What do you think?
Rate this book
Mysteries of Cove #3
Mysteries of Cove, Book 3: Embers of Destruction
It's time to take the battle to the dragons.
In the third and final volume of the bestselling Mysteries of Cove series, Trenton and Kallista—along with their friends, Plucky, Simoni, Angus, and Clyde—fly their mechanical dragons south toward San Francisco, looking to rescue any survivors from the battle of Seattle.
Arriving in San Francisco and investigating the area in secret, the young riders are reunited with Kallista's father, Leo Babbage, who reveals that the humans in the city are working as slaves to the dragons, but that they don't want to be rescued—himself included. He says they are being protected by their new master: a huge, powerful white dragon who lives in an impenetrable tower fortress overlooking the city. Kallista is stunned by the news. Why would her father ever willingly want to work for dragons?
Trenton and his friends are confronted by the guards and their mechanical dragons are seized. Evading capture, the young riders escape and begin looking for a way to break the white dragon's hold over the city—and over Leo. Working with the kids from the city, the young riders track down the source of the dragon's power to an underground chamber that is accessible only through an underwater passageway below the tower fortress.
With the white dragon watching their every move, Trenton and Kallista will need every bit of creativity and ingenuity they can manage to find a way to retrieve their stolen dragons, enter the tower fortress, and take down the dragons once and for all.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2017
35 people are currently reading
717 people want to read
About the author
J. Scott Savage
20 books535 followersJ Scott Savage is the author of 19 novels including the Mysteries of Cove series, the Farworld series, and the Case File 13 series, and the Lost Wonderland Diaries.
He has been writing books for over twenty years. His books have received various recognitions including Junior Library Selection, Starred reviews from PW and Kirkus, Amazon Book of the Month,
Barnes and Noble Select book, and several state award nominations.
He has visited over 2500 schools, dozens of writers conferences, and taught many writing classes. He has four children and seven grandchildren. He lives with his wife Jennifer in a windy valley of the Rocky Mountains.
He loves hearing from his readers at info@jscottsavage.com
He has been writing books for over twenty years. His books have received various recognitions including Junior Library Selection, Starred reviews from PW and Kirkus, Amazon Book of the Month,
Barnes and Noble Select book, and several state award nominations.
He has visited over 2500 schools, dozens of writers conferences, and taught many writing classes. He has four children and seven grandchildren. He lives with his wife Jennifer in a windy valley of the Rocky Mountains.
He loves hearing from his readers at info@jscottsavage.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
September 4, 2022
This is a pretty exciting conclusion to the Mysteries of Cove trilogy. Trenton, Kallista, and their friends make their way from Seattle to San Francisco, where all the adults love serving dragons but the kids don’t. The geography is portrayed pretty accurately. We learn how and when and why the dragons came to be. You know how when you read you kind of sense where the story is going? That doesn’t work with Savage, and it’s disconcerting. It’s like it’s too unpredictable. It’s just slightly strange and always takes me a while to get used to.
There is lots of adventure, with fighting dragons in dogfights, sneaking around, and scheming. Each book in the trilogy features the construction of a steampunk vehicle. This one is a … submarine! The drawing of it at the start of each chapter is adorable. The book has a satisfactory ending, and I had no clue how it would end.
(I was surprised to see a character named Talysa Sainz in the book. Talysa is my editing buddy and is very smart and talented and hard-working.)
Language: Clean
Sexual Content: None
Violence: Monster violence
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
There is lots of adventure, with fighting dragons in dogfights, sneaking around, and scheming. Each book in the trilogy features the construction of a steampunk vehicle. This one is a … submarine! The drawing of it at the start of each chapter is adorable. The book has a satisfactory ending, and I had no clue how it would end.
(I was surprised to see a character named Talysa Sainz in the book. Talysa is my editing buddy and is very smart and talented and hard-working.)
Language: Clean
Sexual Content: None
Violence: Monster violence
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
September 29, 2017
Warning, when you start reading EMBERS OF DESTRUCTION, don't have any other plans. You won't want to put it down until you are done! This book is action packed. It is full of many exciting, heart-pounding moments. Like the other books in the series, it is also full of heart, love and friendship. I have grown to love these characters and I was excited to see their final battle and what a battle it was. Trenton, Kallista and friends are stuck in a city where the adults don't think there is anything wrong with being under the dragon's control. I loved how they didn't give up. They were discouraged at times, especially when they were betrayed by someone they trusted (but there were reasons why that happened). The kids learned to work together, to go with their own strengths and they excelled. I loved how even when there were defeats, they moved on to another idea and worked together.
5 out of 5 stars. This series is one of my all-time favorites.
I received a copy from the publisher, all views and opinions expressed are my own.
5 out of 5 stars. This series is one of my all-time favorites.
I received a copy from the publisher, all views and opinions expressed are my own.
September 28, 2017
This is an amazing ending to a great series. I have loved them (although I swore I read the second and upon reading the third I realized I hadn't, but I will!). I loved how everyone learned to work and depend on each other to figure out how to solve the dragon issue and then to execute the plan. They didn't give up when a plan failed. It was the try, try again that we so often forget to do in life. There are hard life lessons that are touched on, and the outcome was the way it needed to be. I highly recommend this book to anyone.
August 23, 2021
Such a great series for young readers! My son is all about how machines work and building them and loves dragons so a series with mechanical dragons full of action and mystery? Sold! We loved it!
Read
October 17, 2022This book was fun, satisfying, and had some awesome twists. My twins and I have really enjoyed reading this three-book series together. I recommend it to readers old and young who like dragons, inventions, and adventures.
October 5, 2017
I'm so sad to see this series end. I've loved reading about Kallista, Trenton, their friends and their adventures. This is an amazing end to the series and really ends the series with a bang!
When last we saw our friends, they'd just discovered that Seattle had been ransacked by the dragons and no one was left, including Kallista's dad Leo. Unsure of just where to begin, the kids are trying to find Leo and figure out just where the dragons come from.
I love that this book switches back and forth between Trenton's view and Kallista's view. That way you can know just what each of them see and know. Between the two of them, they give a pretty great picture of what's going on everywhere all the time. Throughout the series, we've gotten to know the two characters and I really like both of them. Not that they don't both have flaws, they do, and I like that they do, just like real people.
I like the way this book kind of puts the kids in charge, there's something up with the adults in this book and the kids are able to see things and situations with the dragons clearer than the adults do.
The plot of this one is full of twists and turns, adventures and traitorous actions by many different people. It really kept me guessing and I loved every second of it. I didn't want to put it down.
I know that this book will be well loved by all, by the audience of middle grade readers that it was written for, but by adults as well. It really is just amazing! Make sure you've read the first two books in the series, this one won't make a lot of sense unless you know what's happened in the others!
When last we saw our friends, they'd just discovered that Seattle had been ransacked by the dragons and no one was left, including Kallista's dad Leo. Unsure of just where to begin, the kids are trying to find Leo and figure out just where the dragons come from.
I love that this book switches back and forth between Trenton's view and Kallista's view. That way you can know just what each of them see and know. Between the two of them, they give a pretty great picture of what's going on everywhere all the time. Throughout the series, we've gotten to know the two characters and I really like both of them. Not that they don't both have flaws, they do, and I like that they do, just like real people.
I like the way this book kind of puts the kids in charge, there's something up with the adults in this book and the kids are able to see things and situations with the dragons clearer than the adults do.
The plot of this one is full of twists and turns, adventures and traitorous actions by many different people. It really kept me guessing and I loved every second of it. I didn't want to put it down.
I know that this book will be well loved by all, by the audience of middle grade readers that it was written for, but by adults as well. It really is just amazing! Make sure you've read the first two books in the series, this one won't make a lot of sense unless you know what's happened in the others!
June 14, 2017
This book was written by a friend of mine. An unbiased review follows.
"Embers of Destruction" is the third and final volume of the Mysteries of Cove series. The characters we've come to know and root for have grown as people – physically and mentally – over the course of the series. They've solved some mysteries, invented some gadgets, and narrowly avoided death. Now they've come to the final showdown.
"Embers" opens up a short amount of time after the events of its predecessor, "Gears of Revolution". Trenton, Kallista, and the gang soon find themselves in San Francisco where, as usual in a world full of dragons, things go awry.
Loyalties are questioned, secrets are unearthed, and strength of characters is tested as our group of heroes rebel against the manipulation of a fierce new adversary called the monarch, who keeps an iron grip on the city.
"Embers of Destruction" is full of great twists, and we go a little deeper into the hearts and minds of our main characters and find what makes them tick. The dynamic between characters has also grown stronger. But I think what Savage does really well in "Embers" is making sure that the story is emotionally on-beat. The ending is powerful and resonant while leaving some room for future stories set in this world should they present themselves.
If you haven't read the Mysteries of Cove series, go back to book one, "Fires of Invention", and start there. Great fun for readers of all ages, and I think you'll be very satisfied once you've closed the cover on "Embers of Destruction".
"Embers of Destruction" is the third and final volume of the Mysteries of Cove series. The characters we've come to know and root for have grown as people – physically and mentally – over the course of the series. They've solved some mysteries, invented some gadgets, and narrowly avoided death. Now they've come to the final showdown.
"Embers" opens up a short amount of time after the events of its predecessor, "Gears of Revolution". Trenton, Kallista, and the gang soon find themselves in San Francisco where, as usual in a world full of dragons, things go awry.
Loyalties are questioned, secrets are unearthed, and strength of characters is tested as our group of heroes rebel against the manipulation of a fierce new adversary called the monarch, who keeps an iron grip on the city.
"Embers of Destruction" is full of great twists, and we go a little deeper into the hearts and minds of our main characters and find what makes them tick. The dynamic between characters has also grown stronger. But I think what Savage does really well in "Embers" is making sure that the story is emotionally on-beat. The ending is powerful and resonant while leaving some room for future stories set in this world should they present themselves.
If you haven't read the Mysteries of Cove series, go back to book one, "Fires of Invention", and start there. Great fun for readers of all ages, and I think you'll be very satisfied once you've closed the cover on "Embers of Destruction".
October 7, 2017
Savage is a master of pacing. His books tend to pull you in and then keep you asking questions until the twist at the end. Ember of Destruction, the third and final book, in the Mysteries of Cove trilogy is no exception. There were a couple times I was sure I could guess what would happen and then something else happened that threw it all for a loop.
Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was how well the large cast was managed. Trenton and Kallista, who were the main focus on the first two books, are joined on their mission to find the origin of the dragons by four other kids from book one and two. Usually, a large group like this makes a book less enjoyable because I end up liking some of the team, but find others annoying. Scott pulled off the rare trick of having each character draw me in, and even Simoni and Angus, who I found obnoxious since book one, won me over in the end.
I also was glad we got to see things from Kallista’s perspective as well. She has some tough choices to make when the truth about her dad’s arrival in Seattle is revealed. It was nice to see her let down her guard and start to finally trust someone else.
This series is full of a brilliant blend of the fantastical and science. I went all nerdy about the chemistry jargon in this book. Kids who love to build things and are into technology and science will love this whole series. Also, dragons are just awesome! I’d recommend this series for any kids, or adults, who enjoy a good scavenger’s hunt, adventures, and deadly enemies.
Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was how well the large cast was managed. Trenton and Kallista, who were the main focus on the first two books, are joined on their mission to find the origin of the dragons by four other kids from book one and two. Usually, a large group like this makes a book less enjoyable because I end up liking some of the team, but find others annoying. Scott pulled off the rare trick of having each character draw me in, and even Simoni and Angus, who I found obnoxious since book one, won me over in the end.
I also was glad we got to see things from Kallista’s perspective as well. She has some tough choices to make when the truth about her dad’s arrival in Seattle is revealed. It was nice to see her let down her guard and start to finally trust someone else.
This series is full of a brilliant blend of the fantastical and science. I went all nerdy about the chemistry jargon in this book. Kids who love to build things and are into technology and science will love this whole series. Also, dragons are just awesome! I’d recommend this series for any kids, or adults, who enjoy a good scavenger’s hunt, adventures, and deadly enemies.
March 24, 2019
EMBERS OF DESTRUCTION is an engaging finale to the Mysteries of Cove series- it is full of action, adventure, and mysteries which are all wrapped up nicely. Dragons are in control, and our main characters see this as a problem, fighting for their freedom. But where did the dragons come from? The answers to this come in this book, along with many twists and turns. Great for fans of middle grade fantasy! Please note that I received this book from a goodreads giveaway. All opinions are my own.
July 19, 2023
Still fairly simplistic but with promising ideas. A fun enough read but nothing super special here. The characters continue to grow for the most part and it's interesting to see how they interact and grow as a group and individuals. New problems, new characters, new inventions to build and puzzles to solve.
These books are "clean" with no swearing, no gore though fights and battles are described, no sexual anything.
These books are "clean" with no swearing, no gore though fights and battles are described, no sexual anything.
January 8, 2020
I had read the first book in this series back in 2016 after seeing it on a shelf and reading the summery and giving it a try. This summer I had finished up the second in the trilogy. I knew that sooner than later I would get to finish up the series.
This book is the third and final installment of the mysteries of cove series. It follows the story of a group of gifted kids, led by Trenton, a mechanic, who have been tasked with finding and destroying the source of the plight of dragons that nearly destroyed the world one hundred years prior. The group finds their way to a city in which the dragons rule over the humans, who willingly obey their every whim, even those who fought against the tyranny of dragons in the past. While they are allowed to go about the city and are assigned jobs, they plan in secret to escape the city while they still can. When their plan is nearly complete, Trenton and another character stumbles upon the source of the dragons, and have to change their plan to destroy the source and end the dragons' lordship.
I liked this book, because it did a nice job of building on what had come in the previous books. We learned a lot more about all the characters involved, as well as the history of the world and what happened that started all of this. The end of the book wrapped up nicely, and gave closure to the series.
A few of the things I didn't like with this boom, as with the previous ones, is the perspective and descriptions are given through the minds of children, and such are not very descriptive. Besides this, the book was very enjoyable to read and I would recommend it if you are a fan of the other books in the series.
This book is the third and final installment of the mysteries of cove series. It follows the story of a group of gifted kids, led by Trenton, a mechanic, who have been tasked with finding and destroying the source of the plight of dragons that nearly destroyed the world one hundred years prior. The group finds their way to a city in which the dragons rule over the humans, who willingly obey their every whim, even those who fought against the tyranny of dragons in the past. While they are allowed to go about the city and are assigned jobs, they plan in secret to escape the city while they still can. When their plan is nearly complete, Trenton and another character stumbles upon the source of the dragons, and have to change their plan to destroy the source and end the dragons' lordship.
I liked this book, because it did a nice job of building on what had come in the previous books. We learned a lot more about all the characters involved, as well as the history of the world and what happened that started all of this. The end of the book wrapped up nicely, and gave closure to the series.
A few of the things I didn't like with this boom, as with the previous ones, is the perspective and descriptions are given through the minds of children, and such are not very descriptive. Besides this, the book was very enjoyable to read and I would recommend it if you are a fan of the other books in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2017
This is the third book in the series, and can't be read as a stand alone, you really need to read all of the books, to know what is happening in this series. This is a futuristic series, about dragons taking over the Western United States. A well written story, that kept me reading to find out what would happen next. A book about friendships, decisions and trust.
Want to read
September 11, 2017I received a copy of this book from Shadow Mountain via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2018
So I read all three books; a very fun story. Love the creativeness of the storytelling; steampunk and Dragons what a cool mashup. I did feel the story at the beginning lacked an emotion drive which I love, but it gained it by book three. Maybe it was because I was now invested in the characters by that point. The reason I gave it a three instead of a four is the grammar. There were some pretty easily caught errors that continued all the way through the series. Besides that I really enjoyed the story.
Violence- There is some fighting between characters. There are a few people roasted alive by dragons and at one point a dragon swallows a man whole.
Drug- N/A
Sex-N/A
Language- Nothing besides some humorous made-up curse words.
Violence- There is some fighting between characters. There are a few people roasted alive by dragons and at one point a dragon swallows a man whole.
Drug- N/A
Sex-N/A
Language- Nothing besides some humorous made-up curse words.
April 8, 2019
If you read the first two books, then this books is definitely worth it. A satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.
March 26, 2018
Trenton, Kallista and their friends, Plucky, Simoni, Angus, and Clyde are now flying about destroying real dragons using their mechanical dragons. They track and plan. However, when one mission goes wrong, they find themselves lost in the fog and facing an all new threat.
They have discovered the remains of San Francisco, and a new breed of dragon. The city is filled with humans happily serving their dragon overlords, and the kids can't understand why? They set out to free the people, only to end up trapped. Even Kallista's father seems to now love dragons.
The friends are sent to work, learning their ways about the city and secretly trying to figure out what is going on, how to stop the dragons, and the mystery behind this city that still exists in a world that is virtually destroyed.
My Thoughts-
I wondered how the author was going to wrap this series up and do so while remaining true to the first two books. He does a wonderful job. The first book explains the mystery of Cove, the city within a mountain where Trenton and Kallista live. Clues are left for Kallista, by her father, to help her learn about the truth of their city's past.
The second book starts out again as a puzzle, with Kallista and Trenton following clues to find Kallista's father in the ruins of Seattle and later using more clues to build a machine to fight against the dragons.
So, how did the third book compare? Great. Though not the same type of clue solving mystery as within the first two books, this third book takes the reader on a more intellectual journey. The reader must follow as the friends learn the secrets of San Francisco and unearth the true reason dragons came into existence. Then, with that information they must defeat the new breed of dragon who rules the city. The question of course was how this series could end things leaving the reader feeling that issues were resolved and our heroes could move on with their lives. I believe the author takes the only route possible. From the get go, I couldn't figure out how these six kids would be able to destroy all of dragon kind. Well, turns out they can't. Yep, just what I thought. Instead the author brings it all to a logical ending with potential for further development in this cool post-apocalyptic world. Great job!
I love all the characters. They each have their own stories with full development taking place over all three books. Readers will invest in the future and root for their success. There is also a great importance placed on family, which I really enjoyed. I recommend this entire series, and I'm giving this book 4.5 stars!
They have discovered the remains of San Francisco, and a new breed of dragon. The city is filled with humans happily serving their dragon overlords, and the kids can't understand why? They set out to free the people, only to end up trapped. Even Kallista's father seems to now love dragons.
The friends are sent to work, learning their ways about the city and secretly trying to figure out what is going on, how to stop the dragons, and the mystery behind this city that still exists in a world that is virtually destroyed.
My Thoughts-
I wondered how the author was going to wrap this series up and do so while remaining true to the first two books. He does a wonderful job. The first book explains the mystery of Cove, the city within a mountain where Trenton and Kallista live. Clues are left for Kallista, by her father, to help her learn about the truth of their city's past.
The second book starts out again as a puzzle, with Kallista and Trenton following clues to find Kallista's father in the ruins of Seattle and later using more clues to build a machine to fight against the dragons.
So, how did the third book compare? Great. Though not the same type of clue solving mystery as within the first two books, this third book takes the reader on a more intellectual journey. The reader must follow as the friends learn the secrets of San Francisco and unearth the true reason dragons came into existence. Then, with that information they must defeat the new breed of dragon who rules the city. The question of course was how this series could end things leaving the reader feeling that issues were resolved and our heroes could move on with their lives. I believe the author takes the only route possible. From the get go, I couldn't figure out how these six kids would be able to destroy all of dragon kind. Well, turns out they can't. Yep, just what I thought. Instead the author brings it all to a logical ending with potential for further development in this cool post-apocalyptic world. Great job!
I love all the characters. They each have their own stories with full development taking place over all three books. Readers will invest in the future and root for their success. There is also a great importance placed on family, which I really enjoyed. I recommend this entire series, and I'm giving this book 4.5 stars!
August 30, 2018
J. Scott Savages series the Mysteries of Cove has evolved in ways I did not see coming. The story in each book continued to answer more questions while leading to new ones about the world he created.
In the final installment in the Cove series, Trenton and Kallista continue their journey to find Kallista's father Leo while also continuing the hunt of where the dragons came from. This time however, they are joined by their friends Clyde, Simoni, Angus, and Plucky from the previous book as they all journey in pairs on their own metal dragons. Their search eventual brings them to San Fransisco, where humans not only live among dragons, but see it as a privilege to serve them under the guidance of a white dragon called the monarch. Not knowing who they can trust, the group must choice each action carefully if they are to not only find Leo, but discover once and for all the origin of the dragons.
The extent of new characters can be seen with the children of the city. Alex, a leader of a group called the Runt Patrol offers a gateway into what the city is like similar to Plucky in the previous book. For those who were hoping for character development with the main cast, other than Trenton and Kallista is it a bit shallow til the end. The city it self does get a bit of a description, though with the books length we only get bits of it instead of the full tour. The dragons themselves do expand with new species, making the adventure even more dangerous.
I do understand why the author ended the book the way he did, though I feel like the story could have benefited from at least one more. The middle and the ending felt rushed and this made things less enjoyable as Trenton and Kallista's journey wrapped up. We did get some foreshadowing for some characters such as with Clyde and Plucky, but I feel that if the story had gotten one more book we could have had some closure to some questions while still having the open ended foreshadowing most finale books are known for. Also, call me a sucker for character romance, but I did hope that the author would have at least hinted in the end about Trenton and Kallista's relationship. The two do grow closer as friends, but in the previous books it is hinted that they might become more. If it wasn't hinted as much in previous books, I wouldn't have bothered commenting on the subject. Nevertheless, I am glad I got to read the series.
In the final installment in the Cove series, Trenton and Kallista continue their journey to find Kallista's father Leo while also continuing the hunt of where the dragons came from. This time however, they are joined by their friends Clyde, Simoni, Angus, and Plucky from the previous book as they all journey in pairs on their own metal dragons. Their search eventual brings them to San Fransisco, where humans not only live among dragons, but see it as a privilege to serve them under the guidance of a white dragon called the monarch. Not knowing who they can trust, the group must choice each action carefully if they are to not only find Leo, but discover once and for all the origin of the dragons.
The extent of new characters can be seen with the children of the city. Alex, a leader of a group called the Runt Patrol offers a gateway into what the city is like similar to Plucky in the previous book. For those who were hoping for character development with the main cast, other than Trenton and Kallista is it a bit shallow til the end. The city it self does get a bit of a description, though with the books length we only get bits of it instead of the full tour. The dragons themselves do expand with new species, making the adventure even more dangerous.
I do understand why the author ended the book the way he did, though I feel like the story could have benefited from at least one more. The middle and the ending felt rushed and this made things less enjoyable as Trenton and Kallista's journey wrapped up. We did get some foreshadowing for some characters such as with Clyde and Plucky, but I feel that if the story had gotten one more book we could have had some closure to some questions while still having the open ended foreshadowing most finale books are known for. Also, call me a sucker for character romance, but I did hope that the author would have at least hinted in the end about Trenton and Kallista's relationship. The two do grow closer as friends, but in the previous books it is hinted that they might become more. If it wasn't hinted as much in previous books, I wouldn't have bothered commenting on the subject. Nevertheless, I am glad I got to read the series.
March 13, 2018
This is the third and final book in this middle grade series. Please note here at the beginning of my review: you really need to read the first two books of the series before you read the third book. You will be pretty lost if you start out reading this third installment first.
I have loved this steam punk/fantasy series. I love dragons and you read of many dragons in this book. Embers of Destruction has a lot of action, along with some violence involving battles between the dragons and Trenton & Kallista's group of friends. They are on a search for survivors from a previous battle and end up finding a whole city of people being ruled by the dragons. At first, readers don't know how the dragons became the rulers of the city, but eventually the clues come together with the truth. I felt bad for Trenton as he tries hard to keep all of his friends together. Kallista is pulled in different directions as her loyalties are tested, those to her friends and her father. There are many moments when you could feel how down and out the tweens/teens are as they try to figure out a way to solve all of their problems. Once again Trenton proves to be my favorite character as he shows a lot of growth mentally and in his own personal character.
A small warning, there is a character death near the end that surprised me, but made sense story wise. It actually made me change my mind about this character in the long run. This story and series is great to teach readers about friendship, loyalty, and never giving up. All of the young people learn that they all can be more than they ever thought they could be. What a great thing to teach kids in today's world. Adults, kids, tweens and teens will love this book: And...of course, if you like dragons, this book and series is one you'll want to read. What a great ending to the Mysteries of COVE series.
I have loved this steam punk/fantasy series. I love dragons and you read of many dragons in this book. Embers of Destruction has a lot of action, along with some violence involving battles between the dragons and Trenton & Kallista's group of friends. They are on a search for survivors from a previous battle and end up finding a whole city of people being ruled by the dragons. At first, readers don't know how the dragons became the rulers of the city, but eventually the clues come together with the truth. I felt bad for Trenton as he tries hard to keep all of his friends together. Kallista is pulled in different directions as her loyalties are tested, those to her friends and her father. There are many moments when you could feel how down and out the tweens/teens are as they try to figure out a way to solve all of their problems. Once again Trenton proves to be my favorite character as he shows a lot of growth mentally and in his own personal character.
A small warning, there is a character death near the end that surprised me, but made sense story wise. It actually made me change my mind about this character in the long run. This story and series is great to teach readers about friendship, loyalty, and never giving up. All of the young people learn that they all can be more than they ever thought they could be. What a great thing to teach kids in today's world. Adults, kids, tweens and teens will love this book: And...of course, if you like dragons, this book and series is one you'll want to read. What a great ending to the Mysteries of COVE series.
November 29, 2017
Fantasy and middle grade books are not my normal go to genres, but one of my reading goals this past year was to go outside of my comfort zone and try new genres and books. Embers of destruction was just the book to enjoy both the middle grade and fantasy genre. This is the final volume in the mysteries of Cove series. I however did not read the other books in the series. There were a few things that did feel a little confusing to me since I did not have the backstory of the other books, but for the most part, I was able to catch onto the story without too much effort.
One of the things I am coming to love about middle grade books is the honesty in which young children approach life events. They are honest and true about situations and don't tend to beat around the bush. I appreciated that in this group of friends. I get tired when characters keep their feelings inside because they think the others won't understand. Each character was honest and shared what they wanted to do in each circumstance. I so appreciated that in this book.
I loved flying on the back of the mechanical dragons with Trenton and Kallista and the other friends in the gang. I was present for secret meetings and enjoyed watching plucky design new ideas for the mechanical dragons. This book was a delightful adventure story perfect for any young boy or girl. I absolutely plan on buying the other books in this series when my son is older and ready to read in this age range. I also appreciated that the book was age appropriate. There was nothing that I would feel uncomfortable for my son to read on his own someday. To me, that is worth its weight in gold.
One of the things I am coming to love about middle grade books is the honesty in which young children approach life events. They are honest and true about situations and don't tend to beat around the bush. I appreciated that in this group of friends. I get tired when characters keep their feelings inside because they think the others won't understand. Each character was honest and shared what they wanted to do in each circumstance. I so appreciated that in this book.
I loved flying on the back of the mechanical dragons with Trenton and Kallista and the other friends in the gang. I was present for secret meetings and enjoyed watching plucky design new ideas for the mechanical dragons. This book was a delightful adventure story perfect for any young boy or girl. I absolutely plan on buying the other books in this series when my son is older and ready to read in this age range. I also appreciated that the book was age appropriate. There was nothing that I would feel uncomfortable for my son to read on his own someday. To me, that is worth its weight in gold.
July 22, 2024
Embers of Destruction book 3 of Mysteries of Cove series, written by J. Scott Savage read by Kirby Heyborne – The final book in this series picks up in a similar fashion as book 2: Trenton and Kallista have just saved Discovery, this time from the Whipjacks, and now must follow Leo Babbage’s clues to locate the source of the dragons. Joining them this time are friends from both Discovery and Seattle rounding the team out at six with three mechanical dragons. In missions similar to those of WW2, the three teams paint dragons on the side of their steeds for each kill they make with childhood enemy Angus boasting the most. As the team makes their way to San Francisco, they encounter many more types of dragons and find themselves in a city full of people happy to serve the master dragon who controls the people and dragons within the city. Making friends with a local group of kids called the Runt Patrol the group uncovers what is really happening in the city and makes plans to destroy the white dragon. After several failed attempts, Trenton is ready to give up until his team and the Runt Patrol convince him otherwise. Full of action, invention and dragons, this installment will satisfy those middle grade readers (grades 5-7) who loved the first two books. This book does contain the death of a team member and hints at Trenton’s sexuality. Overall, the series statement on technology is spot on; technology is both good and bad, it depends on what it is used for and how it is controlled.
June 15, 2017
It's very rare to find books as well-written and thought out as the Mysteries of Cove trilogy. Savage knows almost every trick of the trade, and he lets it show in these books.
The book had a big job to do: tell its own story, yet wrap up every mystery all the way back to book one. It does each of these things. The stakes feel bigger, the characters go through some massive development, and the world is expanded.
Seriously, rarely are series handled so well.
I don't want to give away too much, especially since the book's got a few more months until release, so I'll be as vague as possible.
Savage delves into his characters in this book, challenging them. He turns their greatest strengths into their greatest weaknesses, and puts all of them in morally divisive situations that strain and push each of the characters.
He expands on the dragons, making them even more dangerous and intimidating than before. He hits all the emotional beats and wraps everything up so cleanly.
I'm a fan of endings. They can make or break a story. They can redefine the entire book or film (think The Sixth Sense). Savage, with this ending, manages to redefine characters and the entire emphasis from the first book that "creativity and technology destroyed the world". It's one of the very first series I've ever finished that I've immediately began rooting for a sequel series.
5/5. Emotional, intriguing and just plain awesome.
The book had a big job to do: tell its own story, yet wrap up every mystery all the way back to book one. It does each of these things. The stakes feel bigger, the characters go through some massive development, and the world is expanded.
Seriously, rarely are series handled so well.
I don't want to give away too much, especially since the book's got a few more months until release, so I'll be as vague as possible.
Savage delves into his characters in this book, challenging them. He turns their greatest strengths into their greatest weaknesses, and puts all of them in morally divisive situations that strain and push each of the characters.
He expands on the dragons, making them even more dangerous and intimidating than before. He hits all the emotional beats and wraps everything up so cleanly.
I'm a fan of endings. They can make or break a story. They can redefine the entire book or film (think The Sixth Sense). Savage, with this ending, manages to redefine characters and the entire emphasis from the first book that "creativity and technology destroyed the world". It's one of the very first series I've ever finished that I've immediately began rooting for a sequel series.
5/5. Emotional, intriguing and just plain awesome.
January 10, 2019
This book series is one of my favorite series. I absolutely love how J.Scott Savage writes his characters and their emotions. The first book definitely made me want continue reading because I loved the idea of dragons, having to learn how to survive, and entering basically a whole new world. The Mysteries of Cove is a very different way to look at our world and it's problems. My favorite characters (since I couldn’t choose one) have to be Clyde, Plucky, or Alex. Clyde is one of my favorites because he is almost just like me, he likes to draw and he doesn’t like it when the air is tense. Plucky is one of my favorites because she is just so weird. She makes this book hard to hate. Alex is in my list of favorites because he has that big brother feeling since he just wants the rest of the Runt Patrol to get out. He honestly just wants to get out of San Francisco with his friends since they’re next closest thing to him. My favorite quote is by a sneaking version of Plucky. She snuck in while Alex and Trenton were talking about the submarine and how they were going to build it. She just walked up behind them and said, “Looks plummy. When do we start building it, yeah yeah?” I like this quote because it is one of the funniest moments to me in the book. A major theme in this book has to be trust because there are so many people breaking, repairing, or holding tight to the trust of others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2017
This book is the perfect ending to a very fun trilogy! It's perfect for middle grade and YA readers (and their moms too!) The characters are well written and developed. Trenton is such a great character. I love his humility, his creativity, and his ability to think and act appropriately under pressure. He has his flaws, he's not perfect, but that's one thing I like about his character. Kallista is a great character as well. She's a little more complex than Trenton is, and may be strong-willed, but I love her ingenuity, her work ethic, and I love that she's a strong female character. The descriptions in the book are excellent, especially those of the white dragon; you can feel the evil dripping off him. It's so great that the kids need to use their brains and their skills to solve their problems. I like that they have to work together; all these lessons are great-and the readers don't notice that they're learning life lessons in the midst of a fun story! I highly recommend this book and series! It's a little more violent than the first two; there is more fighting and a character dies, but there's no profanity or "intimacy." I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. You may read my full review on my book blog: www.the-readathon.blogspot.com.
June 17, 2019
After their battle at Seattle, Trenton, Kallista and their friends, Plucky, Simoni, Angus, and Clyde are flying about destroying real dragons using their mechanical dragons. When one mission goes wrong, however, they find themselves lost in the fog. There, they discover the remains of San Francisco, and a new breed of dragon. The city is filled with humans happily serving their dragon overlords. They set out to free the people, only to end up trapped. While the friends are sent to work, learning their ways about the city, they secretly try to figure out what is going on and how to stop the dragons. What is the mystery behind this city that still exists? Can the group of friends overthrow the dragons?
Action-packed, adventure-filled, this fantasy will not disappoint fans of the series. The characters are likable and intriguing, the plot easily pulls the reader into the story with its plot twists. Fans of dragons, adventure, and mystery will enjoy reading this book.
Please Note: A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own.
For more book reviews, recommendations, and online librarian advice, please visit us at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK3v...
Action-packed, adventure-filled, this fantasy will not disappoint fans of the series. The characters are likable and intriguing, the plot easily pulls the reader into the story with its plot twists. Fans of dragons, adventure, and mystery will enjoy reading this book.
Please Note: A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are our own.
For more book reviews, recommendations, and online librarian advice, please visit us at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK3v...
November 29, 2017
Trenton and his friend Kallista live in an city on the top of a mountain. They made a steampunk dragon to find Kallista's dad Named Leo Babbage in a world that dragons exist. In this book they found a new city called San Francisco, and they think that Leo Babbage is in that city. Read to see how the dragons were made and how they are going to save everyone from the power of the dragons.
A theme that I think would be good for this book is, 'you should stay close to your friends.' in this book Trenton and his friends get into trouble. because Kallista told the government how they were planing to escape. that then breaks all of the groups trust in each other. they find out that they need to trust each other.
This book is a really good book if you like steampunk, and fantasy. it has a really interesting story line. it has incredible dragons and awesome machinery. and I would prefer it to 10-14 year olds. i really liked it and hope that they are coming out with a fourth.
A theme that I think would be good for this book is, 'you should stay close to your friends.' in this book Trenton and his friends get into trouble. because Kallista told the government how they were planing to escape. that then breaks all of the groups trust in each other. they find out that they need to trust each other.
This book is a really good book if you like steampunk, and fantasy. it has a really interesting story line. it has incredible dragons and awesome machinery. and I would prefer it to 10-14 year olds. i really liked it and hope that they are coming out with a fourth.
March 5, 2018
This was a well done conclusion to the Mysteries of Cove series. Again this volume was more about a dystopian society than any sort of steampunk society. This time our heroes journey into a city run by an immense white dragon. All the humans in that city seem perfectly pleased to slave away providing the dragons with food and shelter.
Trenton and friends are eager to figure out what is going on with this new town and to find Kallista’s father once and for all. However, everyone seems to be so content in this new city that they don’t know if there really is anything wrong going on here. Eventually they do find a small group of rebellious kids to help them uncover the truth.
There are alot of wonderful fight scenes between dragons and some new and interesting inventions introduced. There are some light steampunk elements in here, but this is again mostly a dystopian novel.
Things are well wrapped up but the story does end a bit abruptly. I had some issues with how all the problems were resolved; it just seemed too unbelievable and too neat.
Overall this was an entertaining and well done middle grade dystopian trilogy. Each book introduces a new dystopian society and a new invention that the kids have to build to help them through their journeys. I would recommend to kids who enjoy adventure fantasy books.
Trenton and friends are eager to figure out what is going on with this new town and to find Kallista’s father once and for all. However, everyone seems to be so content in this new city that they don’t know if there really is anything wrong going on here. Eventually they do find a small group of rebellious kids to help them uncover the truth.
There are alot of wonderful fight scenes between dragons and some new and interesting inventions introduced. There are some light steampunk elements in here, but this is again mostly a dystopian novel.
Things are well wrapped up but the story does end a bit abruptly. I had some issues with how all the problems were resolved; it just seemed too unbelievable and too neat.
Overall this was an entertaining and well done middle grade dystopian trilogy. Each book introduces a new dystopian society and a new invention that the kids have to build to help them through their journeys. I would recommend to kids who enjoy adventure fantasy books.
June 16, 2019
This book is the Best!
I just finished book three and I can't say I didn't cry it is the Best ending I have ever read. I like that the author made probably the most hated character in the series the hero in the last battle and that the book so good that I had to beg my dad to by it. But the name reason I have this series give stars is that he made the main character so believable that I feel like I was him and that he made the emotions so true that when the character started to cry I did to and when he stated to laugh U laughed with him. On a scale from one to give U give this book and hundred!
I just finished book three and I can't say I didn't cry it is the Best ending I have ever read. I like that the author made probably the most hated character in the series the hero in the last battle and that the book so good that I had to beg my dad to by it. But the name reason I have this series give stars is that he made the main character so believable that I feel like I was him and that he made the emotions so true that when the character started to cry I did to and when he stated to laugh U laughed with him. On a scale from one to give U give this book and hundred!
November 4, 2021
Whaaaaaaaat!!!!! Angus died he was so mean and then bam throwing people off of dragons and exploding himself to save the world! Wow BEST BOOK EVER. I used to hate Angus in the first book but he like grows up and makes everyone’s life easier… his dad still sucked but that was not Angus’s fault. Leo Babbage is really quite the genius like ahhh yes I will leave the blue prints for a giant mechanical dragon, so my daughter can find a friend, defeat the evil minister of Cove, change the name back to discovery, and oh yeah defeat the dragons that our ancestors couldn’t with their Laser guns. Genius! Kudos to J. Scott Savage
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2018
1st choice book of 4th quarter
I really liked this book. It was a very good ending to the series. The story on how the dragons were created was excellent. It was super interesting how first they thought creativity was the downfall of the world, then the dragons, then back to the start. I was very sad that the series was over. I hope some short stories or a spin off is in the works. The way the story ends ties back to the start subtlety but excellently. This is definitely one of my favorite series. Would recommend.
I really liked this book. It was a very good ending to the series. The story on how the dragons were created was excellent. It was super interesting how first they thought creativity was the downfall of the world, then the dragons, then back to the start. I was very sad that the series was over. I hope some short stories or a spin off is in the works. The way the story ends ties back to the start subtlety but excellently. This is definitely one of my favorite series. Would recommend.
April 3, 2019
This was such a good series! Intense and full of mystery to the very end! I think the author did a great job bringing his characters and his world to life, and the ending was very satisfactory to me. I only wish I had gotten to see more of the Runt Patrol, especially in the climax of the book. But besides that, I loved everything. And, to be honest, I think the fact that my only complaint is that I wanted to experience more of the characters is a credit to the author. If the characters weren't interesting, I wouldn't feel that way.
I can't wait to see what J. Scott Savage does next!
I can't wait to see what J. Scott Savage does next!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews