“Dragon Slippers” is the debut novel of new author Jessica Day George, and I found it completely charming.
Creel is the orphaned daughter of a mother who taught her how to embroider and weave. When Creel is left in the care of her aunt, her keeping puts a strain on the already impoverished household, and her aunt decides that the only solution is to offer Creel up to a dragon. When a knight in shining armor comes to rescue her, he’ll madly in love with her, carry her off and make all of them fabulously wealthy. A silly plan, but the best option, to her aunt’s way of thinking.
Creel sets off to find a dragon. Theodorus is the dragon in their area, and she hopes he won’t mind helping in their little plan. It really would be too bad if she were to get eaten instead of rescued. He’s agreeable enough, but doesn’t want to keep her around. She makes him a deal. If he gives her a token from his hoard, she’ll go away.
However, not every dragon hoards gold. In fact, most dragons hoard whatever thing they most like, and Theodorus likes shoes. Her own are shabby, so she decides to select a pair of shoes. He has many to choose from, but only one pair fits – a beautiful pair of blue slippers. He’s reluctant to let them go, but he made her a promise, so he kept his word and sent her on her way.
Her goal is to go to the King’s Seat and get a job with her sewing. As she walks, she’s set upon by brigands, but another dragon swoops down from the sky and carries her to safety. His name is Shardus, and he gives her a place to stay while she prepares her samples to show a potential employer. Shardus collects stained glass windows, and she uses his windows as inspiration for her designs.
As she becomes established in a shop in town, her embroidery catches the eye of nobility, but her slippers catch the eye of the Princess Amalia, soon to wed the Crown Prince. A plot is uncovered to take over the kingdom, and Creel alone holds the key to saving the lives of everyone.
This story is exciting to read, the quirks of the dragons a delight. I highly recommend this fun fantasy novel, which is a finalist for this year’s Whitney Award.
(This book was published in 2007 by Bloomsbury.)
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