Seraphina by Rachel Harman
Seraphina, by Rachel Hartman, is a coming-of-age fantasy set in Renaissance Europe. Eloquently written, the story follows Seraphina, born of a dragon mother and human father. Considered a scorned “half-breed,” her very existence is unlawful. She must hide her scales and scent to appear normal and be accepted.
Seraphina inherited visions and memories from her mother before she died, and these visions serve as her only link to her mother. Her mother warns her of the Saarantra dragons living in the north who seek to dismantle the Goreddian royal family. The Sarrantra see humans as weak, and emotions as “the addictive fetid backwash of the meaty brain.”
In Goredd, however, there are a few progressive dragons that exist in human form and want reconciliation with humans. They view the human knowledge of art, philosophy, and diplomacy as a treasure. Led by a dragon named Comonot Ardmagar, a treaty between humans and dragons will allow them to live together peacefully in Goredd.
Political themes are a major part of this story, and the overarching plot builds on the investigation of an assassinated member of the royal family, building in the climax to uncover the disguised dragon who’s infiltrated the royal family and a small battle between humans and dragons.
The more elusive and interesting part of this plot, however, is Seraphina’s discovery of herself and what it means to be a half-breed dragon in human form. Seraphina’s emotions are explored beautifully and she must navigate the political scene while keeping her identity secret from those she loves. This eats away at her, and she must keep her secret while exploring her mother's visions to solve the mystery and find other “half-breeds” who’ve been living secretly in Goredd.
What I liked most about this book was the mental imagery Seraphina explores within her mind which she calls her “garden.” Several times throughout the novel she enters this garden and meets people who live there. She must keep her “tin box of memories” safe and her garden tended, otherwise she risks suffering an emotional collapse. She demonstrates a deep ability to meditate and explore her inner psychology which motivates the reader to explore their own psychological garden.
What set this novel apart from other fantasy novels in this genre was the author’s complex and imaginative use of language. Although written in the first person, Hartman’s writing skill clearly sets the standard for young adult fantasy novels. With intricate and striking imagery, this novel will expand and challenge the reader's vocabulary and is appropriate for young adults and adults alike.
If there was anything that I didn’t enjoy about this novel, it was the over-abundance of political dialogue and characters. At times it was hard to follow how each character was significant to the political scene. This affected my overall enjoyment of this book. What I didn’t realize was that at the end of the book there’s an index of characters for reference, which would have made it easier for me if I’d referred to it.
This book took me a while to get through, but I enjoyed it overall and give it 3 out of 5 stars. I recommend it to anyone wanting a challenging and engaging read with political themes and good world-building. I don’t recommend it to people looking for a light, easy read, as this book does take some effort in understanding the language, characters, and world.
