Dungeons and Drama Summary, Characters and Themes

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce is a delightful young adult romcom that blends theater, gaming, and self-discovery into an engaging story. 

The novel follows Riley, a high school junior and aspiring Broadway director, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she’s grounded after a reckless decision. Forced to work at her estranged father’s tabletop game store, she hatches a scheme to escape her punishment—but ends up entangled in a Dungeons & Dragons campaign that changes everything. As Riley fights to save her school’s canceled musical, she discovers new friendships, unexpected passions, and the possibility that romance might be closer than she thought.

Summary

Riley, a high school junior with dreams of directing on Broadway, has always lived for the stage. Alongside her best friend Hoshiko, she thrives in the world of musical theater, eagerly anticipating her chance to direct the school’s spring musical. However, her plans take a disastrous turn when she “borrows” her mother’s car without a license to attend a Broadway show. 

Caught and grounded, she faces an even worse punishment—spending her after-school hours working at her estranged father’s tabletop game store, Sword and Board Games. To Riley, the store is more than just a job; it’s a painful reminder of her father’s misplaced priorities and a key factor in her parents’ divorce.

At the game store, Riley meets a quirky cast of regulars, including Nathan, a sarcastic and brooding classmate who works there. Their initial dynamic is anything but friendly—Nathan is unimpressed by Riley’s dramatic flair, while she dismisses him as just another gaming nerd. 

But Riley quickly realizes she needs his help. Determined to avoid her shifts, she convinces Nathan to cover for her in exchange for helping him win the affection of his crush, Sophia. However, this deal comes with an unexpected condition: she must participate in his Dungeons & Dragons campaign.

At first, Riley scoffs at the idea of role-playing, but as she joins the group—comprised of the charismatic Lucas, flirtatious Anthony, and serious Dungeon Master John—she begins to see surprising similarities between tabletop gaming and theater. 

Both involve storytelling, character development, and immersive performances. Slowly, Riley starts to enjoy the game, bonding with her fellow players in ways she never anticipated.

Meanwhile, at school, Riley receives devastating news: the administration has canceled the spring musical due to budget cuts. Unable to accept this, she secretly devises a plan to save it, despite being grounded. 

With Hoshiko’s support, Riley launches a campaign to bring the musical back, brainstorming fundraising ideas and appealing to skeptical administrators.

As Riley juggles her growing love for gaming and her mission to restore the musical, she also navigates complicated personal relationships. Her ex-boyfriend Paul, now dating a fellow theater student, flaunts his new romance, stirring feelings of resentment and self-doubt. 

Meanwhile, her relationship with Nathan grows more complex. Their flirtation, initially meant to be an act, starts to feel real. Riley watches as Nathan pursues Sophia, but she begins questioning whether she truly wants him to succeed.

At home, tensions with her parents escalate. Riley’s mother disapproves of her defiance, while her father’s attempts to reconnect remain strained. However, through working at the store, Riley gains a deeper understanding of her father. 

She sees how much the store means to him—not as a selfish pursuit, but as a community he’s built. Their relationship begins to mend as they bond over shared work responsibilities and late-night game discussions.

The story’s climax arrives when Riley’s secret efforts to save the musical are exposed, leading to a heated confrontation with her parents. 

She finally voices her deep-seated fears—of failure, abandonment, and not being enough for either of them. In turn, her parents acknowledge her struggles, allowing them to reach a new understanding.

At the same time, her relationship with Nathan comes to a head. A dramatic moment in their D&D campaign mirrors their real-life emotions, pushing them to admit their true feelings. 

Nathan confesses that his crush on Sophia was never truly meaningful, while Riley realizes she’s developed genuine feelings for him.

In the end, Riley’s perseverance pays off. The school reinstates the musical with a reduced budget, thanks to her strategic problem-solving and the overwhelming support from her friends and community.

More importantly, Riley emerges from her journey as a stronger, more self-assured person. She embraces both theater and gaming as integral parts of her identity, realizing she doesn’t have to fit into just one world.

As she steps confidently into her role as the student director, supported by her dad, mom, Hoshiko, and Nathan, Riley understands that life—like Dungeons & Dragons—is all about embracing unexpected adventures, forging new paths, and sometimes, taking a chance on love.

Dungeons and Drama Summary

Characters

Riley

Riley is a dynamic character who undergoes significant personal growth throughout the novel. At the beginning of the story, she is driven by her passion for musical theater, aspiring to become a Broadway director.

Her impulsive behavior, such as borrowing her mom’s car without permission, showcases her rebellious side. However, this impulsiveness also leads to her punishment, which places her in a new environment—her father’s game store.

Riley harbors deep resentment for her father and the store, believing that his obsession with gaming led to their divorce. This perception initially shapes her view of her identity and the role of theater in her life.

As the story progresses, Riley learns to embrace new experiences, such as tabletop gaming, and sees value in the community her father has built. Her journey is one of self-discovery, where she realizes that her identity is not confined to being a theater kid but is more multifaceted.

She becomes a leader, learning how to strategize and problem-solve, ultimately reviving the spring musical while also mending her relationships with her parents. Through this process, Riley finds the courage to be unapologetically herself.

Nathan 

Nathan initially appears as a sarcastic, brooding character, someone who seems to clash with Riley at every turn. He works at Sword and Board Games, sharing an antagonistic relationship with Riley, marked by witty banter and subtle hostility.

Nathan is not easily swayed by Riley’s theatrics, which frustrates her, as she’s used to being the center of attention. Over time, Nathan’s role evolves from an annoying co-worker to a more nuanced character who challenges Riley’s preconceived notions.

As Riley becomes more involved in the Dungeons & Dragons game, Nathan’s protective and loyal nature begins to surface. He is revealed to be more than just a gamer; he is a sensitive and intelligent person struggling with insecurities, especially regarding his unrequited feelings for Sophia.

Through his relationship with Riley, Nathan learns to open up and confront his emotional struggles, letting go of his infatuation with Sophia. The connection between Riley and Nathan evolves from antagonistic banter to a genuine friendship and eventually a romantic interest, highlighting Nathan’s growth into someone who values himself beyond superficial relationships.

Hoshiko 

Hoshiko plays a crucial role as Riley’s best friend and confidante. She is a steadfast companion throughout Riley’s journey, supporting her during the emotional highs and lows.

Hoshiko is a significant part of Riley’s life, particularly in the world of theater, and she provides a sense of stability amid Riley’s turbulent relationship with her family and her internal struggles. However, Hoshiko’s own growth is also evident as she begins to assert her independence and carve out her own identity.

While Hoshiko is always there for Riley, she also has her own aspirations and challenges, separate from the shared theater obsession. Her role in the story is not just to provide support but to show that true friendship can grow alongside individual growth.

She stands by Riley, especially when Riley is trying to save the musical, but also helps Riley see the importance of allowing others to find their own paths. Hoshiko’s character embodies the theme of friendship that grows through mutual respect and personal growth.

Riley’s Parents

Riley’s parents are pivotal in shaping her character arc, though their relationship with her is strained and complicated. Her father, who owns the game store, is depicted as the person responsible for the family’s broken bond.

Riley’s perception of him is clouded by her anger towards the store, which she associates with his abandonment of their family. Her mother, while not as actively involved in the game store’s world, holds a more distant and disapproving stance regarding Riley’s defiance.

The primary conflict with Riley’s parents arises from her decision to fight for the revival of the spring musical, despite being grounded. Her actions challenge the expectations placed on her by both parents—her father’s passive presence in her life and her mother’s desire for Riley to adhere to rules and earn back trust.

Over the course of the book, Riley’s confrontations with her parents—especially the heartfelt conversations—lead to emotional breakthroughs. Her father expresses pride in her efforts, acknowledging that while he may have made mistakes, he sees the strength in Riley.

Similarly, her mother comes to understand that Riley’s passion for theater is a vital part of her identity, even if it leads to mistakes. By the end of the story, the family dynamic transforms into one of mutual respect, with the parents finally seeing Riley not just as their daughter but as an individual with her own ambitions and path.

Sophia 

Sophia’s role in the narrative is more peripheral, yet significant in shaping Nathan’s character. She is a member of Nathan’s Dungeons & Dragons group and becomes the object of his infatuation.

Initially, Sophia is portrayed as enigmatic and somewhat aloof, enjoying the attention Nathan gives her but not reciprocating his feelings. This unrequited love creates a sense of frustration and longing in Nathan, which Riley observes.

However, as the story progresses, it becomes clear that Nathan’s feelings for Sophia are more about escapism and an idealized fantasy than about a genuine connection. Sophia’s role helps Nathan realize that he has been focusing on the wrong type of relationship and that his true feelings for Riley are rooted in something deeper and more authentic.

While Sophia doesn’t play a central role in Riley’s life, her presence in the D&D group is crucial to the emotional development of Nathan and, by extension, Riley’s realization of her own feelings.

Paul

Paul is introduced as Riley’s ex-boyfriend, who now dates Lainey, a fellow actor from their community theater group. His role in the story is primarily symbolic of Riley’s past and the type of romantic relationship she once thought she wanted.

Paul is confident, popular, and somewhat condescending, which makes Riley feel inadequate in comparison. When Paul reappears in her life, flaunting his new relationship, it forces Riley to confront unresolved emotions—feelings of rejection, self-doubt, and the pressure to conform to a version of success that isn’t authentic to her.

Paul represents a superficial connection that ultimately highlights what Riley truly values in a partner, especially as she grows closer to Nathan. By the end of the story, Paul serves as a contrast to Nathan, with Riley realizing that true love and connection are not about recognition and validation from others but about mutual respect and understanding.

Themes

The Struggle Between Personal Identity and Societal Expectations

At the core of Dungeons and Drama is Riley’s ongoing struggle to define who she is and what she wants out of life, especially in the context of the contrasting pressures placed on her by society, her parents, and her own aspirations. Riley starts as a teenager who defines herself primarily through her passion for theater, yet her life takes a turn as she becomes entangled in her father’s gaming world and the broader culture surrounding it.

At first, Riley resents her father’s store, Sword and Board Games, seeing it as the source of her parents’ divorce and the catalyst for her fractured family. This resentment reflects her inner turmoil, where she feels torn between the image of the person she believes she should be—a dedicated theater student striving for Broadway—and the realities of her life that push her in unexpected directions.

The themes of identity and self-discovery are explored as Riley grapples with embracing both the passion she has for theater and the surprising enjoyment she finds in tabletop gaming. Her journey involves not only reconciling these two aspects of herself but also navigating the tension between the expectations placed on her by her parents—especially her mother, who does not understand Riley’s deep commitment to theater—and her own desire to assert her independence and choose her own path.

Ultimately, Riley realizes that she doesn’t need to fit into a single, predefined box, and that identity is multifaceted, a combination of interests, values, and experiences that can’t be neatly categorized.

The Impact of Family Dynamics on Personal Growth and Decision-Making

Family plays a pivotal role in shaping Riley’s character and decisions throughout Dungeons and Drama. Her strained relationship with both her mother and father influences her choices, thoughts, and actions in powerful ways.

At the story’s outset, Riley is angry at her parents’ divorce, especially her father, whom she holds responsible for abandoning their family in favor of his obsession with his game store. However, through her forced immersion in this environment, Riley begins to see her father in a new light.

The dynamic between Riley and her parents is complex, characterized by misunderstandings, unmet expectations, and unresolved emotional baggage. As the narrative unfolds, Riley must navigate the delicate balance of seeking validation from her parents while simultaneously forging her own path.

Her efforts to save the musical become symbolic of her quest for autonomy, as she pushes against the restrictions her mother places on her and works to bridge the gap with her father. The eventual resolution of these family tensions is transformative for Riley, as she comes to understand her parents not as obstacles, but as individuals who have their own struggles, regrets, and desires.

Her growth is catalyzed by open, honest conversations with both of them, where she confronts her fears and is able to express her own desires. In doing so, she matures emotionally, learning that family is not just about obedience or approval, but about mutual respect, understanding, and support.

The Unpredictable Path to Friendship, Love, and Self-Acceptance

Riley’s journey is marked by an evolving understanding of what it means to build relationships—whether they be friendships, romantic connections, or self-love. Initially, Riley views Nathan as nothing more than an obstacle and a tool to help her flirt with his crush, Sophia, in an effort to make her jealous.

However, as the story progresses, she begins to see Nathan in a new light, discovering that their sarcastic banter masks a deeper layer of connection. The relationship between Riley and Nathan is a significant part of the novel’s exploration of how love and friendship develop in unexpected ways, especially when built on mutual respect and shared vulnerability.

Riley’s growth into someone who is able to recognize her feelings for Nathan is a gradual process, fueled by their time spent together in the world of Dungeons & Dragons and their real-life interactions that reveal more about each other. Their connection is built on understanding, wit, and patience, contrasting with Riley’s initial shallow view of romance as something solely based on appearances or theatrical moments.

Furthermore, Riley’s relationships with other characters, such as her best friend Hoshiko and her ex-boyfriend Paul, offer insights into different forms of connection and the need for self-acceptance. Riley learns that her worth does not lie in external validation—whether from her ex-boyfriend or from the theater community—but in her ability to stay true to herself and form meaningful relationships that honor who she is, flaws and all.

The Power of Strategy, Imagination, and Collaboration in Overcoming Life’s Challenges

One of the most prominent themes in Dungeons and Drama is the intersection between strategic thinking, imagination, and teamwork. Initially, Riley is thrust into the world of Dungeons & Dragons as part of a plan to manipulate Nathan’s crush on Sophia.

However, as Riley becomes more involved in the game, she discovers the richness of the experience, finding that D&D is not just a pastime but a complex, creative activity that requires deep problem-solving, collaboration, and emotional intelligence. The strategic elements of the game parallel Riley’s approach to saving the spring musical—where she must think outside the box, rally support, and approach challenges with creativity and ingenuity.

This theme also extends to her relationships, where Riley learns that communication and teamwork are key to resolving conflicts and building trust. Just as the D&D players must work together to achieve their collective goals, Riley learns the value of collaboration with others in her pursuit of saving the musical, repairing her relationship with her father, and developing a deeper connection with Nathan.

The theme of collaboration also speaks to the broader idea that no one succeeds alone, and that facing challenges—whether in personal growth or in solving larger problems—requires the support of others and the willingness to work together for a common cause. Through D&D, Riley learns that even in situations where success feels unlikely, strategy, imagination, and teamwork can overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

The Unseen Intersection Between Passion and Practicality in Creative Pursuits

Dungeons and Drama also delves into the tension between passion and practicality, particularly in the context of Riley’s love for theater and her growing understanding of the importance of strategy and pragmatic thinking. Riley begins the story as a passionate theater student, driven by the dream of becoming a Broadway director.

However, she soon realizes that following her passion requires more than just enthusiasm—it requires hard work, dedication, and a strategic mindset. The theme of practicality is most evident in Riley’s efforts to save the spring musical after budget cuts threaten its existence. She must think beyond her artistic vision and consider practical solutions—fundraising, cost-cutting, and leveraging local resources—to bring her dream to fruition.

This realization is significant because it shows that passion alone is not enough to achieve goals; one must also be grounded in reality, equipped with the skills to navigate obstacles, and willing to adapt and compromise. Through her experience in the game store, Riley learns that theater and gaming, though seemingly worlds apart, both require a balance of creative thinking and practical execution.

The story suggests that success in any creative field involves not just passion, but the ability to think critically, collaborate with others, and approach challenges with a clear and focused mind.