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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
very political and engaged
interesting plot that went a little sideways at the endgownlong has Imlann been hiding at court? lime forever
still don't get why Josef hates half dragons so much
wanted to love Kiggs and Seraphina so bad but I just didn't feel the chemistry
honestly didn't like most of the characters, especially the dragons and I really don't see a way to peace
why is seraphina telepathic when this is not a normal dragon ability? i don't get it
interesting plot that went a little sideways at the endgownlong has Imlann been hiding at court? lime forever
still don't get why Josef hates half dragons so much
wanted to love Kiggs and Seraphina so bad but I just didn't feel the chemistry
honestly didn't like most of the characters, especially the dragons and I really don't see a way to peace
why is seraphina telepathic when this is not a normal dragon ability? i don't get it
slow-paced
I wanted to like it more but I just didn't? I liked Seraphina the character and I enjoyed how the dragons were set up as so different mentally than humans. I also liked her familial relationships. But for some reason I just couldn't get into it that much? It took some coaxing for me to keep reading it. And when I finished it, it didn't feel satisfying (yes, I am aware it's a duology).
So I was bad and kinda looked up a few spoilers for the second book and I think I'm happy just keeping it here, just having read the first book and pretend the story stops here.
So I was bad and kinda looked up a few spoilers for the second book and I think I'm happy just keeping it here, just having read the first book and pretend the story stops here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Xenophobia
This book immediately captivates the reader and will not let go. I have now read this book twice, and I wasn't bored the second time because I knew what was going to happen, I was at the edge of my seat and anxiously awaiting the characters' fates. The first time I read this was so long ago, so I barely remembered what happened. Either way, it is definetly a book that can be read twice.
Seraphina is a fantasy book, filled with dragons and royalty, but it is not the typical go slay a dragon book. The dragons and humans signed a peace treaty, and have been living in harmony for almost forty years. The dragons have the ability to change into humans, but wear a bell to mark their true selves. These are very interesting dragons, and Rachel Hartman did an excellent job of creating them and their relationships with humans. This is an amazing book, and I would recommend it to anybody, not just those who enjoy fantasy. There is danger, adventure, scandals, plots, romance, and tense relationships throughout the book. The ending is very satisfying, as it leaves the reader wanting more. Thank goodness the sequel is out!
Seraphina is a fantasy book, filled with dragons and royalty, but it is not the typical go slay a dragon book. The dragons and humans signed a peace treaty, and have been living in harmony for almost forty years. The dragons have the ability to change into humans, but wear a bell to mark their true selves. These are very interesting dragons, and Rachel Hartman did an excellent job of creating them and their relationships with humans. This is an amazing book, and I would recommend it to anybody, not just those who enjoy fantasy. There is danger, adventure, scandals, plots, romance, and tense relationships throughout the book. The ending is very satisfying, as it leaves the reader wanting more. Thank goodness the sequel is out!
pas baru baca bikin pusing saking banyak kosa kata baru, dan harus bolak balik liat glosarium.x dan dengan banyak.x nama-nama tokoh.
expecting the next book,, lebih karena penasaran sm tokoh2 yg ada di taman.x Phina.
expecting the next book,, lebih karena penasaran sm tokoh2 yg ada di taman.x Phina.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A wonderful jewel of a novel, complete with dragons, music, love, and courage! I was completely swept up into richly drawn Goredd; it is so impressive when a fantasy author presents their world as it is, not bothering to explain it all right away, letting the reader experience it slowly and feel the towers build up brick by brick in their own imaginations. The dragons in this book were endearing in their mathematical aloofness and their fascinating struggle against emotion. Most of all, I loved the slow unveiling of the many facets of our charming heroine Seraphina, including her musical gift and her mind garden and her divided loyalties, and it was a treat to see her finally accept herself and be accepted.
4.5 stars
I found this book at a used bookstore. It had a really cool cityscape and a DRAGON on the cover. And I thought, "I will absolutely judge this book by its cover, and my judgment says I am gonna buy this book right now." I had never heard of this book before I purchased it ... and now I am wondering why the heck not????? Seriously ... this book was freaking fantastic, y'all. I mean like reeeeeeeally freaking fantastic.
In a world with a tentative (and fairly recent) peace treaty between dragons and humans, there isn't a lot of trust between species ... especially when a prince in the royal family turns up dead without his head. It could be part of the old guard of dragons who never wanted the treaty in the first place. It could also be a band of rogue knights (who are convinced that dragons are the embodiment of evil) trying to incite a war between the species by framing a dragon. In the backdrop of this political turmoil is court musician, Seraphina. Seraphina, whose father has always admonished her to fly under the radar. Seraphina, with an extraordinary musical gift. Seraphina, who has a secret ... a secret that could destroy her family. Because Seraphina's mother was a dragon. According to the dragons, she is an illegality. According to the humans, she's the butt of every terrible joke about the peace accords and the fear of humans and dragons alike. According to everyone, she shouldn't even exist. But she does. And she discovers that she is not alone. There are others like her. She has the power to reach them all through her mind, and each of them, in turn has special abilities. Seraphina struggles to navigate the challenges of protecting her family, herself, and others like her, she also uses her abilities and her mother's memories to track down the murderer and uncover a plot to foil the treaty, which would plunge both dragon and humankind into war. Along the way, she might just fall in love, too.
The world building in this was top-tier. Hartman makes a world of dragons who think and function very differently than humans. Through our half-human and half-dragon protagonist, Seraphina, the reader comes to understand both worlds politically. We see how the human government works through Seraphina's position as court musician and through her friendship with the crown princess and captain of the guard. Dragon thinking and politicking is shown through the memories of Seraphina's mother (magically imprinted into baby Seraphina by her dying mother) and through her relationship with her mother's brother. The political drama is woven seamlessly with Seraphina's acceptance of herself and her powers, as well as her desire to protecting those she loves while also serving the court with integrity. Hartman's prose is a lovely experience, appropriately lush without being overdone.
Seraphina is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2025 so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Hartman resolves this duology with Shadow Scale.
In a world with a tentative (and fairly recent) peace treaty between dragons and humans, there isn't a lot of trust between species ... especially when a prince in the royal family turns up dead without his head. It could be part of the old guard of dragons who never wanted the treaty in the first place. It could also be a band of rogue knights (who are convinced that dragons are the embodiment of evil) trying to incite a war between the species by framing a dragon. In the backdrop of this political turmoil is court musician, Seraphina. Seraphina, whose father has always admonished her to fly under the radar. Seraphina, with an extraordinary musical gift. Seraphina, who has a secret ... a secret that could destroy her family. Because Seraphina's mother was a dragon. According to the dragons, she is an illegality. According to the humans, she's the butt of every terrible joke about the peace accords and the fear of humans and dragons alike. According to everyone, she shouldn't even exist. But she does. And she discovers that she is not alone. There are others like her. She has the power to reach them all through her mind, and each of them, in turn has special abilities. Seraphina struggles to navigate the challenges of protecting her family, herself, and others like her, she also uses her abilities and her mother's memories to track down the murderer and uncover a plot to foil the treaty, which would plunge both dragon and humankind into war. Along the way, she might just fall in love, too.
The world building in this was top-tier. Hartman makes a world of dragons who think and function very differently than humans. Through our half-human and half-dragon protagonist, Seraphina, the reader comes to understand both worlds politically. We see how the human government works through Seraphina's position as court musician and through her friendship with the crown princess and captain of the guard. Dragon thinking and politicking is shown through the memories of Seraphina's mother (magically imprinted into baby Seraphina by her dying mother) and through her relationship with her mother's brother. The political drama is woven seamlessly with Seraphina's acceptance of herself and her powers, as well as her desire to protecting those she loves while also serving the court with integrity. Hartman's prose is a lovely experience, appropriately lush without being overdone.
Seraphina is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2025 so far, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Hartman resolves this duology with Shadow Scale.
It'd be four stars, except for her love interest.
Also, I refuse to believe that hyper-logical, rational dragons would use feet! (As supposed to meters, that is).
Also, I refuse to believe that hyper-logical, rational dragons would use feet! (As supposed to meters, that is).
Lately I've just found a goldmine of books with original ideas. This was one of them. I just loved the idea of dragons being able to turn into humans. It opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Like the possibility of there being a half dragon. Seraphina is a half dragon, who mother died giving birth to her and whose father hadn't know her mother was a dragon in disguise. Seraphina must hide her identity from others because even after the forty year peace with the dragons, no one really likes them. Humans view dragons as soulless creatures, who can't experience emotions.
Seraphina works at the castle as the music assistant. She is pulled into an adventure that is connected not only to her dead mother but her grandfather.
There is romance in this book but not to where you're drowning in it, which was refreshing.
I really liked this book and I recommend it.
Seraphina works at the castle as the music assistant. She is pulled into an adventure that is connected not only to her dead mother but her grandfather.
There is romance in this book but not to where you're drowning in it, which was refreshing.
I really liked this book and I recommend it.