Dragonkeeper

Dragon Keeper by Carole Wilkinson is a young adult historical fantasy set during the Han Dynasty in ancient China, where dragons are nearly extinct. The story follows a nameless orphan girl who forms a fragile bond with an aging dragon and is entrusted with the care of his enigmatic purple stone. Pursued across the empire by a ruthless dragon hunter and a powerful sorcerer, she must navigate dangerous landscapes, shifting loyalties, and unfamiliar magic. As the journey unfolds, the quiet servant girl confronts her own fears and limitations, gradually accepting her role as a true dragon keeper and emerging as a strong female protagonist in a world that underestimates her.

Garden of the Purple Dragon by Carole Wilkinson continues the story of Ping, a former slave girl now hiding in the remote Tai Shan mountains during the Han Dynasty. With the old dragon Danzi gone, Ping must protect and raise the young dragon Kai, facing hunger, isolation, and the constant threat of discovery. When circumstances draw them back to the Imperial Palace and its Garden of the Purple Dragon, court politics and hidden dangers complicate her role as dragon keeper. Blending historical fiction with fantasy, this young adult novel follows a resilient female protagonist navigating loyalty, identity, and responsibility in an ancient Chinese setting.

Dragon Moon by Carole Wilkinson concludes the Dragonkeeper trilogy with a historical fantasy set in the Han Dynasty, where magic and imperial politics intersect. Ping, now a more confident yet still uncertain Dragon Keeper, must escort the young dragon Kai from their hidden refuge at the empire’s edge to the legendary dragon haven hinted at in Danzi’s final messages. Their journey across ancient China forces Ping to interpret cryptic clues, confront dangerous adversaries, and reconnect with allies, all while Kai’s growing power and impatience test her judgment. Blending adventure, coming-of-age themes, and a strong female protagonist, the novel explores how loyalty and responsibility can mean learning when to let go.

Blood Brothers by Carole Wilkinson continues the Dragonkeeper series in a blend of fantasy and historical fiction set in China in the year 325, long after the fall of the Han Dynasty. The dragon Kai, 465 years old yet still adolescent by dragon reckoning, roams a fractured land searching for the human destined to become his dragonkeeper. His path crosses with Tao, a young Buddhist novice who doubts both his suitability for such a role and his desire to be bound to a demanding magical creature. As Tao wrestles with his own ambitions and inner voice, the story traces a coming-of-age adventure about responsibility, identity, and the uncertain shape of one’s true calling.

Shadow Sister by Carole Wilkinson continues the Dragonkeeper series with Tao, a young apprentice dragonkeeper, struggling to protect the dragon Kai without a mentor to guide him. As they travel west across an ancient Asian landscape, they face lethal nomad bands, a monstrous seven-headed serpent, and a chilling ghost whose power freezes blood. The novel blends fantasy adventure with historical fiction elements, following Tao’s coming of age as he tests his courage, loyalty, and growing magical responsibilities. Aimed at younger and teen readers, Shadow Sister offers a strong male protagonist, a powerful dragon companion, and an atmosphere of constant uncertainty where appearances rarely match reality.