Indebted: The Berkshire Dragon by Charmayne Hafen Book Review

Stories about female heroes aren’t as rare as they used to be. As a result, they are starting to seep into various genres of the storytelling world. This includes stories where previously the female characters played mere damsels in distress. Charmayne Hafen’s YA novel, Indebted: The Berkshire Dragon, rewrites medieval history in this sense. Her  sword fighting princess who balances both ferocity and kindness creates a modern twist on a classic character. Indebted has converted me from a reader who shies away from medieval tales to one who embraces the genre through this simple but entertaining story.

Indebted plot summary

Wren is a lonely young princess who is forced to stay within the confines of her father’s castle after her mother’s sudden disappearance. She finds her life to be dull and boring until the castle’s cook, Mrs. Pendelin, introduces Wren to her son, Aleric.

After a shaky introduction, Aleric and Wren become good friends. He even teaches her how to sword fight. Then, one day, Aleric is drafted into the king’s army, and Wren is left alone again.

Determined to break free of her gilded cage, Wren decides to escape. She enters a sword fighting competition in a nearby kingdom. With her newfound freedom comes danger, bargaining, and self-doubt. But it also brings adventure, friendship, and the realization that there is more to life than wasting away in a castle.

Modern themes in a medieval setting

Indebted really breaks my prejudice of fantasy novels. This is a simple, easy to follow story with a hero that I can really root for.  Princess Wren is a very relatable character. Lonely and naïve but driven.

That drive gives her the confidence to pursue her love of sword fighting, even though it means disobeying her father and putting herself in danger. She also seeks acceptance, especially from the men in her life: her father, Aleric, and even her opponents.

Wren is tied down by rules and regulations forced upon her. This keeps her secluded and without a purpose. She is constantly pulling against these restrictions while also second guessing her actions. However, she’s still very feminine and fragile, making her a very well-rounded princess. She juggles multiple traits, showing her YA readers that no woman possesses just one singular identity.  

As a result, I loved the messages in this story. They’re modern ideas that run fluidly through the medieval setting. They’re also not preachy, not even the Christian beliefs that Wren begins to adopt as she looks for guidance during her numerous conflicts. Instead, her bible studies give her a clear mindset and useful ideas to help her overcome her obstacles.

A fast-moving plot

I went into Indebted almost completely blind, reading just a few sentence description of the book before diving in. In the end, I think this was helpful because it kept me from guessing all of the twists and turns that weave their way through Wren’s story.

Just when I thought the tale was going to stop and focus on one particular element, another conflict erupts, each one worse than the last. It wasn’t until the end that the direction finally clicked in place for me.

My only criticism regarding the plot was the pacing of the action. The sword fights and other intense scenes feel rushed and glossed over. We never really get a clear picture of Wren’s fighting style, and she seems to overcome her opponents with such ease that there is no time to build tension or to let her show off her skills.

Likable characters

Wren is also a good person, determined to do the right thing and to put others first, even if it means sacrificing her own feelings, freedom, or even her life.  It draws other decent characters to her as well, such as Princess Lorenda, the daughter of King Olerion who holds the sword fighting competition that Wren enters. Then, there is Travin, one of King Olerion’s courtiers who takes a protective role over Wren.

Wren’s team is full of likable characters who may be a bit one-dimensional at times, but they each bring something to the table. They’re also there as support, not to rescue the damsel in distress. Wren may unwittingly get herself into one bad situation after another, but it’s always on her to pull herself out.

It was also a relief that Hafen didn’t try to use too much period-specific dialogue in her story. While the language may be a bit too modern for the times, it’s a clear and easy read that moves fast without stumbling over old-fashioned dialects.

My recommendation of Indebted 

Besides the few minor criticisms mentioned above, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good adventure story geared towards young female readers. You don’t have to be into castles and dragons in order to have a good time reading this, but it doesn’t hurt if you do.

While heavy on emotion and characterizations, the violence is kept to a minimum, and the subject matter stays tame. Essentially, it’s just a clearly written, well-told story with a good message and relatable characters. 

Buy it!

Buy a copy of Indebted: The Berkshire Dragon here and help support local bookstores. This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.

Pin it!