Tags: Comedy, Fantasy, Adventure, Slice of Life, School Life

A Search for the Shield of the Seven Hallows begins!

(This review will contain spoilers)

Cute escapades continue in Dragon Daddy Diaries as Olivia, Eldraco and Luca go in search of one of the missing Seven Supreme Hallows known as the Vastearth Shield during their summer break. Along the way, this exploring trio will meet up with some of their friends from school, solve some family issues and discover the secrets of the war between the Humans and the Dark Kin.

The third volume of the series continues the wonderfully comfortable tone of the previous volumes, there are ample scenes of father/daughter bonding and fun times with friends as they go on a magical mystery tour with no end goal in sight in order to find the Vastearth Shield. One of their stop offs along the way happens to be at Daisy’s family home. All is not sunshine and rainbows however, as there is obvious tension within the family. There is a large difference between both Daisy’s Mother and Father as to their overall aspirations of both their daughter and their family. Her Father is a much more laidback magician whilst the Mother expects absolute perfection. This all comes to a head as they hold a party over Olivia and Eldraco’s visit, leading to a solution only a series like this could come up with – a family dragon ride to let out your feelings. This ride, whilst seeming surreal allows for a natural follow of communication between the family members clearing confusion and setting themselves on a better path together.

Olivia and her Father also pay short visits to Kate and Iria during their search. Fluffy cooking scenes ensue when meeting back up with Kate, the daughter of a royal chef whilst they get to go on a military walkabout when visiting Iria. This walkabout gives them an opportunity to tour the Chirin Forest, a possible location for the Supreme Hallow they’re searching for. However, what they end up finding instead is one of the safe havens for the persecuted Dark Kins who had been left behind after the war. This is where they meet Martell and a surprise reunion with Lena. Martell and Lena are well used in the novel as a way to set up the main characterisation arc of this volume. Both bare the trauma that comes with being Dark Kin within the human realm and whilst those scars are difficult to heal, Lena has been able to find both a voice and forgiveness through the writing of children’s picture books. These acts as an emotional catalyst, forging a strong familial bond between Martell and Lena, and offered a path towards the forgiveness of Queen Maredia, largely blamed for her mishandling of the war and failing the foretold prophecy.

Within Her Failures, the Dark Queen Finds Strength!

Every volume of the series thus far as gone with following one of the cast members as they inevitable go through a period of growth and self-reflection. This volume is no different, this time focusing on the Dark Queen, Maredia, in what is probably one of the most poignant points of growth throughout the series so far. In order to grow, she’ll have to face up to her own past and dig deep to what she has in the present to overcome her issues.

The war between the Dark Realm and the Human Realm ended in disaster, with not only the Dark Kin losing family members in the battle but also as a result of a closing of the gate between realms. As a result, those left in the Human world were left to be persecuted and treated as second class citizens, something that still exists within the world today. The people have long blamed Maredia for these failings as she was meant to be the bringer of prophecy, someone who’ll eventually unite both worlds. For the thousand years since then, this has always been weighing on Maredia’s mind, not only did she suffer personal losses but she must also carry the weight of all those she has let down and those who have suffered. This is all brought to the forefront when it is revealed that the Vastearth Shield can be found within the Dark Realm. Now, she must once again face the family she supposedly disappointed and the people who view her as a villain to her own kind.

Her first visit ultimately leads her back into a shut-in life, unwilling to face the ones she’s disappointed. In order to get her back on her feet and ready to face the trials ahead, trials that would confirm her place as a new emperor, her friends throw her a party, showing just how much she’s managed to achieve with her new life. With this new found strength, she can finally return to her own realm with a new sense of awareness and readiness for battle as she faces off against her own brothers and sisters to gain access to the final phase of the trial.

That trial was a piece of cake! I spent the last thousand years facing my own weakness, haven’t I?

Queen Maredia

In suitable fashion for this series, Maredia is easily able to overcome the final challenge for becoming emperor because of everything she’s already been through and the fact that to even come back took a lot of bravery and self-refection. With the trial complete, she can finally come to an understanding with her father and the team can finally claim the missing hallow which will end up uniting both worlds fulfilling the prophecy.

After reading the third volume, I can firmly say that it’s my favourite of the series so far. It has a good mix of wholesome and cute moments alongside some very nicely written character development and growth. With how the volume ended, I wonder whether we might be coming up towards the end of the series or whether they’ll find a new arc to write.