Dragonslayer

Tui T. Sutherland

70 pages 2-hour read

Tui T. Sutherland

Dragonslayer

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2020

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Wren is a defiant seven-year-old girl from the mountain village of Talisman. After her parents and the village leaders attempt to sacrifice her to the dragons for her rebelliousness, she escapes her bonds and rejects human society entirely. Fiercely independent and resourceful, she decides to survive in the dangerous wilderness by forming a unique alliance with an abandoned baby dragon. She possesses a deep cynicism toward human institutions but an equally deep capacity for empathy toward animals.

Key Relationships

Bonded Companion of Sky

Older Sister of Leaf

Younger Sister of Rowan

Intended Sacrifice of Master Trout

Person of Interest to Undauntable

Leaf is an eight-year-old boy from the village of Talisman whose life is shattered when he is told dragons ate his sister. Consumed by a desire for vengeance, he dedicates his childhood to secretly training as a warrior. He aspires to become a legendary dragonslayer, believing that physical martial power is the only way to protect vulnerable people from the monsters that took his sibling. He struggles against the restrictive, fear-based rules of his community.

Key Relationships

Younger Brother of Wren

Younger Brother of Rowan

Apprentice to Master Trout

Friend of Grove

Friend of Thyme

Friend of Mushroom

Friend of Cranberry

Ivy is the inquisitive young daughter of the famous Dragonslayer. Raised entirely within the underground tunnels of Valor, she begins noticing logical inconsistencies in her father's stories and the strict, punitive laws he enforces. Highly observant and naturally empathetic, she forms a secret club with her best friends to uncover the truth about her society's history. Unlike her peers, she views dragons with curiosity rather than sheer terror.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Heath

Daughter of Lark

Niece of Stone

Niece of Rose

Best Friend of Violet

Best Friend of Daffodil

Mentee of Foxglove

Student of Miss Laurel

Heath is the lord of the underground city of Valor, known globally as the legendary Dragonslayer. He claims to have single-handedly defeated the SandWing queen, an act that brought him immense power and wealth but forced humanity underground to escape dragon retaliation. He maintains strict, often paranoid control over his citizens, banishing those who question his authority or investigate his past.

Key Relationships

Father of Ivy

Husband of Lark

Brother of Stone

Brother of Rose

Banisher of Pine

Rival to Invincible Lord

Stone is Ivy's reclusive and morose uncle. Having participated in the disastrous treasure heist twenty years ago alongside Heath and Rose, he lives a quiet, isolated life in the tunnels of Valor. He is deeply haunted by the loss of his sister and the catastrophic fallout of their actions, standing as a quiet, guilt-ridden counterpoint to his brother's boastful leadership.

Key Relationships

Brother of Heath

Brother of Rose

Uncle of Ivy

Brother-In-Law of Lark

Reluctant Ally of Leaf

Uncle of Friend to Violet

Uncle of Friend to Daffodil

Supporting Characters

Sky is a pale orange mountain dragonet found abandoned in the wilderness. Unusually small and completely incapable of breathing fire, he struggles to survive until he is rescued by a human girl. He possesses a remarkably gentle disposition, preferring to eat fruits and nuts rather than meat, and cries when animals are harmed. He challenges every stereotype humans hold about dragons.

Key Relationships

Bonded Companion of Wren

Unwitting Source of Scales to Undauntable

Rose is the sister of Heath and Stone. Twenty years prior to the main story, she participated in a highly dangerous attempt to steal treasure from the SandWing queen's palace. Her tragic fate during the subsequent dragon attack serves as the foundational trauma for her brothers and the catalyst for decades of violent conflict between humans and dragons.

Key Relationships

Sister of Heath

Sister of Stone

Rowan is the eldest sister in Leaf and Wren's family. While she outwardly conforms to the village of Talisman's strict rules, she secretly harbors her own doubts and ambitions. She channels her grief over her family's losses into preparing Leaf for the dangers of their world, leading clandestine combat training sessions in the forest.

Key Relationships

Older Sister of Leaf

Older Sister of Wren

Friend of Grove

Violet is one of Ivy's best friends in the underground city of Valor. Highly analytical and deeply skeptical of authority, she acts as the intellectual engine for their secret "Truth Seekers" club. She excels at reading maps, noticing suspicious details, and identifying logical flaws in the official histories taught by their elders.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of Ivy

Best Friend of Daffodil

Admirer of Foxglove

Daffodil is a lively and emotionally driven girl growing up in Valor. As a core member of the Truth Seekers club, she brings enthusiasm and intuitive insights to their investigations. She is deeply loyal to her friends and eager to uncover the mysteries surrounding their isolated society, providing a counterbalance to Violet's strict logic.

Key Relationships

Best Friend of Ivy

Best Friend of Violet

Master Trout is the head dragonmancer of Talisman village. He claims to interpret the will of the dragons, using his supposed spiritual authority to dictate the lives of the villagers through fear. He guards his secrets fiercely, locking away books and artifacts that might challenge his religious and political power.

Key Relationships

Persecutor of Wren

Master to Leaf

Colleague of Crow

Colleague of Gorge

Grove is a refugee boy living in Talisman whose original village was destroyed by dragons. Having experienced profound loss firsthand, he is deeply skeptical of the dragonmancers' methods and refuses to quietly accept their authority. He frequently encourages Leaf and Rowan to take more active, rebellious stances against their leaders.

Key Relationships

Friend of Leaf

Friend of Rowan

Undauntable is the prince of the Indestructible City. Sheltered behind massive defensive walls, he is fascinated by the dangerous outside world and the people who survive in it. Despite his entitled upbringing, he shows unexpected fairness when trading with those less fortunate, though he struggles to understand why anyone would refuse the safety his city offers.

Key Relationships

Admirer of Wren

Son of Invincible Lord

Foxglove is a young Wingwatcher in the city of Valor tasked with guarding entrances and observing dragon movements. She possesses a secret admiration for dragons that contradicts the city's prevailing fear. She becomes a sympathetic mentor to younger citizens, teaching them crucial survival skills for navigating the surface.

Key Relationships

Mentor to Ivy

Role Model for Violet

Subordinate to Heath

Former Colleague of Pine

Lark is the wife of the Dragonslayer and mother to Ivy. She is a practical woman who helped literally dig the tunnels that form the underground city of Valor. As her husband's paranoia grows, she tries to maintain a sense of normalcy and protect her daughter from the city's increasing political tensions.

Key Relationships

Mother of Ivy

Wife of Heath

Thyme is a boy from Talisman and twin brother to Mushroom. He joins Leaf and Rowan's clandestine training sessions, preparing for the day they might need to fight back against the dragons. He is steadfast and brave, though often overshadowed by his more volatile and ambitious brother.

Key Relationships

Friend of Leaf

Twin Brother of Mushroom

Mushroom is Thyme's twin brother and a member of the village's secret training group. He is highly critical of others' plans and harbors a deep, selfish ambition. When presented with the opportunity for wealth, his true priorities quickly surface, threatening the safety of the entire group.

Key Relationships

Twin Brother of Thyme

Friend of Leaf

Cranberry is a young acrobat in the village of Talisman. She brings agility and physical skill to Leaf's secret training group. Despite the dangers of their world, she remains an active and willing participant in their covert preparations to fight back against their oppressors.

Key Relationships

Friend of Leaf

Trainee of Rowan

Pine is a young Wingwatcher in the city of Valor who is banished for visiting the ruins of the old village on the surface. His harsh punishment for a seemingly minor offense sparks Ivy's initial questions about the fairness of her father's rule and the secrets hidden above ground.

Key Relationships

Banished Subject of Heath

Former Colleague of Foxglove

Miss Laurel is a teacher in the underground city of Valor. She firmly upholds the official narratives and laws established by the Dragonslayer, quickly shutting down any questions or independent thought from her students regarding the city's history or its punitive justice system.

Key Relationships

Teacher of Ivy

The Invincible Lord is the authoritarian ruler of the Indestructible City and father to Undauntable. He exploits refugees seeking safety behind his massive walls, demanding exorbitant tributes—including children—in exchange for entry. He views the world entirely through the lens of conquest and control.

Key Relationships

Father of Undauntable

Rival to Heath