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Battle Dragons #3
City Of Secrets
In a modern mega-city built around dragons, one boy gets caught up in the world of underground dragon battles and a high-stakes gang war that could tear his family apart.
Banished from Drakopolis to a desolite frontier town, Abel and his family must face a harsh new reality: life without dragons. Far from the lights and lizards of the megacity, Abel's new home effectively bans the creatures. Anyone caught smuggling dragons are hauled away by the ruthless sheriff.
The only exceptions to this rule are the dragon rodeos, rare occasions where dragons are brought in from the city to perform for the town's mining families.
Abel has made it his mission to free mistreated dragons from captivity. Is he willing to risk everything to help the beleaguered beasts?
Banished from Drakopolis to a desolite frontier town, Abel and his family must face a harsh new reality: life without dragons. Far from the lights and lizards of the megacity, Abel's new home effectively bans the creatures. Anyone caught smuggling dragons are hauled away by the ruthless sheriff.
The only exceptions to this rule are the dragon rodeos, rare occasions where dragons are brought in from the city to perform for the town's mining families.
Abel has made it his mission to free mistreated dragons from captivity. Is he willing to risk everything to help the beleaguered beasts?
272 pages, Hardcover
First published March 7, 2023
About the author
Alex London
37 books911 followersThe Short Version:
Alex London writes books for adults (One Day The Soldiers Came: Voices of Children in War), children (Dog Tags series; An Accidental Adventure series) and teens (Proxy). At one time a journalist reporting from conflict zones and refugee camps, he is now a full time novelist living in Brooklyn, NY, where he can be found wandering the streets talking to his dog, who is the real brains of the operation.
The Long Version:
C. Alexander London grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. He's an author of nonfiction for grown-ups (under a slightly different not very secret name), books for teens (as Alex London...see above), and, younger readers. He once won a 12-gauge skeet-shooting tournament because no one else had signed up in his age group. He's a Master SCUBA diver who hasn't been diving in way too long, and, most excitingly, a fully licensed librarian. He used to know the Dewey Decimal System from memory.
He doesn't anymore.
While traveling as a journalist, he watched television in 23 countries (Burmese soap operas were the most confusing; Cuban news reports were the most dull), survived an erupting volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a hurricane on small island in the Caribbean, 4 civil wars (one of them was over by the time he got there, thankfully), and a mysterious bite on his little toe in the jungles of Thailand. The bite got infected and swollen and gross and gave him a deep mistrust of lizards, even though it probably wasn't a lizard that bit him.
Although he has had many adventures, he really does prefer curling up on the couch and watching some good television or reading a book. He enjoys danger and intrigue far more when it's happening to somebody else.
He lives in Brooklyn, NY.
See also C. Alexander London and Charles London
Alex London writes books for adults (One Day The Soldiers Came: Voices of Children in War), children (Dog Tags series; An Accidental Adventure series) and teens (Proxy). At one time a journalist reporting from conflict zones and refugee camps, he is now a full time novelist living in Brooklyn, NY, where he can be found wandering the streets talking to his dog, who is the real brains of the operation.
The Long Version:
C. Alexander London grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. He's an author of nonfiction for grown-ups (under a slightly different not very secret name), books for teens (as Alex London...see above), and, younger readers. He once won a 12-gauge skeet-shooting tournament because no one else had signed up in his age group. He's a Master SCUBA diver who hasn't been diving in way too long, and, most excitingly, a fully licensed librarian. He used to know the Dewey Decimal System from memory.
He doesn't anymore.
While traveling as a journalist, he watched television in 23 countries (Burmese soap operas were the most confusing; Cuban news reports were the most dull), survived an erupting volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a hurricane on small island in the Caribbean, 4 civil wars (one of them was over by the time he got there, thankfully), and a mysterious bite on his little toe in the jungles of Thailand. The bite got infected and swollen and gross and gave him a deep mistrust of lizards, even though it probably wasn't a lizard that bit him.
Although he has had many adventures, he really does prefer curling up on the couch and watching some good television or reading a book. He enjoys danger and intrigue far more when it's happening to somebody else.
He lives in Brooklyn, NY.
See also C. Alexander London and Charles London
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 15, 2023
3.5 Stars
dragons + realistic sibling and family dynamic + humorous but emotional writing + interesting conflict=City of Secrets (but of course I can't deny how awesome and sweet Abel's feelings for Arvin💗)
dragons + realistic sibling and family dynamic + humorous but emotional writing + interesting conflict=City of Secrets (but of course I can't deny how awesome and sweet Abel's feelings for Arvin💗)
January 11, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
The city of Drakopolis was the setting for City of Thieves and City of Speed, and Abel and his friends got into a lot of trouble with battling dragons. His sister, Lina, stole dragons for one of the kinds. While his brother, Silas, tried to uphold the law, it's not enough to keep the family to be exiled to Glassblower Gulch, a remote town that supplies the city with sand and glass. The cover story is that Silas has been made a deputy sheriff there, and even though it's not as exciting as the city, there are some advantages, like a larger apartment, and a school for Abel. Abel meets Kayda, whose moms run an artisanal art glass production facility, and who also is harboring a baby dragon! Abel gets a good look at the seedy "law enforcement" underbelly of the town when his brother visits with Deputy Manchi. He terrorizes the women, breaks their inventory, and accuses them of violating water restrictions when he is the one who turns on the water. Silas is appalled, and Abel and Kayda are able to get the dragonet, whom Kayda has named Omelette (or Omi) to safety. As fast as dragons grow, it's hard to keep Omi in the apartment, and Abel has to train her with Lina's help. The evil sheriff of the town, Skint, is not the kind of helpful and upright officer that Silas tries to be, and even runs a dragon rodeo outside town where she sends people, like Kayda's family, who cross her. During one of these rodeos, Silas is injured and carried off by a dragon! Abel and his family are devastated, and he must work with Lina to get Omi trained to deliver a message to his friends back in Drakopolis so that they can rescue Silas, overturn Skint, and ensure the safety of the dragons. There are some surprising turns, and it seems like we are not at the end of Abel's story!
Strengths: London, who also wrote the Dog Tags books, has a good feel for how to start books with a bang and fill them with exciting scenes ala John Wilson's 2004 Eviscerating Noddy essay, which still holds true. The thing that teachers and librarians will like (when dragons are not snatching people into the sky or being ridden around at high speeds) is that Abel and Silas are trying to work for justice for the people of Glassblower Gulch. Manchi and Skint are clearly bad guys, and even though Abel and Silas have had a fraught relationship because of Abel's propensity for the more illegal end of upholding justice, Abel appreciates it when Silas realizes that it's not enough to be an officer of the law if members of his own team are being unjust. Glassblower Gulch is a really interesting, Wild West setting, and it's fascinating to see what the world looks like outside the tech supported dystopia that is Drakopolis. We do see a return of Arvin, Roa, and even Jazinda, even though phones don't work out in Glassblower Gulch, so Abel spent a lot of time having to work with Lina. I'm ready for another exciting tale to find out the fate of Glassblower Gulch and to see if Abel can rejoin his friends in the city.
London even has a great continuation of Wilson's premise on excitement right in the E ARC! "Maybe that's why Omi liked these high-stakes games so much. They were dangerous, but they made your mind and body feel totally focused on the moment. There was no worrying about homework or that weird zit or whether or not your crush felt the same way or what happens after a dragon bites you in half. There was not worrying about anything at all." (Page 246 of the E ARC, so subject to change.)
Weaknesses: We don't see enough of Kayda, although it makes sense as to why this is. It also seemed a bit odd that we hear so much about Abel's ADHD, and that he thought about simile vs. metaphor in the middle of dragon fights. Young readers will just skim over this, but I feel like there was an inside joke with language arts teachers that I didn't quite understand.
What I really think: I have one eighth grade student who read nothing but Big Nate books for two years, and since reading the first Battle Dragons has gone on to read a wide range of dystopian and adventure novels! He got the first two for Christmas and preordered the third; most of my students do not buy books, so this is noteworthy! I thought that Battle Dragons was an exciting futuristic book, but it will forever have a place in my heart because of its effect on this student. Include this in your display of pulse pounding dragon adventure stories like Halbrook's Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races, the Tsang's Dragon Mountain series, King's Dragons vs. Drones, and Savage's Mysteries of Cove books.
The city of Drakopolis was the setting for City of Thieves and City of Speed, and Abel and his friends got into a lot of trouble with battling dragons. His sister, Lina, stole dragons for one of the kinds. While his brother, Silas, tried to uphold the law, it's not enough to keep the family to be exiled to Glassblower Gulch, a remote town that supplies the city with sand and glass. The cover story is that Silas has been made a deputy sheriff there, and even though it's not as exciting as the city, there are some advantages, like a larger apartment, and a school for Abel. Abel meets Kayda, whose moms run an artisanal art glass production facility, and who also is harboring a baby dragon! Abel gets a good look at the seedy "law enforcement" underbelly of the town when his brother visits with Deputy Manchi. He terrorizes the women, breaks their inventory, and accuses them of violating water restrictions when he is the one who turns on the water. Silas is appalled, and Abel and Kayda are able to get the dragonet, whom Kayda has named Omelette (or Omi) to safety. As fast as dragons grow, it's hard to keep Omi in the apartment, and Abel has to train her with Lina's help. The evil sheriff of the town, Skint, is not the kind of helpful and upright officer that Silas tries to be, and even runs a dragon rodeo outside town where she sends people, like Kayda's family, who cross her. During one of these rodeos, Silas is injured and carried off by a dragon! Abel and his family are devastated, and he must work with Lina to get Omi trained to deliver a message to his friends back in Drakopolis so that they can rescue Silas, overturn Skint, and ensure the safety of the dragons. There are some surprising turns, and it seems like we are not at the end of Abel's story!
Strengths: London, who also wrote the Dog Tags books, has a good feel for how to start books with a bang and fill them with exciting scenes ala John Wilson's 2004 Eviscerating Noddy essay, which still holds true. The thing that teachers and librarians will like (when dragons are not snatching people into the sky or being ridden around at high speeds) is that Abel and Silas are trying to work for justice for the people of Glassblower Gulch. Manchi and Skint are clearly bad guys, and even though Abel and Silas have had a fraught relationship because of Abel's propensity for the more illegal end of upholding justice, Abel appreciates it when Silas realizes that it's not enough to be an officer of the law if members of his own team are being unjust. Glassblower Gulch is a really interesting, Wild West setting, and it's fascinating to see what the world looks like outside the tech supported dystopia that is Drakopolis. We do see a return of Arvin, Roa, and even Jazinda, even though phones don't work out in Glassblower Gulch, so Abel spent a lot of time having to work with Lina. I'm ready for another exciting tale to find out the fate of Glassblower Gulch and to see if Abel can rejoin his friends in the city.
London even has a great continuation of Wilson's premise on excitement right in the E ARC! "Maybe that's why Omi liked these high-stakes games so much. They were dangerous, but they made your mind and body feel totally focused on the moment. There was no worrying about homework or that weird zit or whether or not your crush felt the same way or what happens after a dragon bites you in half. There was not worrying about anything at all." (Page 246 of the E ARC, so subject to change.)
Weaknesses: We don't see enough of Kayda, although it makes sense as to why this is. It also seemed a bit odd that we hear so much about Abel's ADHD, and that he thought about simile vs. metaphor in the middle of dragon fights. Young readers will just skim over this, but I feel like there was an inside joke with language arts teachers that I didn't quite understand.
What I really think: I have one eighth grade student who read nothing but Big Nate books for two years, and since reading the first Battle Dragons has gone on to read a wide range of dystopian and adventure novels! He got the first two for Christmas and preordered the third; most of my students do not buy books, so this is noteworthy! I thought that Battle Dragons was an exciting futuristic book, but it will forever have a place in my heart because of its effect on this student. Include this in your display of pulse pounding dragon adventure stories like Halbrook's Silver Batal and the Water Dragon Races, the Tsang's Dragon Mountain series, King's Dragons vs. Drones, and Savage's Mysteries of Cove books.
March 6, 2023
Time literally stopped while I read this. Every single book in this series is enthralling and just brings me so much joy.
February 5, 2026
I read the series in pretty close succession so here are my thoughts for the entire series.
When I read the premise of the first book, I expected to support to the rebel sister and be against the government brother, but it surprised me. I can see their loyalties and their reasonings, I can see how they hurt their family through their beliefs. I was surprised that I cared about Silas the government brother (around Book 2) and began to find Lina the rebel sister irritating.
Early on, all the characters are mean to that on kid that no one likes. and it's pretty mean. i'm glad that it's not forgotten. I'm glad he becomes relevant. It's an interesting world, where teachers will absolutely be willing to bully children because of their loyalties. what fun politics in a world of dragons. I'm glad that the MC has a core group of friends that slowly expands.
In the third book, the one other kid his age isn't terribly relevant besides providing the dragon. It may have been nice to see him develop a deeper friendship.
I would recommend the series
When I read the premise of the first book, I expected to support to the rebel sister and be against the government brother, but it surprised me. I can see their loyalties and their reasonings, I can see how they hurt their family through their beliefs. I was surprised that I cared about Silas the government brother (around Book 2) and began to find Lina the rebel sister irritating.
Early on, all the characters are mean to that on kid that no one likes. and it's pretty mean. i'm glad that it's not forgotten. I'm glad he becomes relevant. It's an interesting world, where teachers will absolutely be willing to bully children because of their loyalties. what fun politics in a world of dragons. I'm glad that the MC has a core group of friends that slowly expands.
In the third book, the one other kid his age isn't terribly relevant besides providing the dragon. It may have been nice to see him develop a deeper friendship.
I would recommend the series
January 12, 2025
Of course I loved it. How could I not when it has dragons and a great main character in Abel? Abel and his family have been banished to a frontier settlement complete with a shady Deputy and an even shadier Sheriff. Abel's family has been warned that there must be no more shenanigans or else. But, when given a chance to help a baby wyvern, how can Abel resist? In the process Silas gets eaten(?) by a candy stripe Reaper or does he? Somehow Abel manages to unite all his friends to conquer the bad guys in a battle of math problems. Who knew dragons loved math? And the best part is that Karak and Braaza made an appearance. I hope the author is hard at work on the next book.
August 30, 2023
This is such a great series! Thrilling. Adventurous. Twists and turns. I loved it.
Read
December 12, 2024read with my [then] 8yo
April 21, 2023
Okay, what an amazing third entry. I am seriously enjoying this series so much but this has to be my favorite one so far. So much happened in this book and it was wonderful. Abel and his family were exiled from Drakopolis to Glassblower's Gulch where honestly, not much is different. They are already on probation from the Sherriff and the Deputy, who are both horrible (which was no surprise). It starts off quick and with a bang and doesn't slow down. The progression of the story is so interesting, and it's hard to tell much without giving it away. The way Alex combined the first two books and made a full circle - WHY IS BOOK 4 NOT HERE YET?! But this is such a well written series and any middle grader to adult will enjoy Battle Dragons.
The progression of each character is astounding. How much they can still be themselves but learn from each book is what makes these characters so well liked. I love Abel and while he might not be book smart (as the saying goes), he is so intelligent in a way most adults aren't. Abel knows his limits and knows when to ask for help. He is so intuitive of his surroundings and I love to see how he uses it to his advantages. I also love how much his parents are involved in everything as well. There is so much character growth between all of them and I'm loving the information being taught about the dragons.
Overall, City of Secrets by Alex London was a huge success. I absolutely loved this book and flew through it. I thought this was the best entry of the series yet. It was interesting getting out of Drakopolis and seeing another city and the politics there. While not too much is different, it really starts to show this world more. The plot was intriguing and I really enjoyed the whole thing. Abel just continues to grow and the more his character develops, the more attached I get -- to all of them really! It's great to see so many themes wrapped up so nicely and also DRAGONS! I highly recommend this book to any middle grader who enjoys fantasy and dragons, and honestly to any adult as well.
The progression of each character is astounding. How much they can still be themselves but learn from each book is what makes these characters so well liked. I love Abel and while he might not be book smart (as the saying goes), he is so intelligent in a way most adults aren't. Abel knows his limits and knows when to ask for help. He is so intuitive of his surroundings and I love to see how he uses it to his advantages. I also love how much his parents are involved in everything as well. There is so much character growth between all of them and I'm loving the information being taught about the dragons.
Overall, City of Secrets by Alex London was a huge success. I absolutely loved this book and flew through it. I thought this was the best entry of the series yet. It was interesting getting out of Drakopolis and seeing another city and the politics there. While not too much is different, it really starts to show this world more. The plot was intriguing and I really enjoyed the whole thing. Abel just continues to grow and the more his character develops, the more attached I get -- to all of them really! It's great to see so many themes wrapped up so nicely and also DRAGONS! I highly recommend this book to any middle grader who enjoys fantasy and dragons, and honestly to any adult as well.
October 25, 2022
when is the book going to come out
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews