The Lost Heir

Tui T. Sutherland

52 pages 1-hour read

Tui T. Sutherland

The Lost Heir

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2013

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Character List

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

Major Characters

Tsunami is a headstrong SeaWing and one of the dragonets of destiny. Raised in isolation, she dreams of returning to the Kingdom of the Sea to claim her place as a beloved princess. She frequently clashes with her friends over leadership decisions but remains deeply loyal to them when danger arises.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Queen Coral

Older Sister of Anemone

Adoptive Sister of Clay

Adoptive Sister of Starflight

Adoptive Sister of Glory

Adoptive Sister of Sunny

Friend of Riptide

Older Sister of Auklet

Queen Coral rules the SeaWing tribe and actively authors and publishes literary works across her kingdom. Traumatized by past family tragedies, she micromanages her surviving offspring and demands absolute loyalty from her courtiers. She prefers curated stories over unpleasant realities.

Key Relationships

Mother of Tsunami

Mother of Anemone

Sister of Shark

Aunt of Moray

Widow of Gill

Employer of Whirlpool

Mother of Orca

Mother of Auklet

Queen Blister is a SandWing princess fighting a brutal war to claim her tribe's empty throne. Currently allied with the SeaWings, she views her hosts with barely concealed contempt. She operates through psychological pressure, preferring to outwit and intimidate her targets rather than fight them directly.

Key Relationships

Ally of Queen Coral

Intimidator of Starflight

Rival of Sunny

Rival Sister of Burn

Rival Sister of Blaze

Secretly Connected to Morrowseer

Anemone is the younger SeaWing princess, forced to remain physically attached to her mother at all times due to fears of assassination. Though she understands court politics fluently, the suffocating lack of autonomy leaves her deeply frustrated.

Key Relationships

Younger Sister of Tsunami

Daughter of Queen Coral

Student of Whirlpool

Niece of Shark

Younger Sister of Orca

Older Sister of Auklet

Clay is a sturdy MudWing and a steadfast member of the dragonets of destiny. Because his native tribe fights against the SeaWings, he faces intense hostility in the Kingdom of the Sea. He patiently endures poor treatment to keep his friends safe and acts as the emotional anchor for the group.

Key Relationships

Adoptive Brother of Tsunami

Adoptive Brother of Sunny

Adoptive Brother of Starflight

Adoptive Brother of Glory

Former Ward of Webs

Glory is a RainWing who joined the dragonets of destiny as a substitute, leading to years of disparagement from her former guardians. She masks her insecurities behind thick layers of sarcasm and defensiveness. Despite her aloof posture, she remains intensely loyal to the dragons she grew up with.

Key Relationships

Adoptive Sister of Tsunami

Adoptive Sister of Clay

Adoptive Sister of Starflight

Adoptive Sister of Sunny

Resentful of Morrowseer

Starflight is the NightWing representative among the dragonets of destiny, characterized by his academic focus and physical caution. He carries the heavy burden of his tribe's expectations, leaving him anxious when forced to choose between political obligations and his friends.

Key Relationships

Adoptive Brother of Tsunami

Adoptive Brother of Clay

Adoptive Brother of Glory

Adoptive Brother of Sunny

Pressured by Queen Blister

Subordinate to Morrowseer

Sunny is a uniquely small SandWing who lacks her tribe's dangerous tail barb. Often underestimated by both enemies and allies, she maintains an unshakable optimism regarding their quest to end the war. She eagerly accepts responsibilities that allow her to prove her capability.

Key Relationships

Adoptive Sister of Tsunami

Adoptive Sister of Clay

Adoptive Sister of Starflight

Adoptive Sister of Glory

Disliked by Queen Blister

Supporting Characters

Morrowseer is an imposing NightWing who operates in the shadows of the ongoing war. Though his tribe officially maintains neutrality, he actively works to influence the dragonets of destiny. He views young dragons as disposable tools for achieving his broader strategic objectives.

Key Relationships

Authority Figure Over Starflight

Secretly Connected to Queen Blister

Webs is a SeaWing outcast and a former guardian for the Talons of Peace. Having spent years raising the dragonets of destiny in secret, he finds himself hunted by multiple factions for his past transgressions. He remains deeply conflicted about the sacrifices required by the prophecy.

Key Relationships

Father of Riptide

Former Guardian of Tsunami

Rescued by Crocodile

Subordinate to Nautilus

Riptide is a SeaWing citizen who lives on the margins of his society due to his family's infamy. He proves to be a patient and practical guide, willingly teaching vital cultural skills that others withhold. He values genuine connection over strict adherence to court rules.

Key Relationships

Son of Webs

Friend and Tutor of Tsunami

Whirlpool is a high-ranking SeaWing councilor entrusted with tutoring the royal family. He prioritizes his standing with the queen over actual education, offering useless, rote instruction to maintain his authority. He actively schemes to elevate his own position within the court.

Key Relationships

Subordinate to Queen Coral

Tutor of Anemone

Tutor of Tsunami

Shark is the commander of the SeaWing forces and brother to the reigning monarch. He prioritizes the strict enforcement of borders and views all outsiders with severe suspicion, offering no warmth to unexpected arrivals.

Key Relationships

Brother of Queen Coral

Father of Moray

Uncle of Anemone

Moray is a SeaWing councilor who competes aggressively to maintain relevance in the royal court. She constantly mirrors the queen's opinions and attempts to out-flatter her peers to secure political advantage.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Shark

Niece of Queen Coral

Gill is the late King of the SeaWings who perished as a prisoner of war. His tragic fate continues to devastate the royal family and heavily influences the current political instability within the kingdom.

Key Relationships

Late Husband of Queen Coral

Late Father of Anemone

Crocodile is a MudWing affiliated with a secretive rebel network. She possesses enough combat prowess to hold off attackers and secure escape routes for her retreating allies.

Key Relationships

Ally of Webs

Nautilus is a SeaWing leader within a rebel organization known as the Talons of Peace. He demands results over excuses and shows a ruthless willingness to discard assets that no longer serve his long-term goals.

Key Relationships

Commander of Webs

Kestrel is a deceased SkyWing who previously served as a harsh guardian for an isolated group of young dragons. Her sudden demise forces her former charges to confront the lethal reality of the world outside their cave.

Key Relationships

Former Guardian of Clay

Orca is a deceased SeaWing princess who once possessed incredible talent as a sculptor. Her historical challenge for the throne deeply scarred the royal family and fundamentally altered how the kingdom handles succession.

Key Relationships

Late Daughter of Queen Coral

Late Older Sister of Anemone

Auklet is the newest addition to the SeaWing royal family. Her successful hatching represents a rare moment of unblemished hope and offers a potential turning point for her traumatized mother.

Key Relationships

Daughter of Queen Coral

Younger Sister of Tsunami

Younger Sister of Anemone