Spirited Young Lady: Isabella Hendemore is the only daughter of a Scirling nobleman, and is expected to focus on ladylike pursuits rather than her true passion, dragon biology.

However her gender keeps her from the Philosopher's colloquium while Tom's let in fairly quickly. She makes several assumptions that annoy Tom and damage their early friendship.

Snobs Versus Slobs: Part of her early issues with Tom comes from their different social positions.Her acceptance to the philosophers colloquium took so long due to the institutions ingrained sexism, having published several acclaimed papers beforehand. However her intelligence, scientific rigor, and theoretical brilliance makes her stand out among them. Science Foils: Compared to her successors and contemporaries Isabella is an ill-educated autodidact, she calls her own education piecemeal more then once.Missing Mom: To Jake in one book when she goes adventuring, and it comes back to haunt them briefly during the next book.She more or less leaves young Jake to his nursemaid until he's old enough to carry a conversation, though in the third book she takes him on the eponymous voyage around the world to make up for it. Maternally Challenged: Although Isabella loves her son, she freely admits that parenting isn't her best skill.Lady of Adventure: An intrepid adventurer-scientist in a similar vein to real-life examples such as Gertrude Bell.Cartwright Curse: She spends most of one book fearing that she's a carrier.Eventually fully averted with her marriage to Suhail, in whom she finds a kindred spirit and whose contributions actively help her career. Career Versus Man: Why she avoids marriage after Jacob's death.Brutal Honesty: Isabella has very little in the way of a brain-to-mouth filter, which causes her trouble more than a few times.Interestingly her skill as an Artist makes her more attractive in Erigan culture, a West African inspired country. Artists Are Attractive: Isabella isn't bad looking but in the field she dresses for practicality not appearance.All Girls Like Ponies: When forbidden from studying natural history (including dragons) as a teenager, she turns to horses since they're an acceptable pastime for young ladies.Book five even has Suhail note her knack for survival.

Action Survivor: Isabella is far from an Action Girl, but finds herself in many dangerous situations.Please note that the presence of some tropes may constitute a spoiler! You have been warned.

A memoir of lady trent