Dragon Apocalypse

Dragon Apocalypse by D.C. Green (Ford Street) PB RRP $18.99 ISBN: 9781925272680

Reviewed by Jeffery E Doherty

Dragon Apocalypse is the third book in D.C. Green's City of Monsters series. One of the quotes on the back of this book reads, “Nothing you've experienced will prepare you for this.” That is seriously true. And having not read the first two books in the series made it three times as true. In the first two chapters we meet a formidable ogre bodyguard, a harpie, a giant talking skunk and a vampire – and they are by no means even close to the strangest characters in the story. 

The heroes of this story are the Dead Gang and they have a mission to save the last Dragon, who has been poisoned and is hiding out on the Isle of Giants. They must reach the island and defeat two separate armies of monsters and cyborgs intent on the dragon’s demise. To make matters worse, the health of the dragon is linked to that of the world. So, the stakes for success are certainly high.

D.C. Green’s writing is fast paced, visual and eccentric, with a unique tapestry of slang dialogue and humour that takes some getting used to. But once you do, the story flows and the crazy-weird cast of characters come into their own. I would recommend reading the first two books in the series before attempting this book. I did end up enjoying this book much more than I thought I would. In the beginning I struggled to work out the story-line and the characters, but by midway through I had caught up and the story thundered by at a break-necked pace.

This series would suit readers from about ten years of age and up into the young adult market, especially those readers who like their stories fast and quite a bit weird.