As a Swede with over two decades spent in China, Catarina Lilliehöök’s debut novel The Spirit Dragon’s Keeper, offers a breathtaking start on her epic vision The Polar Saga. By blending the cultural heritage of the Sámi— The People of the Arctic—with ancient Chinese Martial Arts, dragons and magic, this spellbinding novel takes fantasy in a new direction. A book that brings cultures together, bridges worlds and promises a truly original take on a genre that keeps growing in popularity.
What hit me most in this intriguing and unusual story was Mila’s strong voice. The main protagonist, a young reindeer herder, who is brutally abducted and swept into a prestigious martial arts temple in southern China, is a girl whose world shatters the day bad men come to her village. As life takes this unexpected turn Mila has to do whatever it takes to survive: Change. Adapt. Learn. For a lone girl in a foreign and boy infested world this is a massive challenge told with a strength and raw intimacy. A writing style that brings the reader along on a truly immersive experience.
This tale gripped me from the first page, partly because of its unique and unexplored blend of the Nordic ethnic minority the Sámi, combined with one of ancient China’s most classic heritages; gong fu; Chinese Martial Arts. The richly depicted settings kept creating endless images in my mind and I found myself wishing I could have witnessed it all on a big screen. The merging of disparate worlds, where Mils is the given underdog who claws her way up through cleverness and determination, paints a journey of self-discovery that feels real and genuine. An outsider trying to belong is a theme that brings—and delivers—a vision of courage and transformation.
The mix of character-driven narrative, rich world building and draw on ancient traditions is expertly done. The author’s solid knowledge of Chinese customs, language, and history combined with a creative magical touch offers a unique and deeply thoughtful fusion of real world and fantasy. The story-telling is fuelled by a skilful slow burning determination that seeps through everything from well developed characters to the striking balance of nature, lore, magic and brutal inner strength. Mila is a main protagonist you want to connect with. This is a story for all ages. The pacing is excellent and five stars are well deserved for this skilfully crafted debut novel!
Instagram page of the author.
The author Catarina Lilliehöök lived in Hong Kong as well as in Beijing and Shanghai for over two decades. She now lives in Switzerland.
The newly launched book in The Polar Saga Series The Spirit Dragon’s Keeper, already has 30 5-star reviews on Amazon!
Available on Amazon here!
