Title: Seraphina
Author: Rachel Hartman
Series: Seraphina #1
Published: 10 July 2012 by Random House
Length: 367 pages
Source: publisher
Other info: There's a prequel short, The Audition. Book Two, Drachomachia, should come February next year.
Other info: There's a prequel short, The Audition. Book Two, Drachomachia, should come February next year.
Summary : 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.
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.
Review: It’s been
40 years since the treaty ws signed, bringing peace between humans and dragons,
in the medieval fantasy land of Goredd. Seraphina is a sixteen year old
musician at the palace, hiding a secret. One day,Prince Rufus is murdered, in a
method that points highly to dragons. The tension between humans and dragons
rises, Seraphina gets dragged into this, and discovers that this may be just
the beginning of the end of peace. Oh, and she also has to deal with the people
in her head, visions of her mother’s memories and keeping her secret secret.
DRAGONS!! The mythology in this is amazing. The dragons are
intelligent, have their own civilisation, and are able to fold themselves down
into human form.
Seraphina is really well fleshed out, like all of the
characters. You learn a lot about all of them, with little hints being dropped
in steadily throughout.
The people in Seraphina’s head! I loved that element. The interactions
are always informative, and a bit of comic relief. The supporting characters
brought their own things to the story, especially Glisselda and Lucien. My
favourite character was either Seraphina herself, or Orma, her
mentor/dragon/guardian/teacher/cool person.
I’ve said about the mythology of Seraphina, but then there’s
also the society. It’s a very easy to belive in medieval fantasy society, with
segregation by species and a full court.
The romance between Lucien and Seraphina was really sweet,
and happily didn’t detract from the rest of the novel.
The writing is excellent. Really descriptive, with fitting
language, and generally beautiful. There’s also some inworld expressions that
really add to the culture and the atmosphere to this. I am so thankful for the
glossary and the dramatis personae at the back.
Overall: Strength 5 tea to a beautiful medieval
fantasy. Highly looking forwards to book 2.
Oh this was one of my favourite books that I read last year! It makes me happy to see other people falling in love with it too :)
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read this one - I even have the free short story prequel on my desktop just wAITING for when I have time to get to it.
ReplyDelete