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Seraphina

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.

Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life. -Plot summary borrowed from Goodreads

I really liked this one- not quite as much as I had been hoping to from a lot of the hype and glowing reviews on Goodreads, but it was still a really well-done high fantasy in an alternate setting, with dragons. This is definitely for fans of political intrigue, as court machinations, secret plots and assassins abound. I would also recommend it to fans of Patricia McKillip. Seraphina has that combination of glittering prose and rich settings that seem to hold you at a little bit of a distance that I've noticed in McKillip's books. That being said, there are some standout characters here, including Seraphina's uncle and cantankerous music master. The more I read the more I liked, and I am very excited to read the next installment.

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