A Deep Dive into Catarina Lilliehöök's forthcoming book, 'The Spirit Dragon's Keeper'.

A Deep Dive into Catarina Lilliehöök's forthcoming book, 'The Spirit Dragon's Keeper'. The protagonist, Mi La, experiences several overarching themes that connect her past and present, including her identity, destiny, family, and the impact of her unique abilities.

Identity: Mi La struggles with her sense of self, torn between her Sámi heritage and her life at Long Si. She was once a reindeer herder, "Lu Mi La", a name that is a transcription of sounds and has a deep connection to her homeland. However, she is also called "Little Secret" a name given to her by Master Li. Her past is rooted in nature, with stories of her grandmother and the land and her present is defined by her training in martial arts and Chinese traditions. She grapples with how her past fits into her present, and questions whether she is still a "reindeer herder". She is a "mule herder" to Yong Da and sometimes feels like a detested orphan.

Destiny: Mi La's destiny is a recurring theme. Master Li tells her that her destiny is at Long Si, and it is to study and learn. She is told that her destiny is linked to the Spirit Dragon. Her destiny, she learns, involves the need to balance her yin (feminine) energy with Hidden Eye's yang (masculine) energy. She was taken by the Nefarious because she had paranormal skills to be used by them, which also explains why Master Li rescued her. Mi La's destiny as "Spirit Dragon’s Keeper" is not a straight road and is tied to the need to overcome her hardest opponent, which is herself. She initially has many questions about her destiny and later finds out that it is to help Hidden Eyes.

Family: Her family in Sápmi is a strong presence in her mind. She remembers her grandmother's stories and the bond she had with her reindeer. Her parents are a source of pain for her, as she is reminded by Yong Da that they left her. She also forms a deep bond with one of the temple cats, her sister who she refers to as Habllek, a name that stems from the Sami language. Her mother's warnings echo in her mind, "Be careful, Mila. Be careful not to show". At Long Si, Cook Ma becomes a kind of mother figure for her and she feels a sense of responsibility to protect Wei Wan like a younger brother and in this, she recalls her brother, Olli. She feels both "a tug and pull" to Master Li, whom she is also sometimes in conflict with, and feels betrayed by.

Unique Abilities: Mi La possesses unique abilities that connect her past and present. In her past, her mother was scared of her "glimmering hands", and her grandmother was cautious of her ability to see hearts. Mi La’s ability to see people's "heart orbs", and how emotion affects these orbs is something she recalls from the past and continues to experience in her present at Long Si. She also can borrow the strength and skills of others. It is through her power that she can call Hidden Eyes and become aware of her identity as Seikhar, a "Child of the Northern Lights". Mi La also learns that her ability was the reason she was targeted by the Nefarious.

These themes illustrate the complexity of Mi La's journey, as she grapples with her origins, discovers her purpose, and develops her powers, which ultimately shape her path toward her destiny as the Spirit Dragon's Keeper.

-Harry Hickey, February 2025.