Seraphina

by Rachel Hartman Narrated by Mandy Williams, Justine Eyre

Overview

Lyrical, imaginative, and wholly original, this New York Times bestseller with 8 starred reviews is not to be missed.* Rachel Hartman's award-winning debut will have you looking at dragons as you've never imagined them before...
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In the kingdom of Goredd, dragons and humans live and work side by side - while below the surface, tensions and hostility simmer.

The newest member of the royal court, a uniquely gifted musician named Seraphina, holds a deep secret of her own. One that she guards with all of her being.

When a member of the royal family is brutally murdered, Seraphina is drawn into the investigation alongside the dangerously perceptive-and dashing-Prince Lucien. But as the two uncover a sinister plot to destroy the wavering peace of the kingdom, Seraphina's struggle to protect her secret becomes increasingly difficult... while its discovery could mean her very life.
*
"Will appeal to both fans of Christopher Paolini's Eragon series and Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown." -Entertainment Weekly

“[A] lush, intricately plotted fantasy.” -The Washington Post

"Beautifully written. Some of the most interesting dragons I've read."
-Christopher Paolini, New York Times bestselling author of Eragon

Editorial Reviews

The Washington Post

Full of grace and gravitas, Seraphina's first-person voice is a welcome change from today's snark-infested YA novels…[a] lush, intricately plotted fantasy…
—Mary Quattlebaum

From the Publisher

A New York Times Bestseller
An Indie Bestseller
Winner of the William C. Morris YA Debut Award
An Amazon Top 20 Teen Book of the Year
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book
A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Library Journal Best Young Adult Literature for Adults Selection
A Booklist Editors' Choice
An ABA Top 10 Kids' Indie Next List Selection
An ABC New Voices Pick
Nominated for the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction
Winner of the Cybil Award for Teen Fantasy and Science Fiction
A Publishers Weekly Flying Start Author
An ALA-ALSC Notable Children's Book
An ALA-YALSA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults Books
A YALSA Teens Top Ten Nominee

"An impressive debut novel; I can't wait to see what Rachel Hartman writes next."—Christopher Paolini, New York Times bestselling author of Eragon

"A book worth hoarding, as glittering and silver-bright as dragon scales, with a heroine who insists on carving herself a place in your mind."—Naomi Novik, New York Times bestselling author of Uprooted

"Seraphina is strong, complex, talented—she makes mistakes and struggles to trust, with good reason, and she fights to survive in a world that would tear her apart. I love this book!"—Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author


"A wonderful mix of thrilling story, fascinating characters, and unique dragonlore. I loved being in Seraphina's world!"—Alison Goodman, New York Times bestselling author of Eon and Eona
 
"Rachel Hartman's rich invention never fails to impress—and to convince. It's smart and funny and original, and has characters I will follow to the ends of the earth."—Ellen Kushner, World Fantasy Award-winning author

“Full of grace and gravitas.”—The Washington Post

"Refreshing."—Entertainment Weekly

"Seraphina makes dragons fascinating once again."—io9.com

“Head and talons above the rest."— Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
 
"[A] complex, intrigue-laden fantasy."—Publishers Weekly,  Starred Review

"Captivating.” —Shelf Awareness, Starred Review
 
"Uncommonly good fantasy."—Booklist, Starred Review

“An outstanding debut from author-to-watch Hartman.”— The Horn Book Magazine, Starred Review
 
"Readers will want to plan to return to this richly developed world to see where this intricate fantasy goes next."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, Starred Review
 
"Fans of fantasy will devour this book."—Voice of Youth Advocates, Starried Review

“Hartman creates a rich story layered with intriguing characters and descriptive settings.”—School Library Journal, Starred Review

Kirkus Reviews

In Hartman's splendid prose debut, humans and dragons--who can take human form but not human feeling--have lived in uneasy peace for 40 years. The dragons could destroy the humans, but they are too fascinated by them. As musician Seraphina describes it, attempting to educate the princess, humans are like cockroaches to dragons, but interesting. As the anniversary of the treaty approaches, things fall apart: The crown prince has been murdered, anti-dragon sentiment is rising, and in the midst of it all, an awkward, gifted, observant girl unexpectedly becomes central to everything. Hartman has remixed her not-so-uncommon story and pseudo-Renaissance setting into something unexpected, in large part through Seraphina's voice. By turns pedantic, lonely, scared, drily funny and fierce, Seraphina brings readers into her world and imparts details from the vast (a religion of saints, one of whom is heretical) to the minute (her music, in beautifully rendered detail). The wealth of detail never overwhelms, relayed as it is amid Seraphina's personal journey; half-human and half-dragon, she is anathema to all and lives in fear. But her growing friendship with the princess and the princess' betrothed, plus her unusual understanding of both humans and dragons, all lead to a poignant and powerful acceptance of herself. Dragon books are common enough, but this one is head and talons above the rest. (cast of characters, glossary) (Fantasy. 12 & up)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169465884
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	07/10/2012
Series:	Seraphina , #1
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

"He was going to kill you," I said, my chin quivering.  "I had to do something."

Damn propriety.  Forgive me, St. Clare.  

I stepped forward and took him in my arms.  He was exactly my height, which surprised me; my awe of him had made him seem taller.  He emitted a whimper of protest, or maybe surprise, but wrapped his arms around me and buried his face in my hair, half weeping, half scolding me.

"Life is so short," I said, not sure why I was saying it, not even sure if that was really true for someone like me.

We were still standing there, clinging to each other, our feet ice-cold in the snow, when Orma landed on the next hilltop, followed closely by Basind.  Kiggs lifted his head and stared at them, big-eyed.  My heart fell.

I'd told him I had no devices.  I'd lied right to the prince's face, and here was the proof: the dragon I'd called, and his dimwitted sidekick.

(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Seraphina"
by .
Copyright © 2012 Rachel Hartman.
Excerpted by permission of Random House Children's Books.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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