Handbook for Dragon Slayers

The book balances adventure with fun, but I'm curious whether the tone was a deliberate choice to make dragons less scary and more endearing.

The protagonist’s journey feels like a metaphor for self-confidence — did the author aim to inspire young readers to find their inner strength?

The dragons and magic feel fresh and accessible, so I wonder what influenced the choice of specific mythological features and how they were adapted for a children's audience.