Illustrated by George Ermos
Published by Usborne
Alex Neptune: Dragon Champion is the final book in this action-packed, exciting and fun series – and what a way to wrap up!
The pirate Brineblood has been resurrected and is intent on regaining his full strength by stealing sea magic. Alex and his friends, Zoey and Anil, are determined to prevent him regaining his full magical strength and give chase following a sighting, but their nemesis is always one step ahead and disappears beneath the waves in his ship before they can thwart him. When they discover what he needs to regain his strength, they set a trap, but instead Alex loses his sea magic …
With his strength restored, Brineblood has one aim. He intends to steal all the remaining sea magic and use it to raise a terrifying monster from the deepest depths of the ocean.
He intends that this monster will destroy Haven Bay, the last magical place of power, before flooding the entire world, leaving Brineblood to rule over a watery kingdom.
Determined to do everything in their power to defeat Brineblood, the three friends follow him into the depths of the ocean in their home-made submarine … can they stop a tyrannical pirate from raising a monster? Can they save their home from destruction? And, can Alex still lead his friends to victory, despite losing his sea magic?
I absolutely loved being back with Alex and his friends for this final thrilling, perilous, page-turning adventure. There are definitely some terrifying moments as the stakes are raised ever higher as Brineblood gets closer and closer to achieving his ultimate goal. He always seems to be one step ahead with his zombie crabs at his command and the friends fighting to find a way to finally defeat him. I’m so glad there are humorous moments to release the tension caused by the dangerous, scary situations faced by the friends.
Alex, Zoey and Anil have such a strong, supportive and humorous friendship that gives them the strength and courage to face terrifying, seemingly impossible situations. They each have different strengths but these combined make them a formidable team. Even though Alex has lost his sea magic, he is still a pivotal part of the trio showing wonderful leadership skills and an ability to bring people together. I really liked the sense of community in Haven Bay and how the people – both family, neighbours and friends – came together to fight for their home.
Whilst being an exciting fantasy adventure, this story also conveys a timely environmental message relating to the disastrous effects of climate change and pollution and the importance of living sustainably. There is also a fascinating ‘Ocean Facts’ section at the end of the story.
A fantastic finale to an exhilarating, action-packed and humorous series – perfect for young adventurers of 9+.
Thank you to Usborne for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
You can read my reviews of the first four books in this series by clicking on the links below.
Book Craic 