Originally posted at Hooked on Books 
 If a book has dragons, it is pretty much a guarantee that I will be interested in it. Seraphina proved no exception. Not only is it a novel filled with dragons, it provides a whole new take on the fantastic creatures, ensuring that this is unlike any fantasy novel I've read before. 
 Imagine a world where dragons can take the form of humans. Where they interact with us on a daily basis and are involved in all levels of society. Where they are no longer mysterious creatures that live far away in mountains and caves. Picture all that and you have an idea of what Rachel Hartman's debut fantasy novel is like. It's a fascinating look at these creatures from a whole new, uqniue and exciting angle. I really enjoyed learning more about the history of these particular dragons and watching them interact with humans and adapt to life within city walls. 
 In addition to taking an old and established mythos and turning it on it's head, Rachel Hartman also gets an A+ for world building. An entire new world springs up within the pages of Seraphina. Not letting anything fall pray to unoriginality, Hartman creates an intricate religious system, a complex class hierarchy and a totally unique langauge. She then places a wealth of interesting characters in this setting and expertly guides them through a thrilling adventure. It is a recipe for a fantastic story and I am amazed at how well she pulls it off. 
 Seraphina is an intelligent novel. It challenges idea about how society should function, ideas of class and power and how religion can be corrupted or used an excuse for unsavoury behaviour. If that wasn't enough the character of Seraphina is intelligent, resourceful and a quick thinker. She's often the one that saves the day or at the very least does what needs to be done. She's a fantastic female heroine and I can't wait to read more about her in the next book. 
 Rachel Hartman is an unbelieavably talented writer. It's hard to believe Seraphina is her debut novel! I can't wait to read more from this fabulous new voice in the fantasy world. 
 Final recommendation: A beautifully written fantasy novel that can easily be enjoyed by teen and adult readers.