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A review by renuked
Talon by Julie Kagawa
4.0
This book was provided to me by the Talon Organization (Goodreads First Reads), under the authorization of Julie Kagawa, in exchange for an honest review.
Ut omnes sergimus. As one, we rise.
The beginning of this book took me by surprise. I really hadn't expected such a modern setting. Ember and Dante Hill are young dragons going undercover in suburban Crescent Beach, California in an attempt to assimilate with humans. Dragons and modern day America are very rarely mixed. And, get this, not only are dragons running a super secret organization - they plan to destroy humanity too.
"I am but a single scale in the body of Talon. We will endure, as we always have, and we grow stronger even as your race destroys itself from within. You, and all your kind, will fall before us. Soon."
To try and combat dragons, there is another ancient group - The Order of St. George. Their mission is to hunt down any dragon, until all are dead. Enter Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian. The utterly loyal, fierce and courageous dragon killer. He truly believes in the Order's mission, and is the perfect soldier. He is ordered to Crescent Beach to investigate reports of dragon activity. Unfortunately, they don't know which human teenager is masking the dragon.
Both Ember and Dante are well-rounded characters. Ember is fiery and passionate. She's determined to gain freedom, and is starting to have doubts about the Talon Organization, but she's also reckless and a little naïve at times. Dante is protective of his sister and loyal, but also passive and easily persuaded. Both are flawed, and it's interesting to watch their relationship change in their new circumstances.
Now, guess what happens when Garret and Ember meet. Yeah, Garret and Ember fall in love. The dual POV is interesting because both characters instantly struggle with their attraction for each other. Garret knows she could potentially be a dragon and is confusing his lessons about dragons and what he sees in Ember. He's been taught that they are vicious, coldhearted killers, but Ember is defying everything he knows.
"Dragons are evil; that was what ever soldier of St. George was taught. They are demons. Wyrms of the devil. Their final goal is the enslavement of the human race, and we are the only ones standing between them and the ignorant."
And Ember knows that although she is blending into human society, she is not a human. She cannot possibly be falling in love with one.
"Though we were civilized and had slipped perfectly into human society, we were still predators, higher up on the food chain, and they knew it."
The best part of the book, however, is the insidious Talon organization itself. It is so fascinating to see how the dragons have managed to unite and transform themselves. The organization has many different facets, one of my absolute favorites being the Vipers. Learning about Talon and their inner evil was the best part of the book. There are so many secrets among the dragons, and the organization is willing to pay any cost in order to ensure the survival of their race.
Ember is only able to learn about these secrets through a rogue dragon named Riley she meets in Crescent Beach. Riley has defected from Talon after learning their horrifying secrets, and is there to reveal them to Ember.
"I've seen the inside of the organization. I know how they work. And I'm here to warn you, little Firebrand. Be careful. What they show you is barely scratching the surface."
So why only four stars? Two words: love triangle. I detest love triangles. Riley is a "bad boy" dragon. A rogue. A ridiculous, rebellious, motorcycle driving dragon. And Garret is the forbidden soldier love. The perfect gentleman, except they can never be together. It just feels overdone. In a book with dragons - brilliant, beautiful, dangerous dragons - why introduce a love triangle?
Overall, it's a fantastic start to a series, and I am very excited to learn more about the secret dragon organization existing in our very mundane world. Although, I am disappointed about the love triangle, the good in this book far outweighs the bad.
PS. Let's take a moment to admire the cover. It is truly glorious. It is beautiful gold lettering on top of shiny, metallic dragon scales. Plus the dragon insignia. Go buy the hardcover.
Ut omnes sergimus. As one, we rise.
The beginning of this book took me by surprise. I really hadn't expected such a modern setting. Ember and Dante Hill are young dragons going undercover in suburban Crescent Beach, California in an attempt to assimilate with humans. Dragons and modern day America are very rarely mixed. And, get this, not only are dragons running a super secret organization - they plan to destroy humanity too.
"I am but a single scale in the body of Talon. We will endure, as we always have, and we grow stronger even as your race destroys itself from within. You, and all your kind, will fall before us. Soon."
To try and combat dragons, there is another ancient group - The Order of St. George. Their mission is to hunt down any dragon, until all are dead. Enter Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian. The utterly loyal, fierce and courageous dragon killer. He truly believes in the Order's mission, and is the perfect soldier. He is ordered to Crescent Beach to investigate reports of dragon activity. Unfortunately, they don't know which human teenager is masking the dragon.
Both Ember and Dante are well-rounded characters. Ember is fiery and passionate. She's determined to gain freedom, and is starting to have doubts about the Talon Organization, but she's also reckless and a little naïve at times. Dante is protective of his sister and loyal, but also passive and easily persuaded. Both are flawed, and it's interesting to watch their relationship change in their new circumstances.
Now, guess what happens when Garret and Ember meet. Yeah, Garret and Ember fall in love. The dual POV is interesting because both characters instantly struggle with their attraction for each other. Garret knows she could potentially be a dragon and is confusing his lessons about dragons and what he sees in Ember. He's been taught that they are vicious, coldhearted killers, but Ember is defying everything he knows.
"Dragons are evil; that was what ever soldier of St. George was taught. They are demons. Wyrms of the devil. Their final goal is the enslavement of the human race, and we are the only ones standing between them and the ignorant."
And Ember knows that although she is blending into human society, she is not a human. She cannot possibly be falling in love with one.
"Though we were civilized and had slipped perfectly into human society, we were still predators, higher up on the food chain, and they knew it."
The best part of the book, however, is the insidious Talon organization itself. It is so fascinating to see how the dragons have managed to unite and transform themselves. The organization has many different facets, one of my absolute favorites being the Vipers. Learning about Talon and their inner evil was the best part of the book. There are so many secrets among the dragons, and the organization is willing to pay any cost in order to ensure the survival of their race.
Ember is only able to learn about these secrets through a rogue dragon named Riley she meets in Crescent Beach. Riley has defected from Talon after learning their horrifying secrets, and is there to reveal them to Ember.
"I've seen the inside of the organization. I know how they work. And I'm here to warn you, little Firebrand. Be careful. What they show you is barely scratching the surface."
So why only four stars? Two words: love triangle. I detest love triangles. Riley is a "bad boy" dragon. A rogue. A ridiculous, rebellious, motorcycle driving dragon. And Garret is the forbidden soldier love. The perfect gentleman, except they can never be together. It just feels overdone. In a book with dragons - brilliant, beautiful, dangerous dragons - why introduce a love triangle?
Overall, it's a fantastic start to a series, and I am very excited to learn more about the secret dragon organization existing in our very mundane world. Although, I am disappointed about the love triangle, the good in this book far outweighs the bad.
PS. Let's take a moment to admire the cover. It is truly glorious. It is beautiful gold lettering on top of shiny, metallic dragon scales. Plus the dragon insignia. Go buy the hardcover.