I had never considered how some of these concepts might be seen in other countries, but it's a good point. This is more a magic of the earth, of the spirit of a place of nature providing the main character with ability as part of an agreement for him protecting the earth. It's a pleasant thought.

Oberon, the dog in this story, makes a lot of pop culture references and jokes that might not extend beyond Western cultures, but they are hilarious to anyone that understands them.