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Talon (Talon, #1)

Julie Kagawa

Start date: February 18, 2023

Finish date: March 18, 2023

Discussion: Buddy Reads 2023

Why we're reading this: Feb 2023 BR
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Buddy Reads 2023

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What Members Thought

Dec 19, 2014 Sally906 rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, young-adult, netgalley-review

TALON is the first in a new series for Julie Kagawa – and the first book I have read that was written by her. The story open as Ember and Dante, a brother and sister dragon hatchling duo, are relocated to a beachside suburb in LA to hone their techniques for living as humans. Ember takes to the human life as a duck to water – she loves surfing and socialising – her inner dragon not so much. Life is not all fun and games though, for the first time ever Ember and Dante are separated for extra Drag TALON is the first in a new series for Julie Kagawa – and the first book I have read that was written by her. The story open as Ember and Dante, a brother and sister dragon hatchling duo, are relocated to a beachside suburb in LA to hone their techniques for living as humans. Ember takes to the human life as a duck to water – she loves surfing and socialising – her inner dragon not so much. Life is not all fun and games though, for the first time ever Ember and Dante are separated for extra Dragony training each morning by top Talon agents, Ember gets Lilith who is a particularly unpleasant dragon and her training sessions are brutal. Ember is puzzled that Dante won’t tell her what his training consists of, but before long she herself is keeping secrets from her brother in as she starts to question Talon. Ember has two guys interested in her – one is a rogue dragon, called Riley, the other is a human called Garret. As the story progresses Ember learns, to her horror, what her future role in Talon is going to be and she is forced to make a difficult choice.

The story is told from the points of view of Garret and Ember – the hunter and the hunted. The pace is slow to start as the two main protagonists are introduced and their backgrounds filled in. The tension gradually builds though as Ember meets Riley and Garret and starts to question Talon and search for the truth. Garret is undergoing a similar crisis of faith, as he gets up close and personal with Ember as he tries to work out if she is a dragon he has no idea if he will be able to kill her. By the time the story gets to the cliff-hanger end it is edge of the seat stuff with twists and turns, abandonment and betrayals.

TALON is a story of a girl being torn between two guys at the same time, and two youngsters starting to question everything they believe to be right – but it really works. I liked how Kagawa created the angst ridden decision making of Ember and Garret, their growth towards realising that everything they’ve been told is not necessarily right. The two hatchlings have always been told that dragons were more powerful than humans and stronger, they live longer (ok this one is true), and they’re smarter. Ember is finding out that this is not always the case. I also loved how the dragons morphed from human form to Dragon in a blink of an eye. It really worked for me.

With thanks to Harlequin TEEN Australia and the author via Netgalley for my copy to read and review. ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Sep 26, 2014 Jamie rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy

I liked that take of this tale of dragons in modern times. I don't very often. At least not this much. And this dragons can shift into human form which I always found interesting. This story has 3 perspectives. Ember, Riley and Garrett. One hatchling dragon who just wants to enjoy life, 1 dragon hunter and a rogue dragon who wants to save his kind. Yes there is a love triangle starting. Nothing is perfect in this. No character or plan. I liked that. Each character is very unique. And the audiobo ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Dec 26, 2014 Brooke ♥booklife4life♥ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2015, boy-and-girl-pov, love-triangle, read-in-a-day, 3-povs, dragons, favorites-2015

I finished this in 3hrs.

...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 14, 2021 Ashley W rated it really liked it

Shelves: 0part-of-a-series, 401-500-pages, genre-fantasy, source-audible, subject-dragons

Ember is the female lead and I really like her independence of mind, especially in the end of the book. Her refusal to go along with Talon, knowing that she was feel guilt in her position and assignments, was brave. This doesn't mean that she isn't a keen fighter, which, of course, is why she was chosen to be a Viper to begin with. However, there was a softer side of Ember with Garrett in particular, which makes her question how many emotions a dragon really can feel.
Danteis her brother and a lo ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

May 02, 2014 Shelley rated it it was amazing

I am so excited to see this author do a dragon series! This book keeps you on your toes and since it is told from multiple perspectives it appeals to most all readers.

Dragons live in hiding among people but they are part of a tight knit community. Each is trained to take on a certain job once they pass their teens. Ember and her twin brother are spending their summer in California before they are submerged into their training for the rest of their lives. Then they find out that their training h ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 04, 2014 Antonia rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own

I couldn't finish this book... I don't know if it had something to do with the story or the mood I'm currently in, I read about one hundred pages and then couldn't go forward. I will pick it up again, I guess, when I'm more in the mood for a dragon/human story. Until then, please have a look at it, guys, and share your opinions with me. ...more

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Oct 06, 2015 Nicole B rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult

Just good enough to finish. Will props given copy away because that was not a good story. If you want a hunger games/divergent/chick flic book where the main characters scream mary sue. Go ahead. Otherwise just disappointing considering who the author was.

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