Seraphina

By: Rachel Hartman

Narrated by: Mandy Williams, Justine Eyre

Length: 13 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Lyrical, imaginative, and wholly original, this New York Times best seller with eight starred reviews is not to be missed.

Rachel Hartman’s award-winning debut will have you looking at dragons as you’ve never imagined them before....

In the kingdom of Goredd, dragons and humans live and work side by side - while below the surface, tensions and hostility simmer. The newest member of the royal court, a uniquely gifted musician named Seraphina, holds a deep secret of her own. One that she guards with all of her being.

When a member of the royal family is brutally murdered, Seraphina is drawn into the investigation alongside the dangerously perceptive - and dashing - Prince Lucien. But as the two uncover a sinister plot to destroy the wavering peace of the kingdom, Seraphina’s struggle to protect her secret becomes increasingly difficult...while its discovery could mean her very life.

"Will appeal to both fans of Christopher Paolini’s Eragon series and Robin McKinley’s The Hero and the Crown." (Entertainment Weekly)

“[A] lush, intricately plotted fantasy.” (The Washington Post)

"Beautifully written. Some of the most interesting dragons I've read." (Christopher Paolini, New York Times best-selling author of Eragon)

©2012 Rachel Hartman (P)2012 Listening Library

Critic reviews

Winner, ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2013

Nominated, ALA Best Books for Young Adults Top 10

Winner, ALA Notable Children's Book, 2013

Winner, Amazon Best of the Year, 2012

Winner, Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC) New Voices Selection, 2012

Short-listed, Cybils, 2012

Nominated, Florida Sunshine State Book Award, 2014

Shortlisted, Kid's Indie Next List \"Inspired Recommendations for Kids from Indie Booksellers, 2012

Nominated, Pacific Northwest Young Readers Choice Award, 2014

Winner, William C. Morris YA Debut Award, 2013

Winner, Young Adult Services Division, School Library Journal Author Award

"A book worth hoarding, as glittering and silver-bright as dragon scales, with a heroine who insists on carving herself a place in your mind." (Naomi Novik, New York Times best-selling author of the Temeraire series)

"Seraphina is strong, complex, talented - she makes mistakes and struggles to trust, with good reason, and she fights to survive in a world that would tear her apart. I love this book!" (Tamora Pierce, New York Times best-selling author of the Beka Cooper series)

Hard to follow

I really wanted to like this book but it was just too hard to follow as an audiobook and as a result I never really connected with the characters. Some of the narration was pretty cringy (e.g., the singing) and there were constant religious references used as exclamations (St. Masha and St. Dan! I could not believe it!) that got really old really fast. I was ready for it to end.

Couldn't stop listening after my commute!

I listen to Audible books in the car on my commute. This is one of the books I couldn't stop listening too. The story starts out a little vague and confusing but comes into focus over the first few hours.
Seraphina's character came to life so vividly that I felt the strong emotions as if they were the result of something happening in my own life. The story is excellent, and the narrator is one of the best I've listened too.
I will definitely be looking for more Rachel Hartman books.

really awesome read it for sure super good also read shadow scale

follow a woman named seraphina who has a secret she's!!!!! o no I'm not going to tell you. You have to read it to find out any way read it for sure it makes you feel happy it makes you feel sad laugh or cry it's great book read it

World building

The world was interesting and at first I was thinking it was some alternate universe concept where our history just had an extended period of dragons, but it really was something entirely different and unexpected. Not as deep as a Tolkiens but still immersive.

The only put-off was the voices for a couple of characters, but maybe that was the point, to make them as annoying as possible. Lol

Good but...

What did you love best about Seraphina?

The world

What was one of the most memorable moments of Seraphina?

When she first remembers. The last talk with Lucien.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, in the middle was a bit slow, the second part is better!

Any additional comments?

Its a great story, but I like more romance developing. The best part is the magic world it sets in. She is clever, but she makes dumb decisions...

Pretty good!

Not a super complex novel, but I enjoyed the authors unique take on dragons. The Audible version was decent, although I wish I could forever the narrator's cringe worthy singing.

Empowering

This book makes self worth a different meaning! I would recommend it to anyone ever.

Fantasy, Hist Fiction Lovers Seraphina is For You

Would you listen to Seraphina again? Why?

Absolutely, rich story, detailed and complex fantasy with a british accent

Who was your favorite character and why?

It's hard not to love an imperfect, sometimes prickly character like Seraphina.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Seraphina's love of music throughout is especially moving

Any additional comments?

This is perfect for those who love Phillipa Gregory, Deborah Harkness, Diana Gabaldon

Absolutely superb

Any additional comments?

Well written, well plotted, amazing characters and very well read, definitely worthwhile!

Seraphina is a fantastic and flawed character and is surrounded by a number of others. The villain to the story was relatively easy to guess but the story isn't really intended as a murder mystery.

Interesting Dragon story

Fantasy/Sci Fi is not my favorite genre, but that category was on sale. I scrolled through many titles, but the reviews on Seraphina intrigued me. I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it was part mystery, part romance, and a different type of dragon story with interesting relationships and back story. I was found myself caught up in the plot of finding the "bad guy" since mystery is one of my favorite genre's. The writing was well done and lyrical in parts. I enjoyed watching Seraphina grow into herself.