TalonTalon Saga #1
Author: Julie Kagawa
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy | Dragons | Paranormal
Released: January 15th 2015 (UK Edition)
Review Source: Purchased
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.
I can confirm that the story is as amazing as the cover is. I don’t know how Julie Kagawa does it. This is the second series I’ve read from her (the first being Blood of Eden trilogy) and both times she’s blown my mind and left me wanting more. Julie Kagawa has officially become an auto-buy author for me now.
The world she built with her dragons was phenomenal. Unlike anything I’ve read and every detail from the colour of Ember’s scales to imperfections of the Talon just made the book unique and loveable. There was no insta-love. It wasn’t constant action packed. It was a steady story of a teenager finding her footing as an individual after being sheltered and smothered her whole life. The same teenager who starts to develop and become stronger, who also begins to make her own decisions regarding her life. It’s clear that it’s learning process for her and we got to see her grow and progress and become her own person.
Ember and her brother have lived a sheltered life. After their kind were on the brink of extinction once upon a time, things changed. They became more cautious, did whatever they could to protect their own. However, this summer, things are changing. They get the summer of freedom with the duty of learning to bend in with humans. The results could be deadly if they didn’t. Their enemy caution and cunning, they must do everything they can to ensure their true identities stay hidden.
When some truths are revealed and the end nears, wow. That's when the story really kicks it up a notch. And I just know book 2, Rouge, is going to be amazing.
On a personal level I find Julie Kagawa inspiring. I’m a huge reader of paranormal and I also love writing it. She’s the kind of author I aspire to be. If I could make my writing as compelling and captivating as hers then I’d be a proud woman.
The world she built with her dragons was phenomenal. Unlike anything I’ve read and every detail from the colour of Ember’s scales to imperfections of the Talon just made the book unique and loveable. There was no insta-love. It wasn’t constant action packed. It was a steady story of a teenager finding her footing as an individual after being sheltered and smothered her whole life. The same teenager who starts to develop and become stronger, who also begins to make her own decisions regarding her life. It’s clear that it’s learning process for her and we got to see her grow and progress and become her own person.
Ember and her brother have lived a sheltered life. After their kind were on the brink of extinction once upon a time, things changed. They became more cautious, did whatever they could to protect their own. However, this summer, things are changing. They get the summer of freedom with the duty of learning to bend in with humans. The results could be deadly if they didn’t. Their enemy caution and cunning, they must do everything they can to ensure their true identities stay hidden.
When some truths are revealed and the end nears, wow. That's when the story really kicks it up a notch. And I just know book 2, Rouge, is going to be amazing.
On a personal level I find Julie Kagawa inspiring. I’m a huge reader of paranormal and I also love writing it. She’s the kind of author I aspire to be. If I could make my writing as compelling and captivating as hers then I’d be a proud woman.
Posts
I know i going to be late joing the Talon bandwagon but i'm kinda hoping to get it closer to the release of Book 2 so that I can read them together but who am i kinda i just might order it now, i know its high time I get to it. Kagawa is on my autobuy too :) You should check out her Iron Fey and the spinoff series Call of the Forgotten too..... They are just as amazing :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review :)
Aparajita @Le' Grande Codex
I've heard so many mixed things about this book but am glad to see you enjoyed it!! Haven't read too many books about dragons so this is definitely on my radar :D Lovely review!
ReplyDeleteLike Eileen, I've heard many mixed views on this book. But I do love Julie Kagawa. Though I still haven't finished the Iron Fey series and I still need to read the last book of the Blood of Eden series, I can say that she is a fantastic storyteller. I will give Talon a try and see where I land on the love hate spectrum of this book. Glad you loved it though :) and wonderful review!
ReplyDeleteCourtney @ Storybook Slayers
It's hard for me to wait until the end of a book to get hooked. I usually give up before then!
ReplyDeleteDede