What Inspired The Author To Write 'Dragonfall'?

What grabs me about 'Dragonfall' is how it twists familiar tropes into something fresh. The author admitted they wrote it partly to fix pet peeves about dragon stories—like why intelligent creatures would just guard gold mindlessly. Here, dragons collect artifacts that hold emotional value, which explains why the protagonist bonds with one over a shared love of music. The war scenes feel inspired by Pacific Islander navigation myths, where dragons use star patterns instead of brute force.

There's also a strong musical influence. Key moments sync with specific songs—the author released a playlist alongside the book. Battle sequences read like orchestral pieces, building tempo through short sentences. The dragons' vocal magic system resembles throat singing, probably borrowed from the author's travels in Mongolia.

Personal grief seeps into the narrative too. The dragon's mourning rituals mirror the author's public tribute to their late partner, making the emotional beats hit harder. This isn't just worldbuilding; it's alchemy—transforming real pain and curiosity into fantasy gold.

Digging into author interviews and thematic patterns, 'dragonfall' seems to draw from three major wells of inspiration. First is the author's academic background in anthropology—their portrayal of dragon culture isn't just fire and hoards, but intricate societal structures with dialects, art, and generational trauma. The matriarchal dragon clans challenge traditional fantasy tropes, likely influenced by real-world studies of pre-colonial civilizations.

The second inspiration is personal. The protagonist's exile storyline mirrors the author's own experiences moving countries as a child, capturing that raw feeling of being an outsider. Scenes where dragons and humans tentatively communicate reflect the author's multilingual upbringing, where meaning often got lost in translation.

Lastly, there's a clear nod to ecological fiction. The dragons' symbiotic relationship with volcanoes parallels indigenous beliefs about living harmoniously with nature. The author's time volunteering at wildlife sanctuaries probably shaped scenes where characters heal injured dragons instead of fighting them. This isn't just another 'chosen one versus monsters' tale—it's about broken systems and unlikely alliances.

As a longtime fantasy reader, I think 'dragonfall' was born from the author's love for underdog stories mixed with dragon mythology. The protagonist's journey mirrors classic hero arcs but flips the script—instead of slaying dragons, he bonds with one considered 'cursed' by their kind. You can spot influences from medieval European folklore in how dragons are depicted as both majestic and deeply flawed creatures. The political intrigue between human kingdoms feels inspired by historical conflicts like the Wars of the Roses, but with magic and wyverns added to the mix. The author once mentioned in an interview that childhood visits to castles sparked their fascination with how power corrupts, which explains the series' focus on rulers who abuse dragonkind. Environmental themes sneak in too—the dragons' fading magic reflects climate anxiety, making the story eerily relatable.