100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ

Overnight NZ-wide delivery πŸš€ Thank you for supporting our 100% NZ-owned bookstore ❀️

Dawn of the Dragons

4.22 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 103 ratings, 31 reviews)
Brief Description
Find out if the dragon sightings are true in this thrilling, dystopian adventure story, perfect for fans of Wings of Fire and Impossible Creatures. A million years ago, temperatures dropped, and the dragons went underground to save their species. Now the Earth's temperatures are rising, meanwhile... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3400

International Supplier

This title is in-stock with overseas suppliers. While it is not available locally, we fly books in weekly from the US and UK to our Auckland warehouse for immediate dispatch.

AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 2-3 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Return to a fiery world of dragon dystopia in this high-flying prequel of New Dragon City that chronicles the beginning of the dragon apocalypse. Perfect for fans of Wings of Fire.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Find out if the dragon sightings are true in this thrilling, dystopian adventure story, perfect for fans of Wings of Fire and Impossible Creatures.

A million years ago, temperatures dropped, and the dragons went underground to save their species. Now the Earth's temperatures are rising, meanwhile the dragons are waking too...

Twelve-year-old Lucas doesn't know much about dragons, except what he's read in books and seen on TV. But when his friend's father warns him that the dragon apocalypse is near, Lucas can't shake the feeling that what he's saying may be true.

Afraid yet curious, Lucas is drawn to the sight of smoke in the nearby mountains, and there, he discovers an injured young dragon named Cinder. In spite of all known danger, Lucas rescues her to safety and is amazed to find she's not the monster he was warned to fear. Soon begins a friendship against all odds, and Lucas realizes, beyond the surface of scales and skin, they're more alike than different.

Still, every day, more dragons are appearing, towns are burning, and a simple misunderstanding has spiralled into violence and bloodshed. Will humans and dragons find a way to coexist?

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780316588164

Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 25 September 2025

Country: United States

Imprint: Little, Brown Young Readers

Audience: Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 132.0mm

Height: 192.0mm

Weight: 251g

Pages: 320

About the Author

Mari Mancusi always wanted a dragon as a pet. Unfortunately, the fire insurance premiums proved a bit too large and her house a bit too small, so she chose to write about them instead. An Emmy Award-winning former TV news producer, she now works as a full-time author, having published over thirty books. When not writing, Mari enjoys traveling, cosplaying, watching cheesy (and scary) horror movies, and playing video games. A graduate of Boston University, she lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, Jacob, and daughter. She invites you to visit her at marimancusi.com or follow her @marimancusi.

Also by Mari Mancusi

View all
  • The Official Wednesday Cookbook
    Re-create macabre meals from Nevermore Academy in the comfort of your own oh-so-normal kitchen with sixty recipes inspired by the hit series Wednesday. You are cordially invited to enter the wrought-iron gates of the Nevermore Academy to discover its darkest culinary delights. These sixty remarkable recipes from our illustrious and historic community offer something for everyone, whether you crave meat...
    Hardback
    $6500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • New Dragon City
    No one predicted the dragon apocalypse. The dragons came suddenly and decimated the world as we knew it, including New York City. Now, three years later, Noah, his hardcore survivalist father, and a ragtag group of survivors are barely scraping by in this new reality. Kids scavenge not only for materials in abandoned homes but also for leftover books at...
    Paperback
    $2099
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Dragon Ops
    One wrong move, and it's game over. Welcome to DRAGON OPS, the world's first augmented-reality video-game theme park. Set on a once-deserted island, our three beta playersβ€”classic gamer geek Ian; his adventure-seeking sister, Lily; and their too-cool-for-gaming cousin, Derekβ€”have been lucky enough to score an invite to play before the fully immersive experience opens to the public. But once inside,...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas: Sally’s Lament (Disney: A Twisted Tale #19)
    Sally has mostly loved her creepy hometown of Halloween Town. But lately, she can't help but want something more. In a place full of the frightening, you'd think living in the shadows wouldn’t feel so... isolating. She knows she could do so much more if she wasn't always stuck in the lab of her creator, Dr. Finkelstein. Soon Sally is...
    Paperback
    $2199
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Dawn of the Dragons
    The dragons are coming ... are you prepared? This thrilling, dystopian adventure story is perfect for fans of Wings of Fire and Impossible Creatures. Lucas isn’t having the best summer. While normally he’d be away at camp, this year he’s stuck home, watching over his younger neighbour Noah and mourning the death of his beloved cat. Even going outside is...
    Paperback
    $2199
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Princess of Thieves (Disney: A Twisted Tale #17)
    Returning from an extended trip abroad, Maid Marian finds that not much about her beloved England remains the same. Her best friend, Robin, has been banished; her beloved uncle, King Richard, is dead; and the village of Nottingham and its citizens have been impoverished by taxes. With the help of her lady’s maid, Lady Kluck, Marian decides to take matters...
    Paperback
    $2199
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Set in Stone (Disney: A Twisted Tale #15)
    Set in Stone (Disney: A Twisted Tale #15) explores an intriguing "what if" scenario: What if Arthur wasn’t supposed to be king? Having pulled the sword from the stone, scrawny Arthur has transformed from washing dishes to sitting on the throne at Camelot Castle. Unbeknownst to him, the scheming witch, Madam Mim, used her magic to assist Arthur in freeing...
    Paperback
    $2199
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • All is found: A Frozen Anthology (Disney)
    Just in time to celebrate the first decade of the Frozen franchise, we join Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf as they embark on new adventures through the Frozen universe with friends new and old. This wide variety of original stories will share untold tales from Anna and Elsa's childhood, memories with their parents, and mysterious creatures they encounter. These...
    Hardback
    $3199
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Polar Nights: Cast Into Darkness (Disney: Frozen)
    Polar Nights: Cast Into Darkness invites readers into the enchanting world of Arendelle, where Queen Anna has been diligently preparing for the annual Polar Nights celebration. This festive event marks the time of year when the sun does not rise within the polar circle. Accompanied by Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf, Anna reunites with her sister Elsa in the mystical Enchanted...
    Paperback
    $1899
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Dragon Ops: Dragons vs. Robots
    Now safely back at home, Ian and Lilli are free to return to normal life. Except there's a major problem: Ian keeps seeing the big bad boss dragon Atreus everywhere, and he can't tell whether it's real or in his imagination. So the internet is no longer an option. That's right. Ian, king of online gaming, is out on the...
    Paperback
    $3400
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Dangerous Secrets: The Story of Iduna and Agnarr (Disney: Frozen 2)
    Sixteen-year-old Iduna harbours a dark secret. On the surface, she is an Arendellian village girl, an aspiring inventor, and the best friend of Prince Agnarr, but she is also secretly Northuldra. As Iduna and Agnarr grow ever closer, however, friendship is no longer enough. If only falling for each other didn’t mean risking their futures. But for a chance at...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Nightmare Before Christmas: Sally's Journal (Disney: Deluxe Illustrated Guidebook)
    Are you an adventurer looking to explore the far reaches of the hinterlands? You’ve come to the right place! I am Sally, the Pumpkin Queen of Halloween Town, and I’ve compiled this journal to open new doors for youβ€”literally! Ever since my love Jack Skellington stumbled upon a grove of mysterious trees that lead to other realms, we’ve kept exploring,...
    Hardback
    Sold Out

More from Children's Books

View all
  • New Release
    Royalslinger
    K Pop Demon Hunters fans will love this! Graci Kim is back with the second book in her exciting and fantastical Slinger series where dragons and phoenixes roam the skies of Seoul; meals magically appear based on your mood; and dreams literally come to life. Praise forΒ Dreamslinger: β€œA mind-blowingly original fantasy adventureβ€”Graci Kim has done it again!”—Rick Riordan,Β New York TimesΒ #1...
    Paperback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    Detective Beans and the Map of Mystery
    Enjoy this new DETECTIVE BEANS adventure in the bestselling and award-winning graphic novel series by Li Chen! Your favourite kitten detective is back with a new mystery to solve . . . and treasure to find! When Captain Scuttlebeard gives Beans a treasure map, Beans is determined to find the prize at the end. The clues take him all over...
    By Li Chen
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2200
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Mei Mei the Bunny Mei Mei the Bunny
    New Release
    Mei Mei the Bunny
    Mei Mei the Bunny is Laufey's picture book debut about a bunny learning to believe in herself through music. Experience a heartwarming tale of self-belief in this enchanting picture book by GRAMMY Award-winning musician Laufey. Meet Mei Mei, a little bunny with a big dreamβ€”to spread joy through her music! As her debut recital at the H'Opera House draws near,...
    By Laufey
    Hardback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    Hunted: Wolf Girl 15
    Just when Wolf Girl is finally reunited with her father, he is torn away from her once more, and Gwen vows to stop at nothing to track him down. But danger is closing in: a giant snow leopard and a mysterious hooded figure are hot on their trail. As Gwen and the pack race through deep caverns to snowy peaks,...
    By Anh Do
    Paperback
    $1699
    Elsewhere:
    $1899
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    What If You Could
    From the former prime minister of New Zealand comes a guide for teens on chasing your dreams and embracing the unexpected qualities that truly make a person strong. When Jacinda Ardern became prime minister of New Zealand, she was one of the youngest people in the world leading a country. Many people thought she would never succeed β€” herself included....
    Paperback
    $2599
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    Lonasei and the Mystery of Origin Grove
    Eleven-year-old Lonasei is lonelyΒ β€” she wishes her older sister Eva Grace wasn't so mean, and that her mum Aria didn't have to work so much. But when Aria inherits her childhood home, Lonasei discovers she can enter her late Aunt Malia's paintings and experience the memories within. Through them, she discovers that her mother had another sister, Agnes, who went...
    Paperback
    $2199
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • New Release
    The Case of the Viral Video: Violet and the Velvets 3
    Violet and the Velvets can hardly believe they've come so far in the BandChamps competition with only hard work, a smidge of talent, and a whole lot of thinking outside the box. This time, they get to record their new song in a proper recording studio and star in their very own music video! But Violet is letting her perfectionism...
    Paperback
    $1600
    Elsewhere:
    $1899
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Dawn Raid: The Apology
    This sequel to Dawn Raid follows Sofia Savea’s family, 50 years later, as Sofia's grandson becomes involved in the quest for a government apology. INVERCARGILL, 2020 Wow, I thought I knew a bit about the dawn raids, but this is HUGE. It happened to my OWN family and I never knew! I had no idea that Granfia and her family...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2099
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Big Bang Bread
    New Release
    Big Bang Bread
    In this time-travel storybook and cookbook with a cosmic twist, take a journey through time and space to discover the secrets of baking! Did you know that bread is made from stardust? Board the rocket and blast off on an adventure through time and space to discover the secrets of a home-baked loaf! Big Bang Bread is a kids' time-travel...
    Paperback
    $1800
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • B is for Bird
    From award-winning artist, Lily Emo, comes a beautiful celebration of birds. Paired with a fun rhyming story, gorgeous illustrations, and fold-out pages, this book is set to be a favourite for everyone and the perfect gift. Make your way through the alphabet with this stunning book featuring a cast of familiar birds. From albatross to fantails, gannets to quail, and...
    Hardback
    $1999
    Elsewhere:
    $2499
    (1)
    Backorder
    Ships mid August
  • Signed Copy
    The Curse of the Carnivorous Cactuses
    (Sam: Nothing could be as bad as being covered in icky purple blobs ... wait, what does carnivorous mean again?) The gang is determined to defeat Glam-Evil and her nasty curses so that they can save their park and get back for Shackleton and Amelia's very first sleepover. But Glam-Evil has a few new tricks up her ultravillainous sleeve ......
    Paperback
    $1400
    Elsewhere:
    $1499
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Bluey: Rain
    On Sale
    17% off
    New Release
    Bluey: Rain
    It's raining! Bluey is trying to dam the water in the front yard, but does she need Mum's help? Join Bluey as she plays in the water when a heavy summer rain thunders over the Heeler home. Can Mum stop Bluey from dirtying the house? Featuring: A nearly wordless picture book with visual storytelling that mimics the dialogue-free episode. A...
    By Bluey
    Hardback
    $1500
    Elsewhere:
    $2100
    In Stock
    Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.