Dragonspell

Set on a distant planet with a magical medieval-esque world, Donita K. Paul’s young adult fantasy novel Dragonspell concerns Kale Allerion, a slave who learns that she possesses the power to sense dragon eggs. After her power is discovered, she is released from slavery, using her special power to track these eggs across rough, earthlike terrain. She heads to the city to become the servant and apprentice of Lord Paladin. However, her journey is interrupted when she discovers a second dragon egg; she then goes on a quest to reclaim it from Risto, an evil wizard who wants to use the dragon egg to destroy humanity. The novel is known for its unique blend of extraplanetary narratives and tropes from medieval lore, fashioning a cross-genre story.

When the novel begins, fourteen-year-old Kale is enslaved to an owner in her small village. Despite her subjugation, she lives a somewhat fulfilling life under the protection of her society’s slavery ethics, and she is friends with several other slaves. One day, she feels a strange sensation that tells her that something special is nearby. She uncovers a dragon egg, revealing it to the village elders, who decide to free her from slavery because she possesses a magical power that entitles her to a high status. She also becomes the official owner of the dragon egg. The village elders send her away to a city institution called The Hall to receive an education and to learn more about her powers. Not long after her trek begins, the egg hatches. A dragon emerges that is sentient, communicates to her telepathically, and possesses the ability to heal wounds. Kale learns that her power is not intrinsic to her; rather, it is the product of an active selection performed by the dragon, which chose her as its savior. Moreover, she feels that an invisible power is directing her fate.

Though the path to The Hill is daunting, the dragon ushers her onward. Along the way, she meets Brigg, a farmer who takes her in. After she gets back on the road, she is attacked by a horde of magical creatures called Grawligs. She escapes into a cave, where she finds a cluster of seven dragon eggs. When she leaves the cave, she runs into the Grawligs again, but they are in combat with two humanoid figures. One of them telepathically warns Kale to run; she escapes again and falls asleep in the forest.



When she wakes, she finds one of the creatures fishing nearby. The two creatures reveal that they are servants to Lord Paladin, a high political official in the city. They are called Emerlindens: an eccentric female spirit named Dar the Doneel and a grave one called Leetu Bends. The Emerlindens explain that Lord Paladin, knowing about her power, has insisted she divert her path to the home of the Wizard Fenworth, who needs her help obtaining another dragon egg. Kale complies, knowing how to do little else than follow orders. Kale, Dar, and Leetu​ journey to his house, where he tells them that Risto, a dark wizard who wants to use his powers to raise an army of evil souls, has stolen the egg. Like the first dragon she encountered, the dragon in this egg is still seeking a champion to rescue and hatch it.

When Kale, Dar, and Leetu finally find Risto, the wizard attempts to enslave Kale to employ her to search for more dragon eggs to bolster his army. Together, and with the help of the dragon, they defeat Risto, taking back the powerful egg. It hatches, giving way to a dragon that can manipulate people’s minds by emitting magical songs. The novel ends as Kale parts ways with her new friends, resolving to continue searching for dragons and saving them from being placed in the wrong hands.