Seraphina
works as Music Mistress to the court and part of her
duties involves teaching a young princess. On the face
of it you would not notice such a quiet, unassuming
young woman unless you heard her perform, but she is
a woman with a secret. Forty years earlier a truce
was declared between the humans of Goredd and their
neighbors the dragons and now a grand celebration is
planned to commemorate the treaty. But the crown
prince has been found murdered minus his head, and Seraphina
herself is actually half human and half dragon…
This is the first volume in a proposed series about
the uneasy truce between the folk of quasi medieval/Victorian
Goredd and the dragons who have the ability to assume
human form. It is a book with many themes; the
teenage ones of feeling different and finding first
love and a place in society, it is a political thriller,
an examination of prejudices, a murder mystery and of
course a fantasy. Ms. Hartman has created some
very interesting dragons and a real-seeming environment
for her story that springs instantly to vibrant life..
If, there were dragons who could assume human form this
is what would happen. But the actual story, told
in the first person by Seraphina, proceeds at a slow
pace and lacks momentum to such a degree that I felt
it was more about her life and outlook than murders,
politics or anything else. These things do happen,
but they take rather a back seat to daily life and as
a result the book, which is not very long, tends to
plod. More plot is needed and a faster pace and with
these things the book would be impressive indeed.
Worth reading, particularly if you are a teenager, but
good rather than great.
Serphina
[review
1] |
