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44th out of 628 books
—
1,017 voters
DragonSpell (DragonKeeper Chronicles #1)
by
Donita K. Paul (Goodreads Author)
One Dragon Egg Holds the Key to the Future.
Once a slave, Kale is given the unexpected opportunity to become a servant to Paladin. Yet this young girl has much to learn about the difference between slavery and service.
A Desperate Search Begins…
A small band of Paladin’s servants rescue Kale from danger but turn her from her destination: The Hall, where she was to be trained...more
Once a slave, Kale is given the unexpected opportunity to become a servant to Paladin. Yet this young girl has much to learn about the difference between slavery and service.
A Desperate Search Begins…
A small band of Paladin’s servants rescue Kale from danger but turn her from her destination: The Hall, where she was to be trained...more
Paperback, 339 pages
Published
June 22nd 2004
by WaterBrook Press
(first published June 1st 2004)
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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.
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 e...more
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 e...more
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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 r...more
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 r...more
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May 24, 2008
Emilie Smith
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
pre-teen girls and boys to older adults like me
Recommended to Emilie by:
Nathan Waddell, my son, whom I gave the book to originally
Shelves:
fantasy
Dragonspell, the first in a 4 book series, is an easy, fun and exciting read. A delightful allegory of what it means to be a follower of God, well written as a story of challenge and conquest as a young girl, raised as a slave, learns to find her stength in her relationship with Paladin. She discovers her gift of finding dragon eggs and is drawn to find a large clutch, as well as using the talent to find the rare Meech Dragon egg, and rescue it from the evil Wizard who tries to obtain the power...more
Jul 15, 2010
Margaret
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone with a sense of adventure
Recommended to Margaret by:
Amy Andrews
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 wh...more
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 wh...more
A friend recommended this book as a chapter bookI might read with my 7 year old who loves to read and is always drawing dragons. I read it first and found it quite enjoyable. The plot moves quickly from one action scene to the next as a young girl named Kale (formally a slave) moves through an adventure searching for a dragon egg in order to stop the plans of the antagonist. Along the way she learns many things about herself and her world in general. The use and abuse of power, the meaning of fr...more
This is a great book for any fantasy lover.
I'm going to say that right now. If you are not a Christian, that does not exclude you from these great books, but if you are a Christian, they're that much better.
Kale is the proverbial orphan, down-on-her luck and unconfident in herself. She found a rare dragon egg in her home town, and is now on her way to deliver it to the great scholars of Wulder (a great creator parallel to God) for them to take care of. She is bright, lovable and sweet, and but s...more
I'm going to say that right now. If you are not a Christian, that does not exclude you from these great books, but if you are a Christian, they're that much better.
Kale is the proverbial orphan, down-on-her luck and unconfident in herself. She found a rare dragon egg in her home town, and is now on her way to deliver it to the great scholars of Wulder (a great creator parallel to God) for them to take care of. She is bright, lovable and sweet, and but s...more
Kale is a slave, not important to anyone. But after finding a dragon's egg, everyone rethinks what they thought about her. She is sent the Hall for her training, but she never makes it. The Christ-like Paladin sends Kale on a quest to free a captured dragon egg from the clutches of the sinister wizard Risto, who intends to use the unhatched dragon's power to create another race powerful enough to dominate the world.
Sent along on this dangerous mission are Leetu, an emerlindian girl with telepath...more
Sent along on this dangerous mission are Leetu, an emerlindian girl with telepath...more
In this first book in a series of four of juvenile fantasy you follow the adventures of a young O'rant from River Away named Kale. Kale is sent by Misteress Meiger to go to the Vendela and into the Great Hall to gain her freedom.Before she arrives she is pulled from her journey by an inner voice and quickly finds herself surrounded by Grawlings who wish to make her their next meal. Kale manages to escape through a dark tunnel and is pulled by an enchantment she cannot understand, to a undergrou...more
I had the idea that this series was aimed at younger readers, so I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get into it or not (I'm 24). I was pleasantly surprised to find that the story was one that I could enjoy, and it definitely did not seem like something exclusively for younger ages.
The world that Donita Paul has created with this series is large and imaginative, perfect for a fantasy setting! The characters are likable (except for the villains, of course!), and the "talents" that some of them have a...more
The world that Donita Paul has created with this series is large and imaginative, perfect for a fantasy setting! The characters are likable (except for the villains, of course!), and the "talents" that some of them have a...more
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 fin...more
I can remember one time when a book was so good that I read it twice in one sitting, front to back. That book was The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams and it spoke to me during a time in which I needed to hear it. My parents were fighting a lot and on the verge of divorce; it was 1996. Fifteen years have passed since I read that thick musty novel and when I glanced down at DragonSpell after finishing it, a novel by Donita K. Paul which was neither thick nor musty, I realized that I was tempted t...more
This book was a great beginning to the DragonKeeper Chronicles, and it really introduces you to the world that Ms. Paul has created. Kale, who's about 14 years old, found a dragon egg in her village where she had been raised as a slave (but not the kind of slave you're probably thinking of). The book begins with her journey to Vendela in order to train in the Hall to serve Paladin, the leader of Amara, the country in which the series is based in. Unfortunately, she doesn't quite make it there be...more
As opposed to most fantasy stories, this one is set in a realm filled with creatures not even remotely connected to our world. The creatures are from the author's imagination, not from old mythology. I commend this originality, however I know many people who have issues grasping fantasy worlds, especially ones filled with unfamiliar creatures. This starts off a bit slow, but I think the beginning helps the reader get acquainted with the fantasy world. I am easily emerged into the realms of stori...more
Generally, I don't enjoy allegory, fantasy, or the young adult genre. This series made me a believer and reader of all three. Although set in a mythical country with dragons and other creatures - some sweet (baby dragons are darling) and many not-so-sweet, I found God, the Biblical wisdom, and hope woven all through the pages of this book. I fell in love with the female protagonist, a young slave girl named, Kale, and her coming-of-age story told in the five books that make up the series. She is...more
Kale is a young o'rant slave girl, used to taking orders and living a safe, predictable existence, until her world is rocked by the discovery of a unique talent. She possesses the rare and unique gift of discovering valuable dragon eggs. Sent to the city of Vendela to undertake training at The Hall so she can enter the service of Paladin, her carefully laid plans go awry when she's nearly kidnapped and then her rescuers inform her that she must go questing. Kale and her new comrades have been co...more
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A quest to rescue the Meech dragon egg from the evil Wizard Risto brings together each of the 7 major races of Amera. One of the party is a servant girl who after discovering another dragon egg is sent by her village to journey to the city of Vendela to seek instruction from the masters of those who follow Paladin. On Kale’s journey to Vendela she is captured by a camp of Grawligs (an ogre type race), by others of the quest and is told she has been chosen by Paladin himself to journey on this qu...more
I really like this book. If you've ever looked at my shelves, you know that I am a huge fantasy geek. I found this book to be refreshing, clean, and enjoyable.
I found it refreshing because Ms. Paul doesn't try to copy Tolkien. A few of the character traits and themes were a bit unoriginal, but I didn't mind it. The characters are all unique in their own way.
I found it clean because there is not a single use of profanity anywhere. No innuendos, either. There is quite a bit of violence, but it is...more
I found it refreshing because Ms. Paul doesn't try to copy Tolkien. A few of the character traits and themes were a bit unoriginal, but I didn't mind it. The characters are all unique in their own way.
I found it clean because there is not a single use of profanity anywhere. No innuendos, either. There is quite a bit of violence, but it is...more
p. 74 Unfortunately, I was born with the wander lust. If you have the spirit of adventure, it's painful to have to stay in one place.
p. 82
He knows our concern.
But what good does that do us?
Us? In your mind you've made us the center of what is happening. He is the center.
p. 127 You aren't her friend if you accept unacceptable behavior. Leave her in His capable hands. He cares more than you do.
p. 149 We have walked past the suffering without seeing.
p. 205 There're times when I wish this great man...more
p. 82
He knows our concern.
But what good does that do us?
Us? In your mind you've made us the center of what is happening. He is the center.
p. 127 You aren't her friend if you accept unacceptable behavior. Leave her in His capable hands. He cares more than you do.
p. 149 We have walked past the suffering without seeing.
p. 205 There're times when I wish this great man...more
Bought this one for my dragon crazy sixth grader, and was curious why he didn't ask for the sequel when he finished. After reading, I understand. It is an ok fantasy - imaginative settings, nicely drawn characters - but it spends so much time didactically 'teaching' principles that it is slow and sometimes I found it tiresome. I was intrigued by the fact that the author is a self-proclaimed values writer, especially when giving a book to my child, but this is actually theology in a sci-fi wrappi...more
It's rare that I rate the book with one star, so I think I owe an explanation. Usually, if I don't like some book I just drop it and don't bother more. I even do not put it in my list. Also, the one star has nothing to do with fact, that the book is for children. I'm often reading children books, so I can recommend them or read with kids.
Stories with dragons are my favorites and plot was very promising, so I gladly picked this book from my unread shelf.
The first chapters were good enough and I...more
Stories with dragons are my favorites and plot was very promising, so I gladly picked this book from my unread shelf.
The first chapters were good enough and I...more
A fantastic, easy-to-follow read. I enjoyed the characters and the plot took several twists and turns I didn't see coming, which is a pleasant surprise for me.
I really loved the character of Kale. She wasn't one of those stereotypical, headstrong female characters who can do anything and doesn't need anyone's help. She was being shoved into a world she didn't understand. She needed help, and she wasn't against apologizing when she did something wrong.
Dar was possibly my favorite character. He w...more
I really loved the character of Kale. She wasn't one of those stereotypical, headstrong female characters who can do anything and doesn't need anyone's help. She was being shoved into a world she didn't understand. She needed help, and she wasn't against apologizing when she did something wrong.
Dar was possibly my favorite character. He w...more
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I was kind of disappointed in this book. I thought it had a lot of promise, and the plot was actually really good. However, there were several things about this book that I didn't like. Firstly, the author tried really hard to create a unique world for this story, but I just thought it was a bit too confusing. She gave all the species of the characters strange names, and it took me awhile to figure out what type of creatures everyone was supposed to be. I suppose an o'rant is a human, emerlindia...more
Dragonspell by Donita K. Paul is the first book in the DragonKeeper Chronicles, a five book Christian fantasy series. Considering my love for the genre, I began the book anxious to see if I would be adding another series to the shelf of my slowly growing Christian fantasy collection. After finishing it, I have to give the book about 3 1/2 stars. It took me several days to finish, a sure sign that it didn't hold my interest like some books I devour in two or three days. Though full of action, it...more
This is a Christian fantasy and if you are a fantasy fan, Dragonspell is the book for you. Kale never thought she will one day embark on a perilous quest to find the meech dragon egg stolen by the foul Wizard Risto or the thought that she will find herself in the midst of danger and adventure. She learns to leave her past as a village slave behind her and accept the destiny. The thought scared her and pleased her too. Another character in the book is Paladin; he’s humble and portrays a Jesus-lik...more
Donita K. Paul has created a rich world of fantasy. With the many races inhabiting Amara there is certainly a rich diversity of peoples. Ms. Paul's creativity is astounding. For the most part the story moves along at a pretty good pace, though there are times I felt the plot dragging a bit.
The plot itself is engaging and enriching. The idea behind the book is that a young girl, Kale, has gifts that enable her to discover the location of dragons' eggs. She must join a party of Paladin's servants...more
The plot itself is engaging and enriching. The idea behind the book is that a young girl, Kale, has gifts that enable her to discover the location of dragons' eggs. She must join a party of Paladin's servants...more
Donita K. Paul's dragon books are some of my favorite Christian fantasy. They were also some of the first books I discovered once I learned that Christian fantasy could mean more than The Chronicles of Narnia.
Kale never expected to go from village slave to a girl on a quest, but that's exactly what happened when she found the dragon egg. The village council decides to send her to Vendela, the capitol city of Amara, to consult with the leaders at the Hall, where warriors are trained. Before she r...more
Kale never expected to go from village slave to a girl on a quest, but that's exactly what happened when she found the dragon egg. The village council decides to send her to Vendela, the capitol city of Amara, to consult with the leaders at the Hall, where warriors are trained. Before she r...more
Kale is a lowly servant girl from River Away who has found a dragon egg. She is immediately sent to the City of Vendela to see the rulers there. Kale is excited to enter the city as she has never seen anything like this before, but during an attack is drawn into a cave and to more dragon eggs. She soon discovers that she is expected to go on a quest with Leetu and Dar to find a meech egg. She is the mighty "Dragon Keeper," although she doesn't believe it. Through their travels they meet good dra...more
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 miss...more
I bought this book in the Sci-Fi Fantasy section, I looked at the back and it sounded promising and it started off very well like any good fantasy novel. They started to add some religion to it, that is fine all great fantasy needs some kind of religion. At some point in the middle I realize they are putting the religion aspects on a little heavy, and later on it just got way too heavy in religion, I later found out it was christian fantasy, it did not say that anywhere on the book and it was in...more
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| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who Is Your Favourite Minor Dragon? | 1 | 5 | Nov 09, 2012 02:59pm | |
| Dragons, dragons ...: Dragonkeeper | 1 | 3 | Sep 14, 2012 05:55am |
I am an author of Christian Fantasy. My first 7 books were Christian Romance, but I came over to the Dark Side when I heard there were cookies.
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“He fainted. Then he came to and remembered what happened and fainted again.”
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“Perhaps it's rude to notice when a wizard does something strange.”
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