Alex Neptune, Dragon Thief: Book 1

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Power - The power to control the oceans and all that is connected to it. Bummer that some toxins managed to defeat it and distance from the ocean weakens it. Can't even take on a boat. Pathetic (4l10).

Alex Neptune: Dragon Thief by David Owen (9781474999236

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.

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 Alex Neptune, Dragon Thief is another brilliant book by David Owen. An excellent, pacey adventure story full of characters, a great plot and a myth passed down through generations of water creatures and dragons. The story is also filled with humour that will keep any class laughing and engaged. Another thing that did annoy me was that there is a certain festivity the townfolk have every year and it is central to the plot as well. The festivity itself isn't my issue, it's actually really nice world-building and immersive. The legend goes that Brineblood (a pirate) wanted to capture/kill the Water Dragon but in short fails and disappears. So, every year in August they build effigies of the pirate and models of the Water Dragon that culminate in latter reaching the safety of the water from the clutches of the pirate as they are burnt. Sounds pretty pro-Water Dragon, no? Apparently the author didn't think so, certainly not the characters, because at the end they come and defecate on this tradition by creating a 'new' tradition for the following month by saying they had been remembering a bad guy and that it should be the Water Dragon they need to be thankful for. I'M SORRY, WHAT?! Are you not the same character that has lived in this town the pass 11-12 years and should know this tradition inside out? Which part of the tradition is glorifying the pirate or demonising the dragon? Nowhere. This is a dangerous message to be portraying to children; instead of remembering the good and the bad, and having the mental capacity to differentiate and identify the two, let's just leave out the bad all together. NO. A town forgetting Brineblood would mean another character is more likely to turn out like him. It's like writing a story but then deciding not to include the villain, or writing about WW2 but leaving out Hitler entirely and just have the Allies bringing peace. Alex Neptune is his first series for younger readers, born of his love for nail-biting heists, fantastical monsters and heartfelt friendships.

Alex Neptune, Pirate Hunter by David Owen | Goodreads Alex Neptune, Pirate Hunter by David Owen | Goodreads

Night Mayor Franklefink has vanished from the Transylvanian Express - and it's up to you to solve the case! Part of the Solve Your Own Mystery seri... For as long as Alex Neptune can remember, the ocean has been trying to kill him. So he's not too happy when a bunch of sea creatures drag him to the abandoned aquarium on the hill, where an imprisoned water dragon needs his help. But how can he say no to a magical myth? Another fantastic installment in the Alex Neptune series! I loved seeing the return of all the characters from the first book, and the addition of some great new characters who we'll hopefully see more of in the future books. The number of animal companions also grew and they're all so cute. It was great to see the friendships grow, as well as Alex's powers and him learning how to use them and his full potential. I think the important messages about the environment and doing what's right within such a fun story is excellent for Children's books. I can't wait to read the next one! David Owen is better known for his YA novels, which tend to have a scifi edge. This is a younger book with a fantasy theme, so I wasn't sure when I started reading it what it would be like.There are some versions of books targeting younger audiences that appeal to people of all ages. This is one of them.

Alex Neptune, Dragon Thief by David Owen | Waterstones Alex Neptune, Dragon Thief by David Owen | Waterstones

One day, Alex is given a small octopus, found in the tunnels along the cliffs. This is surprising as most sea creatures left or died in Haven's disgusting water. This octopus isn't like anything he's researched in all things oceanic. This octopus is super smart, and leads him to the local aquarium, closed down and empty. 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 new titles – books four and five in the series – Alex Neptune, Zombie Fighter and Alex Neptune, Dragon Champion, are scheduled for publication in 2024. Sarah Stewart, senior commissioning editor acquired world rights to these two titles in a two-book deal from Ella Kahn at Diamond, Kahn & Woods.Following the success of the first book, Alex Neptune, Dragon Thief, which was selected as a Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month when it published in August 2022 in the UK, two further titles are scheduled to publish in 2023: Alex Neptune, Pirate Hunter, publishing on 2nd March, and Alex Neptune, Monster Avenger, out on 6th July. 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 Nepture series Usborne swept away by two more in Owen’s Alex Nepture series

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 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. 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 Honestly, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect going into this! Adorable, mischievous animals and a very (possibly overly) strong “save the ocean” message was what greeted me, and what a fun, chill read it was!

I had an absolute blast with this book, all the characters are a lot of fun, with their own quirks they bring to the story. I adored the animals used in this story, otters, seagulls, octopi, and other marine animals were included, and of course the wonderful water dragon featured on the cover. The story is great to, well written, with a wonderful legend entangled within. The sea hates Alex, but why? Is it his imagination or is there a reason his family have told him to stay away from water?