Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Doubleday Childrens
Description
Fantasy. Historical Fiction. Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML:Seraphina took the literary world by storm with 8 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 Bestseller An Indie Bestseller 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 8 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 bestselling 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.… (more)
Media reviews
[Seraphina, Hartman's first book] was pitch-perfect, so far as I was concerned — which made me rather nervous about approaching Shadow Scale. Suppose it didn't live up to its predecessor?
It turns out that "living up to it" is the utterly wrong frame for the question. Shadow Scale is less a
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sequel than it is another stage of development: it outgrows Seraphina and sheds it like a skin. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member stefferoo
I have to admit I went into Shadow Scale with no small amount of trepidation; from the ratings I’ve seen around the blogosphere, it seemed like most readers either loved it or hated it. I very rarely find myself skewing one way or the other though, so I wasn’t surprised when I finished this
The book begins with a narrator recounting events of the first book in a historian-like tone, an introduction I appreciated a lot, actually. It’s been a while since I read Seraphina and the mini-recap was very helpful in refreshing my memory. For decades, the denizens of kingdom of Goredd have held an uneasy peace with the dragons of Tanamoot, but that period is soon coming to an end. As war looms on the horizon, our human-dragon protagonist Seraphina is asked to help Goredd. For as long as she could remember though, she’s hidden herself in the shadows, keeping the fact that she is a hybrid secret. But now, her very heritage is drawn into the conflict. No longer can she hide, as she is tasked to go on a quest across the kingdom to find other half-dragons like herself, for they may hold the secret to saving Goredd.
While Prince Kiggs and Princess Glisselda back home are preparing for the war, Seraphina embarks on this new adventure, pursued by enemies who want to stop her. More concerning, however, is a threat that unexpectedly arises – reports of a half dragon who can infiltrate the minds of others and take them over.
Anyway, I encountered several issues with Rachel Hartman’s new sequel. For one, it’s too long for my tastes, probably 100-200 pages too many. There’s just way to much going on, with Seraphina’s search for the other half-dragons, her search for her lost uncle, the conflict with the villain Jannoula, the freeing of her own gift that she herself has locked up away, and not to mention her feelings for Kiggs also have to be resolved. I hesitate to suggest that splitting this book into two would have made it better though, because I’m not sure that would solve any of the inherent problems like pacing or the fact that the plot felt way too meandering. These problems tried my patience, which is a shame since the story taken as a whole is in fact pretty good.
However, at times the book just felt too intent to give me more of what I don’t want, and less of what I actually do want. To put it bluntly, many parts of this novel were just plain dull. Things took an unreasonably long time to take off, though to its credit things get moving after that. Almost immediately after this though (just as I was getting into Seraphina’s quest too, I might add), the book changes tack again, letting the main character languish in one place before (re)introducing the story’s main villain in what I felt was the most incongruous way possible. This pattern repeated itself for me several times, that is, every time things started to get interesting, I felt like was being pulled away again to focus on something else. It was very frustrating.
Shadow Scale does have its moments though, which is why I’m reluctant to write it off completely. The truth is that the parts that I did enjoy, I enjoyed very much. And as a character, Seraphina has grown immensely for me. Looking back, my main complaint about the first book was how passive she was. She still has her wallflower moments in this one, but on the whole she’s made great strides, her willingness to take on a quest for her kingdom and travel far away from home being testament to that.
While I can’t recommend Shadow Scale wholeheartedly, it does offer a satisfying conclusion to Seraphina, the book that started it all. Read this book if you absolutely feel the need for completion. The ending was well done, with a bittersweet closer that struck the perfect tune, but the journey there may be easy or hard depending on what you are expecting out of this novel.
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book and found my feelings lying somewhere in the middle. In other words, it wasn’t too bad. At the same time, it’s far from what I had in mind.The book begins with a narrator recounting events of the first book in a historian-like tone, an introduction I appreciated a lot, actually. It’s been a while since I read Seraphina and the mini-recap was very helpful in refreshing my memory. For decades, the denizens of kingdom of Goredd have held an uneasy peace with the dragons of Tanamoot, but that period is soon coming to an end. As war looms on the horizon, our human-dragon protagonist Seraphina is asked to help Goredd. For as long as she could remember though, she’s hidden herself in the shadows, keeping the fact that she is a hybrid secret. But now, her very heritage is drawn into the conflict. No longer can she hide, as she is tasked to go on a quest across the kingdom to find other half-dragons like herself, for they may hold the secret to saving Goredd.
While Prince Kiggs and Princess Glisselda back home are preparing for the war, Seraphina embarks on this new adventure, pursued by enemies who want to stop her. More concerning, however, is a threat that unexpectedly arises – reports of a half dragon who can infiltrate the minds of others and take them over.
Anyway, I encountered several issues with Rachel Hartman’s new sequel. For one, it’s too long for my tastes, probably 100-200 pages too many. There’s just way to much going on, with Seraphina’s search for the other half-dragons, her search for her lost uncle, the conflict with the villain Jannoula, the freeing of her own gift that she herself has locked up away, and not to mention her feelings for Kiggs also have to be resolved. I hesitate to suggest that splitting this book into two would have made it better though, because I’m not sure that would solve any of the inherent problems like pacing or the fact that the plot felt way too meandering. These problems tried my patience, which is a shame since the story taken as a whole is in fact pretty good.
However, at times the book just felt too intent to give me more of what I don’t want, and less of what I actually do want. To put it bluntly, many parts of this novel were just plain dull. Things took an unreasonably long time to take off, though to its credit things get moving after that. Almost immediately after this though (just as I was getting into Seraphina’s quest too, I might add), the book changes tack again, letting the main character languish in one place before (re)introducing the story’s main villain in what I felt was the most incongruous way possible. This pattern repeated itself for me several times, that is, every time things started to get interesting, I felt like was being pulled away again to focus on something else. It was very frustrating.
Shadow Scale does have its moments though, which is why I’m reluctant to write it off completely. The truth is that the parts that I did enjoy, I enjoyed very much. And as a character, Seraphina has grown immensely for me. Looking back, my main complaint about the first book was how passive she was. She still has her wallflower moments in this one, but on the whole she’s made great strides, her willingness to take on a quest for her kingdom and travel far away from home being testament to that.
While I can’t recommend Shadow Scale wholeheartedly, it does offer a satisfying conclusion to Seraphina, the book that started it all. Read this book if you absolutely feel the need for completion. The ending was well done, with a bittersweet closer that struck the perfect tune, but the journey there may be easy or hard depending on what you are expecting out of this novel.
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
I'm not sure why I find the Seraphina books so intoxicating to read -- as dragon books go, they aren't very dragon-y. As fantasy books go, they are a little more grounded in both history and religion than I would think I'd enjoy, and yet they are so compulsively readable that I can't put them down.
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I suspect that it's Seraphina's magnificent charm as a character -- her extraordinarily compelling humanity as a not-quite-human player. Show Less
LibraryThing member nbmars
This fantasy novel is the sequel to Seraphina, which tells the story of Seraphina Dombegh, 16, who is one of the hated class of “ityasaari” or “half-breeds” - her mother was a dragon and her father a human. Seraphina rigorously ensures that her small trail of silver dragon scales stays
Seraphina’s tutor and mentor throughout her life has been her beloved dragon uncle, Orma, who also taught her how to control her visions. From his care of Seraphina, Orma developed a fondness for her, but such an attachment was frowned upon by dragonkind, and Orma was in danger of being sent back to the dragon homeland to have his memories surgically removed. While dragons stay mostly in human physical form as part of the peace treaty with humans, they are taught to eschew human feelings and adhere to the “correct” mental state of emotional distance. It isn’t easy, however, for all of dragonkind.
Thanks to Orma, Seraphina became an accomplished musician, and thus was able to get a job as an assistant to the court composer. Further, she was selected to teach the harpsichord to Princess Glisselda, called “Selda.” Seraphina became close to Selda, as well as to Selda’s cousin and fiancé, Prince Lucian Kiggs, and thus became involved in the politics of the royal court.
As this book begins - a few months after the action in the first book concluded, the dragons are engaged in a civil war, with the Court taking the side of Ardagar Comonot, the (relatively) progressive dragonic deposed leader, against the conservative forces of the Old Ard, who want to end the peace with humankind. Orma has disappeared, presumably to hide from the Censors who would take away his memories and thereby strip him of emotions, but he left Seraphina a letter advising her to find the other half-dragons from her garden; it is believed that each of the half-dragons has a different mental power, and in combining them, there might be a way to defeat the Old Ard.
To that end, Seraphina sets out to neighboring kingdoms, with the blessing of Selda (now Queen) and Lucian, to find the other ityasaari and help the Kingdom of the Goredd regain peace. She is also desperate to find her uncle and make sure he is okay. But her plans are stymied by Jannoula, a warped and powerful half-dragon who can take over the minds of others. Seraphina has trouble going up against Jannoula; she knows from her visions that Jannoula has had a terrible life. But as one of the other ityasaaris advises her: “…do not make the mistake, Seraphina, of supposing that suffering ennobles anyone.” Seraphina has too big of a heart to learn that lesson until it is almost too late. And while she has never really known what her own power is, she must figure it out and use it if she is ever to combat the genocidal tendencies of the evil Jannoula.
Discussion: I loved the first book. As I wrote in my review of it, both Seraphina's interior and exterior worlds were so richly imagined, and so remarkably creative, that I couldn’t compliment the author enough. In addition, the characters were uniformly complex: by turns heart-warming, amusing, heart-breaking, fragile, stronger than they knew, full of hurt, but full of hope. I also loved the fact that Seraphina, while suffused with the self-hatred she absorbed from her culture, nonetheless bravely persevered in engaging with her society to do what she thought was right.
Although the world-building involving the dragons is stellar, I appreciated the metaphorical aspects of the divide between dragonkind and humankind. The prejudice, misinformation, fear, rumor-mongering, and acts of intimidation and terrorism were reminiscent of – well, humankind all by itself!
In this book, however, Jannoula hijacks the plot. Jannoula is pretty evil, seemingly invincible, and extremely unlikable. Seraphina was able to muster up sympathy and pity for Jannoula, in part because she well understood the shame and punishments in store for those known to be half-breeds. I understood how the emptiness of Jannoula’s soul served to reflect the largeness of Seraphina’s, but I still hated how she took up so much plot-space, when there were so many other wonderful characters with whom I would have rather spent my time.
On the positive side, the permutations of love also play a starring role in this book as with the first book. And there is a wonderful twist at the end that almost redeems my disappointment over the dominance of Jannoula in the story.
Evaluation: Hartman is an excellent writer. I rated this book in relation to her first book, but I don’t want that to reflect on its quality.
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hidden however, and she keeps her curious visions of grotesque beings in check by putting them inside a garden she has created in her mind. At the end of Book One, she discovered that these garden denizens are actually half-breeds like her; she met three of them in real life.Seraphina’s tutor and mentor throughout her life has been her beloved dragon uncle, Orma, who also taught her how to control her visions. From his care of Seraphina, Orma developed a fondness for her, but such an attachment was frowned upon by dragonkind, and Orma was in danger of being sent back to the dragon homeland to have his memories surgically removed. While dragons stay mostly in human physical form as part of the peace treaty with humans, they are taught to eschew human feelings and adhere to the “correct” mental state of emotional distance. It isn’t easy, however, for all of dragonkind.
Thanks to Orma, Seraphina became an accomplished musician, and thus was able to get a job as an assistant to the court composer. Further, she was selected to teach the harpsichord to Princess Glisselda, called “Selda.” Seraphina became close to Selda, as well as to Selda’s cousin and fiancé, Prince Lucian Kiggs, and thus became involved in the politics of the royal court.
As this book begins - a few months after the action in the first book concluded, the dragons are engaged in a civil war, with the Court taking the side of Ardagar Comonot, the (relatively) progressive dragonic deposed leader, against the conservative forces of the Old Ard, who want to end the peace with humankind. Orma has disappeared, presumably to hide from the Censors who would take away his memories and thereby strip him of emotions, but he left Seraphina a letter advising her to find the other half-dragons from her garden; it is believed that each of the half-dragons has a different mental power, and in combining them, there might be a way to defeat the Old Ard.
To that end, Seraphina sets out to neighboring kingdoms, with the blessing of Selda (now Queen) and Lucian, to find the other ityasaari and help the Kingdom of the Goredd regain peace. She is also desperate to find her uncle and make sure he is okay. But her plans are stymied by Jannoula, a warped and powerful half-dragon who can take over the minds of others. Seraphina has trouble going up against Jannoula; she knows from her visions that Jannoula has had a terrible life. But as one of the other ityasaaris advises her: “…do not make the mistake, Seraphina, of supposing that suffering ennobles anyone.” Seraphina has too big of a heart to learn that lesson until it is almost too late. And while she has never really known what her own power is, she must figure it out and use it if she is ever to combat the genocidal tendencies of the evil Jannoula.
Discussion: I loved the first book. As I wrote in my review of it, both Seraphina's interior and exterior worlds were so richly imagined, and so remarkably creative, that I couldn’t compliment the author enough. In addition, the characters were uniformly complex: by turns heart-warming, amusing, heart-breaking, fragile, stronger than they knew, full of hurt, but full of hope. I also loved the fact that Seraphina, while suffused with the self-hatred she absorbed from her culture, nonetheless bravely persevered in engaging with her society to do what she thought was right.
Although the world-building involving the dragons is stellar, I appreciated the metaphorical aspects of the divide between dragonkind and humankind. The prejudice, misinformation, fear, rumor-mongering, and acts of intimidation and terrorism were reminiscent of – well, humankind all by itself!
In this book, however, Jannoula hijacks the plot. Jannoula is pretty evil, seemingly invincible, and extremely unlikable. Seraphina was able to muster up sympathy and pity for Jannoula, in part because she well understood the shame and punishments in store for those known to be half-breeds. I understood how the emptiness of Jannoula’s soul served to reflect the largeness of Seraphina’s, but I still hated how she took up so much plot-space, when there were so many other wonderful characters with whom I would have rather spent my time.
On the positive side, the permutations of love also play a starring role in this book as with the first book. And there is a wonderful twist at the end that almost redeems my disappointment over the dominance of Jannoula in the story.
Evaluation: Hartman is an excellent writer. I rated this book in relation to her first book, but I don’t want that to reflect on its quality.
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LibraryThing member Sweet_Serenity
This book had some really amazing, deep parts. It also had some shallow meandering ones. The magic & the mind constructs were so evocative and well-written. The characters and plot however... they really disappointed me.
It seems silly to say this of a character, but Seraphina was too much of a
As for the plot, things got interesting towards the climax, but it took a long long time to get there. I was interested in Jannoula's pupeteering game, but the war and politics and culture just flew way over my head. Not very well-written. And there was a fair bit of ideology clumsily written in there.
I don't regret reading the book, but I wish it had more oomph to it. The tone of the end should have been present from the start, then it would have been thrilling and exciting, rather than kind of flat.
It seems silly to say this of a character, but Seraphina was too much of a
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goody-goody. And naive. I think she became more boring in this book. And the other half-dragons were rushed through so quickly it was hard to connect to them, even though some of them had real potential. Abdo was by far the best character, and the only one who seemed to have any life in him. As for the plot, things got interesting towards the climax, but it took a long long time to get there. I was interested in Jannoula's pupeteering game, but the war and politics and culture just flew way over my head. Not very well-written. And there was a fair bit of ideology clumsily written in there.
I don't regret reading the book, but I wish it had more oomph to it. The tone of the end should have been present from the start, then it would have been thrilling and exciting, rather than kind of flat.
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LibraryThing member A_Reader_of_Fictions
For more reviews, gifs, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.
After years of waiting, Shadow Scale is finally here! I adored Seraphina when I read it back in 2012, so my expectations were high. Before going into Shadow Scale, I actually reread Seraphina, because my memory is not the most
One of the top things I love about this series, and there are many, is how unabashedly of-the-mind it is. The action scenes take place almost apologetically in the background. That might sound like a criticism, but I really don’t mean it that way at all. Shadow Scale isn’t about physical battles, even though it’s set in the midst of a war, but about the mental ones. Seraphina has to use her intelligence to take on others, but also herself. She’s a heroine who isn’t particularly gifted physically, though her scales can block weapons, and she has some potentially untapped half-dragon abilities.
There will not be much of this.
This comparison’s going to sound really odd, but Shadow Scale reminded me of Death Note. For those who are unfamiliar, Death Note is a manga (or an anime or a live action movie) that centers on the mental face off of two college age geniuses. Lots of people die in the series, but mostly they hardly matter. The series is all about the war of cleverness being waged, and the two know that whoever loses will die. While the battle isn’t quite the same, Seraphina has to find a way to defeat Jannoula, who has great mental strength, with her own mind. This, friends, is a battle of wits, not of might.
Speaking of Jannoula, I love to hate her. So very much. Jannoula sort of came out of nowhere for me as a villain in the series, but I love that she became the enemy, rather than the rival dragons. I am all about powerful, manipulative lady villains, who have pasts and motivations. She manages to be thoroughly evil, but also a bit sympathetic, which is what makes a great villain. The fact that the drama isn’t physical and in your face might make the book slow for some, but I adore stories like this and I had no desire to read any other books once I got about fifty pages into Shadow Scale.
I truly cannot get enough of how many powerful female characters there are in this fantasy world. Jannoula, obviously, is incredibly powerful mentally. Seraphina herself has a much less obvious power, but it is there. She’s also incredibly talented with her music, able to make people feel with her. In Shadow Scale, Glisselda has to rule, while her grandmother lies in a sick bed, and she really steps up. In Seraphina, Glisselda was smart, but she was very young and did not seem ready for that much responsibility. In Shadow Scale, she proves that she has what it takes, helped by the support of her friends. There are others too, like Eskar, of the dragons. There are strong women in each society.
You’re in the wrong book, girl.
In Shadow Scale, Seraphina travels around the neighboring kingdoms looking for the other half-dragons. I was a bit worried about this, since it would take Seraphina away from Kiggs and everything that I knew. Actually, when she left, that’s when the book really took off for me. Hartman builds such disparate cultures, all with their own mores and social systems. Though these countries are closely tied together in certain ways, with a shared history, they differ so greatly in others; they all revere the same saints, but they take the teachings in very different ways, as is shown in the various reactions to half-dragons. The cultures are beautiful, and I’d dearly love another book set in Porphyry about an older Abdo. *coughs*
The plot ran in really unexpected directions. I’m torn between thinking that it was somewhat anticlimactic and feeling that the unique way it wrapped up was perfection. Everything that happens very much fits within the kind of series that Seraphina is. It’s very much an atypical plot resolution, but I think it works for how everything else goes. It fits. That said, I do have some questions, likewhat exactly Pandowdy’s going to do with Jannoula. . I also love that the series ended on Seraphina’s relationship with Orma, because, despite romance and friendships, Orma’s the most important in Seraphina’s life. Their relationship is so sweet and feelsy and gah. It’s when the dragons, who disdain emotion, feel things that I become a ball of emotion.
Obviously, there’s one thing left I need to talk about, which is the romance. Well, no, two things. First, I want to praise Rachel Hartman for the inclusion of a transgender character in a fantasy, and I love the conversation that Seraphina has with the character and how very open Porphyrian society is to people gendering themselves. It’s truly beautiful. Also truly beautiful is the way that the drama between Kiggs and Seraphina wraps up. They’ve been keeping their relationship secret from his fiancé, Glisselda, but everyone’s actually really mature about it:Glisselda kisses Seraphina, and they establish a legit OT3 in a YA series. I am crying right now I am so happy. THING OF BEAUTY. OT3!!!!!!!!
Shadow Scale may be massive, but it warrants the length. Hartman adds a whole new cast of characters, and they’re all fabulous. This is a must read series for those who like brainy, thought-twisting reads, and for those looking for diverse, feminist literature. Rachel Hartman is confirmed as one of my favorite authors, and I cannot wait for her next book. *coughs* Seriously, teenage Abdo. *coughs*
After years of waiting, Shadow Scale is finally here! I adored Seraphina when I read it back in 2012, so my expectations were high. Before going into Shadow Scale, I actually reread Seraphina, because my memory is not the most
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reliable, and I didn’t want anything to detract from my experience of the sequel. Because I did this, I can see just how much Shadow Scale improves on Seraphina in every aspect. Beautifully thought-out and written as Seraphina is, Shadow Scale takes everything to the next level.One of the top things I love about this series, and there are many, is how unabashedly of-the-mind it is. The action scenes take place almost apologetically in the background. That might sound like a criticism, but I really don’t mean it that way at all. Shadow Scale isn’t about physical battles, even though it’s set in the midst of a war, but about the mental ones. Seraphina has to use her intelligence to take on others, but also herself. She’s a heroine who isn’t particularly gifted physically, though her scales can block weapons, and she has some potentially untapped half-dragon abilities.
There will not be much of this.
This comparison’s going to sound really odd, but Shadow Scale reminded me of Death Note. For those who are unfamiliar, Death Note is a manga (or an anime or a live action movie) that centers on the mental face off of two college age geniuses. Lots of people die in the series, but mostly they hardly matter. The series is all about the war of cleverness being waged, and the two know that whoever loses will die. While the battle isn’t quite the same, Seraphina has to find a way to defeat Jannoula, who has great mental strength, with her own mind. This, friends, is a battle of wits, not of might.
Speaking of Jannoula, I love to hate her. So very much. Jannoula sort of came out of nowhere for me as a villain in the series, but I love that she became the enemy, rather than the rival dragons. I am all about powerful, manipulative lady villains, who have pasts and motivations. She manages to be thoroughly evil, but also a bit sympathetic, which is what makes a great villain. The fact that the drama isn’t physical and in your face might make the book slow for some, but I adore stories like this and I had no desire to read any other books once I got about fifty pages into Shadow Scale.
I truly cannot get enough of how many powerful female characters there are in this fantasy world. Jannoula, obviously, is incredibly powerful mentally. Seraphina herself has a much less obvious power, but it is there. She’s also incredibly talented with her music, able to make people feel with her. In Shadow Scale, Glisselda has to rule, while her grandmother lies in a sick bed, and she really steps up. In Seraphina, Glisselda was smart, but she was very young and did not seem ready for that much responsibility. In Shadow Scale, she proves that she has what it takes, helped by the support of her friends. There are others too, like Eskar, of the dragons. There are strong women in each society.
You’re in the wrong book, girl.
In Shadow Scale, Seraphina travels around the neighboring kingdoms looking for the other half-dragons. I was a bit worried about this, since it would take Seraphina away from Kiggs and everything that I knew. Actually, when she left, that’s when the book really took off for me. Hartman builds such disparate cultures, all with their own mores and social systems. Though these countries are closely tied together in certain ways, with a shared history, they differ so greatly in others; they all revere the same saints, but they take the teachings in very different ways, as is shown in the various reactions to half-dragons. The cultures are beautiful, and I’d dearly love another book set in Porphyry about an older Abdo. *coughs*
The plot ran in really unexpected directions. I’m torn between thinking that it was somewhat anticlimactic and feeling that the unique way it wrapped up was perfection. Everything that happens very much fits within the kind of series that Seraphina is. It’s very much an atypical plot resolution, but I think it works for how everything else goes. It fits. That said, I do have some questions, like
Obviously, there’s one thing left I need to talk about, which is the romance. Well, no, two things. First, I want to praise Rachel Hartman for the inclusion of a transgender character in a fantasy, and I love the conversation that Seraphina has with the character and how very open Porphyrian society is to people gendering themselves. It’s truly beautiful. Also truly beautiful is the way that the drama between Kiggs and Seraphina wraps up. They’ve been keeping their relationship secret from his fiancé, Glisselda, but everyone’s actually really mature about it:
Shadow Scale may be massive, but it warrants the length. Hartman adds a whole new cast of characters, and they’re all fabulous. This is a must read series for those who like brainy, thought-twisting reads, and for those looking for diverse, feminist literature. Rachel Hartman is confirmed as one of my favorite authors, and I cannot wait for her next book. *coughs* Seriously, teenage Abdo. *coughs*
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LibraryThing member blue_fantasy
On the whole this was a good and necessary conclusion to Seraphina's story. At times, however it felt like it was trying to be too much and it never felt quite as fresh as it's predecessor. Still, Seraphina remains a smart and engaging protagonist and character's such as Abdo, Eskar and Jannoula
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really come into their own. This book shows off Hartman's expansive world taking us to the far South and up again to the dragon riddled North. And a wonderfully well built antagonist comes to light who creates the perfect foil for Seraphina. The ending, however, felt rushed, and as though the solution to their problems came straight from left field. And their solution to the romantic conundrum left me feeling a little awkward and unfulfilled. But enough on that because you know, spoilers. Show Less
LibraryThing member eyes.2c
Patron Saints, Dragons and Half-Dragons continue to enthral
The nation of Gorred--a place of dragons, half-dragons and a plethora of Saints. A nation where one moment you are fearing the Censors will take away your mentor and perform the equivalent of a dragon lobotomy, the next you are fighting for
The secret of half-dragons is revealed and it is truly terrible. Half-dragon and musician Seraphina has a connection to all. Her walled off mental garden where contained mythic like personalities just might be the key. As dream becomes reality Seraphina is forced to face her own fears and her dragon heritage. How to hold all that knowing and unknowing, how to hold onto your inner self into your own inside your head and heart, how to protect your consciousness from the denizens of your mind garden is truly a dangerous puzzle. Jannoula is one such garden inhabitant. Seraphina was right to fear her. Jannoula is chaos unbound, charming, innocent and the mistress of deception. As one by one her friends fall under Jannoula sway, Seraphina is powerless to counteract. Plans are ruthlessly overturned and loved ones become foes. Complex, thrilling and sometimes confusing, the story strides forward. Seraphina has for so long been afraid, has locked down her abilities that all is nearly lost. Diplomacy and battles, searches in the subterranean paths in the Censors' laboratories for her mentor Orma, the action overwhelmingly moves forward. Seraphina's belief in herself is a long time coming, but when it arrives she is a dragon unscaled! Her relationship with the Queen and Prince Lucien is a continual underlying tension that seems to taper off. Given the angst and the action that combine in this companion volume, Shadow Scale is indeed an exciting sequel to Seraphina.
A NetGalley ARC
The nation of Gorred--a place of dragons, half-dragons and a plethora of Saints. A nation where one moment you are fearing the Censors will take away your mentor and perform the equivalent of a dragon lobotomy, the next you are fighting for
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freedom from a powerful group of dragons, the Loyalists who want to return dragons to their rightful place, to be able to take dragon rather than human form. The Censors are those dragons who excise all those dragons who threaten the status quo. The Loyalist group seems able to track your every move and want to annihilate all half-dragons--the ityarsarri. Agreements and long held treatises are broken. Rules of behaviour for dragons are challenged. At Lab Four, a secret Censor facility Seraphina meets the quigutl when she attempts to rescue Orma. A sub species small dragon like creatures, they are quite fascinating.The secret of half-dragons is revealed and it is truly terrible. Half-dragon and musician Seraphina has a connection to all. Her walled off mental garden where contained mythic like personalities just might be the key. As dream becomes reality Seraphina is forced to face her own fears and her dragon heritage. How to hold all that knowing and unknowing, how to hold onto your inner self into your own inside your head and heart, how to protect your consciousness from the denizens of your mind garden is truly a dangerous puzzle. Jannoula is one such garden inhabitant. Seraphina was right to fear her. Jannoula is chaos unbound, charming, innocent and the mistress of deception. As one by one her friends fall under Jannoula sway, Seraphina is powerless to counteract. Plans are ruthlessly overturned and loved ones become foes. Complex, thrilling and sometimes confusing, the story strides forward. Seraphina has for so long been afraid, has locked down her abilities that all is nearly lost. Diplomacy and battles, searches in the subterranean paths in the Censors' laboratories for her mentor Orma, the action overwhelmingly moves forward. Seraphina's belief in herself is a long time coming, but when it arrives she is a dragon unscaled! Her relationship with the Queen and Prince Lucien is a continual underlying tension that seems to taper off. Given the angst and the action that combine in this companion volume, Shadow Scale is indeed an exciting sequel to Seraphina.
A NetGalley ARC
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LibraryThing member foggidawn
War is coming, and Seraphina and her fellow half-dragons may be the key to Goredd's survival. Seraphina, with her mental connection to the others, is the obvious person to draw them all together, but to do so she will have to travel through Nimys, Samsam, and Porphyry -- and she will face unique
I love this series so very much. Seraphina is a strong heroine, but her strength is primarily mental, and it's extraordinarily valuable as such. In this book, we see a great deal of character development for Seraphina as she faces her own biases and motivations for gathering her fellow half-dragons, and as she faces her history with and fears of Jannoula. And let me just say, Jannoula is one of the most chilling villains I've ever run across! The slow-burning romance that began in the last book continues to build, coming to a satisfying and surprising conclusion by the end of the book. That conclusion does tie up most of the loose ends, leaving just a few tantalizing details that may be explored in future books (the author has stated that she will write more books in that world, but they will focus on different main characters). So, if you were waiting to start this series, now is a good time to do so, as these two books make for a rich and satisfying read.
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dangers in each location. Even more dangerous, however, is the one half-dragon Seraphina is not willing to face: devious Jannoula, who once betrayed Seraphina within the bounds of her own mind. If Jannoula finds out what Seraphina is doing, there's no doubt that she will try to cause trouble, but Jannoula is safely imprisoned . . . or is she?I love this series so very much. Seraphina is a strong heroine, but her strength is primarily mental, and it's extraordinarily valuable as such. In this book, we see a great deal of character development for Seraphina as she faces her own biases and motivations for gathering her fellow half-dragons, and as she faces her history with and fears of Jannoula. And let me just say, Jannoula is one of the most chilling villains I've ever run across! The slow-burning romance that began in the last book continues to build, coming to a satisfying and surprising conclusion by the end of the book. That conclusion does tie up most of the loose ends, leaving just a few tantalizing details that may be explored in future books (the author has stated that she will write more books in that world, but they will focus on different main characters). So, if you were waiting to start this series, now is a good time to do so, as these two books make for a rich and satisfying read.
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LibraryThing member bell7
The sequel to Seraphina finds the country of Goredd preparing for war against the dragons. Seraphina and her friends, Kiggs and Glisselda, thinks there's a chance they could create a barrier to dragons if she can connect the minds of other half-dragons: but first she has to find them.
This story
This story
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dragged a little for me in the beginning, which may be my own fault for reading it later at night after I finished books I had to and was too tired to read more than 20 pages at a time. Seraphina and Abdo are traveling on their quest quite a bit, and Seraphina is worrying a lot about Jannoula - we get much of both characters' back story. Then, after 400 or so of the nearly 600 pages, the action picks up and I felt like I was getting a payoff for reading through the more carefully developed portions. We have great characters and a villain whom you can't help but pity, and the politics and human-dragon relations of multiple regions. The complexity and worldbuilding is fantastic, including musical references which make this a rather unique fantasy series for me (and, according to the author's note, many Pink Floyd references that all went completely over my head). The ending was... resolved, sort of. I felt like the last few pages kind of hurried to wrap things up and I was totally not buying some of the conclusion, left wondering if there was a third book or this was it. So a mixed bag, but not a story I'm sorry to have read. Show Less
LibraryThing member muddyboy
Let me preface my comments by saying that I review a lot of young adult books and that fans of this series may take issue with my comments but - this book moves at a snail's pace which is not good for a book well over 500 pages. It is about a world of dragons, humans and half and half. Seraphina,
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the heroine (half and Half) sets out on a quest to assemble others of her kind to somehow broker a peace between the humans and dragons and spends an endless amount of time traveling to accomplish this goal. I kept asking myself, when is something of significance going to happen. For fans of Henry James. Show Less
LibraryThing member hailelib
I enjoyed this sequel to Seraphina where she travels about her world to find the other half-dragons and to acquire allies for the conflict with the dragon rebels. Not only is the traveling difficult but Seraphina finds that not all is the way she thought it would be.
LibraryThing member JBD1
I really enjoyed the first volume in this series, and I looked forward to this one with much anticipation. But from the very beginning this book didn't have the same liveliness that the first volume did, and I never managed to engage with it to the same degree. The worldbuilding didn't work as
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well, the characters felt less developed, and overall I just wasn't satisfied with the course things took. Show Less
LibraryThing member anyaejo
I don't understand how a book could be better than Seraphina, but Shadow Scale is. Despite its length, I was never bored. I'm so completely in love with all of these characters and feel so deeply connected to them. In particular, Seraphina's narration and side comments frequently made me laugh
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embarrassingly in public ;). Fantasy fans simply can't miss this series. Show Less
LibraryThing member Strider66
Pros: excellent world-building, interesting and varied characters, political intrigue
Cons: less mystery, Seraphina misses some obvious connections
With the dragons fighting a civil war and Comonot living in exile in the palace, things in Goredd remain tense. When word of a possible half-dragon
This is the sequel to Seraphina, a novel I thoroughly enjoyed. For those who read Seraphina a long time ago, there’s a fantastic summary at the beginning going over all the important elements of the previous book. I really wish more series books would do this.
While Seraphina had elements of mystery and romance, Shadow Scale is more of a quest story, with Seraphina combing the world for others of her kind. I have to admit I missed the interplay between Seraphina and Kiggs, who stayed behind as she travelled. While I enjoyed the whole book (seeing how other lands functioned was really interesting), I liked the second half the best. Porphyry was really fun, especially their contempt for the more barbaric southlands, which put the protagonist in the position of being the uncouth foreigner. The second half is also when the villain’s actions start to have real effects on the story.
There’s a wide variety of characters, humans (from 4 distinct cultures), dragons, half-humans, quigutl (draconic cousins), as well as people from different statuses and belief structures. Another thing I loved about Porphyry was the complexity of its language - that it has six genders and seven cases and that “[y]ou use cosmic neuter for a stranger, … And he’s a stranger until you’ve asked, ‘How may I pronoun you?’” (p207). I love the idea that this culture allows people to choose their own gender and form of address, and that you ask people when you meet, how they prefer to be addressed.
As with the previous book Seraphina is forced to grow as a person. As her dearest wish becomes a nightmare, she’s forced to make difficult decisions. There were a few times when she misses what seemed like obvious connections, but she’s 16 and in some of those cases the final result wasn’t quite what I’d expected either.
There’s a decent amount of political intrigue. I loved that though Seraphina was travelling and time was obviously passing, her communications with Queen Glisselda reminded her - and the reader - that things were happening elsewhere in the world. While some action happens off page, there’s enough on page to keep you invested in the story and the end of the book will have you flipping pages pretty fast to see how things are resolved. While the ending doesn’t tie up everything, it’s a satisfying conclusion to the duology.
Cons: less mystery, Seraphina misses some obvious connections
With the dragons fighting a civil war and Comonot living in exile in the palace, things in Goredd remain tense. When word of a possible half-dragon
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mind weapon is uncovered, Seraphina is sent to find the others from her ‘mind garden’ and bring them back with her. She’s also tasked with sending aid in the form of men and supplies from the southern states she’ll be travelling through. But her task is hard and her allies few, especially when a powerful figure from her past reappears.This is the sequel to Seraphina, a novel I thoroughly enjoyed. For those who read Seraphina a long time ago, there’s a fantastic summary at the beginning going over all the important elements of the previous book. I really wish more series books would do this.
While Seraphina had elements of mystery and romance, Shadow Scale is more of a quest story, with Seraphina combing the world for others of her kind. I have to admit I missed the interplay between Seraphina and Kiggs, who stayed behind as she travelled. While I enjoyed the whole book (seeing how other lands functioned was really interesting), I liked the second half the best. Porphyry was really fun, especially their contempt for the more barbaric southlands, which put the protagonist in the position of being the uncouth foreigner. The second half is also when the villain’s actions start to have real effects on the story.
There’s a wide variety of characters, humans (from 4 distinct cultures), dragons, half-humans, quigutl (draconic cousins), as well as people from different statuses and belief structures. Another thing I loved about Porphyry was the complexity of its language - that it has six genders and seven cases and that “[y]ou use cosmic neuter for a stranger, … And he’s a stranger until you’ve asked, ‘How may I pronoun you?’” (p207). I love the idea that this culture allows people to choose their own gender and form of address, and that you ask people when you meet, how they prefer to be addressed.
As with the previous book Seraphina is forced to grow as a person. As her dearest wish becomes a nightmare, she’s forced to make difficult decisions. There were a few times when she misses what seemed like obvious connections, but she’s 16 and in some of those cases the final result wasn’t quite what I’d expected either.
There’s a decent amount of political intrigue. I loved that though Seraphina was travelling and time was obviously passing, her communications with Queen Glisselda reminded her - and the reader - that things were happening elsewhere in the world. While some action happens off page, there’s enough on page to keep you invested in the story and the end of the book will have you flipping pages pretty fast to see how things are resolved. While the ending doesn’t tie up everything, it’s a satisfying conclusion to the duology.
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LibraryThing member blue_fantasy
On the whole this was a good and necessary conclusion to Seraphina's story. At times, however it felt like it was trying to be too much and it never felt quite as fresh as it's predecessor. Still, Seraphina remains a smart and engaging protagonist and character's such as Abdo, Eskar and Jannoula
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really come into their own. This book shows off Hartman's expansive world taking us to the far South and up again to the dragon riddled North. And a wonderfully well built antagonist comes to light who creates the perfect foil for Seraphina. The ending, however, felt rushed, and as though the solution to their problems came straight from left field. And their solution to the romantic conundrum left me feeling a little awkward and unfulfilled. But enough on that because you know, spoilers. Show Less
LibraryThing member rivkat
This sequel continues Seraphina’s journey to find other half-dragons and to assist her (human) kingdom in defending itself against the rebel dragons who’ve rejected the human-dragon treaty. It’s definitely more leisurely than the first book—Seraphina travels through several kingdoms looking
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for others like her, and not finding what she expects (particularly, not finding lots of half-dragons who are grateful to be rescued from their situations). Seraphina’s old enemy Jannoula pops up with a fairly comprehensive plot; she’s a sociopath in a society without a concept of psychology, and she brings Seraphina pretty low before the ultimate resolution. And the love triangle—Seraphina, the prince, and the princess he’s supposed to marry—has an unusual resolution, or anyway if it’s not resolved it’s at least interestingly continued. Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
I love authors/editors that are smart enough to know that their last book came out a million years ago and they should include a summary. I love it even more when the summary isn't part of the story and easily skippable if you had time to reread the last book. I think I liked this book. To be
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honest I'm still working on how I feel about the ending; whether it was too easy or not or maybe just required more explanation. I'm also wondering if there's going to be another sequel or not b/c really you could leave things where they are but you could also move forward. I liked all the new characters and wish that we had been able to spend more time getting to know them. I like the travel and the world building and the explanation for the saints; that I thought was clever. If there is another volume I would definitely read it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
I love authors/editors that are smart enough to know that their last book came out a million years ago and they should include a summary. I love it even more when the summary isn't part of the story and easily skippable if you had time to reread the last book. I think I liked this book. To be
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honest I'm still working on how I feel about the ending; whether it was too easy or not or maybe just required more explanation. I'm also wondering if there's going to be another sequel or not b/c really you could leave things where they are but you could also move forward. I liked all the new characters and wish that we had been able to spend more time getting to know them. I like the travel and the world building and the explanation for the saints; that I thought was clever. If there is another volume I would definitely read it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
I love authors/editors that are smart enough to know that their last book came out a million years ago and they should include a summary. I love it even more when the summary isn't part of the story and easily skippable if you had time to reread the last book. I think I liked this book. To be
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honest I'm still working on how I feel about the ending; whether it was too easy or not or maybe just required more explanation. I'm also wondering if there's going to be another sequel or not b/c really you could leave things where they are but you could also move forward. I liked all the new characters and wish that we had been able to spend more time getting to know them. I like the travel and the world building and the explanation for the saints; that I thought was clever. If there is another volume I would definitely read it. Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
I love authors/editors that are smart enough to know that their last book came out a million years ago and they should include a summary. I love it even more when the summary isn't part of the story and easily skippable if you had time to reread the last book. I think I liked this book. To be
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honest I'm still working on how I feel about the ending; whether it was too easy or not or maybe just required more explanation. I'm also wondering if there's going to be another sequel or not b/c really you could leave things where they are but you could also move forward. I liked all the new characters and wish that we had been able to spend more time getting to know them. I like the travel and the world building and the explanation for the saints; that I thought was clever. If there is another volume I would definitely read it. Show Less
LibraryThing member sszkutak
So, I tried to get into this book and I just couldn't. It took me a week and a half to get to the 100 page mark and there were still 487 more to go. Much like in book one, Hartman delivers a wonderfully detailed setting and it really lends to the story, however I think there was too much this time
In this installment, Seraphina is tasked with helping save the kingdom of Goredd. She is helping by collecting the half-dragons she sees in her mind and they may be able to help if they are together. The book started off very political and combat ready but there isn't any action at this point and the plot moved too slowly for me to get into it. I wanted to love this book but I have others I needed to get to and this one just wasn't holding my attention.
I think that if you don't mind a slow start and you enjoy epic journeys and lots of characters thrown at you at once, then you will like this book. I just found it to be too much build up and not enough action in those first 100 pages - you really gotta grab me.
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around. I had learned to love Seraphina in the first book and her character is consistent in book two but the plot never really pulled me back into the overall tale. In this installment, Seraphina is tasked with helping save the kingdom of Goredd. She is helping by collecting the half-dragons she sees in her mind and they may be able to help if they are together. The book started off very political and combat ready but there isn't any action at this point and the plot moved too slowly for me to get into it. I wanted to love this book but I have others I needed to get to and this one just wasn't holding my attention.
I think that if you don't mind a slow start and you enjoy epic journeys and lots of characters thrown at you at once, then you will like this book. I just found it to be too much build up and not enough action in those first 100 pages - you really gotta grab me.
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LibraryThing member zjakkelien
I'm actually a little disappointed. I recently re-read Seraphina as preparation for reading Shadow scale and that is really a good book. Although Shadow scale has the same sympathetic characters, I was less impressed with the story. I had the feeling that Seraphina was constantly being led by old Saints showing up out of the blue at the end either. It seemed unnecessary.
Overall I am a bit dissatisfied.
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circumstances and by her enemy, and only at the very, very, very end, did she finally figure out what she could do to defeat Jannoula. Up until that time, Jannoula calls the shots and all Seraphina does is travel here and there. She's annoyed that she's the only half-dragon who cannot see the world fire, and Jannoula manages to capture everyone mentally, so you'd think she might try to figure out her powers? As in, actively? Research? Ask people? Trying things out? There is awfully little of that going on. I would have liked her to be a bit more active, and I would have liked not to be dragged all over the world. It sure fills the pages, but in the end it didn't really add that much to the story. Wasn't too happy about one of the Overall I am a bit dissatisfied.
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LibraryThing member beverlyjean
Sometimes people are not always who or what they appear to be. If we could look inside their minds, see the truth of their lives we might be surprised. Seraphina is one such character.
I haven’t read SERAPHINA, but I think I missed a great story. In the novel SHADOW SCALE, Author Rachel
Rachel Hartman paints a beautiful picture of the scenery Seraphina passes through as she travels from place to place in her search. The characters, some good, some bad are fascinating. There are a lot of characters which made it difficult for me to remember who was who at times, but the author provides a Cast of Characters that helped a great deal. There’s also a bit of forbidden romance, for romance lovers, like me.
SHADOW SCALE is a story of family, of deceit, and of hope. To me the novel questions whether some people are really evil, or are they simply trying to survive the best they can, no matter what they have to do. The author has written a lovely story that will take the reader to a magical world with a heroine you hope succeeds in her quest.
The publisher furnished me with an ARC of the book for my honest review.
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I haven’t read SERAPHINA, but I think I missed a great story. In the novel SHADOW SCALE, Author Rachel
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Hartman’s sequel to SERAPHINA, I met the girl Seraphina. The truth of her life that’s she’s kept hidden is that she’s half human and half dragon. Since I love dragons, I was hooked from the moment I learned who she really is. She’s also brave and kind and does not give up easily when she has a goal to complete. Seraphina’s goal in the story is to find other half dragons and bring them together. Family is important to Seraphina, and they are her family. So she sets off to do just that, an impossible task it seems at times.Rachel Hartman paints a beautiful picture of the scenery Seraphina passes through as she travels from place to place in her search. The characters, some good, some bad are fascinating. There are a lot of characters which made it difficult for me to remember who was who at times, but the author provides a Cast of Characters that helped a great deal. There’s also a bit of forbidden romance, for romance lovers, like me.
SHADOW SCALE is a story of family, of deceit, and of hope. To me the novel questions whether some people are really evil, or are they simply trying to survive the best they can, no matter what they have to do. The author has written a lovely story that will take the reader to a magical world with a heroine you hope succeeds in her quest.
The publisher furnished me with an ARC of the book for my honest review.
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LibraryThing member Herenya
I loved Seraphina and found the sequel gripping -- I finished the audiobook within a few days, even though it’s much longer than the first book. The worldbuilding is richly detailed and many of the characters are very memorable. I was impressed with how the story weaves together all the different
I had been a bit worried that Shadow Scale would lose something by sending Seraphina off on a journey and thereby taking her away from her family, friends, home, job and country. With Goredd at risk of being caught in the middle of a dragon civil war, Seraphina sets out to find other half-dragons, hoping that their unique abilities will help to protect Goredd and that she can offer them a safe home.
But things become tense and personal when Seraphina’s mission is hijacked by someone from Seraphina’s past.
This is a story about agency. I really like the way so many things in the story relate to that theme. For instance, Seraphina desperately wants to bring half-dragons together, but she cannot make that choice for them. Her plans don’t go to plan, because sometimes she’s unable to persuade or convince others. Perhaps part of what makes this book satisfying-yet-unsatisfying is that there are limitations to Seraphina’s power, and this is clearly a good thing -- contrasted as it is with the horror caused by those who can and do manipulate and control others.
In the midst of this, and in the midst of learning about the abilities of half-dragons (including her own!), Seraphina has to accept that she isn’t responsible for what others choose to do. Even if she sometimes feels like she is.
I was a little bit worried about how the romantic subplot would resolve, having seen a review which, admittedly vaguely, described that resolution as too unexpected. But what happened made sense. I’d have liked to have seen another scene with certain characters talking things through but maybe it’s enough to leave things with Seraphina’s assertion that those conversations will keep happening. It’s realistic, and open-ended in a way I appreciate.
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threads. Since finishing it, I’ve been trying to work out I feel about it. Was it satisfying? Was it too long? (Was it too long because there were too many characters?) Do I like the way it adds to Seraphina’s story? I’ve concluded that, while it wasn’t perfect, the way it has stuck with me indicates that it was successful.I had been a bit worried that Shadow Scale would lose something by sending Seraphina off on a journey and thereby taking her away from her family, friends, home, job and country. With Goredd at risk of being caught in the middle of a dragon civil war, Seraphina sets out to find other half-dragons, hoping that their unique abilities will help to protect Goredd and that she can offer them a safe home.
But things become tense and personal when Seraphina’s mission is hijacked by someone from Seraphina’s past.
This is a story about agency. I really like the way so many things in the story relate to that theme. For instance, Seraphina desperately wants to bring half-dragons together, but she cannot make that choice for them. Her plans don’t go to plan, because sometimes she’s unable to persuade or convince others. Perhaps part of what makes this book satisfying-yet-unsatisfying is that there are limitations to Seraphina’s power, and this is clearly a good thing -- contrasted as it is with the horror caused by those who can and do manipulate and control others.
In the midst of this, and in the midst of learning about the abilities of half-dragons (including her own!), Seraphina has to accept that she isn’t responsible for what others choose to do. Even if she sometimes feels like she is.
I was a little bit worried about how the romantic subplot would resolve, having seen a review which, admittedly vaguely, described that resolution as too unexpected. But what happened made sense. I’d have liked to have seen another scene with certain characters talking things through but maybe it’s enough to leave things with Seraphina’s assertion that those conversations will keep happening. It’s realistic, and open-ended in a way I appreciate.
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LibraryThing member Jaylia3
With its logic-driven shape-shifting dragons, arcane saint-filled religion, and music permeated, culturally rich, Medieval-like setting, Seraphina by Rachel Hartman is easily of my favorite books of all time. I love its sequel, Shadow Scale, almost as much.
The world building continues to be among
A lot of things introduced in the first book are explained further in Shadow Scale. During her journey around the kingdoms Seraphina discovers more about the origin of the saint based religion that all the humans have some connection to, though it’s interpreted with interesting differences in the various lands she visits. She also learns more about the many forms and unique abilities of her fellow half dragons, and each of the curious beings in her mental garden plays some role in the story.
Shadow Scale opens with a Prelude you can skip if you’ve recently read Seraphina. It goes over information from the first book that readers might have forgotten, but because it’s written as if it’s by someone living far in the future, long after the events of both books, there were a few bits of implied information about how Shadow Scale ends that I would have prefered not to know, though they weren’t major spoilers.
My only complaint about Shadow Scale is I wish there was more. The resolution of the triangulated relationship between Glisselda, Kiggs, and Seraphina is bold but rushed over right at the end and not completely satisfying. I also felt that with a little more time some of the individual powers of half dragons could have been put to more use--I had hoped the soul or mind animated mechanicals shy Blanche surrounds herself with could have played more of a role in the plot. And at the end of the story I was left wanting to know more about what happens with the people and dragons back in Goredd after the resolution of the conflict, since we hadn’t spent much time there or with any of them.
Basically I love the series so much I greedily want another book. It seems almost wasteful to have imagined such a graphic dimensional world only to abandon it, but I believe the series is a duology that concludes with Shadow Scale. Perhaps Hartman wants to leave her readers with things to think about or envision for themselves, which isn’t a bad thing. Both Seraphina and Shadow Scale are so rich and immersive I know I’ll be re-reading them again and again.
Though I've already ordered my own hardback copy, I read an advanced review ebook copy of Shadow Scale from the publisher through NetGalley. Review opinions are mine.
The world building continues to be among
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the most wonderful I’ve encountered. In Shadow Scale, Seraphina is on a quest to collect other half human/half dragons like herself, which takes her away from her homeland of Goredd and into the surrounding countryside. She travels around three human kingdoms, Ninys, Samsam and Porphyry, each with its own history, culture, landscapes, politics, traditions, and relationship with the dragons, and all so vividly imagined that I feel I’ve walked through those lands myself. Seraphina also spends time in Tanamoot, the mountainous home range of dragons, where the immense ash-scented reptiles soar through the skies and lumber on land in their natural forms. A lot of things introduced in the first book are explained further in Shadow Scale. During her journey around the kingdoms Seraphina discovers more about the origin of the saint based religion that all the humans have some connection to, though it’s interpreted with interesting differences in the various lands she visits. She also learns more about the many forms and unique abilities of her fellow half dragons, and each of the curious beings in her mental garden plays some role in the story.
Shadow Scale opens with a Prelude you can skip if you’ve recently read Seraphina. It goes over information from the first book that readers might have forgotten, but because it’s written as if it’s by someone living far in the future, long after the events of both books, there were a few bits of implied information about how Shadow Scale ends that I would have prefered not to know, though they weren’t major spoilers.
My only complaint about Shadow Scale is I wish there was more. The resolution of the triangulated relationship between Glisselda, Kiggs, and Seraphina is bold but rushed over right at the end and not completely satisfying. I also felt that with a little more time some of the individual powers of half dragons could have been put to more use--I had hoped the soul or mind animated mechanicals shy Blanche surrounds herself with could have played more of a role in the plot. And at the end of the story I was left wanting to know more about what happens with the people and dragons back in Goredd after the resolution of the conflict, since we hadn’t spent much time there or with any of them.
Basically I love the series so much I greedily want another book. It seems almost wasteful to have imagined such a graphic dimensional world only to abandon it, but I believe the series is a duology that concludes with Shadow Scale. Perhaps Hartman wants to leave her readers with things to think about or envision for themselves, which isn’t a bad thing. Both Seraphina and Shadow Scale are so rich and immersive I know I’ll be re-reading them again and again.
Though I've already ordered my own hardback copy, I read an advanced review ebook copy of Shadow Scale from the publisher through NetGalley. Review opinions are mine.
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2015-03
Physical description
6.38 inches
ISBN
085753159X / 9780857531599
DDC/MDS
| 813.6 |