Book Review – Dragonkeeper by Carole Wilkinson

By

Dragonkeeper is the first in an enchanting book series created by Carole Wilkinson. The first novel follows Ping, a slave to a ruthless master who begins a strong friendship with a captive dragon. Together, the two of them are able to escape the master and journey to Ocean, a distant land far from the ancient Chinese monarchy that reigns over all life in the Han dynasty. Ping and the dragon Danzi also become the guardians of the dragon stone, and voyage to unknown territory in an attempt to conceal the stone and find freedom.

Readers who frequent this blog are sure to know that I adore dragons, and though I cannot bring myself to watch Game of Thrones–despite my parents’ love for it–I will seldom turn down an opportunity to see these fantasy creatures worked into a novel. Couple that with the traditions and colloquialisms of ancient China, and I am sold before even opening the book due to my strange–albeit unwavering–interest in ancient cultures around the world. Dragonkeeper is a spectacular novel and has everything that I look for in good storytelling: a solid plot, a mixture of dialogue and description, and also a considerable number of twists and turns that are sure to keep readers’ pangs of hunger sated. Ping displays the characteristics of a strong female character, and the friendship she shares with the dragon is very interesting.

I really don’t have many bad comments in response to this book, but I did find that the last 30-40 pages did lag a bit. There were a few parts of the novel that I feel could be omitted, just because they didn’t seem very necessary, but the villain in the novel is as ruthless as can be, and I hope that his character arc is explored more in novels to come. Honestly, though, I felt all the things a reader should feel when reading a novel–excitement, apprehension and an unshakable sense of wonder that lasts for hours after the book has been slipped back onto the bookshelf. Without giving too much away, the ending of Dragonkeeper is truly spectacular and certainly cements Wilkinson as a children’s author for the ages. This novel ticks all the boxes, and I can’t wait to explore more.

RATINGS:

Plot: 9/10
Characters: 7.5/10
Writing: 8/10
OVERALL: 9.75/10

Posted in Book Review.
Share

Related Posts

  •
    03/08/2018

    Book Review – On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

    Melina Marchetta’s coming-of-age novel is a refreshingly mature young adult adventure that captures the feeling on the crux of growing up and watching all that was familiar with the world shift into something new. On the Jellicoe Road transports the reader to a world caught between the dreams of childhood and the horrors of reality, …

  •
    16/08/2019

    Book Review – Skulduggery Pleasant Book 2, Playing with Fire by Derek Landy

    Skulduggery Pleasant – Playing with Fire is the second novel in Derek Landy’s Skulduggery Pleasant series. Following on from the events of the first novel (if you have not read the first novel, or do not want spoilers, please STOP reading right now), the novel picks up a few months after Skulduggery and Valkyrie defeated …

  •
    27/04/2017

    Book Review – Contagion by Teri Terry

    Contagion by Teri Terry is a ticking time bomb of a novel, each chapter bringing the reader closer to the point of impact. This pre-apocalyptic dystopian novel set in Scotland follows two unique and compelling viewpoints; Shay, whose world is about to be changed forever, and Callie, who has seen everything but can communicate nothing. …

  •
    15/02/2017

    Book Review – Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

    If you’re a fan of the recent film version, Riggs’ debut novel is a must-read. His engaging writing transports you into his gothic and fantastical world, combining imagery and expression to make it difficult to put down. The voice of the protagonist, 16-year-old Jacob Portman, is full of personality and is relatable to anyone who …

  •
    14/03/2019

    Book Review – The Girl Who Fell by Violet Grace

    Released to the public on September 3rd of 2018, Violet Grace’s novel The Girl Who Fell tells the tale of Francesca ‘Chess’ Raven, an adolescent girl living with a woman named Gladys after the death of her parents. Chess Raven is a hacker, and becomes swept away in a grand and interesting adventure after the …

  •
    16/08/2019

    Book Review – The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

    The Graveyard Book, published in 2008, is a work of Neil Gaiman’s that instantly appeals to readers of the macabre and strange. The novel follows Nobody ‘Bod’ Owens through his experiences of living with a cohort of ghouls and ghosts within a cemetery. The Graveyard Book chronicles his life throughout the graveyard and the places …