This novel is a Lone Star 2023 novel.

Abel lives in a town controlled by different factions (called kins), so survival depends on joining or staying clear of your local group. Abel failed his dragon riding entrance exam, so he can only watch these magnificent creatures as they traverse the sky. Staying up late one night to watch the sanitation dragons burn the trash on roofs, Abel sees someone odd. This person is quickly scaling roofs. If one is out and on the roof when a sanitation dragon comes by, that someone dies. Dragons don't work around them! Right at the last moment, Abel's sister knocks on the window and barely makes it in. Abel remains stunned--what is she doing? She leaves a comic with him, telling him to keep it safe. This event sets the plot going.

Abel needs help solving the puzzle. After riding the bus--dragon bus--to school, Abel enlists his best friend to help him. His best friend uses the pronoun "they," which may take some getting used to if this is your first novel with a nonbinary character. They go to an address that Abel believes he is supposed to and finds an item that his sister stole. This item is what he is to keep safe. A dragon. Problem. His best friend belongs to a kin and told them about Abel. Now Abel "works" for a kin that is different from his sister's. Both kin claim the dragon. Meanwhile, his brother works for the "police."

What we have is a fast-paced novel with dragons, kins fighting, dragon fights, family issues, suspense, and an unexpected ending. As this novel is a book one, you'll be revisiting this crazy world. I enjoyed the novel--no romance, which is nice. The siblings were interesting, as they've all chosen such different paths and don't compromise much with mom and dad in the middle. ( )

There are all kinds of cool features to this book -- main character with ADHD, non-binary best friend, a wildly creative dragon-centered universe. I think kids and young teens will really enjoy it.

I just couldn't get into it -- I didn't buy the world building (why aren't the dragons just eating the humans? Why would the humans live with a constant threat?), I don't love the gangland set-up (feels like a superficial video-game), I'm really over the chosen-one scenario. It just didn't work for me.

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.