Rachel Hartman writes fantasy in which dragons, music, religion and political suspicion shape the lives of young protagonists. Seraphina is set in the kingdom of Goredd, where humans and dragons maintain an uneasy peace and dragons can take human form. The title character, a gifted court musician with a dangerous family secret, becomes involved in a murder investigation as tensions rise around a royal anniversary. Shadow Scale continues her story and expands the political and magical stakes. Hartman's later Tess of the Road and In the Serpent's Wake follow another character from the same world, using travel and self-reinvention rather than court mystery as the main structure. Her books are character-led, detailed and particularly interested in identity, prejudice and the difficulty of living between communities. Seraphina is the best entry for readers who enjoy YA fantasy with complex dragon lore, court politics and a heroine whose musical life matters to the plot. Read more Less
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