Meet Etchling: How We Created Our Favorite Chocolate-Loving Dragon

Every story needs a character who steals every scene they’re in. In our debut novel Chivalry & Chocolate, that character is a chocolate-obsessed, absurdly dramatic dragon named Etchling. And honestly? We didn’t plan it that way.

We didn’t plan to write this book at all. We accidentally reverse-gifted it into existence.

We were living our lives as normal when one day, Aunt S called us up and informed us she was staying with J’s parents. She posed a question that sounded simple: “What chocolates do J’s parents like? I really want to thank them.”

We confidently described… our favorite chocolates, thinking everyone must feel the same, right? J’s parents, sweet souls that they are, ended up gifting us the chocolates because they actually preferred different ones. Whoops.

We laughed and called ourselves dessert-hoarding dragons, and honestly, Chivalry & Chocolate hatched shortly after. Soon, we also had a knight on a quest that wasn’t about slaying anything, just learning how to be loved without armor. Because chocolate is proof that a hard exterior can still be super soft where it counts.

(also, so sorry Mom and Dad, we totally still owe you those other chocolates)

Building the Character

Once we committed to writing Etchling as a real character rather than set dressing, we needed to figure out who this dragon was. What were her motivations? Her personality? Her (many, many) quirks?

The Chocolate Obsession. This was always central. Etchling doesn’t just like chocolate; Etchling hoards it. Etchling is a connoisseur with standards that would make a Parisian chocolatier nervous. She can tell the difference between a mediocre truffle and an excellent one. She has preferences (dark chocolate over milk, always). She will sulk, visibly and at length, if given subpar confections. We loved the idea of a dragon with such refined taste in something so specifically delightful.

The Loyalty. Etchling is fiercely protective of the chocolate shop and the people in it. Not exclusively in a dramatic, fire-breathing way (though there are moments), but in a quiet, constant way. Etchling sleeps in the back room. She brings truffles to people who are sad, because in Etchling’s world, chocolate solves most problems. (She is not wrong.)

The Theatrics. Etchling doesn’t just talk. She performs. Every sentence is delivered with the dramatic weight of a closing monologue, every opinion stated as though it were an objective truth the universe simply hadn’t caught up with yet. She taught herself human speech and considers herself something of a prodigy at it, which means she will happily narrate her own entrances, critique your outfit mid-conversation, and call everyone “darling” with the confidence of someone who has never once been told no. One of our favorite parts of writing Etchling was giving her room to be exactly this much.

How Etchling Became the Heart of the Story

Here’s the thing we didn’t expect: Etchling didn’t just steal scenes. Etchling became the emotional core of the novel.

Etchling is the first to trust new characters, the first to figure out how to fix what’s wrong, and the first to offer comfort. Her relationships with the other characters became the thread that tied the whole found-family dynamic together.

When we realized this was happening, we leaned into it hard. We gave Etchling more scenes, more moments of connection, more opportunities to be the chocolate-covered, impossibly dramatic heart of the story. And the book is immeasurably better for it.

Why Readers Love Etchling

We think the appeal is simple: Etchling represents the kind of loyalty that announces itself at full volume and then refuses to leave until you feel better. She shows up with chocolate when you’re having a bad day, tells you your sadness is “an absolute waste of a perfectly good face, darling,” and won’t rest until she’s satisfied you’ve eaten at least three truffles. In a world that can feel complicated and loud, there’s something deeply comforting about a creature whose love language is dramatic declarations and really excellent chocolate.

What’s Next for Etchling

We can promise you this: Etchling’s story is just beginning. Chivalry & Chocolate is the first chapter in a larger tale, and our favorite dramatically opinionated dragon will be at the center of it all. There are more truffles to steal, more hearts to win, and more cozy adventures on the horizon.

We can’t wait for you to meet Etchling. And we’re pretty sure Etchling can’t wait to meet you. (The dragon has already hidden a welcome truffle somewhere. Good luck finding it. Etchling’s hiding spots are legendary.)

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