Seraphina (Seraphina #1) by Rachel Hartman

Publisher: Random House

Year Published: 2012

Pages: 451

Rating:

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 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.

I just wanna say that I really LOVE reading this book!

I love dragon story, and Rachel did a super-fantastic job on creating such a wonderful and complex dragon world.

On this first book, it felt like I was reading a crime story in the dragon world setting which is awesome! I love everything in this book, mainly the story-plot, the writing and the characters.

There are some elements that made me love this book, the mystery and the secrets. This two elements combine with a fantastic writing have created a great story which I adore so much. I love how everything feels so mysterious and as the reading goes, the secrets reveal, one by one.. and it gives surprises to the reader..

And the characters! Seraphina, this girl is so unique (in a very literal sense).. She has been through a very complexed life. Some parents issues and such. She is quite a realist and reasonable one. I really like that quality in a character. I also love other characters, they are also unique whether they are human or dragon, or half-dragon. There are some of them, but probably I can't write all of them, but one thing for sure is that their characters are well-built and very interesting!

The Romance... How I love UN-cheesy romantic story. I can detect a bit of angsty romantic story in this book. I think there are two main romance stories. One, between Seraphina's mother and father, and two, Seraphina and Prince Lucian Kiggs. And these two stories are quite similar in a way, but different. And these two have angsty quality that have caused me to pull my hair and almost knock my head on the wall.. As for Seraphina's parents romantic story was really sad, so much for forbidden love story.

Really can't wait for the sequel to come out ;), Dracomachia. There would be more adventure and action! for sure :D