Seraphina (Seraphina #1), by Rachel Hartman

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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 Dombegh 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.

In her exquisitely written fantasy debut, Rachel Hartman creates a rich, complex, and utterly original world. Seraphina's tortuous journey to self-acceptance is one readers will remember long after they've turned the final page.




This was almost—ALMOST!—a five-star book.  I was quite displeased with the love triangle and felt that the end "revelation" was a cop-out.  

That being said, I do love this book!  Hartman has created a fantastical world full of dragons and humans.  The descriptions are captivating and I was drawn in to the story from the very beginning.  Seraphina is a strong heroine who will appeal to geeky teenagers.  It's always nice to find kick-ass women in fantasy and science fiction novels who wear more than skimpy lingerie.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series.  I just hate that I have to wait until next year!