City of Thieves (Battle Dragons #1)

An exciting, accessible romp with a hint of something deeper.

"Reckless, easily distracted, and afraid of heights," Abel, 13, is secretly glad that he failed the Dragon Rider Academy Entrance Exam, though it means he can't follow in the footsteps of his older brother Silas. But when Abel accidentally bonds with a stolen, "rare and valuable" dragon named Karak, he becomes a pawn of one of the dragon-riding criminal kins that dominate the technologically advanced city of Drakopolis, expected to train and fly on their behalf. With his implied white family--particularly rebellious older sister Lina--thoroughly entangled in a multi-faction struggle between the various kins and Drakopolis's secret police, Abel must enlist his best friend, nonbinary veterinarian-in-training Roa, as well as Karak himself, to help save them all. London (Gold Wings Rising) establishes an absorbing semifuturistic society where technology and dragons go hand-in-wing, the latter used for everything from transportation to settling gang disputes high in the sky. Abel proves a quick-witted protagonist who copes well with the constant danger and unsettling revelations that invert his world. Fast-paced and adventurous, this series starter hints at a complicated, fascinating setting while leaving plenty to be explored in subsequent installments. Ages 8-12. Agent: Robert Guinsler, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Sept.)

Gr 4-7--Drakopolis, a sprawling city in the sky, is home to humans and the dragons they keep. From the diminutive Educational Resource Dragons used for training to the huge Red-Bearded Long-Wing bus-toting dragon, dragons are part of everyday life. As are the kins, the gangs of rival dragon riders in the city who run entire neighborhoods. Abel has spent most of his life avoiding the kins, until he discovers a stolen dragon that his sister has left behind. And that's only the beginning as Abel is forced to confront the truth that his best friend Rao (they/them), his favorite teacher, and his sister are all kinners. To complicate matters, they are not all in the same kin; all of them are squarely on the opposite side of Abel's brother, an enforcer of the law with the Dragon's Eye (the police); and no one seems to be on the side of the dragons with Abel. The climatic kin battle at the end will have readers in suspense as Abel fights for the future of his dragon. This title is well paced and thoughtfully written. Most of the characters are white, or presumed white, and Abel's father is portrayed as living with a chronic illness. VERDICT Rich world-building, a complex main character, and plenty of suspense make this a solid purchase where action-packed fantasy is popular.--Jessica Caron, Bancroft Sch., MA

"A rip-roaring loop-de-loop of action and adventure, Battle Dragons will keep readers at the edge of their seat as they cheer on Abel and his friends." - Kwame Mbalia, author of the Tristan Strong series