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I think that this is one of those books that will either really work for you, or really won't. Sadly I was in the latter category, and I struggled to work out just what it was that didn't excite me about it. The plot's interesting enough set in a world of music and magical shape-changing dragons (who are totally Vulcans in disguise). In the end, I'd say it was the writing style that was a bit of a turn off for me.
TL:DR; Two things I wish I'd known before reading this:
1 - It's pretty much a setup for a further book/series, so things go very slowly.
2 - If you just aren't feeling the writing early on, you're not going to enjoy it any more later.
It's not a bad book, it just didn't sing for me personally.
I found the writing style a little cold and dry, and couldn't fathom quite how old protagonist Seraphina was. I'd assumed she was older than her sixteen years (the same went for her maybe-kinda friend Glisselda who turned out to be fifteen). Some of the narration could veer towards been oddly prose-y and heavy considering it was meant as a stream of consciousness, and it jarred me just how often characters "shrieked" or "cried" their dialogue despite it not sounding like it'd fit the occasion.
The story is a serious slow-burn, not quite mystery, not quite YA coming-of-age/romance, but something with those elements mixed in. There's a really intriguing fantasy setup there, hence me struggling through the book despite my misgivings, and I liked how the setting seemed to be some kind of Renaissance Europe-inspired place full of artists and scientists (or at least mathematicians) rather than your usual Medieval city with barbarians at the gates. That the dragon-shifters are cool and aloof by nature means this was never going to be one of those "fiery passions" stories, and I was glad that while the romance felt oddly tacked in, it wasn't overly hormonal.
The pace did drag for me somewhat, as I felt like I was waiting for something to happen. Tension only really ramps up right towards the end when reveals come tumbling out of the woodwork, but I wasn't wholly satisfied by the drama at the conclusion as it felt more like a lead-in for the next book of the series. I was also just a bit weirded out by some of the more surreal aspects of the story that didn't quite gel for me (Phina's "mind garden" for instance).
It's a great fantasy world, and it does make a good case for a slow series starter. Where the plot could go from here, both in the bigger dragon alliance politics and Seraphina's self discovery journey, are compelling. It's the execution that means I probably wouldn't read a follow up no matter how curious I am, but if the writing style floats your boat you'll be in draconic heaven with this one.
TL:DR; Two things I wish I'd known before reading this:
1 - It's pretty much a setup for a further book/series, so things go very slowly.
2 - If you just aren't feeling the writing early on, you're not going to enjoy it any more later.
It's not a bad book, it just didn't sing for me personally.
I found the writing style a little cold and dry, and couldn't fathom quite how old protagonist Seraphina was. I'd assumed she was older than her sixteen years (the same went for her maybe-kinda friend Glisselda who turned out to be fifteen). Some of the narration could veer towards been oddly prose-y and heavy considering it was meant as a stream of consciousness, and it jarred me just how often characters "shrieked" or "cried" their dialogue despite it not sounding like it'd fit the occasion.
The story is a serious slow-burn, not quite mystery, not quite YA coming-of-age/romance, but something with those elements mixed in. There's a really intriguing fantasy setup there, hence me struggling through the book despite my misgivings, and I liked how the setting seemed to be some kind of Renaissance Europe-inspired place full of artists and scientists (or at least mathematicians) rather than your usual Medieval city with barbarians at the gates. That the dragon-shifters are cool and aloof by nature means this was never going to be one of those "fiery passions" stories, and I was glad that while the romance felt oddly tacked in, it wasn't overly hormonal.
Spoiler
I didn't get why Seraphina suddenly decided she was in love with this guy... Or why he decided he wanted her around considering he's only just met her in suspicious circumstances. That Kiggs thinks she's in love with tutor Orma was even weirder - what gave him that idea? His leap of logic was just a bit far.The pace did drag for me somewhat, as I felt like I was waiting for something to happen. Tension only really ramps up right towards the end when reveals come tumbling out of the woodwork, but I wasn't wholly satisfied by the drama at the conclusion
Spoiler
(Oh look, there's something dramatic happening over there *three main characters stand and watch dragons fighting*)It's a great fantasy world, and it does make a good case for a slow series starter. Where the plot could go from here, both in the bigger dragon alliance politics and Seraphina's self discovery journey, are compelling. It's the execution that means I probably wouldn't read a follow up no matter how curious I am, but if the writing style floats your boat you'll be in draconic heaven with this one.