Tuesday, May 14, 2013

re·view : Seraphina by Rachel Hartman





Seraphina (Seraphina #1) by Rachel Hartman

syn·op·sis 



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.

In her exquisitely written fantasy debut, Rachel Hartman creates a rich, complex, and utterly original world. Seraphina's tortuous journey to self-acceptance is one readers will remember long after they've turned the final page






re·view 



It started slow, it took me about 100 pages to actually connect with Seraphina. I think that happened mostly because her reality if very different from anything I have ever read.

In this novel, humans and dragons are on a truce and dragons are forced to live as humans (they transformed themselves in humans), but all the same they are very practical and rational, not very human like.
The world building is so beautifully done, the ambiance is amazing. Hartman accomplished in giving that whole universe a certain depth, the whole contemplation on what means to be human in accompanied by talks of philosophy and religion. 

I also loved the fact that the dragons on this book are full on scary dragons, not human pets. They are just amazing and so mysterious, kept me guessing at all times. :P

I loved Seraphina, her struggles are just so well written, thats how to write a tortured character. She has the rational side, but she is so very human. At times it remind me of Spock.
It was very refreshing to see the way she handle everything that was  thrown at her, very intelligently. She also seemed to see her priorities straight.

I have a little bit of an issue with the romance, it happened way too fast. However it was not inta-love exactly, so I'm mostly ok with it. They were also cute together.

I don't have a lot to say about this, it is just delightful. ;)

Exited about the sequel, this one had an AMAZING ending, so did not see that one coming, but I'm not sure how Hartman is going to handle what is coming.


Also, LOOK AT THE COVER! 




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