The Mark of the Dragonfly is the first book in Jaleigh Johnson’s World of Solace trilogy. Though one might expect to see the central characters return in subsequent installments, that isn’t the case. Piper and Anna aren’t the common thread that runs through all the books. Instead, the connecting link is the world of Solace itself and the competition between the Merrow Kingdom and the Dragonfly territories. All three novels are set in the same fictional universe, but each one unfolds in a different region and with different central characters.

The Mark of the Dragonfly examines the tension between the Merrow Kingdom to the north and the Dragonfly territories to the south. Merrow is interested in conquest and wants to take over the southern region by force of arms. In contrast, King Aron of the Dragonfly territories is interested in exploration via ships and innovative aircraft. Presumably, he might want to colonize yet undiscovered lands in Solace and is focused on enhancing the technology his region already possesses. Iron becomes especially important to both kingdoms. Merrow wants the metal to build more powerful weapons of war. King Aron wants it to build more sophisticated modes of transportation.