Dragon Rider is a work of European children’s fiction inspired by folklore and classic quest narratives. This genre depicts children going on adventures, facing dangerous threats, and exploring concepts such as good versus evil. European children’s fantasy traditionally draws on European folklore about magical creatures, such as dragons, elves, dwarves, and other beings. European children’s fantasy also follows the classic structure of the quest narrative.

The quest narrative, also known as the hero’s journey, is narrative structure first identified by American mythologist and scholar Joseph Campbell in his The Hero with a Thousand Faces. In this narrative structure, the protagonist is sent on a quest, usually to find a particular place or object. The narrative comprises 17 stages, organized into three acts, each of which represents an important part of the main character’s inner and outer journeys.

The “Call to Adventure” occurs when the protagonist is given an opportunity to go on a quest. The protagonist initially refuses the quest, needing a guide or mentor to give them a form of supernatural aid before accepting. Eventually, the hero faces “The Road of Trials,” a series of challenges, dangers, and setbacks, over which they triumph with a combination of courage, cleverness, luck, and the help of friends and allies.