Review - Talon by Julie Kagawa

Synopsis

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.

(Goodreads)

Review

★★★★★

  Talon is the first book in the Talon series - yes, it's a surprise, I know. The series consists of 5 books: Rogue (book 2), Soldier (book 3), and two other books that are currently untitled.

  I'd like to take a moment now to admire the beauty of this cover. I read the hardback edition (published by Harlequin Teen) and the cover is textured to feel scaly. Although the aesthetic of the book isn't the main reason I picked it up, it made me happier to look at - does that make any sense?

  The plot revolves around dragons - you know, the awesome mythical creatures that breathe fire and are incredibly strong and beautiful - and how they must hide themselves from the rest of the world. Now, this may not be a lot of information but it was enough to hook me in. I mean, come on, fire-breathing Dragons. That sounds pretty badass to me (and it is, indeed).

    Dragons do all sorts of things during their impressively long lives. Many have successfully assimilated to human society and even hold positions of power. There are also dragons who have broken all bonds with Talon, the secret organization that works to protect dragons; these are known as rogues.

  The story alternates between two point of views: Ember (a dragon), and Garret (a soldier who hunts dragons).
Both characters are around the same age but have a very different focus in life. For instance, Ember borders on rebellious behavior as she strives for freedom and fun while Garret, also known as the "Perfect Soldier", is all about doing his job.
Needless to say, things get complicated when these two opposed personalities meet (it's great!).

  Since Ember and her twin, Dante, are supposed to infiltrate society, they take it upon themselves to blend in with the crowd. This means hanging out with humans, surfing, and overall just experiencing the joys of being a teenager on summer break in California. It's fun to see - read - as the siblings discover the thrills of "ordinary" teenage lives such as surfing, drinking smoothies every day, going shopping and even attending parties!

    Now, it wouldn't be a proper YA novel without some romance. Within the secret organization, Talon, it is taught that dragons don't feel like humans do; they don't fall in love. However, who can judge what love is and who can or cannot feel it? No one, that's who. (Was that as deep as I think it is?)  It's interesting to see how Ember deals with unknown feelings. Aaaaand the male characters are, once again, rather attractive.

  Talon is full of surprises whether they involve romance, or action. The fight and training scenes are wonderfully described. I love the precision when it comes to describing the way a dragon's body moves and coils as well as the suspense that comes with one-to-one fighting. I even got worried more than once about the outcome on an altercation.