surprise when the "dragon peepers" show up, and are alarmed by Cinder's gift. There's just enough about Lucas' life in his town to make it sad when he has to leave. This is a fast-paced story with some suspense as well as a satisfying "pet dragon" aspect to it. The first book has circulated well, so I will definitely buy a copy of this.
Weaknesses: It's been a while since I read New Dragon City, so I had some trouble figuring out how Noah and his father figured in to the storyline.
What I really think: This is a little more problematic than pet dragon books like Durst's Spark or Downing's Hatching Magic, and has some elements of Martin's The Edge of Extinction. Mancusi's fans will want to take a look, and I enjoyed the fact that you can really read either book in the series first.

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
Most books depict dragons as huge, fire-breathing monstrosities, but Cinder is a young toddler in this story. Readers follow her for half of the book while a young human named Lucas shares the other half. Lucas rescues Cinder after she’s injured by a bear, leading to their unusual friendship. Most humans don’t believe in dragons, and the dragons know little about humans. Cinder’s point of view shows the dragons’ uncertainty about forming a peaceful alliance with humans, and they’re confusion while trying to understand human behavior. Dragons are described as sentient, loving, and fearful rather than mindless creatures of destruction.
Readers will understand the humans’ attitudes when curious visitors flock to town in response to dragon sightings. It’s reminiscent of vague UFO reports and people obsessed with aliens. YouTube quickly communicates rumors, leading to the town being overrun with conspiracy fanatics. The situation is fertile for misunderstandings and creates a conflict that’s threatening to erupt. Both sides mean well, but a lack of understanding between them undermines their efforts. Fear and anger only complicate the situation. Readers may see humans as the more conniving of the two groups, but you’ll need to decide for yourself.
What didn’t work as well:
The description of time passing seems off at times. The text may say a day or two has passed, but readers are left to wonder what happened during that time. Nothing seems to have changed, so it’s unclear why the text says time has gone by. Also, there are many minor characters, but Lucas is often alone. A brother and sister help him when needed, but it feels like they should have larger roles.
The final verdict:
Featuring an immature dragon will appeal to many young readers. Lucas and Cinder have a simplified view of the world, but perhaps adults can learn something from them. I recommend you give the book a shot.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The proliferation of wildfires across the state is keeping the air quality dangerously low. That means Lucas Murphy is not able to attend his favorite summer camp and has to spend most of his time inside. His younger next-door neighbor, Noah, is Lucas’ primary source of companionship, and when Noah’s conspiracy theory enthusiast father whisks Noah away because of a looming threat of dragons, Lucas is not sure what to believe. But armed with research compiled by Noah’s father, Lucas begins to understand the truth, and it leads Lucas on an adventure he will never forget. This prequel to New Dragon City connects middle grade readers to the origins of how dragons became a fixture in the world. Because the books can be enjoyed in any order, readers can choose where to begin their own adventures. Told in the dual points of view of Lucas and the dragon Cinder, the narrative offers readers insight into each character’s thoughts and feelings as the story progresses. The inherent distrust many humans feel for dragons and that dragons feel for humans creates a challenging barrier, and Lucas and Cinder are left defending their increasingly robust connection at every turn. Good writing and a compelling premise maintain the story's momentum, and readers will be anxious to discover what happens next. Though fantastical, this story combines real-life events with the addition of dragons in a way that feels as though it could be true. This is a strong addition to library collections for middle grade readers.

[Blue · Rating 3 out of 5]

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Thank you Scholastic for this book in exchange for an honest review

In Dawn of the Dragons, we follow Lucas, a twelve-year-old boy who is stuck at home for summer before drawn into a terrifying new reality when the presence of dragon’s fire makes the air unsafe. Noah, a friend, has always believed in dragons, but when the smoke and rumours get real, Lucas begins to wonder if dragons are beginning to wake up?

At the same time, high in the mountains, Cinder, a young, tiny but fierce dragon, struggles to survive. After suffering a terrible fall, she’s separated from her family and must find a way to stay alive. When Lucas and Cinder finally meet, it’s not just a chance encounter but the beginning of a friendship, which you cannot help but adore.

While their friendship grows, a misunderstanding between humans and dragons sparks a worldwide inferno, and Lucas and Cinder get pulled into a full-blown dragon apocalypse. As the dangers rise, Lucas and Cinder’s friendship get challenged in ways that force both species to consider whether peace is even possible.

Overall, Dawn of the Dragons is a thrilling, heart-filled fantasy that balances high stakes with deep friendship. If you’re into dystopian vibes, dragon action, and really want the younger generation to have those *Eragon* feels, than this is your go to book!

[Tara Breuer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really fun kids book! Follow Lucas, living it a world like today, as he finds an injured baby dragon, they discover they can communicate with one another, but his secret comes out when the the baby dragon, Cinder, accidentally starts a fire in Lucas's houses basement. The dragons decide to come with a thank you and peace offering only to have it misunderstood, making the dragon-human relationship (with other humans) worse. The humans and dragon ultimately continue to wage war with one another, but with Lucas and Cinder, their town and this dragon herd have learned to live in peace (for the time being!). This is a prequel to her other series and a wonderful read! Written in real world time, this is a very engaging and fun book to read. I would think it would be for 4th-maybe 6th grades ideally. It has appropriate vocabulary and context for kids and would be appropriate for classrooms, libraries and read alouds. I was engaged from the beginning and it did not slow down throughout the entire book. If I had endless time I would absolutely read the rest of the books in this series. It was a fun read, nothing too serious (as in heavy topics).

It would also be a great book to gift to any reader who might be interested in an exciting dragon story. I loved this story and if I had the time would read the series. Great for state reading list so I hope this one gets picked up!

I would add this to my very selective 6-star list of books!

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Thoughts

My love for reading Fantasy tales started about four decades ago in between watching cartoons, riding my horse or playing with my friends.

There were more nights than I can count that were spent deeply immersed in the pages of a book when I should have been sleeping, especially on school nights.

As I grew older and discovered my appreciation for more genres somehow Fantasy no longer was my primary focus.

In recent years that has changed and once again I have found myself choosing these types of reads more often.

Stories featuring Dragons have been one of my favorite go to reads for many reasons, not the least of which is their beauty and powerful stature.

Having read her Scorched Trilogy years back I was excited for a chance to see what new characters and adventures she had in store for me.

I was able to feel like a part of the story as it unfolded in New Dragoon City but even more so in Dawn of The Dragons and by the time I read the last page was very happy with its ending!

I also felt that questions posed in the books synopsis/description were answered quite satisfactorily for me.

What the author has managed to convey in her two companion books is a combination of fiction married with realism that worked very well for me.

[EArc from Netgalley]

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We find ourselves immersed in a time when dragons are fighting over territory and the humans don’t know about them yet.

As a prequel to New Dragon City, I was excited to learn about how the dragons and humans got to the point they were at at the opening of that book-with humans “hibernating” underground 6 months of the year and fearing dragons.

Although this book is based around two new characters, Lucas and Cinder, it does a good job at setting a back story. It’s action packed and full of lots of parental advice for a middle-grader (both from Lucas’ parents and Cinders elders).

Both my tween and I loved this book. I feel it’s super relevant for today with the message that misinformation does so much harm, especially when people jump to conclusions and don’t seek out the facts. My tween wanted more connection to the sequel-he wanted the story to keep going to the beginning of New Dragon City. (I think that could be its own book!)

We love this author and can’t wait to see what her next book is.

4.75 stars


Publication date: September 2, 2025

** Thank you Little, Brown and Company for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.**

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine a world where dragons exist. Now, imagine what happens the first time dragons and humans meet.

Lucas doesn't believe it when his neighbor insists dragons exist. Until the day he discovers Cinder, a young dragon in trouble. He becomes a hero when he moves to save her. What follows is a series of unfortunate events and misunderstandings. Luckily, Lucas and Cinder aren't going to wait for the adults to try and solve the problems.

I really liked the friendship that developed between Lucas and Cinder and they're willingness to work together to try to solve adult type problems. The characters were varied and interesting. Their interactions and disagreements felt normal and natural and kept the story moving. The plot was intriguing and the suspense enough to keep me engaged. This may have been aimed a middle schoolers, but I really enjoyed this story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for a copy of this book. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Karen Reeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as amazing as New Dragon City!
Mancusi is a master of bringing us heavy thoughts on miscommunication and seeing things from someone else’s side. I love the dragons! Fantasy is my jam so this was a quick interest, but not every fantasy is the same quality. Mancusi quality is top notch.
I was immediately interested and my interest was maintained throughout both stories. Mancusi does an incredible job of introducing unique characters then develops connections and quickly builds and continues to the excitement throughout the book. I love that we got to revisit familiar characters. It is a beautiful story, and I love that you could read the original or this prequel first. (Though maybe don’t read the prologue of Dawn of the Dragons if you haven’t read New Dragon City yet) I really hope we get to find out what happens next with the dragons, meet some new characters and see what happens with those we already love!

[The Loco Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC. I read New Dragon City last year because it was a bluebonnet book, so when I heard Mari say that a new prequel was coming out, I jumped on NetGalley pretty fast!

This series is about dragons waking up from hibernation, and now they are faced with humans who have more than just sharp sticks to fight back. But is it all just a big misunderstanding? When Lucas saves a dragon’s life, Lucas the human and Cinder the dragon are on a mission to prove that both species can live in peace.

Both books have an engaging plot line with thrill and action! The characters are relatable and the dialogue rich with themes of acceptance, compassion, and friendship. Mari Mancusi’s writing will suck you right into this enthralling world of dragons where the threat of war is looming!

[Wild · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dawn of the Dragons takes place 5 years prior to the events in New Dragon City, where the dragon apocalypse has fully overtaken the world. This is the backstory we needed. It answers the questions on how the apocalypse started, and what created such discord between humans and dragons.

I loved the interplay between Lucas, a human boy, and Cinder, a young dragon. The world building, storyline, and pacing were all well done without being overly dark or too heavy. It definitely reads middle-grade, which is exactly the intended audience.

Perfect for fans of:
🐲 Wings of Fire
🐉 Impossible Creatures
🖤 Dystopian Fiction
🐲 Dragons as MC's
📖 Adventure Reads

Thanks to Media Masters Publicity and Little, Brown and Company for the gifted book. All opinions are my own and freely given.

[Janna Felix · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dawn of the Dragons is an exciting, fast-paced adventure that blends heart and high stakes in a way that will capture young readers’ imaginations. The story of Lucas and Cinder is both thrilling and tender, showing the power of empathy even in the face of fear and danger. The world-building, dragons reawakening after a million years and clashing with humans, is vivid and suspenseful, keeping the tension high from start to finish. While at times the plot moves a bit quickly and could linger longer on certain emotional beats, the bond between boy and dragon shines brightly and makes the book hard to put down.

[Zinnia Peanke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was super good!! I thought it really encapsulated what it would be like to have dragons in the modern-day world, destruction, disbelief, anger, fear. It was like an apocalypse, which I feel would be pretty accurate if dragons were alive in real life.
I liked that it actually included danger, instead of everyone being perfectly fine somehow. And poor Lucas is going through some stuff with Max...
I'm so curious about Noah, and especially what happened with him!!! I would love to know more!!
Five stars!

[Kate Goforth · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I'm Cinder, a dragon...It's an honor to meet you, Lucas the human."

This is a pleasantly simple yet fun and heartwarming story about a boy who discovers dragons. This is an easy read and great for summer or a light (yet adventurous) read during the school year.

Content warning: a touch of violence because, well, dragons.

Note: I received this eARC in exchange for an honest review from the publisher.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was such a great time! I loved all the characters, and appreciated the split point of views from both humans and dragons. It was great to see an adult apologizing to a child, and I thought the friendships seemed great. I wish we got a bit more interaction from the sister, and more information about the government agency. Pace is very fast and really keeps you reading.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy to form opinions from.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the fact that dragons were actual characters in this book and had POV chapters. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs as it added so much to the story as a whole. This story was so fun and the way dragons were incorporated into the real world was amazing and I wish it were real. This was such a fun middle grade book and I now want to read more books like this one.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun, quick dragon book! I enjoyed this prequel to “New Dragon City,” which I really loved.

There is a part where Cinder and her mother meet with the Dragon Council which can only be reached in “the Nether.” They are ancient spirits. I don’t think this was like talking to the dead, although it is a bit mystical.

But other than that (and the sometimes lazy writing), this was a fun book I would love to recommend to middles!

[francesca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Per me una serie da bocciare. C’è qualche spunto interessante, ma i personaggi sono tutti molto piatti, la voce narrante di Lucas indistinguibile da quella di Noah, il protagonista del libro principale. Lo stesso vale per i draghi coprotagonisti. I vari spunti narrativi sono banali anche nell’ottica di un libro per bambini.

[Michael Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dragon fans unite!!!!
This prequel to New Dragon City works great as a stand-alone or a prequel. Mari Mancusi is a master storyteller when it comes to fantasy, adventure, and character development. I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

[Jen Calonita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mari Mancusi never disappoints! Loved this prequel!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oops! I fi wished this about 4 days after I got it. this was so fun to find out about the beginning. now I need a sequel to new dragon city! please!

[Erika Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great easy read.

[Annalise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing how "Dawn of the Dragons" filled in all the gaps! From Cinder's family to Lucas's friends there was always a surprise around the corner! Pineapple Pizza Forever!

[Mildly Mad Hatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was good, I enjoyed it quite a bit and now I want to read the original series. I really liked the family units in this, they were all close knit and even though there were the annoying siblings, they all catered about each other. I loved the dragons and all the descriptions of them. I don’t remember any other language then taking the Lords name in vain. But other than that, it was clean. Definitely something I might read again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book.