Name: Haley Parker's review of Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
Item: Seraphina
Rating: 4
Author: Haley Parker

Rachel Hartman

"Seraphina works as the music assistant to the royal court composer in Lavondaville. Her world is populated by humans and by dragons able to take human form, and for now there is an uneasy peace between them. In fact, the fortieth anniversary of the treaty between human and dragonkind is rapidly approaching. But then a member of the royal family is murdered, and the crime appears to have been committed by a dragon. The peace and treaty between both worlds is threatened. Seraphina is caught desperately in the middle of the tension. Her father is human, and her mother was a dragon in human form.She is unique, and completely illegal and if she is found out, her life is in serious danger . . ."

Seraphina

Haley Parker

Sunky

A very interesting world, in which humans and dragons are trying to live next to each other in peace, their efforts of such soldified by a treaty as well. But of course no matter that the dragons can take up human forms and they have to wear bells to notify everyone of their species, most of humans are still very vary of dragons and hate them with a passion.

On the other side of this awkward equation is Seraphina, the half-blood, who's the child of a dragon and a human, so basically a monster, whose existence is denied not only by humans but by dragons as well. But Seraphina is a wonderful heroine and just her existence in itself makes the book a lot more enjoyable than it already is.

The book has a slow pacing and even despite that, I actually enjoyed it a lot. Mostly because it has such an amazing atmosphere that engulfs you right as you start reading the book. I hate slow-paced books, but this book kept me entertained from beginning to end and I'm pretty sure most of that is thanks to the great atmosphere and Seraphina herself. Hartman writes beautifully and her characters are very loveable. There's a hint of romance in the story, but it's not dominant and isn't like in any other YA books.

So I'm completely satisfied. I'm thrilled to read the next installment.

In a world where dragons and humans coexist in an uneasy truce and dragons can assume human form, Seraphina, whose mother died giving birth to her, grapples with her own identity amid magical secrets and royal scandals, while she struggles to accept and develop her extraordinary musical talents.

a novel

Vicky  Nuñez 

I love books about dragons so I've had my eye on this book for a while, but there was something about it that made me hesitant to read it. Seraphina is unlike any dragon book I've read.
I think that the hardest part about reading a fantasy book is the way they create a new world and try sometimes to impose it on you, but this is not the case in here. . 
It is very subtle in the way Rachel Hartman tells the story and submerges you into this world, so subtly that once you notice it you are already in the world and are already familiar with it. 
The book follows the character Seraphina, who is not normal and who struggles accepting herself throughout the book. This makes her incredibly relatable. She is extraordinary and awes everyone with her intelligence, but most times she doesn't even notice until someone points it out to her. But this only makes the reader love her more.
I could go on and on about the many things I think makes this book great. Truthfully the only thing that keeps me from giving it 5 stars is that it has a sequel and a few things were left unresolved.
Even so, it was amazing and I definitely think is something worth reading.

sash.

I really, really liked this book. Serapahina reminds me a lot of Danielle du Barbarac from 'Ever After'. Same brave spirit. However, Seraphina has a different personal struggle: it's with coming to terms with her heritage and the way forward in a world that finds it abominable.

The writing was exceptional: in a lot of ways Rachel Hartman created a whole different mythology and that's really remarkable.

Annika Arguemore

No words, man. No words at all. Actually, a couple of words.

Hands down one of the most aesthetic novels I've read that's both substantial and labyrinth-like. One of a kind. Probably the only one of its kind.

It reminded me of the cinematography of the movie Sucker Punch (2011). It had that variety, too, in its story. Thankfully, it wasn't quite as vague as Sucker Punch, but it was just as intriguing or even more so.

I would have read all of it in one seating, but I prioritized college first because that costs money.

Amanda Jones

The kingdom of Goredd is populated by humans and by dragons who fold themselves into a human form. Though they live alongside each other, the peace between them is uneasy. But when a member of the royal family is murdered, and the crime appears to have been committed by a dragon the peace and treaty between both worlds is seriously threatened . . . Into this comes Seraphina, a gifted musician who joins the royal court as the assistant to the court composer. She is soon drawn into the murder investigation and, as she uncovers hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace in Goredd for good, finds herself caught desperately in the middle of the tension. For Seraphina hides a secret - the secret behind her musical gift - and if she is found out, her life is in serious danger . . .

Emily

** spoiler alert **
           This has some of the best world building that I’ve read in a very long time. A fully fleshed universe complete with dragons that doesn’t feel overdone, it’s just perfect. Spoiler? I LOVED the half dragons’ struggles with feeling monstrous that’s my sh!t. At first I was very unhappy with the mc’s love story it felt unnecessary and abrupt but by the end it became clear to me that love was not only the entire point but the central theme of the series. The ending makes it clear that that concept will be explored further in the sequel and I’m not sure if I’m invested enough to read the next installment. But so well done, this reminded me why I’ll be reading YA for the rest of my life.

Rachel Kanyid

Honestly, I say I finished this, but I gave up about 2/3rds in and just skimmed very quickly through the last bit.
I was not impressed with it. 
I thought that I was going to love it, and it had a TON of promise---dragons and music? Come on now!
But I found it dreadfully boring.
Maybe I'm just weird.
But I really didn't like it.

Savannah Winchell

AT LAST!!!!!!
tbh still enjoyable but it’s hard to follow the masterpiece that is Tess. Hartman is an interesting author as she has a distinct voice and her stories are unlike any other YA out there (whether or not you’re into that is up to u)

Addison Degginger

Why I chose this book: I’ll be honest, I picked up this book back in 2012 when it originally came out and could not finish it. I made it thirty pages in and was overwhelmed. While I am slowly learning to love the fantasy genre, I still struggle with books that contain peculiar names, worlds, words, languages, etc., due to my dyslexia. Let me just tell you, this book is a dyslexic’s nightmare. Despite this, I noticed that this book kept getting awards and solid reviews. So at the beginning of this year I picked up Seraphina on audiobook and was pleasantly surprised. 

4 Things You Need to Know:

1. DRAGONS. These are not just any normal, run of the mill dragons. These are dynamic, exciting, emotionless, shapeshifting, completely logical dragons. What I loved was that Hartman wasn’t afraid to build a world where dragons were more evolved than humans, and in some respects even more powerful. Because of this, there is a theme of racism that is prominent among the humans, creating a dragons vs. humans political environment that is intense and exciting.

Maria

В мире «Серафины» Рейчел Хартман сосуществуют люди и драконы, и да, это настоящие драконы, огромные, чешуйчатые, полыхающие огнём и всё такое, просто они умеют превращаться в человекоподобных существ. Драконы и люди долго воевали, пока наконец правители не решили заключить перемирие. Некоторые драконы поселились среди людей, но всё равно считаются среди них существами второго сорта (и наоборот). А идея о расовом смешении и в голову никому прийти не может – это было бы оскорблением и для драконов, и для людей. Да и непонятно, способны ли драконы и люди иметь потомство, никто и никогда о таком не слышал. Кроме Серафины – потому что она полукровка, возможно, единственная в мире. И никто и никогда не должен об этом узнать. 
 
Для «Серафины» я придумала категорию – лайфстайл-фэнтези. Мир книги удивительно обширен и детализирован, Хартман подробно описывает историю, культурные особенности, традиции, религию – одних святых упоминается десятка два, и обычаи – есть даже абзац про устройство типичной драконьей выгребной ямы. 

Очень много места уделено личностным особенностям драконов. Они никогда не здороваются – потому что не понимают, зачем это нужно, не смеются, не понимают сарказма, плохо разбираются в моде, этикете и искусстве, терпеть не могу ткани, от которых чешется кожа, и обожают высшую математику (по определению Серафины – это самое близкое, что у них есть к религии). И да, в нашем мире это всё особенности людей с расстройствами аутического спектра, а Рейчел Хартман делает неплохую работу, вписывая в свой мир нашу психофобию и позволяя читателю над ней порефлексировать.

У «Серафины» есть только один серьезный недостаток – практически отсутствующее действие. Причем в книге теоретически есть для него пространство – есть и ниточка с происхождением Серафины, которое той надо скрывать, и политические интриги, и попытка нарушения перемирия, и драконы, годами подтачивающие изнутри королевскую семью. Но эти возможности почти не используются, уж и не знаю почему. В этом плане книга больше похожа на энциклопедию драконьей жизни, из которой узнаешь массу рэндомных интересных фактов, чем на фэнтези-роман.

Подозреваю, что любителям экшена читать «Серафину» будет скучно. Но мне, как ни странно, было нормально, потому что мир и персонажи примирили меня с повествованием типа «встал пораньше, посмотрел в окно». В конце концов, я тот самый человек, который сейчас по четвертому разу пересматривает Gilmore Girls – возможно, самый лытдыбровый сериал в мировой истории.

Becky

This book was spectacular. there are hardly words

Cindy Lee

Favourite parts of this book:
Seraphina's path to self-acceptance
Her relationship with her uncle Omar
Her relationship with her garden of grotesques
Her flashes of maternal memory
the absolutely logical way dragons thought about the world
The focus on music and how it brings out emotion even though it may not be technically perfect

Kate

The style and world building here remind me very much of Gail Carson Levine, although I loved this more. I'm glad this will be a series because I want to spend more time with these darling characters. (they are all my children. my tiny children)

ETA: goodreads is telling me that the sequel is being released in just over a week! what weirdly good timing on my part

Tanner Evans

Seraphina is a beautifully written book with a new and fresh plot. I found myself laughing with the characters and not being able to stay away from the story for too long. It wasn't a book that I soared through in one sitting, but I liked that about it. It felt nice and easy, like spending time with friends (is that too cheesy? Probably). I loved the characters in this book, and like Phina, have such a soft spot for Fruit Bat. And in another praise, I am so relieved that it wasn't an insta-love scenario. Seraphina is a refreshing read and I am antsy to get my hands on the next book.

adria

I don't think there is any part of this book that I don't love. Seraphina is so badass and driven. She's so independent and stands her own ground like no one else. I adore her. Then we have Lucian, who- thank all gods- is not another asshole-ish love interest. He is actually a really well rounded character. Phew. I even loved to hate the villains. I loved everything,okay? Okay.

Chelsea Breher

I love the approach this novel took on dragon/human relations. It was intriguing from beginning to end.

Ben Nathan

It was...ok. solid world, interesting characters, but the story was just ok. Glad I read it as it gave more context to Tess of the Road, which I loved.

Seraphina works as the music assistant to the royal court composer in Lavondaville. Her world is populated by humans and by dragons able to take human form, and for now there is an uneasy peace between them. In fact, the fortieth anniversary of the treaty between human and dragonkind is rapidly approaching. But then a member of the royal family is murdered, and the crime appears to have been committed by a dragon. The peace and treaty between both worlds is threatened. Seraphina is caught desperately in the middle of the tension. Her father is human, and her mother was a dragon in human form.She is unique, and completely illegal u and if she is found out, her life is in serious danger . . .

Hayley 📖🌈💜🌸

MY HEART.

(in a Kiggs-and-Phina way...)

UGH.


PRE SHADOW SCALE REREAD from 26/2/15-4/3/15.

Oh man, this book. The characters are all utterly amazing. I LOVE EVERYONE IN THIS BAR.

Also, so glad I decided to reread this, I had forgotten about half of what happened. (Basically everything not Kiggs-and-Phina related.)

Lacey

Seraphina was amazing! It was beautifully written, the world and the characters. It was a bit slow in the beginning, but once I started reading more and more of it, I couldn't stop! This is now one of my favorite fantasy books!
Loved it, and I highly recommend it to fantasy-lovers. And if you're not, it's a great way to start in the genre.

Michael Hessling

Not bad. Not sure I'll keep going, though.

In a world where dragons and humans coexist and dragons can assume human form, Seraphina, whose mother died giving birth to her, grapples with her own identity while she struggles to accept and develop her musical talents.

Haley Parker &
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

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