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bebe_elise's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.5
ambrose_7's review against another edition
4.0
This was exactly what I wanted when I choose it for a fantasy sub-genre challenge months ago. It had dragons, it had death, it had complicated characters, and it even had a side of romance that was very endearing and exactly how I like romance written. I was impressed.
It started slow, I had seen a review that said the same, but I still don't know if I would have kept reading it if not for the fact that I was using it in a reading challenge. It picked up speed like a rock rolling down a hill, and even though it was slow, I began to get connected and interested in the plot and characters in the book. That was a really fun thing to experience.
I've always loved music myself, so having that as one of the side plots is fun too. I don't think it plays a huge role, but it is a part of Seraphina's personality. Her mind stuff was a bit too much at the beginning of the story, which was part of the reason it took so long for me to get into it, but it came across pretty well by the end.
I think what makes this book stand out is the characters, not the plot. The way that dragons are portrayed is also very unique and makes it stand out. If you look at the plot purely that, it's very basic but the characters make it work. There was a good climax at the end, that left plenty for the second and much larger book in the series. I'll be reading it as soon as I'm next in line on Libby.
It started slow, I had seen a review that said the same, but I still don't know if I would have kept reading it if not for the fact that I was using it in a reading challenge. It picked up speed like a rock rolling down a hill, and even though it was slow, I began to get connected and interested in the plot and characters in the book. That was a really fun thing to experience.
I've always loved music myself, so having that as one of the side plots is fun too. I don't think it plays a huge role, but it is a part of Seraphina's personality. Her mind stuff was a bit too much at the beginning of the story, which was part of the reason it took so long for me to get into it, but it came across pretty well by the end.
I think what makes this book stand out is the characters, not the plot. The way that dragons are portrayed is also very unique and makes it stand out. If you look at the plot purely that, it's very basic but the characters make it work. There was a good climax at the end, that left plenty for the second and much larger book in the series. I'll be reading it as soon as I'm next in line on Libby.
nmasters0616's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
While overall I enjoyed Seraphina, it was definitely slow starting. There was a lot of world building to establish, but the writing often felt like walking through mud. Beyond that, I enjoyed Seraphina's and Kiggs' character development, and watching Glisselda grow into her own person. I'm not sure if I will read the second book because this ending tied many things up in a way that leaves me content with where they currently are.
fantasynovel's review against another edition
5.0
This is a book that took me quite a while to pick up, actually, but it hasn't left my head since I read it. It's beautiful, alluring, captivating . . . many things I look for in a good book. The lead, Seraphina, draws you in instantly with her strong personality. The characterization in this book was also very good; the characters realistically formed relationships with each other. Mainly, though, I love a book with a good secret. A main character with a secret about him or herself that could drastically change other people's perceptions of him/her. Think "Merlin" (the TV show version with Colin Morgan and Bradley James, aka my true loves). Or, to a lesser extent, "Cinder," where the protagonist hides that she's a cyborg. Seraphina's secret? It's not much of a spoiler as you find out within the first few chapters, but:
Another thing I love about "Seraphina" is the world-building. It's high-fantasy and takes place in the kingdom of Goredd. Humans and dragons have come to an uneasy truce, but both species still harbor prejudices toward each other. To make things more complicated, dragons are shape-shifters capable of achieving human form. However, very few dragons can "pass" as human because they lack most emotions and have silver blood.
This year, I'll be reading Rachel Hartman's next book, "Shadow Scale" and, hopefully, her prequel graphic novel "Amy Unbounded".
Spoiler
She's half-dragon, in a world where dragons are despised!Another thing I love about "Seraphina" is the world-building. It's high-fantasy and takes place in the kingdom of Goredd. Humans and dragons have come to an uneasy truce, but both species still harbor prejudices toward each other. To make things more complicated, dragons are shape-shifters capable of achieving human form. However, very few dragons can "pass" as human because they lack most emotions and have silver blood.
This year, I'll be reading Rachel Hartman's next book, "Shadow Scale" and, hopefully, her prequel graphic novel "Amy Unbounded".
swansandroses's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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? No
4.0
chameleon4444's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.25
_aoibheann_'s review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
harleyrae's review
4.0
I absolutely loved this book! I loved all the dragons, the fantasy about the book, and the music...was like a dream in a book.
I had tried reading this book about 3 months ago in January, but i couldn't get into the first chapters are just slow and a little confusing, so when i had to read Huck Finn for school i gladly set this book down. But i had to read it eventually, and i was really excited when i got it so i just couldn't leave it to sit in my room. And i'm so happy i did.
It was wonderfully written, i felt when the author was describing the dragons and the people i could really see them in my mind. I loved how Seraphina really seemed to find herself by the end of the book, in the beginning she was shy and i felt she really didn't know who she was just what she wasn't.
My only really negative this about this book was the beginning and some of the words chosen.
The beginning was just really slow moving and i was super confused till i got a little further in the book and really started to understand in. And the words she chosen i had no idea what half of them meant, i was very thankful for the glossary in the back or i would have been totally lost through out. And my last complaint was the number of people in this book. Everything you turned the page it seemed a new person appeared. Or the people in the book would be called by a different name, once again i kept have to flip to the index and like study the names so i knew who everyone was, that got a little annoying. Just kind a made the book harder to read and understand till you got just a little farther into the story.
So know i get to say what i really loved. So i loved Kiggs, i was a little confused with him suppose to be marry his cousin though, i just think that's kind a weird, anyway... i loved when he came into the story he just seemed to brighten the book up. But when him and Phina were fighting it was sad cause, no kiggs :( lol.
I also loved Seraphina, i loved how you really saw her growth through out the story, and her passion for music how she could make a crowd stop dead in their tracks with her voice or her flute.
OK i feel i'm just rambling now, trying to find something else to say, so i'll take that as my que to stop. :)
I had tried reading this book about 3 months ago in January, but i couldn't get into the first chapters are just slow and a little confusing, so when i had to read Huck Finn for school i gladly set this book down. But i had to read it eventually, and i was really excited when i got it so i just couldn't leave it to sit in my room. And i'm so happy i did.
It was wonderfully written, i felt when the author was describing the dragons and the people i could really see them in my mind. I loved how Seraphina really seemed to find herself by the end of the book, in the beginning she was shy and i felt she really didn't know who she was just what she wasn't.
My only really negative this about this book was the beginning and some of the words chosen.
The beginning was just really slow moving and i was super confused till i got a little further in the book and really started to understand in. And the words she chosen i had no idea what half of them meant, i was very thankful for the glossary in the back or i would have been totally lost through out. And my last complaint was the number of people in this book. Everything you turned the page it seemed a new person appeared. Or the people in the book would be called by a different name, once again i kept have to flip to the index and like study the names so i knew who everyone was, that got a little annoying. Just kind a made the book harder to read and understand till you got just a little farther into the story.
So know i get to say what i really loved. So i loved Kiggs, i was a little confused with him suppose to be marry his cousin though, i just think that's kind a weird, anyway... i loved when he came into the story he just seemed to brighten the book up. But when him and Phina were fighting it was sad cause, no kiggs :( lol.
I also loved Seraphina, i loved how you really saw her growth through out the story, and her passion for music how she could make a crowd stop dead in their tracks with her voice or her flute.
OK i feel i'm just rambling now, trying to find something else to say, so i'll take that as my que to stop. :)