Rachel Hartman Bücher

Kann EIN Mädchen zwei WELTEN vereinen? Die Drachen könnten die Menschen vernichten. Doch sie sind zu sehr fasziniert von ihnen. Dies ist die Basis des fragilen Friedens zwischen beiden Völkern, die jäh brüchig wird, als der Thronanwärter ihres gemeinsamen Königreichs brutal ermordet wird – auf Drachenart. Die junge Serafina hat guten Grund beide Parteien zu fürchten. Hütet doch die am Hofe lebende hochbegabte Musikerin selbst ein Geheimnis. Als sie in die Mordermittlungen verwickelt wird, kommt der attraktive junge Hauptmann der Garde, Lucian Kiggs, ihr gefährlich nahe. So wagemutig und leidenschaftlich Serafina auch darum kämpft, ihr eigenes Geheimnis zu hüten, die Intrige, hinter die Lucian und sie kommen, droht ihr ganzes Leben auf immer zu zerstören.

Die untereinander um die Macht ringenden Parteien der Menschen und der Drachen stehen unmittelbar vor einem gewaltsamen Ausbrechen des Konflikts, der schon seit vielen Jahren zwischen ihnen schwelt. Die junge Serafina steht in dieser Situation erneut zwischen den beiden Welten, aus denen sie stammt, trägt sie doch auch Drachenblut in sich. Aber sie ist nicht die Einzige ihrer Art - und von diesen anderen Drachenmenschen erhofft sie sich Hilfe für ihre Heimat. So bricht sie auf, diese Verbündeten zu suchen, während sich alle daheim, auch ihre große Liebe Prinz Lucian, für die Schlacht um das Königreich Gorred und die Freiheit der Menschen rüsten

In her triumphant return to the world of Seraphina (2012), Hartman introduces Tess Dombegh, one of Seraphina's stepsiblings. After a shattering fall from grace, Tess has tried to be the dutiful daughter to her critical mother. She may never be good, but maybe she can be good enough to be forgiven. When Tess drunkenly ruins her sister's wedding night, she's almost relieved to run away. Disguised as a boy, she seeks oblivion on the road; instead, she's invited to help find a legendary serpent by her childhood friend, a quigutl (dragon subspecies). Along the way, Tess runs afoul of robbers, works as a manual laborer, poses as a priest, and struggles to make peace with past trauma. First in a duology, this is a perfect example of a familiar fantasy trope being given new dimension through empathetic characters and exquisite storytelling. At first appearing bitter and self-pitying, Tess reveals compassion, courage, and resilience on her journey, which is as emotional and spiritual as it is physical. This achingly real portrayal of a young woman whose self-loathing takes help to heal is a perceptive examination of rape culture rare in high fantasy. Not to be ignored, this is also a fascinating road trip adventure. Absolutely essential.-Booklist, starred review Hartman returns to Goredd with the tale of another young woman who breaks the rules in search of herself. There are three Dombegh sisters: naughty Tess, perfect twin Jeanne, and famous, talented older sister Seraphina (of Seraphina, 2012, and Shadow Scale, 2015). Now 17, haunted by past mistakes, immersed in self-denial and the need to follow proper behavior, white Tess-who once befriended lizardlike Quigutl and secretly attended lectures-is miserable. After drunkenly punching her new brother-in-law at Jeanne's wedding, Tess dresses as a boy and takes off. She travels across Goredd and Ninys in search of a Quigutl prophecy and her own purpose, in a sometimes-episodic tale narrated in descriptive, sharply observant third-person prose. Angry, bitter Tess has reason for her feelings but is not always easy to walk with, and the slow reveal of her past makes for a compelling read on the ways in which girls-in the quasi-Renaissance Goredd and also in the real world-are taught to take blame on themselves even when others are culpable. Fortunately, the Road has answers (walk on), and by the end Tess has faced her past and can look forward to another volume of adventure, discovery, and changing her world. Like Tess' journey, surprising, rewarding, and enlightening, both a fantasy adventure and a meta discourse on consent, shame, and female empowerment. (dramatis personae, glossary; not seen) (Fantasy. 13-adult) -Kirkus Reviews, starred review

MIND OF THE WORLD,OPEN YOUR EYES.At the bottom of the world lies a Serpent, the last of its kind.Finding the Serpent will change lives.Tess is a girl on a mission to save a friend.Spira is a dragon seeking a new identity.Marga is a woman staking her claim on a man’s world.Jacomo is a priest searching for his soul.There are those who would give their lives to keep it hidden.And those who would destroy it.But the only people who will truly find the Serpent are those who have awakened to the world around them—with eyes open to the wondrous, the terrible, and the just.