The Dragonet Prophecy

The novel’s world building is rooted in natural elements and landscapes. The dragons of Pyrrhia are physically adapted to places where they come from, have abilities to match, and draw strength from the elements naturally found in their homeland. Clay, for instance, has a hard time with clumsiness in the cave. His feet ache at the end of most days there. Once he’s out in the world, he’s able to walk on the earth and romp in the mud, and he’s much more comfortable and agile than he was in the caves. Tsunami teaches Clay to use water to ease his aches and pains, but the mud he encounters in nature is what heals him the way Tsunami always promises water will heal him.

As a SeaWing, Tsunami loves water and is well adapted to the sea. She can see in the dark, glow in the dark, and breathe underwater. The colors of her scales, which Clay compares to “sapphires and emeralds” (98), mimic the blues and greens of the ocean, the way Clay’s scales mimic shades of brown: “gold and amber” (98), as well as mahogany. All dragon names take inspiration from the elements and colors found in their natural habitats. Glory’s name reflects of the wide varieties of colors and species that live in the rain forest, which is reflected in her awe-inspiring ability to change color like a living light show. Clay’s siblings also have names that reflect life in the river delta: Reed, Sora, Pheasant, Marsh, and Umber.