Shadow Scale

Starred review from January 26, 2015
In this strong follow-up to 2012’s Seraphina, Hartman continues the adventures of that book’s eponymous half-dragon, who is now assigned with finding and uniting her fellow “ityasaari” before the full-blooded dragons can resolve their civil war and mobilize to wipe out the southern human kingdoms. But some ityasaari don’t want to be found, and one, who has the power to enter and control minds, would rather see them united for her own bitter purpose. With numerous factions jockeying for power and war on the horizon, Seraphina must unlock her own long-dormant potential and find a way to save everyone she loves. As the page count attests, Hartman’s style is leisurely; she builds her epic fantasy carefully, with attention to detail and atmosphere, while letting the plot simmer and allowing just as much to happen off-screen as in Seraphina’s presence. She juggles the large cast skillfully, balancing wide-screen action with intimate character development (including some deft, thoughtful treatments of gender identity), allowing for some subtle yet surprising revelations. This is a worthy and wholly satisfying continuation of Seraphina’s tale. Ages 12–up. Agency: Writers House.

Starred review from January 1, 2015
Having come to terms with her own heritage, both dragon and human, Seraphina is back for more, following her eponymous first outing (2012). The dragon-dragon war continues to rage, and it seems a cohort of half-dragons might make a difference. The mental garden Seraphina built to control her visions of other half-dragons is a map to that cohort, and so she crosses kingdoms to raise a different kind of army in hopes of saving the world. Along the way, Seraphina uncovers the truth of the Goreddi Saints, searches for her missing uncle, navigates a complex relationship with a man she can't have and must come to terms with Jannoula, a powerful half-dragon who seems the shadow to Seraphina's light. Love, betrayal and sacrifice wind throughout, all narrated in Seraphina's appealing, slightly stiff voice. Every now and again, a book comes along that reimagines a familiar trope so magnificently it resets the bar, which is exactly what happened with Seraphina, Hartman's debut. Here, she continues to expand her world with enough history and detail to satisfy even the most questioning of readers, doing it all so naturally that it's hard to believe this is fiction. Dragon fiction has never flown higher. Seraphina's adventures may be over, but here's hoping there are more Goreddi tales to come. (map, cast of characters, glossary) (Fantasy. 13 & up)

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January 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-This sequel to the award-winning Seraphina (Random, 2012) takes the half-human, half-dragon girl on a search for others like herself. The revelation of Seraphina's true heritage has placed her in a position of power with Queen Glisselda who sends her on a mission to find other half-human/half-dragon beings. With her loyal friend, Abdo, she searches the lands for the creatures she has only met previously in dreams, in the hopes that they may trip the balance of power toward the kingdom of Goredd. Though the halflings were feared and reviled by the human population historically, some of them managed to hide in plain sight and were elevated to sainthood. With the insane Jannoula as their leader, these long-lived beings have emerged from hiding and are bent on taking control of Goredd and its human population. And, the love she and the Queen's intended, Kiggs, have for each other may ultimately destroy any chance Seraphina has for personal happiness. This is not a stand-alone story, and those who haven't read the first novel in the series will spend the first third of the novel getting caught up. By then, it may be too late for some, as the lengthy work suffered from an over-abundance of explanation of who the dragons were without really giving readers a sense of the main characters' ideals and motivations. Still, for lovers of Christopher Paolini's and Anne McCaffrey's dragon stories, this is an adequate addition to dragonlore.-Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 1, 2014
Grades 9-12 *Starred Review* Despite a prolonged wait, Hartman's blazing sequel to her award-winning debut, Seraphina (2012), will appease her passionate (and patient) fans. With the kingdom of Goredd caught in the crossfire of a dragon civil war, Seraphina is tasked with finding her fellow ityasaari (human-dragon half-breeds), whose strange abilities may be able to protect the capital city. While the exiled dragon leader Comonot and his allies enact a risky plan to end the war, Seraphina travels as an emissary to the other kingdoms to gather those she thinks of as her family. As she makes contact with a host of rich, idiosyncratic characters, Seraphina is haunted by thoughts of the one she does not want to find: Jannoula, who invaded her mind as a child. Though barred from Seraphina's mind, Jannoula remains a threat, and her insidious diversion of Seraphina's mission is devastating, driving her to finally confront the shadow self that she has locked away. Aside from a few key moments, Hartman wisely relegates the larger war to the background in favor of Seraphina's story. Though the pacing occasionally lags across this lengthy, tangled novel, the intricate plotting, clever surprises (including the identities of Goredd's Saints), and lovely prose make this a worthy conclusion for all of Hartman's big-hearted characters. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The Morris-winning Seraphina was a commercial and critical breakout. Major monthly promotions, school visits, and social media campaigns are planned.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)