Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.
Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.
Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.
Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.
Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons.
Release date; Out Now!
I received a copy of this book from Harlequin UK through NetGalley in exchange for a non biased review on this title.
DRAGONS!! I absolutely adore dragons, I even went so far as to name my cat Spyro, so seeing that the great Julie Kagawa is writing about dragons, I may have clapped my hands enthusiastically.
Ember Hill and her brother Dante are clutch mates, the dragon version of siblings and are finally getting to live with humans and integrate themselves into the human world before they are assigned their forever jobs at Talon. Insert Garret, a member of St. George who's sole mission is to destroy dragons before they destroy the world. Sent in to find and kill the "sleeper" dragon he meets Ember and sparks fly.
Julie Kagawa writes this book from multiple perspectives which keeps the reader informed on the different groups activities and the individuals feelings. This gives a deeper experience and a faster paced read. Working a bit like cross-cutting in movies, we go back and forth which helps build up tension, perspective and anticipation. This was done really well in my opinion as the story was never allowed to stall and drag its heels, it was punchy and fast-paced. This meant I devoured it in no time at all.
Ember Hill and her brother Dante are clutch mates, the dragon version of siblings and are finally getting to live with humans and integrate themselves into the human world before they are assigned their forever jobs at Talon. Insert Garret, a member of St. George who's sole mission is to destroy dragons before they destroy the world. Sent in to find and kill the "sleeper" dragon he meets Ember and sparks fly.
Julie Kagawa writes this book from multiple perspectives which keeps the reader informed on the different groups activities and the individuals feelings. This gives a deeper experience and a faster paced read. Working a bit like cross-cutting in movies, we go back and forth which helps build up tension, perspective and anticipation. This was done really well in my opinion as the story was never allowed to stall and drag its heels, it was punchy and fast-paced. This meant I devoured it in no time at all.
The characters are diverse and have relatable issues. Ember is a dragon and having been trained all her life to blend in with humans is left without her wings and in brand new social situations which leave her uncomfortable. Her temper flares but Dante keeps her out of trouble.
Dante is cool and collected, also being a dragon trained all his life to blend in, he just fades into society while maintaining the stringent and often stifling rules set by Talon. He loves his sister dearly and would not see her destroy her future.
Garret is a soldier of the Order of St. George. He is hand picked to infiltrate the teenagers in the town and identify the dragon amongst them so eliminate. Uncomfortable with social nuances and situations he is a bit like a duck out of water and knows there is just something about Ember.
Riley is a rogue dragon who looks to persuade young dragons to leave Talon and go rogue with him, being on the run for the rest of their lives. His latest target? Ember.
So What made this book an absolute gem to read?
The writing was even, smooth and fast paced, with enough description to entertain and inform. The characters were built and shaped, the reader got to know them all and see what made them tick. The plot thickens as the book continues, it doesn't stew but bubbles furiously and continues to do so as the book ends, making me yearn for book two. Which, I will be sure to get as soon as that dragon returns my pennies!
Talia
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