Dragons of the Valley by Donita K. Paul

War threatens the peaceful land of Chiril… can one painter-turned-reluctant-swordsman really help?

With an invasion of her country imminent, Tipper Schope is drawn into a mission to keep three important statues from falling into the enemy’s clutches. Her friend, the artist Bealomondore, helps her execute the plan, and along the way he learns to brandish a sword rather than a paintbrush.

As odd disappearances and a rash of volatile behavior sweep Chiril, no one is safe. A terrible danger has made his vicious presence known: The Grawl, a hunter unlike any creature encountered before.

To restore their country, Tipper, Bealomondore, and their party must hide the statues in the Valley of the Dragons and find a way to defeat the invading army. When it falls to the artistic Bealomondore to wield his sword as powerfully and naturally as a paintbrush, will he answer Wulder’s call for a champion?

Dragons of the Valley, the sequel to The Vanishing Sculptor, was an interesting book. I liked one of the main characters, Tipper, a lot. Probably because she was more my age (at least it felt like it. I really don't remember what age she was). Also the little kimens were cute.

As for the plot itself, I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't "Oh, read that story before" or "I betcha five bucks I know what happens next, it's so predictable". It kept me turning pages and guessing. I always love reluctant heroes, and they don't get more reluctant then this!

All in all, I think I liked it beter than Paul's DragonKeeper Chronciles. It is sorta a spin-off series, but you don't have to read the other series to read this one. A great read for families or teens!

Donita K. Paul is a retired teacher and author of numerous novellas, short stories, and nine novels, including the best-selling DragonKeeper Chronicles. The winner of multiple awards, she lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she spends time mentoring and encouraging writers.

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Website/Blog:

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• Author's Blog (Dragon Bloggin')
• Author's Blog (The O.L.D. Blog)

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

DragonQuest by Donita K. Paul

A New Quest Begins...

A dragonkeeper of Paladin, Kale is summoned from the Hall to The Bogs by the Wizard Fenworth to serve as his apprentice and tend his newly hatched meech dragon, Regidor. But Kale isn’t going alone. The Hall is sending a student to monitor her performance and report back to the scholars. Worst of all, it’s Bardon–an older boy Kale finds irritating, but who at least can hold his own in a sword fight.

Meanwhile, the Wizard Risto has seized another meech dragon, bringing him dangerously close to gaining the power he seeks. So with only a motley band of companions, Kale sets out on a desperate quest to rescue the second meech, to free those dragons already enslaved, and to thwart Risto’s devious plans. It’s up to Kale to lead the search and to embrace the role that’s rightfully hers. But will her efforts be enough to save the land of Amara from the dark future that awaits at Risto’s hands?

I liked DragonQuest, book two in the DragonKeeper Chronicles, even better than DragonSpell. For one, the cover is awesome. Makes me think of Hallmark's Dinotopia. Great movie. Four hours long, but still a great movie.

Second, the story threw all the characters from the first book into a whole new adventure. Bardon was an especially interesting character. You'll have to read the book to find out why though...

Third, more dragons! Paul did a wonderful job creating a world where dragons and people (er, not exactly people) coexist. It seems so natural throughout the whole story.

All in all, this book surpassed the first one with flying colors. I can't wait to get my hands on DragonKnight, the third book in Paul's DragonKeeper Chronicles. Now where did I put my library card...

Donita Kathleen Paul is a best-selling contemporary Christian fiction novelist. Best known for her fantasy DragonKeeper Chronicles series, she won a finalist medal in the Christy Awards for the first installment of the DragonKeeper Chronicles, DragonSpell. She has also written romances and juvenile novels under the name Kathleen Paul. Born in Lawrence, Kansas, Paul now lives in eastern Colorado.

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DragonSpell by Donita K. Paul

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 small band of Paladin's servants rescue Kale from danger but turn her from her destination: The Hall, where she was to be trained. Feeling afraid and unprepared, Kale embarks on a perilous quest to find the meech dragon egg stolen by the foul wizard Risto. First, she and her comrades must find Wizard Fenworth. But their journey is threatened when a key member of the party is captured, leaving the remaining companions to find Fenworth, attempt an impossible rescue, and recover the egg whose true value they have not begun to suspect...

Okay! Quick question! Did anyone notice the shadow on the egg? Ha, now you're looking at it again, aren't you? That is so cool! I think it totally makes the book cover.

One prob though. That scene you just checked out, of the girl creeping up on a dragon? Not in the book.

The pretty cover turned out to be a fake, but did the rest of the book turn out that way?

*duh-duh-duh-da-duh-duh-duh-da-da-da-da-DA!-da-da-da* (Um, hello, Jepordy theme song going on.)

The answer is: No!

Dragonspell, the first book in Paul's DragonKeeper Chronicles, was an adventrous book filled with quirky characters like the Wizard Fenworth. It had me giggling and flipping pages rapidly as the story progressed. I'm not a big fan of drgaon books, but this one had me spellbound. Er, Dragonspell-bound.




Donita K. Paul retired early from teaching school, but soon got bored! The result: a determination to start a new career. Now she is an award-winning novelist writing Christian Romance and Fantasy. She says, “I feel blessed to be doing what I like best.”

She mentors all ages, teaching teenagers and weekly adult writing workshops.

“God must have imprinted 'teacher' on me clear down to the bone. I taught in public school, then home schooled my children, and worked in private schools. Now my writing week isn’t very productive unless I include some time with kids.”

Her two grown children make her proud, and her two grandsons make her laugh.

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Website/Blog:

• Author's Website
• Author's Blog (Dragon Bloggin')
• Author's Blog (The O.L.D. Blog)