Rachel Hartman Books

Lyrical, imaginative, and wholly original, this New York Times bestseller with 8 starred reviews is not to be missed. Rachel Hartman's award-winning debut will have you looking at dragons as you've never imagined them before... Seraphina is a half-dragon, descended from a dragon mother who took human form and a father who has no particular fondness for Seraphina's kind. Not that anyone else does either. Hers is a world where dragons and humans live and work side by side--but below the surface, tensions and hostilities are on the rise. Seraphina guards her true self with all of her being, but when a member of the royal family is brutally murdered, she's suddenly thrust into the spotlight, drawn into the investigation alongside the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian. As the two uncover a sinister plot to destroy the wavering peace of the kingdom, Seraphina's struggle to protect her secret becomes increasingly difficult . . . and its discovery could mean her very life. Will appeal to both fans of Christopher Paolini's Eragon series and Robin McKinley's The Hero and the Crown.--Entertainment Weekly [A] lush, intricately plotted fantasy.--The Washington Post Beautifully written. Some of the most interesting dragons I've read.--Christopher Paolini, New York Times bestselling author of Eragon Meet Seraphina's sister, Tess, in Rachel Hartman's brand new fantasy adventure, Tess of the Road.

In her return to the world of Seraphina, Hartman introduces Tess Dombegh, a stepsibling of Seraphina. After a fall from grace, Tess strives to be the dutiful daughter despite her self-loathing. Following a drunken mishap on her sister's wedding night, she disguises herself as a boy and embarks on a journey for oblivion. However, her path leads her to assist in the search for a legendary serpent alongside her childhood friend, a quigutl. Throughout her travels, Tess encounters robbers, takes on manual labor, poses as a priest, and confronts her past trauma. This first installment of a duology offers a fresh perspective on familiar fantasy tropes, enriched by empathetic characters and exquisite storytelling. Initially appearing bitter, Tess reveals her compassion, courage, and resilience as she navigates an emotional and spiritual journey. The narrative provides a poignant examination of self-loathing and the impact of rape culture in a high fantasy setting. Tess's adventure unfolds across Goredd and Ninys, where she seeks a quigutl prophecy and her own purpose. The story is narrated in descriptive, observant prose, capturing Tess's struggles and the societal pressures on young women. By the end, Tess confronts her past, setting the stage for further adventures and personal growth, making this tale both a fantasy adventure and a thoughtful discourse on consent, shame, and female empowerment.

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.

Fantasy. In the kingdom of Goredd, Seraphina - half-dragon and half-human - is reluctantly drawn into the politics of her world. When war breaks out between the dragons and humans, she must travel the lands to find those like herself, for she has an inexplicable connection to all of them, and together they will be able to fight the dragons in powerful, magical way