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karabu's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I've read in awhile. A wonderful change from the darker YA books that have been big the last few years. Beautiful world building - I didn't want to leave when the book was done. The characters have real struggles to overcome and yet maintain a strength of character that was uplifting.
From the description, I thought the ability of dragons to assume human form was sort of. . .stupid sounding, but Hartman makes it work, and I enjoyed every page.
From the description, I thought the ability of dragons to assume human form was sort of. . .stupid sounding, but Hartman makes it work, and I enjoyed every page.
snukes's review against another edition
4.0
I bought this book through BookBub back in the day when I remembered to check their emails now and then. I shelved it along with all the other discount books I bought through them, and then forgot all about it until Bethany posted a review not so long ago, saying really nice things about it.
And well-deserved! The story wasn't quite what I'd expected, given its description. Instead of a Special Girl with Special Powers who uses her Specialness to Win Everything, we get a well-drawn character who IS special, but in a way that is not only embarrassing and shameful to her through most of the book, but is also dangerous should anyone else find out about it.
Okay, so she's also really pretty and gifted at music (Mary Sue benchmarks!) but the story is well-crafted and I never felt like rolling my eyes at the character. There's a little formula to all the characters, when you get right down to it, but I almost found that to be strength rather than a defect. I knew what to expect from the bastard prince, from the teenage princess, from her slightly evil mother. I knew what Seraphina's father's role was, and her dragon mentor. For all that, I didn't really know how the story would go, and enjoyed watching it unfold, with the good guys and bad guys ultimately not being as easy to pick out as I would have expected.
Definitely looking forward to following this one into its next installments.
And well-deserved! The story wasn't quite what I'd expected, given its description. Instead of a Special Girl with Special Powers who uses her Specialness to Win Everything, we get a well-drawn character who IS special, but in a way that is not only embarrassing and shameful to her through most of the book, but is also dangerous should anyone else find out about it.
Okay, so she's also really pretty and gifted at music (Mary Sue benchmarks!) but the story is well-crafted and I never felt like rolling my eyes at the character. There's a little formula to all the characters, when you get right down to it, but I almost found that to be strength rather than a defect. I knew what to expect from the bastard prince, from the teenage princess, from her slightly evil mother. I knew what Seraphina's father's role was, and her dragon mentor. For all that, I didn't really know how the story would go, and enjoyed watching it unfold, with the good guys and bad guys ultimately not being as easy to pick out as I would have expected.
Definitely looking forward to following this one into its next installments.
teretyny's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book. My son read the prologue and dumped it saying "it's a book about babies!". So I picked it up and was so engaged with it that he wished he hadn't dropped it so surreptitiously. The tension and intense emotions about Seraphina and friends feels similar to the dynamics of transphobia. Highly recommend.
lauramclain's review against another edition
4.0
As the forty-year anniversary of a peace treaty between dragons and humans approaches, a prince is assassinated in a particularly draconian fashion. Seraphina, our heroine, finds herself in the center of palace intrigues, plots and prejudices. Hartman has done extraordinary world-building: books, history, theology, music, architecture and philosophy create a rich environment. Seraphina is complex, smart and brave, and slightly unreliable as a narrator. The novel has a satisfying ending, while leaving plenty of loose ends for future books. [b:Dragon Slippers|669570|Dragon Slippers (Dragon Slippers, #1)|Jessica Day George|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1316730294s/669570.jpg|655608] meets [b:Stranger in a Strange Land|350|Stranger in a Strange Land|Robert A. Heinlein|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1156897088s/350.jpg|908211].
kailansunshine's review against another edition
3.0
It ended up being much more interesting than I had anticipated - I'm not sure if I'll read the second installment, but I don't regret spending time on this book (which I had anticipated I would feel in the early chapters).
ponyxtales's review against another edition
4.0
I am usually not a fan of high fantasy because I get lost in it - too much to picture and keep track of! But this was one of my first stabs at high fantasy in a long time and I loved it. Therefore, I have to keep it on my list of books to suggest to those trying to bridge the gap between fantasy and high fantasy.
starrynews's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful dragon tale! The concept of the dragons being able to fit into human shape is an intriguing one and provides the basis for plenty of political intrigue. Seraphina works in the court, which gives her a good view of the action. She is a great main character with a fascinating back story and secret. This is action-packed and compelling story. I look forward to the next book.
nikeg27's review against another edition
5.0
Such a wonderful book. Seraphina is a wondrously relatable character, down to her scales, love for music, secrets, and love for Lucian Kiggs. It seems impossible to relate to the hiding of one's scales, but I have had experience of something of the like. Wonderfully interesting plots, characters, and dragons blend together to create the greatest of stories.