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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
So gooood. SO GOOOOD!!!! Ugh so many tears, it was just so cute and the emotional connections between Serephina and her friends/family/love interest was just so perfectly written. It was beautiful! This was a perfect high fantasy novel.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars. This is the sort of fantasy book that I wish had been around when I was a young adult. Seraphina's feelings of isolation and being different will no doubt resonate with many young people, especially young women, trying to figure out their place in the world (I know it would have with me at the time). At this point in fantasy literature, it can be hard for dragons to feel fresh conceptually, but I loved Hartman's creative take. Stylistically, her prose is delightful and accomplished, and I never felt like the style was "dumbed down" for YA readers, as I sometimes feel when reading other literature in the genre. This style is likely reflective of the integral role that music plays in the book, which I just loved from a personal perspective. I did wish I had gotten a little more insight into certain characters as they could come off a bit flat at moments in comparison to Seraphina's rich interior world. Hopefully we get to learn more about them in the next book (which I have already started)!
Spoiler
(such as Lars/Loud Lad and Abdo/Fruit Bat)
Dragons roam society in human bodies, but most wear bells at their shoulder to identify themselves as dragons. They don't understand human emotion and are brilliant at math. This story is very well-spun and I couldn't put the book down as much as I wanted it to last longer and longer. Lovely revelations throughout the storyline and a very satisfying romantic subplot.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not put it down, simple as that really, can't wait for the next instalment :)
3.5 stars
While based on a really unique idea, Seraphine wasn't entirely my type of book. I mean, it was good, but there was just something about the writing that wasn't quite engaging enough. Personally, I think the world-building is slightly to blame for that: the book undoubtedly has its unique fantasy elements, but some of the things weren't explained clearly enough. Also, despite this being a young adult book, I felt like some of the vocabulary was a little advanced. Lastly, I think that, while the idea of half-human, half-dragons was intriguing, it could have been explained better: WHY does Seraphina have certain abilities because of her heritage?
While based on a really unique idea, Seraphine wasn't entirely my type of book. I mean, it was good, but there was just something about the writing that wasn't quite engaging enough. Personally, I think the world-building is slightly to blame for that: the book undoubtedly has its unique fantasy elements, but some of the things weren't explained clearly enough. Also, despite this being a young adult book, I felt like some of the vocabulary was a little advanced. Lastly, I think that, while the idea of half-human, half-dragons was intriguing, it could have been explained better: WHY does Seraphina have certain abilities because of her heritage?
[I was given an advance copy of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]
4.5 stars
Our eponymous heroine Seraphina is the quiet, isolated and circumspect assistant to the Music Master at the Royal Court of Goredd. As the story begins to unfold, Goredd is preparing to celebrate forty years since the peace treaty between humans and dragons. It is an uneasy peace and tensions are high, so it is the worst possible time for one of the royal princes to be found murdered, his head missing – a manner highly suggestive of a dragon being involved – so obviously so that the astute Seraphina (and Kiggs, a lesser prince of the royal family and Captain of the Guard) cannot help but think it’s a set-up to increase racial hatred of the dragons. However, Seraphina is such a beautifully and intelligently crafted story that to go any further into the plot would be a disservice to the reader.
The world-building in this story is absolutely top-notch. Geography, history, religion, language, law! Everything is fleshed out to the extent that the book – unashamedly high fantasy – felt so real and immediate. The characters are as fully developed as the plot and the world itself and Seraphina is a wonderful heroine. The writing itself is first class. The romance done with the lightest touch – this is really a story focused on issues of politics and race and Seraphina’s own bildungsroman journey.
Really, the only quibble I have is – and other reviews have pointed this out – slight pacing problems. In a lesser book, I probably wouldn’t have noticed, but as everything else is so exemplary it felt a shame that there were – on occasion – infodumps or large expositional passages that interrupted the story’s flow.
I am nit-picking. The book was just excellent. A definite must if you are a fantasy fan – a great read even if you’re not.
4.5 stars
Our eponymous heroine Seraphina is the quiet, isolated and circumspect assistant to the Music Master at the Royal Court of Goredd. As the story begins to unfold, Goredd is preparing to celebrate forty years since the peace treaty between humans and dragons. It is an uneasy peace and tensions are high, so it is the worst possible time for one of the royal princes to be found murdered, his head missing – a manner highly suggestive of a dragon being involved – so obviously so that the astute Seraphina (and Kiggs, a lesser prince of the royal family and Captain of the Guard) cannot help but think it’s a set-up to increase racial hatred of the dragons. However, Seraphina is such a beautifully and intelligently crafted story that to go any further into the plot would be a disservice to the reader.
The world-building in this story is absolutely top-notch. Geography, history, religion, language, law! Everything is fleshed out to the extent that the book – unashamedly high fantasy – felt so real and immediate. The characters are as fully developed as the plot and the world itself and Seraphina is a wonderful heroine. The writing itself is first class. The romance done with the lightest touch – this is really a story focused on issues of politics and race and Seraphina’s own bildungsroman journey.
Really, the only quibble I have is – and other reviews have pointed this out – slight pacing problems. In a lesser book, I probably wouldn’t have noticed, but as everything else is so exemplary it felt a shame that there were – on occasion – infodumps or large expositional passages that interrupted the story’s flow.
I am nit-picking. The book was just excellent. A definite must if you are a fantasy fan – a great read even if you’re not.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was happily surprised by the rich world building in this book!