Raising Dragon Slayers

Audio By Carbonatix

How Fantasy Can Draw Your Teen Closer to God (and to You)

I’ll never forget the first time one of my teens handed me a fantasy book and said, “You’ve got to read this, Mom.” Honestly, I hesitated. I didn’t grow up with dragons and quests. I grew up with Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prairie. But when I cracked open that book, filled with swords, shadow beasts, and unlikely heroes, I found something unexpected.

Not just great storytelling. Not just imagination that soared. I found truth. Reflections of the gospel. And best of all? I found connection with my son.

You Were the Original Star Wars Teen

Let’s face it, if you’re the parent of a teen today, you’re likely part of the generation that fell in love with stories set in galaxies far, far away.

We were there for:

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back
Hours of Dungeons & Dragons and Legend of Zelda
Choose Your Own Adventure books and early RPGs

We loved exploring other worlds. So why do we hesitate when our teens do the same?

The truth is, speculative fiction, fantasy, sci-fi, and adventure are booming. According to recent publishing data, the market share of fantasy and science fiction for young adults has nearly doubled over the past decade (Publishers Weekly, 2023).

But as Christian parents, we have reason to pause. Because let’s be honest: not all fantasy is created equal.

There’s a Lot of Junk Out There

I’ve skimmed books handed to my kids that made my heart drop: dark magic, glorified violence, twisted gender ideology, and blurred morality. It’s not just a little “harmless make-believe.” It’s messaging. And today’s fantasy market is filled with it.

That’s why I’m so passionate about helping families discover something better.

Clean.
Imaginative.
Faith-filled fiction that points toward God, not away from Him.

Books like:

• The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson — A hilarious, heartfelt, redemptive series with echoes of the Gospel.
  
• The Green Ember series by S.D. Smith — Where “rabbits with swords” fight for virtue, family, and home.
  
• 100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson — A gripping tale of courage, wonder, and the unseen battle between good and evil.
  

These stories aren’t preachy, they’re powerful! They draw our teens in by showing them a world of danger and beauty and truth… and they often whisper the very things we’ve been praying they’d understand.

Fantasy Can Be Faithful

Don’t forget—Jesus used stories. He painted pictures with parables, crafting worlds in the minds of His listeners so they could grasp heavenly truth.

“I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.”
 —Matthew 13:35

C.S. Lewis did the same when he brought us to Narnia. Tolkien did it through Middle-earth. And modern authors are carrying that same torch today—guiding a generation through dragons, danger, and destiny… right to the feet of Jesus.

What Better Way to Connect with Your Dragon Slayer?

Here’s something I’ve learned: when we share stories, we share hearts.

You don’t have to “get” every game they play or every fantasy world they’re obsessed with—but you can start reading what they read. Talk about the characters. Discuss the battles between light and darkness. Ask what they would do in the same situation. You might be surprised how many deep spiritual conversations begin with:

“So what did you think about that twist in book three?”

And if you want a next-level way to bond with your teen while fanning the flames of faith and imagination?

Bring Your Dragon Slayers to
Realm Makers 2025!

📅 July 18–20, 2025 | 📍 Grand Rapids, MI

Realm Makers is the fan convention for Christian creatives—and it’s for parents, teens, and families who love stories that blend truth and wonder.

Here’s why it’s worth the trip:

• Meet the authors behind your teen’s favorite books: S.D. Smith, N.D. Wilson, Brent Weeks, and more. And my son Nathan and I will be there, too!
  
• Preview Wingfeather Saga Season 3 before it hits screens!
  
• Geek out together over costumes, comics, board games, and faith-infused storytelling.
  
• And YES—kids 11 and under are FREE!
  

“Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.”
 —Philippians 4:8

We can help our kids do that—through the stories we choose, the conversations we start, and the time we spend together.

This July, let Realm Makers be more than an event. Let it be a shared memory. A spiritual investment.

A moment where you say, “We went on this adventure together.”

Resources

The Clockwork Chronicles

I fell in love with Christian fantasy so much that I started writing speculative fiction with my son Nathan! Our first novel, Breath of Bones, is a fantasy-based WWII story featuring a Jewish golem who protects innocent people from Nazi invaders. And our newest book—Flight of Fate—releases June 5, 2025! It’s a steampunk WWII adventure packed with spies, sky ships, ancient secrets, and high-stakes missions across Europe.

Fun fact: Nathan and I plotted the first chapters of Flight of Fate over a giant bowl of popcorn on a Saturday night. Writing it together has been one of my favorite mother-son adventures yet!