Glisselda believes the treaty was a result of humans subduing and taming dragons, but Seraphina corrects her: the treaty was the result of dragons recognizing humans as intelligent. The topic of the treaty between dragons and humans comes up: its fortieth anniversary is approaching. The next day, Seraphina resumes giving music lessons to Princess Glisselda, Lucian’s fiancée. One hybrid, whom she visualizes as a fruit bat, tries to communicate something to her, but she refuses. Seraphina has a vision in her “mental garden,” her framework for communicating with the seventeen other hybrids. She is afraid he might discover her secret as well. Seraphina is frightened at Lucian’s shrewdness. As a scholar, Orma is exempt from wearing the bell. Kiggs recognizes that Orma is a dragon, even though he is in human form and not wearing the bell that dragons in human shape are normally required to wear. Seraphina’s Uncle Orma, a full dragon, receives a mysterious coin belonging to his father, Imlann.Ī group of humans begins to harass the young dragon Basind Orma and the Royal Palace Guard, led by Prince Lucian Kiggs, the bastard son of Queen Lavonda go to intervene.

Her outstanding talent, enhanced by her dragon heritage, draws tears from the crowd.

He is found decapitated, his head missing his manner of death leads people to suspect he was killed by a dragon. She also has a telepathic link to her dead mother’s memories. Seraphina must hide the dragon scales that appear on her body and avoid showing signs of the telepathic connection she possesses to the other hybrids who exist. Human-dragon hybrids like Seraphina are unheard of human-dragon relationships are frowned upon, and it’s thought to be impossible for dragons and humans to have offspring. Dragons are emotionless, logical creatures unable to understand human feelings. Humans and dragons, who can take on human forms if they wish, coexist in this world a treaty to ensure peace exists between the species but their relations are tense. Seraphina, a fifteen-year-old court musician has a secret: she’s half-human, half-dragon. The novel is Hartman’s first she previously wrote the comic book series Amy Unbounded, featuring the same kingdom of Goredd as this novel. Seraphina must uncover the plot against the crown without revealing that she is half-dragon herself. Seraphina (2012), a young adult fantasy novel by Rachel Hartman, centers on a court musician who finds herself embroiled in a royal murder mystery when the Crown Prince dies, apparently killed by a dragon.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman