DragonSpell (DragonKeeper Chronicles, #1) by Donita K. Paul

DragonSpell (DragonKeeper Chronicles, #1) Reviews

• 
  drowningmermaid

  This is a-- pretty bad book, and not worth reading at all unless you're a Christian.
  
  Basically, it's Dragonlance + Evangelical worldview - ANY in-group tension. (That would be, take away Raistlin Majere and make Tanis not a half-elf. Instead, give all the uber-nice NPCs in "Dragons of Autumn Twilight" their own book.) It's the Dragonlance that the Bible Belt can put its seal of approval on. (And they did, if you look at the awards this has won.)
  
  I guess you could argue that there's some tension regarding Kale's "growth," (e.g. having her agree immediately and completely with whatever 'lesson' the various nicety nice perfect people come and tell her, and become even more two-dimensional and Mary Sueish than ever) but if you're not reading this with an eye toward applying the didactic life lessons... well...
  
  I should note here that this is not the sort of book that I would choose to read these days. I read it at the recommend of a dear friend, a missionary, who (I am all but certain) wants to use it as a springboard to talk about Jesus.
  
  Faith becomes such an awkward topic, when one leaves a religion. Talking to old friends becomes like talking to dearly-loved former in-laws after a divorce. There is this-- subject-- that neither quite knows how to broach or if one ought to.
  
  So I've read this amateurish fantasy book for no other reason than to let a friend have a way to preach to me about something I know I don't believe. I deserve cookies.
  
  Years ago, my sister read this book, and I remember she was really put off by the "God" character's name being "Wulder." I thought she might be being a tad finicky, but it actually is really distracting to me, too. Every time they say "In Wulder's Name, Amen." or "Let me do the Will of Wulder" (which is, like, every other paragraph) I think... "Wulder? Seriously?"
  
  
  Not Elelyon or Petra or Aslan.
  
  Wulder.
  
  
  Wulder the Magnificent. Wulder the All-Powerful. Where's Wulder?
  I keep thinking of Walder Frey from Game of Thrones. And I can't stop.
  
  Also, I KNOW it's really hard to write a Jesus character. But this is one of the smuggest, most annoying Jesuses ever. He starts off with this really pat, smarmy summation of theodicy (the study of the problem of pain-- all religions have a 'problem' and Christianity's is that an omnipotent, omniscient God allows suffering). The answer, in case you were wondering, is that Wulder is only giving you these struggles so that you can better serve him as a new instrument that he is making you into. Awesome. As long as you live in the Kingdom Where Nobody Dies.
  
  Toss in some painful fantasy anachronisms (where the writer seems to forget that this is supposed to be a fantasy world), an ad-libbed plot that runs out of steam halfway through and starts filling space with sermonizing, and a horrendously anti-climactic villain (who of course we don't kill to make room for sequels) and you have one ... pretty terrible book.
  
  There are PLENTY of EXCELLENT Christian fantasy writers. Lewis and Tolkien are the most oft-cited, but see also Stephen R. Lawhead and Orson Scott Card (Mormon. Not sure if he counts.) Read them.
• 
  Allison Tebo

  Re-Read Review: Ah - I no longer had the delight of discovering a new world, but this time, I got to visit with an old friend. I accidentally ordered a rather battered copy of this book but that gave me the freedom to write in it, use highlighter and put sheaf's of paper in it. I had planned to buy a 'beauty copy' as well, but this already well-loved volume is growing on me. Having all these notes in it makes the copier dearer. As for the re-read itself - It was still amazing, enriching, beautiful and immersive. I have a few little complaints about some of the vague plotting - especially the rather confusing / lackluster false ending - but they are minor quibbles. The great sensitivity and insight that are on display in this book firmly make it not only one of my favorites, but an even rarer thing - A fiction book that teaches me more truth than most.
  
  I haven’t found a fiction book so rich with allegories since C.S. Lewis and Robert Elmer’s Trion Rising trilogy – that’s right, I compared this author to C.S. LEWIS. The highest compliment I could probably give to a writer. I literally needed a pencil to take notes—I am buying my own copy so I can underline passages. I literally gasped several times as some of the allegories and analogies unfolded. I could relate so much to Kale’s sensitivities and I almost felt like I was reading a guide book at moments—the wisdom that Kale learns is something that deeply resonated with me.
  
  Reading this book, I felt like Kale carrying the meech egg—I was carrying something substantial, beautiful, with wonders inside of it—a story that ‘quickens’ and ‘thrums’ to the touch, hatching its truths inside of me. The wonder of Wulder and Paladin gladden the readers heart. The rest of the characters are original and lovable—the dialogue is natural, the story is compelling. The world-building is phenomenal, enchanting - I was swept into another world.
  
  Like C.S. Lewis – the authoress has an amazing command of language. I saw that a lot of reviewers said that this book needed more description—but I think it is perfect. There are no unnecessary words wasted--the sentences are built with care —her word pictures are perfect—I get more imagery from one of her short paragraphs then pages of description from other authors.
  
  The pacing is perfect—I’ve been reading indie authors recently and was a little frustrated with a lot of ‘filler’, superfluous scenes, or reveals in the wrong places—but DragonSpell—flows beautifully from beginning to end with nary a hitch. The short chapters make reading this very manageable and very compelling—once I picked it up—I didn’t put it down unless I had to.
  
  Also – some squealing must follow – the baby dragons were one of the most adorable things that I have ever read and I desperately urgently want one in each pocket—please? :)
  
  This is definitely a stroke-worthy book—a book whose beauty and truth will be resonating me for a very long time.
• 
  Jaiden Phillips

  2.5
  Okay, I'm going to see if I can write a coherent review now.
  
  Language: Clean
  
  Violence: Clean
  
  Magic: There was magic. There were wizards who could move objects and create fire and water and such and even transport to one location to another. But nothing weird or above the magic content of Narnia.
  
  Okay, after discussing my thoughts with my older sister who had read this book a few years ago, she agreed with my concerns and thoughts, so I'm going to try and write this review now, tho a little differently then I normally do.
  
  Dislikes: First off, I couldn't stand the MC Kale. A) she knew nothing about the world she lived in and it was annoying to see her 'figuring out' something I'd figured out already in chapter one. B) She was clueless about everything, she would ask the same question more then five times before understanding another characters answer I found to be crystal clear the first time. And C) she didn't think she deserved anything but she got mad when people didn't call her by her name or do the thing she wanted them to do. I usually love the characters that doubt themselves and are underdogs but Kale's was taken way to far and sometimes wasn't there at all. One minute she was mad because someone called her "O'rant girl" rather then her name because she wasn't a slave anymore and wanted to be treated equal to everyone else, but other times she didn't think she deserved kindness and rejected it in the meanest way possible. Her double standards had both confused and very irritated. Overall I couldn't tolerate her.
  
  Secondly the way the author portrayed Palidin (aka Jesus) rubbed me the wrong way and left me confused. We first see Palidin swoop in on a large white dragon to save Kale and her friends, He wears golden clothes complete with a golden crown on His head. The next scene we see Him in the author explains that He takes Kale's calloused workworn hand in His perfect unblemished one. Later the author goes on to explain that Palidin (Jesus) has been on earth for hundreds of years yet He is seen as no older then 25 and is in perfect health and always seems to be calm and collected despite the circumstances. Not that any of this is wrong if He were Wulder (aka God) then it is perfectly correct, but Palidin was suppose to be a representation of Jesus and that's why it rubbed me the way it did. First off, Jesus is so special because He didn't come as a powerful king or knight to conquer armies for us, He came as a baby in human flesh to die for our sins. He became a man for us, He experienced pain, more then we will ever know, He was flawless yes, sinless and perfect but He did experienc emotions including anger at times. He suffered from sweat and labor just like any other man. He suffered for us then died for OUR sins. But Donita K. Paul represents Palidin (Jesus) as this being who walks around in golden robes and never ages or experiences pains as Kale the slave girl does. It made me furious and really confused to say the least.
  Also, when writing about Wulder (God) the author capitalizes the 'H' in He/His/Him but she uses all lower cases when perfering to Palidin as He/Him/His.
  I can't tolerate a book that represents Jesus as a Being who never ages or feels pain or experiences human experiences. Because He became flesh and suffered for us, He felt more pain then we will ever know here on earth and He died for our sins. He didn't saunter around in golden garments and send 15 year old slave girls to go fight powerful wizards.
  And lastly, I didn't like how Kale didn't know anything about Wulder but chose to follow Him because Leetu and Dar did. First off she wasn't given a choice if she wanted to serve Palidin or not. She was dragged half way across the kingdom almost dying multiple times trying to find a dragon egg for Dar and Leetu so she could go back to work at the Hall which all she wanted to do. After spending weeks of running from bad guys and wizards Kale finally meets Palidin who says she can go home now if she wants to. After she'd been dragged half way across the world did Palidin offer for her to leave. Of course she stays and continues on, still knowing close to nothing about the God she is serving.
  These things left me confused and irritated to say the least, I couldn't tolerate them. There were also too many characters to keep up with and most of them weren't important. I found myself only remembering that a character was there after he died a death I felt nothing for because I forgot they were even there.
  
  Likes: I loved the dragon part of the book. The different kind of dragons and their talents were cool and fascinating. I loved Dar, he was a dear and had wayyyy more patience with Kale then I did. I like Leetu pretty good in the beginning, but she seemed to be the only character getting hurt and after 3 near death experiences that last like five chapters of her being almost dead then being totally fine afterwards, it got old and I lost my like for her character. I also probably would have liked the easy going adventure if it wasn't for the ten chapter detours to save a character from an unnecessary capture that had nothing to do with the book.
  These are my own opinions and thoughts after discussing the book with my family and I don't expect you to agree they are just my thoughts on the book.
  (Sorry for the long review, happy Valentine's day!)
• 
  Tereasa Boren

  I would sort this book under Christian Fantasy. I have read 3 of the 4 books and each one gets better as you become more involved in the lives of the characters. I really like this book for middle school age children because it is so hard to find good wholesome books for this age anymore. My 12 years old son couldn't put these books down. Unlike Harry Potter (which I love), there is no swearing, and no terribly descriptive gore. I finished the book feeling really good about what I read.
• 
  Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library)

  An enjoyable fantasy allegory with everything you could want in a book and then some.
• 
  Melissa

  I really really wanted to like this book. I am a huge fan of Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and the Peter and the Starcatchers series. I do enjoy Young Adult/Children’s fiction occasionally. So when the opportunity arose to read Dragonspell and review this for Waterbrook Multnomah’s Blogging for Books program, I was really excited. Unfortunately, it was short lived. I just couldn’t get past the first three chapters. I really can’t put my finger on what was wrong with the book. It wasn’t the “Christian fiction” aspect as other reviewers have mentioned (this book was originally published in 2005). I think the Character and “Other World” build up was a big part of the problem. There were just too many things to try to remember. Trying to read through it was just incredibly distracting.
  
  In an effort to be fair to the book, I had my husband read it (he is an avid Fantasy/Sci-Fi reader). He was able to get a little further, but was unable to finish the book either for many of the same reasons.
  
  Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Blogging for Books book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
  
• 
  Jill Williamson

  After a lifetime of slavery, fourteen-year-old Kale is set free. She travels to The Hall in Vendela where she will receive her training as a servant. Before she can reach her destination, ogres attack her. She escapes into a cave where she finds seven small dragon eggs. When she comes back outside, she is rescued by Paladin servants. They inform her that Paladin has given her a gift, the ability to find dragon eggs, and persuade her to leave her journey to The Hall for another quest: find a missing meech dragon egg and fulfill her destiny as a dragonkeeper.
  
  Donita K. Paul crafts a wonderful adventure into an amazing fantasy world. It’s no wonder why this book won a Christy award. I found the characters marvelous, my favorites being Gymn and Metta, two dragons so tiny they often ride on Kale’s shoulders. I highly recommend his novel for boys and girls of all ages. Looking forward to book two.
  
• 
  Madisyn Carlin

  DragonSpell was one of the first fantasy books I ever read, and to this day, it remains a favorite that demands at least a yearly read.
  
  PLOT
  As always, Paul weaves an intriguing premise that captivates the reader from the first sentence. DragonSpell contains a plot that ebbs and flows with humor, danger, questing, humor, friendship, and faith. The tropes of found family and the chosen one are so well-written.
  
  WORLDBUILDING
  Paul is a master of worldbuilding. The sheer amount that went into this story is boggling, and you absorb it without ever feeling info-dumped on.
  
  CHARACTERS
  Kale, dear Kale. She's an insecure, befuddled girl you can't help but love. When you look at DragonSpell, which is basically her origin story and contemplate her character arc throughout the rest of the series, you see just how well and thoroughly Paul created Kale's character.
  
  The secondary characters are grand as well (excluding Risto; there's nothing grand about that nasty bugger). Dar is Dar--lovable, a bit pompous when it comes to his attire, and the perfect big brother figure to Kale. Bends, Ark, and the minors are all great, and Librettowit and Wizard Fen are some of my favorites.
  
  FAITH
  The faith here is subtler than in some of Paul's other works. That's not to say it is barely present, because that's false. It is assuredly there, in beautiful, rich reminders of Wulder's (God's) faithfulness and power, and how Christians can have hope because this life is not all there is. DragonSpell has received a disgusting amount of vitriol for the included faith, so let that in and of itself be a recommendation to read this book.
  
  VIOLENCE
  The usual fantasy fare: battles, wounds, fights, kidnappings, imprisonment, more battles, hornet attacks, and on. Nothing is gratuitous.
  
  CONCLUSION
  DragonSpell is marketed as a young adult work, but trust me, adults can enjoy it too. So, if you enjoy Christian fantasy with plentiful humor, danger, and faith, read DragonSpell. It will transport you into a world of adventure, quests, and best of all, dragons.
• 
  Sarah

  I'm rereading this on a whim, and, well, I'm honestly surprised by how good it is? I can barely get through some of my other favorites from my preteen years, but this one — even knowing the whole plotline, there were times I couldn't put it down. The writing quality is a little lower than I'm used to, true — in particular, the author's use of thoughts is a bit jarring. And, yes, a few things are a little cliche. But in general, out of all the books that formed the foundation of my writing and love of fantasy, this is one of the ones that holds up the best.
• 
  Randy Blackwell

  This novel is one of the most imaginative Christian fiction novels that I have read since The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. I have spoken to the author over the phone and she was very helpful, humble, and kind. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something with an intense spark of imagination with Biblical symbolism that mixes seemlessly with the story. Thank you Donita, for the wonderful read.
• 
  E.F. Buckles

  Dragonspell is a good book, but it was actually the first book I’ve read with my eyeballs this year that I struggled to get through. (I specify “read with my eyeballs” because I’m not counting the two audiobooks I listened to this year that were also difficult to get through.) It is also a book I think I would have liked better when I was younger. This is why I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5.
  
  I liked the book in general. The characters were wonderful (Dar and Fenworth were my favorites <3), the world and invented fantastical creatures were interesting, and I appreciated the allegorical elements, though they may have been a little simplistic.
  I think the main problems I had were, A) the pacing and, B) The writing itself.
  
  There are some parts that really dragged. I’m normally not one to skim when I read but I found myself skimming several parts that just went on longer than they needed to and weren’t that interesting. This was especially a problem at the very beginning of the book where I would have given up on reading it entirely were I not assured by other Goodreads members that it picks up the pace later on. It did pick up later but then it dragged again. Then it picked up again. Then it dragged again. Then there were parts that were charming, then there were partake that were boring…You get the picture.
  
  The writing itself wasn’t always the best either. Not the worst I’ve ever read, but definitely not the best. I only remember seeing one typographical error in the whole book, right at the beginning of a chapter, and the grammer was fine as well, so those were not the issues. The main problem I had with it was the flow of the writing. It wasn’t anywhere near as smooth as it could have been, especially at the beginning. Some of the places where Kale’s thoughts come into the narrative were done in a way that was clunky and disruptive as well, instead of blending in seamlessly as they should have. These things did get a little better as the story went along, though. I’ll give it that. But even then I kept thinking that another round or two of editing could have fixed so much.
  
  There was also a lot of telling instead of showing. In some cases this wasn’t a bad thing. This is a children’s book after all, so I’m sure that’s why a lot of the fighting was skimmed over in a few sentences. Sometimes however, I did feel that the “telling” made some things get passed by so quickly that it was jarring and almost confusing.
  
  The salvation of the book was definitely the charming characters and the world, all of which I found myself wanting to know more about. And the dragons. The dragons, especially the adorable baby ones like Gymn and Metta made everything better.
  
  While they will hardly be at the top of my must-read list, I do want to read the rest of the books in the series. I want to know what happens to Kale and her friends, and I think it will be very nice to see Kale growing into a more mature and strong individual.
  
  For the parents reading this, I would definitely recommend this book for younger children who like fantasy. There were a few very brief mentions of blood, but nothing was ever described graphically. It is also a bit of a theme in the story that while killing does happen and is sometimes even necessary for the protection of one’s self and others, it should never be something you enjoy and you should never just “get used to it”.
  
  For those concerned about “magic”: There are many characters in the book who have extraordinary abilities, including some who are called “wizards” but these abilities are always talents that the individual was born with, talents that we are told “Wulder” (God) created them to have. What the individual choses to do with those given talents is what makes them good or evil.
  
• 
  Maria

  I absolutely LOVED this novel! What a phenomenal read!
  I actually read this book a few years ago, and decided to reread it, and boy, was that a good decision.
  The awe and wonder of stepping into the brilliant creation of Donita Paul was not lessened at all!
  I fell in love with the main character Kale. At first, she seems a bit plain and not that spectacular, but once you discover her true character, she became so relatable for me!
  I loved many of the secondary characters too~ they were all so richly developed and charming in their own way.
  I enjoyed the author's writing style. I get that it may not be for everyone, but I thought she described everything well, and the world she has created is brilliant, fascinating and charming.
  I find it annoying how people are reading this and saying it was too 'Christian'. It's listed under Christian fiction, it's written by a Christian Fantasy author, and it won the Christy award. Of course its core themes have elements of Christianity woven into it. I think that the allegories that the author presented were well-written and thought-provoking.
  My favourite part of this novel were all the adventures that Kale and the others went on. It wasn't just one big climax then the end, but a series of delightful and fun adventures that I really enjoyed reading about.
  Overall, it is one of the best fantasy books I have read in a long time. I would recommend it if you are looking for an adventurous, clean and fun read.
• 
  Abby

  This book failed terribly. I kept thinking about just returning it (thank goodness it was from the library!), but one part finally clinched it. The author goes into a detailed list of the "seven high races" of their world and EVERY single name sounds like randomly generated gibberish. I was worried about memorizing all of the countless races when I suddenly stumbled upon the "seven low races." I can handle memorizing many new races and names, but not when they're so blatantly thrown in my face all at once. It just isn't good writing: Show, don't tell. Plus, the book was hugely preachy. I'm fine with Christian fiction (I'm a Christian myself), but I don't like it when a book sounds so strongly like a sermon.
• 
  Margaret Chind

  This book kept me giggling and curious for more. With a full combination of Dumbledore and Gandolf, with Jesus and God the Father, as well as the Fellowship of the Ring, and flashes of the Shadow of Evil plot in mind... this book is a wonderful original that is reminiscent of many wonderful things that takes you to no place like you have ever been.
  
  Kale is a simple o'rant girl who does not think too highly of herself. This is a story where Paladin comes to her in ways unimagined and shows her what she is made of, whether it is more or less than what she thought you'll have to read it and see. This book is a great adventure, literally for all ages!
• 
  Abby Burrus

  This book is a fun Christian fantasy. It says it has memorable characters, and yes it does! One of my faves is Wizard Fenworth. I really enjoyed reading it, and will continue on to the rest of the series. There's so much I could say in a review, but let's just suffice it to say that you should read it :)
  And as for whether it's safe for all ages, yes, I would say it is. I think it'd be alright for six year olds and up.
• 
  Kailey (Luminous Libro)

  I loved this book so much! The magic and dragons and quests are just perfect, but the best parts are the spiritual themes and wisdom that run through the book. There is such a depth and beauty to the writing, and I was so pleased with the echoes of Christianity!
  
  Kale is a young slave-girl who is mysteriously drawn to dragon's eggs. She is sent on a quest to retrieve a valuable egg from an evil wizard, but her mission is not as straight-forward as it seems. Although she has help along the way, Kale is sometimes unsure whether she can trust her new friends, and tensions run high as the group learns to rely on one another in sticky situations.
  
  Kale has a lot of learning to do, since she has had very little education and no experience of the outside world. She learns about new races of people similar to dwarves and giants, and she finds more power and magical ability within herself than she thought possible. Most importantly, she learns to trust in God (known as Wulder in the book) to keep her, guide her, and give her strength. She learns to pray, and accept the hardships of her quest.
  
  Kale is just a wonderful character! I wasn't immediately drawn to her in the first chapters because she repeats a lot of the same questions and has trouble trusting people, but she gets over that pretty quickly and then I warmed up to her a lot. She struggles and fights and endures through so many adventures in this book; I was really cheering her on. I love how she knows almost nothing about questing or dragons or anything in the beginning, so we get to learn about this fantasy world right along with her. She's curious and kind and brave; the perfect heroine for a dragon adventure. I just love her!
  
  The dragons in this book are so perfect! We meet baby dragons, adult dragons, evil dragons, and they are all wonderfully written. They all have different abilities and magical properties. Some minor dragons can heal, or sing, or breathe ice or fire. Every one is different, with different coloring and personalities. The dragons are just brilliant! I really connected with several of the dragon characters and grew to love them.
  
  The world building for this book is amazing! There are 7 higher races, who all have different looks and traits. Some are similar to dwarves or giants, but others are entirely original, like the race that can clothe themselves with light. Then there are the 7 lower races, which are evil creations of darkness, and they are just as gruesome and frightening as the high races are good and beautiful. Every race and every character is so original and well-rounded and interesting! I can't wait to read the rest of the books just to find out more about this rich world!
  
  The plot steals some elements from classic fantasy tales. There's the bumbling wizard who is stuck in a cave, sitting and thinking, trying to find a way through; very reminiscent of Gandalf in Moria. There's the kindly Granny Noon, an old hermit woman from the forest who gives them advice and useful gifts at the beginning of their quest; which of course, has been a fairy tale trope for centuries. There's the gatekeeper who refuses them entrance until he sees their credentials, almost exactly like the gatekeeper of the Emerald City in Oz.
  
  But there are other entirely original plot points which surprised and amazed me! There were spells and magic that were entirely new, elements that behaved in wild ways and surprised me, and especially characters who delighted me with their inexplicable abilities and powers!
  
  My only problem was that sometimes, not often, the writing would point out the obvious, and sometimes repeat things that had already been said. Other than that the writing was entrancing and exciting. The characters are brilliantly written, and I especially loved the humorous dialogue!
  
  I will definitely be reading the rest of this series soon!
• 
  Whitley Birks

  After more than a week I'm still barely halfway through. I'm throwing in the towel. The plot is not engaging thanks to a massive detour before we even get into the meat of the quest, the writing is bland and can't handle emotions so character development pops right the fuck out of nowhere and just gets summarized, and the overt religious bits are annoyingly preachy. Plus, while the worldbuilding has potential, it's not displayed well enough to get into. It's just a string of interesting details that doesn't build up to anything. "Oh, no, what's going to happen next?" "Probably some new factoid that will conveniently solve the problem will get dropped on us in the next sentence, no need to feel tense about anything."
• 
  Stargazer R. L.

  DragonSpell is a pretty good story. It took me forever to like the heroine Kale but I did by the end. Dar is great. Leetu's great. Gyme is great. :) Though the world is a medieval fantasy one, it didn't feel very medieval at times. There's lots of scientists and things I don't think belong in a medieval fantasy world. But the rest of the series I've read so far is AWESOME, so read this one so you can read them. :D
• 
  Abby

  Dragon Spell is part of an amazing book series! BBITW!!! ( best book in the world ) READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• 
  Euna

  Donita K. Paul spins this story in a world that is filled to the brim with imagination and symbolism. It is a rich, full novel with good content and a compelling story! Read it!
  
  ~Geargirl
• 
  Scopic (Silvers)

  I feel bad giving this only three stars since it was my favorite series when I was younger. But it was a fun nostalgia trip and I'll enjoy reading the next ones (:
• 
  MC

  After enjoying the first three books of author Donita K. Paul's *Dragons of Chiril* series that have been released to date, I decided to pick up and begin reading the series she previously wrote, *The Dragonkeeper Chronicles*. I discovered that the series was different, though no less enjoyable, in key ways.
  
  This series, though written before the more recent one, is chronologically *much* later, and on a different continent of the world to boot. The Paladin, chief servant and representative of Wulder (God) is different, and so is the overall feel of the book. *The Dragons of Chiril* had it's depressing or tense moments, but it was still noticeably light-hearted. Not so with this series. If the first book that is here being reviewed, *Dragonspell*, is any indication of the tone of the series overall, it will be quite a bit darker, to say the least.
  
  *Dragonspell* begins with a young o'rant girl named Kale Allerion (o'rants being one of the “seven high races” created by Wulder) on her way to a school in her country, Amara's, capital. At the school, called “the Hall”, she will learn how to master her abilities (she is not quite sure what they are yet) and use them in Paladin's service. She is fairly excited, because she has spent her whole life as a slave, and has found a dragon egg, which necessitated her being sent to the Hall. She has the chance at freedom and a better life, and is filled with eagerness to proceed.
  
  Unfortunately for Kale, things do not go quite as planned, as she is waylaid and captured by one of the “seven low races” created by the Pretender (basically the Devil, I think). The creatures are strong, but are still unable to hold onto Kale, as she first escapes from them on her own, and then when cornered again, is rescued by two others among the seven high races, a doneel and an emerlindian. These “seven low races” are stupid, greedy, and not filled with the majesty and greatness of the direct creations of Wulder. This is because of the fact that one must remember that the Pretender, though far stronger than the normal earthly creature, is equally with said creature infinitely weak and pitiful compared to Wulder.
  
  For those who wonder, yes, this is obviously representative of Christian imagery. Sort of as if there were another world that God appeared in, as C. S. Lewis would phrase it. Strangely though, this does not grate on my nerves. While the writing does not have the subtle grace that the writing that Lewis and Tolkien had, it still is a fun ride, and makes up for this lack by not even trying to *be* subtle. The unabashed effort to make clear from the outset that “this is what the author means” is one that prepared me for accepting some sections that, had Paul gone and tried to be subtle about, would have fallen flat. Indeed, the candidness and outright *obviousness* of what she is doing prepares one for the world that the author created, and makes the reader more willing to accept it.
  
  Kale finally meets her rescuers, Dar the doneel and Leetu the emerlindian. They explain to her that her talent for finding dragon eggs is needed to find the egg of a particularly powerful dragon breed called a meech. Meeches are rare as a dragon breed, and if the evil wizard Risto (the servant of Pretender) finds the egg first and hatches it under his power, he will be able to wreak havoc on the world. They must find the egg and stop him. But they are woefully weak compared to Risto. Only with Wulder's help can they succeed.
  
  I said earlier that the book is darker than the newer series. Fenworth is older and weaker, and the villains are pursuing far worse goals. They also are willing to use methods and powers that only with the help of Wulder Himself can the heroes hope to survive. While this was enjoyable to me, the tone made it seem like two different worlds. Those who, like me, starting reading the books with *The Dragons of Chiril*, and are hoping for the same type of adventures as in those books, must prepare themselves. The difference in tone and setting dismayed and interested me at the same time. Be cognizant of these, and if you don't want a slightly darker read, this is not the book for you. If you are willing to accept this difference, then you will love this work, as I did.
  
  Overall, this was a truly enjoyable book, and had lessons about real-world theological ideas. Let no one say that Paul does not tackle and try to explore “big issues” in the course of her works. In this book much more even than in the later three written so far. This is partly due to the seriousness of the story, and is a credit to it.
  
  A terrific read and Highly Recommended.
• 
  Beth

  I read DragonSpell a few years ago and really enjoyed it. I bought every book in the series and the other day I realized that I never read the last two books in the series. Somehow, in between college and everything else, the books just sat on the bottom shelf on my bookcase at home. I didn't remember a lot of the key details, so I decided to just start from the beginning.
  
  I had forgotten how charming these books are. Kale, the main character, is a former slave and very naive. I think she is supposed to be around 11 or 12 years old, but I don't think the book actually tells her age. I just picked that up from her actions/thought, etc. I loved watching the transformation she made from the beginning of the story to it's end. She gains courage and wisdom, while at the same time realizing that there will always be something new to learn.
  
  Another thing I love about this book is the adventure aspect. I'm a big sucker for quests. There are battles, landslides, dark tunnels, creepy-crawlers, fire-breathing dragons--oh, the dragons! I've always loved books about dragons, so that factors in how much I like this book.
  
  One thing that bugged me is that sometimes the older, wiser characters wouldn't take the time to answer Kale's questions. I understand that she was learning patience and all that, but, in my opinion, Kale let go of the questions a little to easily. They were big important questions that dealt with her past. If they had been addressed again at some point, it would have been more realistic. It does make me more eager to read the next book in the series, since I can't remember what happens!
  
  I also think it would be really helpful to have a list of characters/races in the back of the book. The world of the book includes 7 "high" races and 7 "low" races; it can get a little confusing with all the new names and beings. There is a glossary of sorts, but it leaves out some of the beings in the world of the book. It could be more helpful and in depth with the descriptions of each of the races.
  
  I recommend these books for young and old alike and especially those who like fantasy--entirely new worlds/peoples, dragons and quests, especially. It's Christian fantasy, but I didn't feel like it was heavy-handed or preachy at all.
• 
  Blaine

  Donita Paul's "DragonSpell" captivated my attention with its action filled plot, inspiring main character, and detailed words.
  To start, the plot was filled with action, but not very original. The entire book revolved around the main character and her journey to find the Meech dragon egg, and along the way trying to find herself and her place in the world. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but it's just getting old. What made me like Donita's book the most was the action in every chapter.
  Secondly, the main character, Kale, is truly awe inspiring, though again, highly unoriginal. She has the gift of being able to find dragon eggs, this is original. She has low self-confidence, doesn't think she's special, and doesn't really want to go on quests, these are not original character aspects. However, these are the characteristics of the main character in almost all good books.
  Lastly, I was very pleased in Paul's use of strong descriptive words. When I closed my eyes I could easily picture what was being described. For example: A young man in the prime of his life, he smiled and lowered himself to sit cross-legged beside her on the floor. In this part of the book she has awoken in a room, and the leader of the "good guys," or Paladin, has entered the room. With this description I can see him sitting down on the floor, like I'm watching a movie.
  All in all, I give it a 3/5. If you're looking for a good story book, then this is for you. If you're wanting a lesson of life book, then this isn't for you.
• 
  Bill Tillman

  The fantastic land of Amara is recovering from years of war inflicted on its citizens by outside forces–as well as from the spiritual apathy corroding the Amarans’ hearts. With Kale and her father serving as dragon keepers for Paladin, the dragon populace has exploded. It’s a peaceful, exciting time of rebuilding. And yet, an insidious, unseen evil lurks just beneath the surface of the idyllic countryside.
  
  Truth has never been more important, nor so difficult to discern.
  
  As Kale and her father are busy hatching, bonding, and releasing the younger generation of dragons as helpers throughout the kingdom, the light wizard has little time to develop her skills. Her husband, Sir Bardon–despite physical limitations resulting from his bout with the stakes disease–has become a leader, serving on the governing board under Paladin. When Kale and Bardon set aside their daily responsibilities to join meech dragons Regidor and Gilda on a quest to find a hidden meech colony, they encounter sinister forces. Their world is under attack by a secret enemy… can they overcome the ominous peril they can’t even see?
  
  Prepare to experience breathtaking adventure and mind-blowing fantasy as never before in this dazzling, beautifully-crafted conclusion to Donita K. Paul’s popular DragonKeeper Chronicles fantasy series.
• 
  Storm

  Dragonspell is a glorious masterpiece. Beautiful and magical, it is one of those books that touches close to the heart. I have read it more than once and I cannot tell you how much it has influenced me. It is the epitome of Christian fantasy, with the characters who become your best friend, the beautiful descriptions of the world, and the Christian elements woven in it. Mrs. Paul did the most wonderful job of writing a book with Christian lessons, but yet still keeping to the fantasy realm. I HIGHLY recommend that you read this book; you will not be disappointed.
• 
  Alyssa

  Neat book of adventure, danger, and friendship. Character developement was excellent; you very quickly developed a sense of who they where and their personalities. Story line was nicely paced, not too fast like some, and had lots of action followed by short "breaks" which was really nice. I loved the dragons and their antics, which made me smile as I read. I can't wait to read the next book for which I have high expectations.
• 
  Kit

  The thing I like the most about this book even though I'm not very far in it, is the chapters are two to three pages long each. So when I want to do a quick read at night before bed, a cinch, or while I'm cooking lunch, a cinch. I hate it when you are in the middle of a ten page chapter and am trying to go to sleep. lol