Dragon Rising

Dragon Realm #4

by Katie Tsang, Kevin Tsang

Billy, Dylan, Charlotte and Ling-Fei are back in their hometowns, missing each other and their dragons. While out surfing one morning, Billy panics when a water dragon emerges out of the waves, and soon strange sightings are being spotted all over the world. Meeting back in Dragon Realm, the friends, their dragons and two new acquaintances join forces to investigate. But what unravels is a dastardly plan concocted by an evil baddie and a human and dragon battle that will go down in history. It’s up to Billy and friends to save the world, but can they do it?

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Middle Grade, Fiction, Adventure, Childrens

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2022

Reviews

[Tammie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read- April 2022 for Realmathon and Magical Readathon
- Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy this series but a part of me just wants it to end.

[Arrash Mazdai · Rating 2 out of 5]

New Words Learnt - 0

I have the same feeling towards this as I do towards the rest of the series, mainly the first one more perhaps. The story doesn't hesitate to get dark in places, being more suited to maybe an 11-14yo age range which I appreciate. However, the writing, dialogue, world-building and exposition all feels less even than a 8-11yo range and more like a 5-8yo book. It is not a good mash. Basically, if it wasn't for the dragons and the darker story plot points, I would not have stayed this long with the series. Also the villain is like the weakest, most generic, one-sided villain I've ever come across, and for that matter, TURBO is just a pathetic excuse for a plot device (you'll know if you've read the book). And don't get me started on the McGuffin. Possibly the weakest of the four so far.

[Lloyd Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really solid follow on from the original trilogy events! I wasn’t aware there was going to be a 4th (or 5th and 6th) book as I felt the trilogy ended really strongly, and I was unsure how it would go. I don’t think it had the thrill and excitement that the 3rd book had, and I wasn’t overly convinced by the new characters, but that being said it was still very enjoyable! I think it felt a little short of adventure, and wrapped up abit too quickly, but It didn’t feel like a forced sequel, which can only be a good thing!
.
A lower 4 stars for me, but a 4 star all the same.

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

My child likes it. I find it repetitive.
Also - how many characters are you adding into this? I'm running out of different voices to read this in now. Stop.

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

DRAGON RISING is the fourth book in the Dragon Realm series, and the start of a new arc. It is another action packed entry, full of magical worlds, danger, and incredible places. There's a new threat to the dragon and human worlds as strange things happens - dragon sightings in the human world and vanishing landscapes in the dragon.

There are some classic fantasy tropes that I love but are rarely seen these days (or at least it feels that way.) The one that had me squealing (and in a coffee shop just to maximise how many confused stares I got!) was the fact there is a magical sword complete with riddle-bound instructions. The constraints on and the consequences of using the sword works so well within the book.

We get to meet new characters (as well as returning to old favourites.) We have two new humans, Lola, a Hawaiian-Chinese surfer, and Jordan, a Brit and son of a scientist. The injection of new humans was another great way of making this entry feel like the start of a new adventure, rather than a repeat of the previous. Plus the reveal of which dragons they bonded with? I was so surprised (in the best way!)

I have yelled about this on twitter and to friends but the opening to chapter 22? BRILLIANT. It is a masterclass in creating tension while also setting the scene in barely any words (17 to be precise!) It's so succinct and yet that works so well by immediately putting you on edge with the incongruous images presented.

The ending sets up a very interesting premise for the next (and final!!) book in the series, DRAGON DESTINY. Roll on September.

[erebus K Rushworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fourth book of the Dragon Realm series paints-in the backstory so that readers can pick up this episode without having to have read the others first. Our core cast is made yet more diverse by the inclusion of Billy's new neighbour, Lola (a Hawaiian-Chinese surfer) and Jordan (a dark skinned British kid looking for a missing scientist, who also happens to be Jordan's Mum).

Billy is no newbie when it comes to portals, but something is clearly wrong when he finds a giant dragon in the sea near his home in the Human Realm. In a plot that has some key similarities to "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman our heroes work together to thwart the callous deeds of a person who finds an ancient and powerful artifact that should not be used by human beings. This may have consequences that permanently change life in both Realms.

This is a cool adventure for young readers, and as the series continues there is some continuity in the whimsy that rules the magical happenings, that helps hold the whole thing together. I'm quite pleased with how this one played out.

[Tarsila Krüse · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fourth book in the Dragon Realm series we see the introduction of new characters, places and powerful artefacts. And of course, when power comes along so does evil… The barrier between the realms is becoming thinner and the future is most certainly uncertain.

While the writing style and plot are great, this particular book used a lot of its premium space explaining what happened in previous books and took a long time to get to the core its problem. Unlike Dragon Mountain, Dragon Legend and Dragon City, the story unfolded much much faster in the middle and the end, although with some new flavour and a sneak peek to what’s ahead, happened too quickly. It seems that Dragon Rising was a later addition to the series, which so far have felt like a neat trilogy. In turn, the new characters and world building are exciting and we are very much looking forward to reading Dragon Destiny soon. We hope that the plot will thicken and that we understand better what is ahead for our young Dragon expert heroes.

[Chiara · Rating 2 out of 5]

In my opinion, this is where the series went wrong.

Mountain- Legend- City made up a great trilogy, complete with an overarching storyline which tied up nicely in Book 3, constantly rising stakes, and the conclusion of Spark’s gripping arc. Book 4 has none of those things.

Instead, it’s saturated with new main characters who are practically two-dimensional, a completely disjointed storyline which feels thematically out of place after so much fantasy influence in Books 1-3, and the worst villain (forgettable, cheesy, unthreatening) I’ve seen in a middle-grade book in a long time.

That isn’t to say it’s universally terrible. Xing, as always, steals any scene you see her in. Everything carried over from the first three books keeps being amazing. It’s the new direction and tone of what seemed to be a completed series which really threw me.

[LJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The sea dragon threw back her tremendous head and laughed, showing rows and rows of jagged yellow teeth. Billy gulped.'

An exciting new Dragon Realm adventure with intrigue from the first page! In this book, the Dragon and Human Realms are colliding like never before... can Billy (what a hero), Spark and their friends save both worlds?

We meet new characters, as well as the dragons, humans and tiny flying pig we know and love. The story is pacey and packed full of surprises! And with dragons now appearing in the Human Realm, surely nothing will be the same again...

[Caitlyn River · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whilst I have enjoyed the series so far, I felt that this book relied to much in referencing back on the first three novels as though they assumed readers have just picked up book 4 as a stand alone novel. Too much time was spent going over former topics and points that it kept taking away from this novels own storyline. This was a good novel, but it could have been better if they put more focus into it and not the preceding instalments of the series.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well that was a ride a minute! New friends, new foes, a whole load of action packed goodness and some incredible messages about kindness and looking after our world! These Dragon books just keep shining! Billy and his crew are back to save the world and each other but not before they have to contend with a mysterious sword and some MASSIVE dragon problems. I missed these guys!!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another thrilling adventure with familiar faces and new friends! Jam packed with twists and turns from shaft to finish. The dragon and human realms colliding was super exciting - can’t wait to see how this new world will pan out!

[The Endless Unread · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book. I loved all the dragons and the inclusion of the new characters. I was a bit worried of the crossover between the worlds but thankfully it was unfounded. Still amazing storyline.

[Orla Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because it gave you a re cap of all the other books and because it was so cool the way the sword name was made up.
I also liked that frank, turbo and super villian were cool because there was so much chaos when Frank was around. Riley age 8 😊🤩😎

[Worm of the Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best one yet! I am so happy that Jordan and Lola are on the scene. As well as Jordan mum. I live little Midnight Moon. I wish she was my dragon. Can’t wait to read the next one.

[Worm of the Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. The best one yet and it had me on the edge of my seat wanting more.

[_bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Defending Enya 🐉💙

[Sean Harding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tsang Songs #4
Dragon Realm #4
Another action packed book in the series, which to be honest has never really grabbed me totally, but it is entertaining enough and has some good moments in it.
Book five beckons to complete the series.

[Viktor Zlatev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book 📖!

[Laura Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son and I have really enjoyed this book. I read it to him at bedtime. He’s very engaged with the characters and loves the dragons :)

[Roland Richter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the fact that this book has some scenarios that I have personally gone through with the riders.

[Susanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down.

The first three were amazing. I'm glad there's more in the series, but this instalment was pretty meh. I'll still read the last one.

[Gemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 stars

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Claire ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

DRAGON RISING is a high-octane, roarsome adventure.

Billy Chan has returned to California for the rest of his summer holiday, expecting to go back to normality... until dragons start appearing in his world, and only he and his friends can stop it.

DRAGON RISING is so much fun. Billy returns to California, slightly lost and isolated after departing from his dragon Spark and his international friends Dylan, Charlotte and Ling-Fei, but of course this doesn't last when a dragon emerges from the waves near his home. Shenanigans ensue in a high-octane, high-stakes, action-packed adventure jammed between interesting new lore of the dragon world and the message of friendship and family.

As Billy and his friends re-group to unravel the mystery of the blending of worlds, they make two new friends in Lola, another American girl and Billy's new neighbour, and Jordan, a British boy who has his own set of problems. The new characters are great, and they freshened up the friendship group and prevented the dynamic from going stale. I also loved the return of some of the side character dragons from the previous books.

If anything I think the villain came out of nowhere; I would've preferred a more organic build-up rather than what we got. But very much reminiscent of the DRAGON LEGEND ending, everything changes for Billy and his friends, and I was shocked at how it ended!

Another fantastic book in the DRAGON REALM series.

WILL I READ ON? Of course!

eARC received from Simon and Schuster UK Children's via NetGalley in an exchange for an honest review. This title releases on the 16th March 2022.

LAST REVIEW

1: DRAGON MOUNTAIN ★★★★★
2: DRAGON LEGEND ★★★★★
3: DRAGON CITY ★★★★☆
5: DRAGON DESTINY ★★★★☆

1: INFINITY'S SECRET ★★★☆☆
2: DEVOURER'S ATTACK ★★★★☆

By Katherine Webber:
WING JONES ★★★★☆
ONLY LOVE CAN BREAK YOUR HEART ★★★★☆
TWIN CROWNS ★★★☆☆

[Amy (Golden Books Girl) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this, the fourth book in the Dragon Realm series, with Izzy and Sophie, and it was great to see the characters taking on a new adventure. After defeating the Dragon of Death in the last book, everyone has returned home, but when Billy sees a mysterious sea dragon while surfing, he gets the gang back together to save the world once again. The four main characters are all wonderful, both individually and when they come together as a team with their incredible powers, their dragons are obviously super cool, and the new additions of Lola and Jordan were fantastic too; I loved seeing them find their heart bond dragons, though no spoilers as to who they are, of course!). I’m very intrigued to see what happens next, in the series’s final book Dragon Destiny, particularly after the epic climax of this one.

[Suzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! so good 😍😍😍