Shadow Scale

A Companion to Seraphina

By: Rachel Hartman

Narrated by: Mandy Williams, W. Morgan Sheppard

Length: 18 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

Seraphina took the literary world by storm with eight starred reviews and numerous "Best of" lists. At last, her eagerly awaited sequel has arrived - and with it comes an epic battle between humans and dragons.

The kingdom of Goredd: a world where humans and dragons share life with an uneasy balance, and those few who are both human and dragon must hide the truth. Seraphina is one of these, part girl, part dragon, who is reluctantly drawn into the politics of her world. When war breaks out between the dragons and humans, she must travel the lands to find those like herself - for she has an inexplicable connection to all of them, and together they will be able to fight the dragons in powerful, magical ways.

As Seraphina gathers this motley crew, she is pursued by humans who want to stop her. But the most terrifying is another half dragon, who can creep into people’s minds and take them over. Until now, Seraphina has kept her mind safe from intruders, but that also means she's held back her own gift. It is time to make a choice: Cling to the safety of her old life, or embrace a powerful new destiny?

Praise for Seraphina:

A New York Times best seller

An indie best seller

Winner of the William C. Morris Debut Award

Winner of the Cybil Award for Teen Fantasy and Science Fiction

An Amazon Top 20 Teen Book of the Year

A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year

A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

A Library Journal Best Young Adult Literature for Adults Selection

A Booklist Editors’ Choice

An ABA New Voices Pick

A Publishers Weekly Flying Start Author

An ALA-ALSC Notable Children’s Book

An ALA-YALSA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults Book

Recipient of eight starred reviews

“Beautifully written, well-rounded characters, and some of the most interesting dragons I’ve read in fantasy for a long while. An impressive debut novel; I can’t wait to see what Rachel Hartman writes next.” (Christopher Paolini, New York Times best selling author of Eragon)

“A novel that will appeal to both fans of Christopher Paolini’s Eragon series and Robin McKinley’s The Hero and the Crown.” (Entertainment Weekly)

©2015 Rachel Hartman (P)2015 Listening Library

Critic reviews

"...the intricate plotting, clever surprises... and lovely prose make this a worthy conclusion for all of Hartman's big-hearted characters." (Booklist)

"This is a tale of love, mistakes, double-crosses, and pain - one that left me tied up in knots!" (Tamora Pierce, New York Times best-selling author)

"...[Hartman] continues to expand her world with enough history and detail to satisfy even the most questioning of readers, doing it all so naturally that it's hard to believe this is fiction. Dragon fiction has never flown higher." (Kirkus Review)

"Williams sweeps us along on the journey, never stumbling over Hartman's invented words or the panoply of dragon, half-dragon, and human characters.... It won't take long for listeners to be drawn into the story's intrigue or to find themselves rooting for a happy ending." (AudioFile)

Loved it.

The performance was excellent and the story was complex and intriguing. I found myself sitting in my car long after I had arrived home just to keep listening.

Book 1 was better

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I felt like the first 1/3 of the book the author couldn’t decide what the main conflict was. Instead of the the main conflict being a plot twist, it felt to me more like the author couldn’t decide and changed their mind. The beginning was also slow. And the thing with the prince and queen that was implied towards the end? Maybe I’m dumb, but I’m still a little confused as to how all that’s going to work out and why that’s the arrangement in the first place. The climax? Anticlimactic. I don’t know. I should have just stopped at book 1

Loved it

I very much enjoyed both of the books. I would highly recommend them. I have listened to them twice now- that’s how good they are.

Excellent sequel to the first

I really liked the originality of the original and if you don't want to spend time on a trilogy it's a good duology. Does what a good sequel should, changes the kind of story while keeping the spirit and characters from the first. The first dealt with political intrigue and romance in a single city, here Seraphina travels the world to find her fellow half-dragons. However, she is not the only one with special powers and someone from her past is out for revenge. Unresolved questions from are explored with greater focus on her special mind powers and dragons play a bigger role.

While social justice and prejudices are a strong theme throughout this is one of the best stories that handle diversity in it's characters. Characters are not defined by their diversity and it doesn't waste time uselessly exploring it.

Doesn't have the typical happy ending but it is satisfying. While not answering all questions it does feels natural and not forced. Plot had me guessing till the end.

If you liked the first book read this.

Ridiculously Drawn Out and Bleh Ending

This book was painful to listen to. It took me over a year to get through it because it was so boring that I had to take breaks from it. The narrator was good but not great and wow was the ending underwhelming. Wish I would have just returned it in the beginning but alas, I kept hoping it would get better.

Better than the first?

This second installment about the adventures of Serafina continues the rich world building of the first book. The full cast of half dragons that is eventually assembled helps add color and texture. They also provide the necessary foil for the continued development of Serafina herself as she moves from self-loathing to self compassion.

The story is by turns fun, funny, exciting, sad, surprising, and even tragic. It’s never boring.

The narration was strong and made the book a pleasant listen. Definitely recommend.

Amazing story

Wonderful story, great performance. Plus, the cast of characters is diverse! Amazing!!! Diversity plus dragons plus a good plot plus a great antagonist equals an amazing listen.

Great story- I want more

It’s been ages since I was so engrossed in a series. I desperately hope Hartman writes more in this world.

awesome

loved this tale! it takes you to a different place! this author its amazing! and the narrator's were so good!

A disappointing Sequel

I so loved Seraphina. Couldn't wait for the next book to come out, but it didn't live up to my expectations. Moving away from the castle and people there, the medieval setting, the music, was a mistake. I never cared for the grotesques in the first book. This one worked that aspect of the plot to death. Very sad day for me.