Seraphina - To be or not to be?

I think  most of us have read fantasy books about dragons at least once in our lives. There is something very intriguing about scaly, fire breathing reptiles that make them such an interesting subject to read about. Dragons have played many different roles. Villain, victim, hero. As time has gone by, they no longer have a fixed set of powers. Now they don't merely breathe fire, they can a wide variety of powers ranging from shape-shifting to healing, and are no longer just painted as beastly brutes who plunder the lands in search of their next meal.

The dragons in Seraphina are one such variation of dragons and are intelligent, sentient creatures. And I think this is one of the reasons that make Seraphina such a interesting read. That is not the only thing the book has to offer of course, they are certainly many other factors that make it such a good read as it is.

The story follows Seraphina, or Phina for short, as she tries to navigate through the waters of high society while trying to keep her 'heritage' under wraps. I confess that I didn't expect it to be part-murder mystery, part-self discovery, but thankfully it was done pretty well. The other characters in the book like Lucien and Glisselda were likable in their own way, and the interactions with Seraphina were so lively, and the way they contrasted with her just made those scenes come to life in the best possible way. The romance this book comes out of nowhere, and while I'm not really bothered by it I feel that it could have done without.

Unlike in some books, the politics in Seraphina did not bore me to death. The power play between Dragons and Humans is a source of tension for both races, and our dear protagonist is caught between the two worlds (literally) and desperately tries to keep herself from being washed away by the hostility between the two races. Her path of self-acceptance doesn't play out like one of those cliche fairytale types, it is much more intense and emotionally disturbing in a way.

Overall, it was a nice read and I look forward to picking up the next installment in the series.

7.5/10 - Would read again! 

Recommended to those who are okay with/like:

-Fantasy

-Politics

-Dragons

-Slight incestous vibes (Lucien and Glisselda are cousins and are engaged, but this is only referenced sparsely throughout the book)