Mundie Moms

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

TALON by Julie Kagawa, Book Review




By: Julie Kagawa
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Released on: October 28th, 2014 - TODAY
Rating: 5 Stars - I LOVED IT
Source: arc to review from publisher in exchange for my honest review
Add it to: Goodreads 


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.

A fantastic modern fantasy! Talon has all the makings of another Julie Kagawa sensation read. With romance, danger, betrayal, and that fabulous ability Kagawa has with blurring fantasy elements with real world elements make Talon my favorite Julie Kagawa to date. Not surprisingly, Kagawa had me falling for all of her characters. Whether they were deemed good, bad or traitors to their organizations, I felt like I understood each of the characters, and started to fall for them the same way Ember was. 

Talon has found a spot among my bookcase that houses my favorite fantasy books. What Julie Kagawa has done with her dragons is awesome. When it comes to fantasy books, I love it when the world I'm reading about comes to life so easily, and makes the story feel like it's a possibility within the real world. That to me is the signs of a gifted story teller. I think it would be awesome to live in a world where Dragons blended in with humans, and in a secretive way their worlds collided with our own. I'm just saying. After you read Talon you might be thinking the same thing. Now if only I could get to a beach and search the skies for Riley.... *coughs* Sorry, back to my review. 

Through Ember, Riley and Garrett's points of views, Kagawa gave me everything I needed to know about them, their worlds, and what each of their missions were. They each come for a different organization that make up the world of Talon. I felt like I really got to understand all three of these characters, and understand what drove them to make the decisions they did. In true Kagawa fashion, she gave me a story that broke down the barriers within it's world and crossed the boundaries of forbidden love and the impossible with three stubborn, incredibly strong characters whom once they learned the truths of their worlds, wanted to make a change, and fight for not only what they felt was right, but want to follow their own hearts without enforced rules. I loved how Kagawa was able to elegantly weave together three different points of views to tell a story. Few authors have the ability to master the multiple points of views, and still bring their story to life so effortlessly like Julie Kagawa has done with Talon. 

Ember is a character that I first deemed as a rebel, but she quickly proved there is much more to her than that. I loved getting to know her. Regardless to what she's being taught, and told she can and can't do, there's this side of her that knows she has to decipher what's right, and follow her instinct and heart. I admire her courage in doing that, even though the odds are against her, and she has a bother to think about. Her actions will have deadly consequences. I liked Garrett. He's someone whom I wouldn't want to get on his wrong side, but like Ember, he battles with what he's been taught/trained to do and with what he's feeling, and learns is the truth. Then there's Riley. Yep... loved him from the moment he rode his motorcycle into the scene and gave Ember a heated knowing look. The more I got to know him, the more I wanted from him. There's so much more to Riley than what we get to know in Talon. Trust me, what you learn about him will definitely hook you, and make you wish you had the sequel, ROGUE, in your hands already.

TALON was everything I had hoped it would be and so much more. I think Julie Kagawa found her niche with this book. I've loved all her other series, but her dragon series is by far my favorite. Talon has fantastic world building, unforgettable characters, and a story that hooked me, and gave me everything I wanted, and leaves me wanting so much more. GO PICK THIS BOOK UP! 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Labels