Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 480 pages
Release Date: July 10, 2012
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Genre: Fantasy/Dragons

Book One: Seraphina
Book Two: Dracomachia (2013)

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Amazon Summary:

In her New York Times bestselling debut, Rachel Hartman introduces mathematical dragons in an alternative-medieval world to fantasy and science-fiction readers of all ages. Eragon-author Christopher Paolini calls them, "Some of the most interesting dragons I've read in fantasy."

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

My Review:

 

***Contains Minor Spoilers that could probably be predicted***
 

Seraphina has a secret. She's not completely human. In the far far away land of Goredd, the forty year peace treaty between humans and dragons is wearing thin. Humans, think that dragons are disgusting, revolting, and nothing more than abominations that need to be extinguished. Certain dragons are starting to rebel against the peace and want to take over the human population so that they can hoard treasures and knowledge once again. Seraphina, a talented musician and singer is a half dragon. Can she unite the dragons and humans so that they can keep the peace treaty intact? Or will she instigate a full blown out war that not everyone will survive?

Seraphina, is the type of novel that can speak to your very soul. I was absolutely stunned and amazed by the emotions that this author can invoke just with her words. Her style of writing was beautiful and even close to poetic. Even though the names and different words in the dragon's language did confuse me a bit, there was a glossary in the back that explained everything (Of course, I didn't see the glossary until after I finished the novel but ehh. xD).

Seraphina, the protagonist, was one of my favorite heroines of all 2012! She was a natural born leader, had good virtues, wanted to protect all of those that she loved, and was still vulnerable at times. My heart reached out to her, because she had spent her whole life hiding and lying about what she really is because if she told the truth she would be undoubtedly killed and tortured. Although Prince Lucian Kiggs wasn't the greatest looking love interest, he was cunning, smart, and thoughtful and that definitely made up for it! The best thing I loved about this novel was that the romance was NOT an Insta-Love! I was so excited about this that I even did a happy dance! Seraphina and Kiggs didn't just instantly have this random attraction toward each other. They both were strangers in the beginning, and slowly got to know each other and learn about each other's quirks before finally feeling drawn toward each other. It was slow and building and eventually led up to something beautiful and structured!

However, even though I loved Seraphina and Kigg's roles in the story, my favorite character wasn't either of them. Orma, Seraphina's dragon teacher and uncle, was the one that I was most interested in and the one that I ended up loving throughout the whole novel! Dragons, back then were not supposed to feel emotion. They balled up their emotions and shoved them into imaginary boxes, where no one in the world could see. Why did they do this? Because emotions were considered dangerous and love was considered the most dangerous of all. Orma, broke those rules, and put Seraphina before everything else and loved her like a real uncle should! There were times that I was even left bawling like a baby from the conversations exchanged between these two!

Overall, you do not want to miss this book! Seraphina was filled with forbidden love, life threatening secrets, deception, and everything else you could want in a novel!

Heroine- 5/5
Secondary Characters- 6/5
Romance- 6/5
Action- 4/5
Comedy- 3/5
Overall- 5/5

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