Seraphina

Hartman, Rachel. Seraphina. 2012. 499 p. ISBN 978-0-375-86656-2. FIC HAR on the library shelves. This book has been nominated for a Flume Award in 2015.

For forty years the humans and dragons of Goredd have been co-existing in a fragile peace. Logical and rational, powerful but few, the dragons surrendered to the humans despite their winning on the field, and have been trying to learn anything they can about human culture and irrational emotions such as art and love. Being able to transform into humans, dragons still find it difficult to integrate human communities.

Seraphina is the daughter of a dragon mother and a human father. As a product of this union, she is an aberration and unwanted by either side, her left arm and back covered in scales. Living with her human father, Seraphina gains a position at court as the assistant court composer teaching Princess Grisselda, just as the crown prince is found decapitated, with evidence pointing to a dragon as the killer.

With the arrival of Ardmagar Comonot, general of the dragons and a large party of dragons, Seraphina finds herself trying to protect her secret while at the same time discover who, or what, is behind the prince’s murder and the plot to break the peace and start a new war with the dragons. And as if this is not enough, she’s falling for Prince Lucian Kiggs, the perceptive captain of the Queen’s Guard. Helped by her dragon teacher Orma, Seraphina’s investigation might uncover more than she bargains for.

If you really enjoyed this book, you will like A Turn of Light. Seraphina's story continues in Shadow Scale.