“Seraphina” by Rachel Hartman

Much like the Philip Pullman “His Dark Materials” series, this book grew on me – but the winner of this year’s Morris Award is not an easy novel to slide into, or one where you are likely to careen from one chapter to the next.  Easily one of the most complex, dense stories I have read in a good deal of time, I found it was important to slow down and allow myself to be enriched by this world.  Take 14^th Century Verona Italy, heavy-duty religious overtones, the racism of America’s 1950s, a dash of Zen Buddhism and a twist on dragonlore I’ve never seen before and you have the ~beginnings~ of this tale.  Throw in a *lot* of SAT words (perspicacity, calefactive, ventrum) and you have a medieval story that could almost be historically accurate … if not for the dragons.  Seraphina is a girl of questionable background.  Born into a world where the church is as much of a presence as the ruling nobility (who have intrigues of their own), Seraphina is a girl of musical gifts and tremendous secrets.  The pacing is not quick.  For several weeks, I covered a few chapters at a time, each day, until the middle of the book, when suddenly I began to crave “what happens next.”  The ending is rich and satisfactory (and could be the build-up to a sequel, although the novel stands on its own just fine).  There is a love interest, but like all elements of this story, it is subtle and tricky (have you ever heard lovers declaring their feelings using the term “prevaricated”?)  Like the Pullman books, Ms. Hartman has succeeded in creating a world with many levels and many surprises.  Just when you think you’ve got it all figured out (a bad habit of readers like me) there is an element you didn’t see coming.  This is a “book” book – literary and engaging, something you could re-read several times and see new sides of.  It is a story that lingers – days later I’m still thinking about it.  I can understand the Morris Award, given to a “fresh voice” in YA publishing.  Unlike many first-time authors, Ms. Hartman most certainly has the chops.  It will be interesting to see what comes next for her.  In the meantime, take some time to enjoy.