Story Insights: The Inspiration behind Dragonshade
My epic fantasy series, The Secret Chronicles of Lost Magic, is (or will be) a collection of novels that highlight different eras within the same world. The first book,The Raven, is set in a prehistoric era. With the second book I wanted to capture the early days of a post-nomadic world – of early civilisation. So Dragonshade came to be heavily inspired by…
Ancient Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is our planet’s oldest recorded civilisation. Sumer, Ur, Assyria and Babylonia all have a rich and volatile history and I was inspired by everything from their politics, war, architecture, religion, fashion, cuisine and farming practices, to create the world of Zraemia in Dragonshade and the various city states within that desert realm.
The Code of Hammurabi
Hammurabi was a Babylonian king who famously recorded a number of laws carved into stone which still exists today. The Code of Hammurabi, as it is known, is considered one of the first organised sets of law that aims to ensure justice for all. In Dragonshade, King Amar-Sin was modeled on Hammurabi and his practice of code-making likewise.
Enheduanna
With that name I’m sure you can guess which character was informed by Enheduanna – a Sumerian High Priestess and our world’s earliest known poet. You guessed it, she inspired the creation of Dragonshade’s Heduanna.
The Sea Peoples
