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Alex Neptune, Dragon Thief: Book 1

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The long-awaited return of dragon-o-meter will have a look at the Water Dragon, the star of the book's cover. Some spoilers ahead. Alex Neptune, Dragon Thief is a wonderful adventure of friendship, mystery solving, myth proving and dragon stealing! The reader gets to know the characters and their small seaside town as a mystery is investigated. Something fishy is going on, without any living fish left in their bay. The capers the characters get themselves into are funny, full of action, and a clever octopus called Kraken is an entertaining bonus. I loved it! I thought it was a rich and exciting story, with a wonderfully creative and magical blend of folklore and relatable crises. And I badly want my own water-dragon.' - LD Lapinski, author of The Strangeworlds Travel Agency Alex has always feared the sea, and he soon learns the reason why. It is all wrapped up in the history of the town and a mythical dragon. Tension builds as a rescue plan is put together and then launched. Things going wrong add to the a reader's excitement, all while an environmental string weaves through the story - The ocean environment has been spoiled for financial gain of a few. Personality - Not enough dragon personality from this one I'm afraid. It was written as a wild animal that could understand animals and protect the ocean, yet it never acted like a proper dragon, and let mercy be its downfall. (2/10)

Alex Neptune, Dragon Thief Author David Owen introduces Alex Neptune, Dragon Thief

A ship made of trash and being spearheaded by a pirate is trying to find the missing dragon's egg, and they think it's still in their town. There is a new member in their small group, one who comes bearing news of the plans of the pirate. The setting is wonderful. A decidedly strange seaside town reminiscent of Eerie on Sea, though with a charm all of its own. Much of this lies in the rich local legends, about a pirate and a dragon and their battle across the bay. It's a place full of mystery too, from lights seen in the old, abandoned aquarium to the rather sinister structure recently built on the harbour. What is poisoning the water in the bay? What is the mayor up to? Why does he have secretive guards all over the place? There's so much to delve into here. The revelations are smooth, and the pacing is well done. There are different stages and some twists to the hurdles people encounter, but overall it was highly satisfying to see how everyone fits into the bigger picture. Some of the banter veers into childishness, but given that the characters are that particular age, it is more than appropriate.

Format

In book one Alex had to combat his fear and now in book two he needs to work on his self confidence - Alex experiences a serious and nearly debilitating case of imposter syndrome. But the cast of characters from book one including his best friends Zoey and Anil, sister Bridget and Grandpa are all here to support him in his endeavours. There is so much to celebrate in this book from sprinkles of humour to the funny, quirky characters and plot. The teaching links and hooks are endless too. This would be a perfect book to explore the eco-friendly themes of marine, coastal management, reducing litter and caring for our oceans. It also carries a strong environmental message which is delivered excellently throughout the adventure. Obviously special mention has to be made of the animal characters. The otters were just adorable, the thieving seagull was very amusing, and Kraken the blue octopus was just wonderful! Alex's best friend is Zoey, a keen inventor and budding engineer. Her father runs a scrap business, but yearns to be a full-time artist. His creations are made from the scrap he collects, and Zoey fears for his artist dreams. With as much mystery and intrigue as the ocean itself, readers will be swept away by this adventure'. - Clare Povey, author of The Unexpected Tale of Bastien Bonlivre

Alex Neptune, Dragon Thief by David Owen | Goodreads

I liked how the burgeoning friendship developed with new boy Anil and the dynamic between him and Alex’s best friend Zoey. She definitely gave me Demelza vibes (or Data in Goonies) and it was interesting to see the art vs technology disagreement with her father.Alex and Zoey have been testing the water of Haven, trying to prove that it's being polluted by a new building on the seafront. Called The Station, no-one knows what goes on in there. What they are sure of, is that their vain, greedy Mayor has something to do with it. Alex Neptune follows a kid named Alex and his friends as they attempt to pull off a heist to save a magnificent, yet heavily weakened, mythical water dragon from the clutches of a vindictive poacher. However, with the ocean seemingly wanting to murder Alex with every chance it gets - literally! - things might be tougher to overcome than they seem. A tale of important heists planned by kids and the importance of protecting the ocean and the environment around you. Featuring a faded seaside town teeming with legend and danger, Alex Neptune is fun and full of heart, perfect for readers who love mysteries and heists.' - Sarah Driver, author of The Huntress trilogy I loved the way this book combined both magic and technology, to create something really interesting and unique. What Alex sees inside tears at his heart, and blows his mind in equal measure. The mythical story of Haven's beginnings are true!

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