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YA Review: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

7/9/2012

8 Comments

 
Seraphina cover
Seraphina (Seraphina #1)
Author: Rachel Hartman
Publication Date: 7/10/12
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
[Goodreads|Amazon]

Blurb(GR):
 Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.

In her exquisitely written fantasy debut, Rachel Hartman creates a rich, complex, and utterly original world. Seraphina's tortuous journey to self-acceptance is one readers will remember long after they've turned the final page.


Review:

Fantasy lovers, rejoice!

This is an amazing debut novel, and I feel confident that we have a new series to devour, covet, and hoard ARCs of in a cave somewhere. Not that I do that.

This is the story of two societies, diametrically different, but living together under a fragile peace treaty. The dragons are analytical thinkers who don’t understand emotion, art, or music. They view emotion and attachment as distasteful and are taught strict control. But the humans are interesting to them, in an intellectual sense, and so they begin to transform themselves - to take human shape and study human behaviors. And as any two societies who live side by side, the humans and the dragons collide, damage, and change one another irrevocably. Seraphina is the product of that change: a human/dragon hybrid born from a dragon mother who found that she could love passionately and couldn’t go back. Seraphina is an abomination, and can’t reveal her true identity for fear of violent intolerance. 

This is fantasy at its absolute best: the landscape and inhabitants, customs, religion, language, and conflicts might be completely imaginary, but they are also so completely fathomable and rife with emotional honesty. Fantasy allows us to take up the role of outsider, explorer, looking in and discovering for the first time. But the amazing thing is that for all its foreignness, fantasy can gift us with so much real insight into our own society. It's as if, by acting as outsiders, we can see everything more clearly.

That’s what I felt when I read this book. This could very well be a book about civil rights, or women’s rights, or gay rights. Seraphina is born into an identity that she didn’t choose, and must deal with the shame, the lies, and a future without true connection to anyone. And just like in our own society, there are those who view any kind of novelty or change as a threat to their very existence. 

This is a serious book, but it also made me laugh, sigh, and struggle with a lump in my throat. Seraphina is a completely inspiring heroine, beautiful in her vulnerability and naked bravery. The romance is a true meeting of the minds; I’m not sure that I even know what Lucian Kiggs really looks like. The writing is lovely (what a gorgeous opening paragraph!) and truly got under my skin in a few places. There were only a few times where I felt like a little bit less would have made more of an impact. But there is so much potential here; I suspect that this author will only get better.

And I will never, ever underestimate the seductive power of math.

Perfect Musical Pairing
Bjork – Joga

I kept returning to Bjork while reading this. Her new album is (like her others) highly experimental. She uses uncommon musical structure and even some brand new instruments that she’s invented. The album comes with a downloadable app so that listeners can “interact with” the music. After reading this book, I can only conclude that Bjork is a human-dragon hybrid.

This is one of my favorites of hers, and I think that the lyrics and the mood can relate so heavily to the dragons, in human form, and experiencing strong emotions that they can’t decipher.

”You don't have to speak
I feel
Emotional landscapes
They puzzle me
Confuse

Then the riddle gets solved and you push me up to this
State of emergency
How beautiful to be”


4.5/5 Stars 


You can read a prequel for this book (The Audition) for free here.  And of course, this book is officially released TOMORROW!  We are also very excited to announce that Rachel Hartman will be joining us in the next few weeks.  We are happy to report that she is a very busy lady these days.  Congratulations Rachel!
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8 Comments
Keertana link
7/9/2012 12:40:29 am

Wonderful review Catie! I am so excited about the release of this novel since I'm an ardent fantasy lover! I especially like fantasy novels that manage to convey a deeper message behind all the world building and intriguing plot lines, so I'm glad to see that this book stands for more than a story about dragons. In my opinion, the beauty of fantasy lies in the fact that readers can relate to it despite it being set in an entirely new realm, so your high rating has definitely made me even more eager to get my hands on a copy of this! :)

~Keertana
<a href="http://ivybookbindings.blogspot.com">Ivy Book Bindings</a>

Reply
Amy @ Turn the Page link
7/9/2012 03:16:18 am

Brilliant review Catie, I've been excited about this one :D I'm trying to track down the illustrator of the cover does it by any chance, say in the copyright of the book?

Reply
Flannery (The Readventurer) link
7/9/2012 04:55:57 am

Hi Amy,
The illustrator is Andrew Davidson (http://www.andrewdavidsonillustration.com/). I sent an email from us to see if maybe he'd answer a few questions about the cover art but I have no clue if he'll be interested:) His artwork is amazing. The Seraphina art is actually made from a wood carving. I know, right?

Reply
Amy @ Turn the Page link
7/9/2012 05:14:27 am

Ooo thank you - I'm going to shoot him an email too :) I'm looking for more artists to take part in Cover Corner on my blog :D

I adore traditional art - and woodcuts are so beautiful. And amazingly difficult to create - especially well (I've tried lol!)

Reply
Holly link
7/9/2012 05:38:31 am

I am reading this now, and looking forward to getting back to it tonight. Lovely review as always, Catie! I hope I end up feeling the same way.

Reply
VeganYANerds link
7/9/2012 07:54:44 pm

Wonderful review, Catie! I haven't heard much about this book but it sounds fantastic and I really like that it made you think about our world too.

Reply
Heidi link
7/10/2012 04:46:38 am

I know I am going to be kicking myself when I read this because I have had it for so long and haven't read it. What is wrong with me? This books sounds fantastic and your review made me want to drop everything and start it this minute!

Reply
Avery link
1/16/2014 08:28:27 pm

I have been reading your posts regularly. I need to say that you are doing a fantastic job. Please keep up the great work.

Reply



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