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Seraphina | March 25, 2015

by Rachel Hartman (Random House Books for Young Readers, July 2012)

For the past 40 years, a tentative peace between humans and dragons has reigned in the kingdom of Goredd. Dragons, ruled by rationality and the belief that emotions are an illness that must be cured, have the ability to fold themselves into the human form and live among humans as ambassadors and university scholars. But as the anniversary of the peace treaty nears, tensions and violence begin to mount.

Seraphina Dombegh is an unusually gifted musician with a dark secret that she’s desperate to protect. When a member of the royal family is murdered and suspicion falls on the dragons, Seraphina finds herself caught up in the investigation along with the captain of the Queen’s Guard, the charming and unnervingly perceptive Lucian Kiggs. As she delves deeper into court intrigue and discovers that there’s a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina realizes that her family’s history is somehow involved. In order to uncover the truth, she may have to reveal her own secret.

Rachel Hartman is a master of world building. From the first page, Goredd is a vivid kingdom with complex political, social, and cultural systems that make the reader feel immersed in the world. Seraphina has a compelling voice that blends strength and vulnerability, confidence and self-doubt, and courage in the face of danger. Subtle messages of tolerance and acceptance of others — and yourself — run through the novel, giving it a deeper emotional significance.

Shadow Scales, the sequel to this delightful fantasy, is now available.

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