Seraphina

Seraphina, Rachel Hartman, 515 pages

Seraphina lives an uneasy life. Although the truce brokered nearly 40 years ago between the kingdom of Goredd and the nation of dragons still holds, her nature as a half-dragon must remain secret. Tensions rise as Treaty Day approaches, especially once Prince Rufus is discovered dead, murdered in a suspiciously draconic fashion. With the help of her (dragon) uncle and the alarmingly perceptive Lucian Kiggs (the captain of the guards, as well as the illegitimate cousin and legitimate fiancé of Second Heir Princess Glisselda), Seraphina races to unravel the conspiracy in the palace before the plotters manage to destabilize the treaty and spark another war.

This summary doesn’t do this book justice; there’s a lot going on here. Seraphina has visions of strange people she’s never met; she’s also the Assistant Court Composer and a highly talented musician; the dragons can take human form (and struggle with the powerful emotions their reptilian brains are ill-equipped to handle); and the plot is founded on a fascinating, well-thought-out world, complete with a truly unique religion involving a vast pantheon of saints. There is of course romantic tension between Seraphina and Kiggs, though it’s based on real respect and friendship. The only parts of the plot that ring false to me both involve timing: Seraphina has only been at court for two weeks before the book starts, which seems to me not long enough (in my opinion, two months feels like it fits better). The second is a fairly major plot spoiler, so you’ll just have to read and find out, which you should absolutely do. This is a great book.