Before I go into the review proper, I simply must divulge a tiny fact about myself: I love dragons.
One of the quickest ways to get me to part with my money when it comes to fiction is to simply give the tiniest hint that these flying mythical creatures are prowling between the pages. Or, in Seraphina‘s case, draw the eye with an intriguing black-and-white illustration of a dragon flying above rearing spires. Yes, I admit that I judged this book by its cover, but that does not make Seraphina any less deserving of praise.
The plot concerns the titular character, Seraphina Dombegh, in the kingdom of Goredd where an uneasy alliance between humans and dragons has managed to keep the peace for four decades. As the treaty’s anniversary draws near, the celebratory event is threatened by the timely murder of a member of the royal family. All evidence points to a draconian suspect and Seraphina finds herself thrust into the midst of this drama while she struggles to protect her secret.
The main tension in the novel arises from the differences between dragons and humans, which Hartman does a fantastic job of constructing . Most depictions of dragons tend to rely on their appearance to invoke fear. Hartman goes beyond teeth and claws by allowing her dragons to morph into human shape while still retaining a distinctly non-human perspective. To them, emotions are considered profane and the strict extent of their control over them results in a truly disturbing effect. Seraphina herself is a fantastic heroine who navigates through the murder and other complex subplots with a keen mind and a spark of musical joy.
Even if dragons are not your cup of tea, pick up Seraphina if good writing attracts you!