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Dragonkeeper #5
Shadow Sister
Tao is learning to be a dragonkeeper. With no one to teach him it is not easy. He must keep Kai safe but there is danger at every turn – a gang of murderous nomads, a giant seven-headed snake and, most terrifying of all, a ghost who can turn blood into ice. Tao knows he must prove he is truly worthy of the name dragonkeeper. But the road west is never straight and nothing for Tao and Kai is what it seems.
Shadow Sister is the fifth novel in the internationally bestselling and award-winning Dragonkeeper series from Australian author Carole Wilkinson. This gripping junior fiction fantasy is the perfect read for secondary school age children. Continue the story with the other books in the series: Dragonkeeper (Book 1), Garden of the Purple Dragon (Book 2), Dragon Moon (Book 3) and Blood Brothers (Book 4). Carole can be found online at: www.carolewilkinson.com.au
Shadow Sister is the fifth novel in the internationally bestselling and award-winning Dragonkeeper series from Australian author Carole Wilkinson. This gripping junior fiction fantasy is the perfect read for secondary school age children. Continue the story with the other books in the series: Dragonkeeper (Book 1), Garden of the Purple Dragon (Book 2), Dragon Moon (Book 3) and Blood Brothers (Book 4). Carole can be found online at: www.carolewilkinson.com.au
382 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2014
17 people are currently reading
792 people want to read
About the author
Carole Wilkinson
62 books290 followersCarole was born in England in 1950. Her family moved to Australia when she was 12. She now lives in Melbourne, with her husband John.
Carole didn't start writing until she was nearly 40. Before that, she worked as a laboratory assistant, working with a lot of blood and brains. Once she’d decided to try and become a writer, she went to university. She wrote a lot while she was there including her first novel. She showed it to a friend who worked in publishing who asked if she could write a teenage novel. Her first published book was based on something her daughter, who was at high school at the time, was doing.
Carole says she has lots of ideas and so far she’s never had 'writers' block'. She might have got a late start, but she’s been trying to make up for lost time and has written more than 30 books, some short stories, a telemovie and some TV and planetarium scripts.
Carole didn't start writing until she was nearly 40. Before that, she worked as a laboratory assistant, working with a lot of blood and brains. Once she’d decided to try and become a writer, she went to university. She wrote a lot while she was there including her first novel. She showed it to a friend who worked in publishing who asked if she could write a teenage novel. Her first published book was based on something her daughter, who was at high school at the time, was doing.
Carole says she has lots of ideas and so far she’s never had 'writers' block'. She might have got a late start, but she’s been trying to make up for lost time and has written more than 30 books, some short stories, a telemovie and some TV and planetarium scripts.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 23, 2021
Shadow Sister is a great sequel to Blood Brothers! This trilogy has a very different vibe to its predecessor, as there isn't an underlying quest as such. It's a much more meandering story that takes the characters through the same places over and over.
It was interesting to observe Tao's changing relationship to his Buddhism—he's still Buddhist through and through, but exhibiting more flexibility as needed to meet his own needs and those of the dragons around him. Speaking of dragons, Sunila is maybe my favourite part of this story. I love that Wilkinson drew on other dragonly lore—it makes for a fun change.
It was interesting to observe Tao's changing relationship to his Buddhism—he's still Buddhist through and through, but exhibiting more flexibility as needed to meet his own needs and those of the dragons around him. Speaking of dragons, Sunila is maybe my favourite part of this story. I love that Wilkinson drew on other dragonly lore—it makes for a fun change.
August 25, 2014
The main character of Tao is refreshingly gentle, thoughtful and spiritual. The dragon Kai is a humorous counterpoint to Tao's earnestness.
The story is well-written. The first part meanders along, but those familiar with the basics of Tao philosophy will recognise this deliberate pacing in action. But fortunately the story doesn't ever get boring. Rather it is fascinating, particularly in immersing the reader in Chinese history and tradition through characters and action. At times the action becomes truly scary, even gruesome.
A very enjoyable story for middle readers, with a sweet heart.
The story is well-written. The first part meanders along, but those familiar with the basics of Tao philosophy will recognise this deliberate pacing in action. But fortunately the story doesn't ever get boring. Rather it is fascinating, particularly in immersing the reader in Chinese history and tradition through characters and action. At times the action becomes truly scary, even gruesome.
A very enjoyable story for middle readers, with a sweet heart.
March 1, 2021
it was surprising where Tao quit being a monk and broke all the rules and started to become a dragon keeper instead. I liked how he was determined to achieve something so he could be worthy of leading the dragon like if the dragon doesnt think he wasnt good enough to lead them although that he is taking care of Kai while travling.
September 7, 2025
I love this Dragon Keeper Series. This is the 5th book, I'm excited to say that I've been reliably informed that Carole Wilkinson and her daughter Lili are currently writing the next instalment.
This book starts with Tao, a novice Buddist monk, being told he must learn to be a Dragon Keeper. No one can teach him what he needs to learn. The family heritage is all he's been told. Tao must prove he is truly worthy of the name dragonkeeper.
It is China in the era of the Sixteen Kingdoms Period in the year 325 CE. Danger lurks at every turn. Tao must care for Kai the dragon, and they must travel to the dragon haven. Only Kai knows the way. The journey is long. Tao tries all the ways he can to help Kai avoid the sickness of iron touching him.
Kai likes to recite poems. When he complained of a belly-ache, he came up with just the thing.
'When my insides ache
And make a gurgling sound,
The contents spurt
All over the ground.'
Tao is happy to have left Luoynag and learning what Kai will eat to protect him from the iron poison. Things change in their journey when a sudden, unexpected, and violent storm hits them on the path. They were now looking for bat droppings and cinnabar.
They were travelling west. Kai was sniffing stones and looking at the ground. They came across a village that was in ruins. There were no bodies or evidence of burial cairns. Tao, being a good monk, decided they should stay and chant a sutra.
From then on, the sky was getting heavier, thunder overtook them, and the fire they made was quenched. Then it began to snow. They ran into a nearby cave and found bones.
What they found was larger than bats and had sharp talons, but they were in pitch black and couldn't see. Tao was terrified, even though Kai said he could see.
There were bones in the cave. They slept on them, without knowing that the first night. The bodies of the villagers had been carried into the cave.
The whole journey led them through many dangers. Finding food and curing Kai of iron poison was the least of their problems. They met an old man and helped him bury his granddaughter.
Kai had been tracking another dragon. The old man's granddaughter became Tao's sister ghost, leaving him cold to the bone.
Tao had to learn the hard way that cinnabar could protect the dragons from iron poison. Tao realised that Kai hadn't been leading him west to the dragon haven. Tao feels responsible for the old man and the baby grandson. They fed the child and helped them to find the road to the south, where the old man's family escaped to.
The nomads followed Tao and Kai back to the cave. They met a wild beast, the one Kai had been tracking. This dragon beast had killed the villagers. Tao would learned that he would be dragon-keeper of all the dragons and the ghost girl would help him fight off the nomads.
I loved how this story wound its way from one dangerous situation to the next and how Tao would learn his Qui was to attract insects and wuji, butterflies, worms, spiders, were his to call for help. Pema, a girl he knew from his family compound would be important to the story too.
It's a complicated story, but one I love, just as much as the other DragonKeeper books. The world of 3rd century China is dangerous, and Tao lives up to his commitment to become a dragonkeeper.
This book starts with Tao, a novice Buddist monk, being told he must learn to be a Dragon Keeper. No one can teach him what he needs to learn. The family heritage is all he's been told. Tao must prove he is truly worthy of the name dragonkeeper.
It is China in the era of the Sixteen Kingdoms Period in the year 325 CE. Danger lurks at every turn. Tao must care for Kai the dragon, and they must travel to the dragon haven. Only Kai knows the way. The journey is long. Tao tries all the ways he can to help Kai avoid the sickness of iron touching him.
Kai likes to recite poems. When he complained of a belly-ache, he came up with just the thing.
'When my insides ache
And make a gurgling sound,
The contents spurt
All over the ground.'
Tao is happy to have left Luoynag and learning what Kai will eat to protect him from the iron poison. Things change in their journey when a sudden, unexpected, and violent storm hits them on the path. They were now looking for bat droppings and cinnabar.
They were travelling west. Kai was sniffing stones and looking at the ground. They came across a village that was in ruins. There were no bodies or evidence of burial cairns. Tao, being a good monk, decided they should stay and chant a sutra.
From then on, the sky was getting heavier, thunder overtook them, and the fire they made was quenched. Then it began to snow. They ran into a nearby cave and found bones.
What they found was larger than bats and had sharp talons, but they were in pitch black and couldn't see. Tao was terrified, even though Kai said he could see.
There were bones in the cave. They slept on them, without knowing that the first night. The bodies of the villagers had been carried into the cave.
The whole journey led them through many dangers. Finding food and curing Kai of iron poison was the least of their problems. They met an old man and helped him bury his granddaughter.
Kai had been tracking another dragon. The old man's granddaughter became Tao's sister ghost, leaving him cold to the bone.
Tao had to learn the hard way that cinnabar could protect the dragons from iron poison. Tao realised that Kai hadn't been leading him west to the dragon haven. Tao feels responsible for the old man and the baby grandson. They fed the child and helped them to find the road to the south, where the old man's family escaped to.
The nomads followed Tao and Kai back to the cave. They met a wild beast, the one Kai had been tracking. This dragon beast had killed the villagers. Tao would learned that he would be dragon-keeper of all the dragons and the ghost girl would help him fight off the nomads.
I loved how this story wound its way from one dangerous situation to the next and how Tao would learn his Qui was to attract insects and wuji, butterflies, worms, spiders, were his to call for help. Pema, a girl he knew from his family compound would be important to the story too.
It's a complicated story, but one I love, just as much as the other DragonKeeper books. The world of 3rd century China is dangerous, and Tao lives up to his commitment to become a dragonkeeper.
November 13, 2024
Shadow Sister is the 5th Dragon Keeper book, Tao the Buddhist is still the main character.
I like it when Tao, and his dragon Kai, meet what they call the Shadow Sister, because she is at first really mean, but then they find out that she is nice. In my opinion, this book is the best in the series so far. I would recommend this book to people that like adventure and danger. People who like books that are not about danger would not like this book. You should start from number 1 in the series so you know what is happening. Just a WARNING, if you want to go to bed early, I don't recommend this book because you won't want to stop reading to go to sleep. In fact, all you will want to do is talk about the book FOREVER.
I like it when Tao, and his dragon Kai, meet what they call the Shadow Sister, because she is at first really mean, but then they find out that she is nice. In my opinion, this book is the best in the series so far. I would recommend this book to people that like adventure and danger. People who like books that are not about danger would not like this book. You should start from number 1 in the series so you know what is happening. Just a WARNING, if you want to go to bed early, I don't recommend this book because you won't want to stop reading to go to sleep. In fact, all you will want to do is talk about the book FOREVER.
May 29, 2017
Amazing flowing read. I read and loved the Dragon Keeper Series in primary school and picked up the prequel and sequel later in high school but remembering about the series recently I picked up Shadow Sister from the library and read once more. I loved how I plunged into the same magic world of my younger days and flow created by Carole Wilkinson. Completely recommend
July 21, 2024
loved the books lessons
I said this review because I was a little upset at the unkindness to girls. I loved the personality of Sunila. I loved how the Xhao soldiers were almost invincible but were almost petrified by wuji. I loved Kai’s personality. I liked this book because it taught me lots of new words and their meanings
I said this review because I was a little upset at the unkindness to girls. I loved the personality of Sunila. I loved how the Xhao soldiers were almost invincible but were almost petrified by wuji. I loved Kai’s personality. I liked this book because it taught me lots of new words and their meanings
August 24, 2017
So far the Dragon Keeper Series is my FAVOURITE! The books in the series have so much action and detail that I can picture the whole story in my mind. The fact that the story is about protecting dragons, unlike many other books that contain the quest to kill a dragon makes it unique.
August 19, 2019
Another story of the Dragon Keeper series, I love this book just like I love every other one in the series, which is a lot. It leads and ends to the other book in the series, love the continuity and the connection between all of the books, especially since this is set 4000 years later.
January 12, 2019
MY FAVOURITE SERIES IN THE ENTIRE WORLD
July 3, 2020
Once again, an enjoyable read. Excited to see how it all ends!
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November 25, 2014Katharine is a judge for the Aurealis Awards. This entry is the personal opinion of Katharine herself, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.
To be safe, I won't be recording my thoughts (if I choose to) here until after the AA are over.
To be safe, I won't be recording my thoughts (if I choose to) here until after the AA are over.
May 29, 2015
This was a good book. It was interesting and moving and scary all in its respective parts. My one annoyance was that the ending seemed a bit slow.
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June 9, 2016Amazing and creepy...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2020
A good ending to the Dragonkeeper series, with a bittersweet note of both finality and uncertainty.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews