In an alternate reality, 5,000 years in the future, the evil Dragon of Death has become ruler of Dragon City. Humans now live to serve the dragon population and it’s no different for Billy Chan and his friends. After losing contact with their own dragons, they’re determined to track them down in this new city, even if it means putting their own lives at risk. But one dragon has turned to the dark side and has no plans to return. With the help of a new clan of dragon friends, can Billy, Dylan, Charlotte and Ling-Fei undo the Dragon of Death’s villainous work or will she triumph eternally?
I did a spoiler-free reading vlog for this book along with 3 other anticipated middle grade upcoming releases, which you can watch on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/2bwv9CRwM4w
Three books in now, and I've really enjoyed reading the books in the Dragon Realm series! This third installment actually brings the original adventure and its arcs to a close for our main quartet and their dragons, and I enjoyed it tremendously. There's just something really appealing about a middle grade adventure that balances a fun plot, imaginative details, intense action scenes, heartfelt emotional moments and solid character relationships (and banter) well. And that's definitely the case in Dragon City! I was swept up in this tale, and really hooked till the end. It ends on a definitive note, and I could probably stop here... but I'm having way too much fun and fully intend to continue reading the series.
4.5 stars, a thoroughly enjoyable and faultless book to round of the trilogy (I know there is a 4th but this definitely feels like a brilliantly linked trilogy from beginning in book one, to resolution in book 3 🙂 . I would definitely recommend this series to anybody both young and old as it really is brilliant, culturally diverse, and wonderfully written! . I really cannot fault this book in any way, it is brilliantly written and I could vividly picture the city and buildings beautifully in this third install, now based in the distant future! The story really felt like the perfect finale to the previous 2 books, and I feel very satisfied with the conclusion. Then ending did feel ever so slightly rushed and the whole series didn't quite have me jumping to give it a 5 star rating, but it definitely is more than a 4, so 4.5 is my rating
I’m reading this series with my 7yo and he’s the one who decides the ratings. I have to agree though since this book made me cry for 3 chapters straight. It properly had me in my feels. To the point where I had to stop reading because everything I was saying was just a mess of heaving sobs.
< spoiler > I was not prepared for the absolute gut wrenching loss of Spark. I really didn’t think the story was going to go that far. And I was far more traumatised by this than my son was. He took it in his stride and thought mummy was overreacting 🤣 plus that’s by no means the only twist that had me blubbing < / spoiler >
I loved the overarching story across these first three books in the series and I’m really surprised how much my son enjoyed book 3 bearing in mind how bleak it is at times. It’s a post apocalyptic end of the world with dragon overlords, and life draining farms. However my son was gripped by it all the way through. The resolutions at the end were a much needed reprieve from such a mammoth story arc and should you want to, you could stop the series at the end of book three and be happy with the ending.
We’re going to take a little break and dive back in with Dragon Rising later this month, mainly because the series as a whole has been a lot for a 7yo.
So many themes - found family, friendship, betrayal, end of the word, loss, vengeance, corruption, loyalty. Well worth a read with your kids, I think you’ll enjoy it as much as they will.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read- October 2021 - This is honestly such a fun series and I find the books so readable. They're nothing groundbreaking but they're super quick and always a pleasure to read.
Yes, I do have two Dragon Realm books in one post, as like I told you we are trying to catch up before the 5th book comes out in Sept, and Izzy joined us for this one too. This is quite a bit darker than the first couple of books, as it takes place in a frightening future world ruled by the Dragon of Death, and after the betrayal of the last book and the fact that everyone has lost their dragons, they’re feeling pretty alone and kind of hopeless. This book sees them try to find and reunite with their dragons, and also defeat the Dragon of Death again so that they can finally go home. As I said in my review of Dragon Legend above, I’m a huge fan of these characters and it was interesting to explore such a new and different world with them, as well as seeing some of them change and develop in ways I hadn’t expected. New addition Midnight is my new favourite in the whole series and I’m very much hoping she plays a prominent part in books 4 and 5, and I’m excited to see where the new arc of those takes the four friends and their wonderful dragons, my favourite of which is Buttons, if anyone’s wondering (and Dylan is my fave human too!). Roll on reading book 4!
My favourite of the series so far. The tone of the story, the atmosphere of Dragon City, the world-building were all strengths of this book, and the flaws of the previous books were less apparent. There was more show than tell, and the characters were less obnoxious, despite Billy still being stupid at times. I particularly liked the dystopian-esque setting, and its part in the story, where a bowl of noodles can be the most expensive and lucrative thing a human can buy. I will say that this could've been a nice ending for a trilogy, but there's a 4th book coming out so I don't know where the authors are going to take it from here. Unfinished business perhaps? Still waiting on a map so it could be that.
DRAGON-O-METER: Yes, it's the one you've been waiting for. We're finally going to take a look at the Dragon of Death.
Size - I can't get an accurate size description of her, partially because I am exhausted, but I'm presuming she's quite big, larger than the rest. This is mostly due to the life force she has been harvesting for herself. (9/10)
Personality - She certainly has the personality of a dragon alright, especially an evil one that shows no mercy and relies on deceit and lies as well as manipulation. (9/10)
Appearance - From the covers and descriptions, she pretty much is the standard dragon type. Point taken off for the evil purple gas seeping from her. (9/10)
Intelligence - Very. Apart from one or two moments where it is clouded by her arrogance. And greed. (9/10)
Power - Again, very powerful. Not only is she bonded with a human, but her sheer size is one thing, and her ability to harvest other beings life force to feed herself is another. Yet even with these and the fact she has had an Immortality Peach, she is still vulnerable to certain other dragons, so with that in mind... (8/10)
My approval - I approve of the Dragon of Death being a mighty and worthy dragon antagonist. I personally do not like the whole life force thing, but I will accept it. Other than that, this is one dragon you do not want to find yourself in their bad books. (9/10)
“Градът на драконите” е трета книга от поредицата “Царството на драконите” от Кейти и Кевин Цанг. Поредицата я издава “Таралеж”, а цялата се състои от общо 5 книги.
В “Планината на драконите” четири деца са част от образователен лагер в Китай и любопитството им ги отвежда в една планина, където откриват четири дракона. Съдбата си знае работата и децата се свързват в свещен съюз с драконите, за да спасят света от Дракона на смъртта.
Във втората книга, “Легендата за драконите”, техните приключения продължават и борбата им срещу Дракона на смъртта е усилена, но злото има много проявления и едно жестоко предателство прекратява борбата им.
Сега, в “Градът на драконите”, Били, Дилън, Шарлот и Лин-Фей трябва да се изправят пред последствията от това предателство в един свят, който няма много общо с техния… защото е управляван от дракони. Драконът на смъртта е успяла да превземе всичко и да управлява еднолично. Децата са сами, обградени от врагове. Драконите им са заловени и затворени незнайно къде. Единствено нишките, които ги свързват, им подсказват, че все още са живи.
Четиримата приятели ще опитат да направят и невъзможното, за да променят това черно бъдеще и да освободят драконите си. Оказва се, че не всички около тях са врагове и дори, че могат да открият приятели на неочаквани места. Ценни приятели, които ще се окажат от ключово значение, за да успеят да върнат познатия свят и да преборят жестокия дракон.
Дали ще успеят и каква цена ще трябва да платят, оставям на читателите сами да разберат.
За себе си мога да кажа, че тази част до момента ми беше най-интересна и към края истински се вълнувах за съдбата на героите.
Поредицата е подходяща за деца над 8 години, според техните интереси и читателски възможности, и определено бих я препоръчала на любителите на приключенията!
Защото в тези книги има много екшън, много опасности, много неочаквани моменти, обрати, геройства и предателства.
*** Всички мои ревюта можете да прочетете в блога Catwolf's Writings.
This is the 3rd book in the series and it deals with a dark future that ensues after the events of book 2. The Dragon of Death has devoured all the life force from the combined Human and Dragon Realms, except for one city in which dragons rule and humans are subjugated.
Billy has to come to terms with the betrayal of his heart-bonded dragon, whose actions brought about the current time-line. The dragon companions are missing and our human heroes have to struggle to survive and find out where their partners are imprisoned. As the story unfolds we solve some puzzles, are introduced to some new friends, and re-encounter some old ones. Themes of trust, betrayal and redemption run strongly through the narrative.
As this story is told from a Chinese viewpoint, it amused me that in the early recap sections of the book, Billy is described as having a Californian accent, Charlotte has a Southern American accent (from Georgia), Dylan has has an Irish accent, but Ling-Fei's accent is not mentioned. I don't even know if it's deliberate but it amused me, though it probably has more to do with a Western audience not generally being able to recognise any difference in accents from different parts of China (or even East Asia).
These stories always have an element of whimsy in the the design. Previously it was peaches that grant immortal life, and an invisible sea that is flavoured with lemons. In this book we have a house designed as a magical marble orb - ok - a big marble... marble (lol) that lets friends in, but stays hermetically sealed against intruders. Our intrepid (well - mostly intrepid and occasionally terrified) friends are still attended by their (snitch-like) flying, golden, pig companion. OK.. I'll admit that every good magical story needs a Pokémon side-kick.
I find the story an easy read, but not incredibly engaging. Also not offensive. Much more appealing for younger readers. Solid, middling - 3 stars.
DRAGON CITY is the shortest instalment so far, but manages to pack the most in. There is a competition, new allies to make - and old foes to meet again - plus a whole new world to explore. And throughout, Billy has to cope with loss, hope, and suspicion. There's also a lot to catch up on after the massive cliff-hanger ending of the previous book. It's all included without fuss of confusion, sucking you into the world and all its danger.
The Tsangs flex their "be cruel to characters" muscles in this book, putting Billy and his friends through a nightmarish future where they have to face down the Dragon of Death without the help of their own dragons. Even worse, Spark (Billy's dragon) betrayed them to create the future, and is working on the side of the Dragon of Death.
There is a set of chapters in particular that have the sort of character cruelty you'd expect in YA, but not in MG - it's not violence against them, but deep emotional pain. It's so well done, even making me doubt the "this is MG, surely it will be alright in the end" belief I have.
There's a new magic system introduced towards the end, which should be a lot of fun to play with further in the coming books. It's crucial to the final battle and one other major event (which allows the finale to happen), but there feels like so much more to come from the magic!
When these books were first acquired by publishers, only three books were sold, which explains why DRAGON LEGEND did not feel like the typical end of a second book in a series at least five long. Despite two more books to come, this book really does feel like a trilogy ender, with things well wrapped up. There is space for more adventures - and I can't wait for them - but DRAGON CITY does have that sense of thematic closure after the world has been saved.
Light and darkness clash to create the perfect setting for this exciting fantasy and a wonderful group of heroes to root for.
I did read the first to books in this series and do recommend reading this as a series, since the tales and characters build on each other. That said this is probably the most exciting book in the bunch. The adventure from book two continues, but this time the group of friends finds themselves in the future. There's danger lurking everywhere, difficult situations to overcome, and dragons to be found. The pacing remains quick through-out and the tension remains high. There are even a few chapters, where the tension shoots into the extreme (reminding of a young adult more) and makes the reader wonder if everything truly will turn out okay. And I did find this well done as well as still age appropriate.
Friendship, treachery, and determination as well as the ever-shining light of hope make this an inspiring read, while keep it more than a little intriguing. The characters are a great bunch, and even non-dragon friends will enjoy the twists and turn. The ending rounds everything off nicely, but thanks to a newly signed contract, this will shoot past the originally planned trilogy. In other words, it appears there is more goodness yet to come. I received an ARC and enjoyed the adventure quite a bit.
Billy Chan, Ling-Fei, Charlotte and Dylan did not know about the challenges and difficulties they were about to face.
The Dragon of Death took control of the whole world and ruled on it. Billy Chan, Ling-Fei, Charlotte and Dylan's dragons were in control of The Dragon of Death and had no way to escape, therefore their heartbonded humans traveled 5000 year ahead in the future to track their dragons. The four of them fought intensively and faced challenges together against The Dragon of Death to get their dragons back. Furthermost they met a dragon named Midnight who helped them defeat The Dragon of Death with her distinctive powers. Eventually they found there dragons and realized they were never on The Dragon of Death's side instead they were always waiting for them to reunite again.
My favourite character in this book is Ling-Fei because she had an extraordinary power of dark magic. I would rate this five stars and reccommend this book to fantasy book lovers. This novel is filled with fantasy, heartfelt relationship between the dragons and their bonded humans and severe actions scenes. I enjoyed it tremendously!
The third instalment of the Dragon Realm series takes the readers to Dragon City and the future envisioned and chosen by The Dragon of Death. In Dragon City humans work to serve dragons and there’s nothing beyond the city and the tower, only the void. Run by the nox-wings and nox-hands, dragons or humans who do not comply are sent to the factories or the farms and have their life forces taken from them. What will Billy, Charlotte, Ling-Fei and Dylan do? Will they find their dragons? And why does everyone fear Death’s Shadow? An adventure-packed book with incredible world building and wonderful storytelling!
Highly recommended for children 8-12 (but make sure to read Dragon Mountain and Dragon Legend first!)
I loved the first book in the series, and this is a great choice for middle school libraries where dragon books area popular. I also like that fact that it's not a hugely long book, so it's a good introduction to fantasy titles. I'm still not entirely sure if this is the last book in the series; Dragon Rising is out 3/17/22 in Australia, so I guess there are more adventures to be had. I struggled with reading this one myself because it felt very video game like, but this will appeal to readers who like books like Mancusi's Dragon Ops and Dawson's Minecraft: Mob Squad. Buying for my library, but had trouble understanding!
Right, I need a moment or 12. I think I cried for at least 8 chapters. This is JUST BRILLIANT. So action packed; so full of our favourite heroes; so full of hope; so much of a battle between dark and light. Being back in this land where the darkness and hunger for power has taken over and everyone is afraid, and there being just the tiniest smithereens of hope and kindness brings so much to this story. So many twists and turns, some little moments of humour. I just adore this. This gang of characters is one of the best. I just love these dragons and their humans so much.
An emotional and epic conclusion. I know there's supposed to be book 4 and 5 coming, but this felt like a true ending to the series, and possibly it was, since the contract for books 4 and 5 was only recently signed. This was the best book of the series thus far.
This book was so good! I loved the bit where spark came back it was really sad in bits but it had a nice happy ending it was very suspenseful in bits and I liked that I did not want to put this book down
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I loved this book. It was very sad in some bits but had a happy ending. The best bit was when Spark came back. I can't wait for the next book! I also liked the bit where the dragon of death was sent away. By Isabella
This one felt a lot more in-depth than the others did but in a good way. This has been my favourite so far in the series. More twists and turns and a feeling of more danger. I'm seriously looking forward to the next in the series.
Tsang Songs #3 Dragon Realm #3 More dragon adventures here and this well was an average read, fans of the series will enjoy, it was mildly diverting but nothing I would write home about, having said that I'm not sure there is many books one would write home about!!
I enjoyed this though perhaps not as much as previous books. I felt the resolution was a little too easy perhaps? But I did love a couple of the new characters we got to meet.
I continue to read this series to talk about it with a reluctant reader in my class. It’s not my scene but it’s definitely hooking boys who don’t usually enjoy books, so that’s great!
this book especially was really good somehow and I read it in a single day because I was waiting for spark to snap out of the dark magic and re-unite with billy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.