City of Secrets (Battle Dragons #3)

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.

Abel and his family have been sentenced to exile outside Drakopolis to a dragonless frontier town called Glassblower’s Gulch. This is the most time his family has been forced to spend together in a long while and the separate paths of Lena and Silas lead to many tense encounters now that they are together. However, when the dirty underbelly of the corrupt police leads to a personal tragedy, the family is brought into a harmony of purpose. This was nice to see the family align their skills and talents to seek a grand resolution that only Abel could pull off. I once again love his parents’ support as they work to help him achieve his goals. I think they are unique in that they support Abel’s dangerous decisions instead of trying to dissuade or punish him for making them.
Abel is cut off from his friends in Drakopolis as part of his punishment. He thinks he will befriend one of the few kids his age, Kayda. Kayda, on the other hand, has a dangerous secret and once she gets Abel’s help, she distances herself from him. I understand that Kayda’s family is in danger but I do not care much for her character. Abel and Silas saved her family in multiple ways and she distanced herself for most of the book and then Abel still included her as a friend. Kayda’s reactions are very realistic. Her fear for herself and her family is understandable. Most of us act like Kayda when we see a problem. We hate it, but in order to protect those we love our willingness to fight is often diminished.
Abel’s character continues to evolve as he questions the status quo and continues to push boundaries in a world full of disparity in the treatment of dragons. I applaud his willingness to question his environment and fight back against the injustices he sees. It is hard to stand up against injustice when it can lead to personal danger, but Abel is courageous enough to do it anyways. This allows him to make an amazing discovery that could change everything.
Final Verdict: This book was a powerful addition to the series as Abel gains his path forward and the momentum needed to start the real change in the treatment of dragons. His circle of family and friends has grown and I love that we get to see what has happened with Brazza and Karak since he set them free. I look forward to the next book in the series. City of Secrets would make a great discussion topic for what readers want to see changed in their world and what actions they can take to bring about a more just world for those experiencing disparities in treatment. Abel’s enthusiasm and conviction are contagious. Put these powerful themes in a world full of dragons and it is sure to be a crowd-pleaser for the Middle-Grade action lover in your life.