Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Seraphina is a young adult fantasy novel about Seraphina Dombegh, a young woman who must hide the fact that she is half-dragon. Seraphina is a musical prodigy and works with the royal family as the 40th anniversary of the treaty creating peace between humans and dragons draws near. However, not all is well in the kingdom of Goredd. Dragons have learned how to take human form and live and work among other humans, but they do not posess the emotions of humans. Nor are they allowed to. When a royal prince is found decapitated, some fear that the peace is a sham and dragons are plotting to take over the land. Seraphina, whose mother was a dragon and father is a human, finds she has strange powers to see other very unusual individuals in visions. She initially knows of no other half-breeds, and nearly every dragon and human think it is impossible for the two species to interbreed. Seraphina knows the truth, but guards her secret religiously, for if anyone finds out it could mean banishment or death for her and her father. Having contacts in both worlds, Seraphina begins to realize there is a legitimate threat to the kingdom afoot, and the suspense of that search easily carries the book to its conclusion.

Author Rachel Hartman has created a memorable and refreshing tale of dragons and humans, one where the two can co-exist in the same realm and work together to solve the threats posed to them by their own kind-- both human and dragon. While most young adults reading this won't be half-dragon, they will relate to the Seraphina's desire for privacy and keeping a secret, even if their own secrets aren't quite as dire. I am not a fan of the fanasy genre, and don't seek out new novels in that realm. However, Rachel Hartman's debut is well done and I've included it in my high school book club offerings for fall 2013; it is the first fantasy novel I can remember adding to those ranks. Recommended.