Dragon Stone

Dragon Stone

"Dragon Stone is a mesmerizing tale of family, folklore, and resilience in a compelling YA fantasy, drawing readers into a world where dreams wield power and courage comes at a cost. Fourteen-year-old Rosetta, seeking refuge from her father’s escalating rage, stumbles upon ancient carvings at her family’s ancestral Welsh manor. A stone rose unleashes vivid dreams in which a dragon, wolf, and falcon test her with challenges steeped in mysticism. Guided by her grandmother’s Celtic wisdom and a falconer’s mentorship, Rosetta embarks on a transformative journey of self-discovery, uncovering hidden treasures and the strength to confront her family’s darkest truths." Prairies Book Review The richly developed characters within "Dragon Stone" have wonderful depth and engage readers from the beginning. Rosetta is a sweet and intelligent teen, full of imagination and awe, but having difficulty making friends in her new school. Her grandmother is a solid foundation in her life, full of wisdom, experience, and encouragement. Howard becomes a spirited voice, helping Rosetta parse wisdom out of the many confusing things happening in the life of her family. He is a strong and sure friend and mentor; not only with raptors, but in finding meaning in the hard lessons of life. Readers are often told in reviews that a book is unique, unusual, or highly imaginative. Those would be understatements for "Dragon Stone." How many YA novels feature a female protagonist who wants an apprenticeship in falconry, and wants it badly enough to ride her bicycle in all kinds of weather every day to the muse to kill meals for the raptors? This may make some parents question the inclusion of falconry in the story, but it's well handled and provides important wisdom along the way. While Rosetta can do this distasteful part of her apprenticeship, she derives no pleasure from killing rodents and rabbits, instead recognizing the importance of her work to the birds, not yet recognizing the full significance of the raptors in her life. These moments show Rosetta's growth from the 14-year-old whose heart wants to break for the small animals, to the fiercely determined young lady who commands the skies with a Merlin falcon she has trained since his fledging. Themes of wisdom, strength, growth, and fierce protection run throughout "Dragon Stone" as Rosetta faces challenges she never saw coming. This includes domestic abuse when her father's mental health deteriorates, and he goes from verbal abuse to the physical abuse of her mother. Readers will see a family that holds together to provide protection and support while removing Rosetta, her mother, and brother from the manor for safety's sake. Ms. Dempsey does not take the easy way out with any of the life events that take place during these years. This is impressive, as it presents a more honest and realistic version of life that will resonate with readers of "Dragon Stone." It is NOT gritty or gruesome, but it is a realistic reminder that life doesn't always go the way you expect or want it to. Emotions are well handled within the story. Whether Rosetta is facing galloping horses, wild wolves, an enormous dragon, or her parents' fights and father's drunken abuse. Symbolism flourishes within this story, especially those from Welsh history and lore. The dragon embodies strength and protection while the falcon represents honor, loyalty, and a reverence of supernatural elements. Wolves were often considered in Welsh lore as spiritual guides which could help individuals tap into their intuition and inner wisdom. Of course, the rose is rich in symbolism, recalling the history of the War of the Roses, the Tudor rose (a combining of the red and white rose symbols of the warring families), as well as innocence, love, and a journey. Even the name of the rose is woven throughout with Rosetta and Rhosyn Manor (Rhosyn is Welsh for rose). There are numerous points within the storyline that could be used for further exploration by curious readers. Often a book with a female protagonist is seen as a book for girls. Despite this, "Dragon Stone" holds much to capture a boy's imagination—especially the falconry that holds a prominent place in Rosetta's life as she seeks control in a life thrown into chaos. Brigitte Dempsey has crafted a well-written tale full of imagery, imagination, and adventure in "Dragon Stone." It is perfect for teens and young adults who enjoy fantasy, historical fiction, coming-of-age, and adventure tales. Reader Views Haunting, lyrical, and emotionally charged... Dempsey delivers a mesmerizing tale of family, folklore, and resilience in her compelling YA fantasy, drawing readers into a world where dreams wield power and courage comes at a cost. Fourteen-year-old Rosetta, seeking refuge from her father's escalating rage, stumbles upon ancient carvings at her family's ancestral Welsh manor. A stone rose unleashes vivid dreams in which a dragon, wolf, and falcon test her with challenges steepe