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I'm not sure what to say about this book. It has a really interesting premise, good writing, good characters, and should overall be a great read. But for some reason it didn't grab me. It took me forever to get into and to read. However, I've been in a weird reading mood lately and everyone else seems to love this book so if it looks interesting to you, you should give it a try.
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Racial/ethnic tolerance in the guise of fantasy. Vulcan-like dragons take the shape of humans in order to study and teach in their universities and serve as ambassadors at the royal court. The title character is a half dragon/half human who must keep her monstrous heritage a secret. Her mother was a dragon who fell in love with her human father and died during childbirth. Now Seraphina is 16, and tensions rise as the 40th anniversary of a controversial peace treaty between the two species approa
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It was the cover of this fantasy debut that caught my eye. I don’t believe in judging a book by it’s cover, but to be honest, it is often the cover that causes us to pick up book we might not normally pick up. The cover art is just beautiful. Reading the summary on Goodreads is what made me add it to my overwhelming to be read list.
I’m glad I did. I’m a fan of dragon fantasy. I’m also a fan of books with strong female characters. Seraphina is an excellent example of both. And to make it even bet ...more
I’m glad I did. I’m a fan of dragon fantasy. I’m also a fan of books with strong female characters. Seraphina is an excellent example of both. And to make it even bet ...more
Make way for dragons! This fantasy is a YA version of game of thrones with a long cast of characters, complicated plots and includes a glossary of terms at the end of this long over 460 page fantasy. Music pervades the work since the author listened to medieval Italian polyphony, Breton bagpipe rock, prog metal, Latin American baroque and Irish sean nos while writing this first novel. As a child the author played cello and lip-synched Mozart operas with her sisters. Because of the overwritten la
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Seraphina is the Assistant Music Mistress at the Palace of Goredd, and she devotes her life to music, though she always is sure to remain unremarkable and unnoticeable. She has a secret which she covers with robes and her wits. She is half-dragon, her mother took human form and her father didn't know until they had a child with scales on her wrist and back, and a dragon-like mind. In this land, dragons take human form when they come to the kingdom of Goredd, in compliance with a treaty signed ov
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I adored this! The cover didn't appeal to me and I only picked it up because it was so highly recommended. I ended up listening to it as a way to make myself read it and I'm so glad I did!
I loved the reader (who's name escapes me right now) - British, she sang all the songs, perfect for the controlled emotionality of a half-dragon.
I also really appreciated that Hartman wrote a complete book while still leaving open the threads for a sequel. Writers who leave a book unfinished because "it is bo ...more
I loved the reader (who's name escapes me right now) - British, she sang all the songs, perfect for the controlled emotionality of a half-dragon.
I also really appreciated that Hartman wrote a complete book while still leaving open the threads for a sequel. Writers who leave a book unfinished because "it is bo ...more
Although it took me longer than usual to get into this book (perhaps because the early exposition seems even longer in audio format), by the time it was over I felt lost without it. I appreciate the complexity of the world and the politics, and the romance between Seraphina and Lucian is drawn out in an appropriately frustrating way.
Feb 02, 2013
Elizabeth
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
ya-fiction,
fantasy,
2013,
2013hubchallenge,
morris-nonfic-challenge-2012,
morris,
bfya-2013
It took a couple false starts to get through this one, but I really enjoyed it. I liked that the mystery was more important than the romance and that Seraphina came to accept herself and her place in a realistic way. I can see why this was nominated for Morris--the world-building is pretty spectacular. However, I have to say that of the titles I've read so far, this one is only my second-favorite (after Wonder Show).
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First, every book set in a Medieval-ish era should have an alehouse called the Sunny Monkey. Second, everyone should read (and consequently fall in love with) this book. Along with many of my colleagues, so very happy that this won the 2013 Morris Award!!!!
Jul 12, 2012
Chelsey
marked it as to-read
Jan 17, 2013
Ms. Pansulla
marked it as to-read
