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)

The Guest Cat - Takashi Hirade

It took quite a long time for me to finish this book, due to the sudden onset of laziness and usual procrastination. It wasn't a bad book, not at all, but it is definitely a book which would appeal to certain types of people.

I like Japanese prose, they have a certain sense of detachment and hint of melancholy, but at the same time the stories told have a certain warmth to them. I would describe it as thoughtful, and depending on the books, feel as though they are grounded in reality despite the 'spiritual' elements. I'm no guru of course, this is just my own opinion. I have a strange preference for books in which the main characters evolve, come to terms with something, or have a mysterious charm about them. And in this case, the titular cat in this story, named Chibi.

Through the eyes of the writer, we see how this mysterious cat influences the lives of our main characters. In the story, she is described at charming, yet at times seem otherworldly, but she has a very profound effect on those around her. She comes and goes as she pleases, and though she already has a family of her own, Chibi is not held down by such titles and regularly traipses the line between the two houses, the line being a fence with a hole big enough for her to slip through.

The Guest Cat is not a story which can be understood through a review in my opinion, the writing of Takashi Hirade is very enjoyable as well. Through the eyes of the characters, the beauty lies in how they experience the events which they encounter. The emotions that could be interpreted by the reader range from many different types, like wistful and nostalgic, sadness, and fear.

One thing that might put people off, is the parts where financial and property related jargon is thrown into the story. There were quite a few chapters where things such as property values, job hunting and economy were included, and they were boring to me, since I'm not interested in such things. However, these parts do not subtract any enjoyment I felt while reading the book.

Recommendation: 3/5

The story has a very slow pacing, and concept of 'time' moves according to the events which happen in the main character's lives, and not by the day and night cycle. Some may dislike it, but don't dismiss it until you try it!