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Talon The Talon Saga Julie Kagawa Books

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Talon The Talon Saga Julie Kagawa Books

My Review: Going into this book I was hoping it to follow along the lines (action, pace, amazing character development) of Kagawa's earlier Blood of Eden series (Immortal Rules, Eternity Cure and The Forever Song) which I ADORED! That was an utterly engaging and a great series for teens and adults alike.

It is obvious from the beginning that Talon follows more in the footsteps of her Iron Fey series in that it's much more suited for older tweens or young teens. The premise of Talon was interesting (dragons living among us and dragon slayers out to get them) but like the Iron Fey series the pace and focus wasn't as raw or engaging as I was hoping. Case in point, my thirteen year old son liked this book. Me? Argh. Not so much.

I'm going to assume that Kagawa has set her audience as a late tween/early teen reader. If I'm going from that standpoint this was a decent read. The plot itself is straight forward and fairly predictable from the get go. I think that older tween/young teens will enjoy the Romeo and Juliet themed romance as well as the warring young men vying for the affection of Ember and the general teen drama that is a large part of the book.

For me the book was divided into two sections. The first half was much slower paced with the emphasis being on Ember and Dante making friends and setting up the romantic element. In the second half the pace picks up and the story line takes on more intrigue ending with a cliffhanger to entice readers to proceed with the next book in the series, Rogue. Overall, I found the book to be predictable and a bit slow since more time was spent with the budding romantic entanglements than dragon in plain sight issue . There were some great action scenes towards the end of the book but when dealing with dragons, an evil organization and dragon slayers I guess I was expecting a little more fire and fight throughout the book.

I also missed the world building. Kagawa is amazing at bringing her readers into the worlds she creates. Talon brings the reader to ... the California coast's teen beach scene. Yup. I almost expected Dylan Walsh, Brandon and Brenda to walk up to them at the beach smoothie hut (I jest about the 90210 reference but the Smoothie Hut? Yup, like the Peach Pit of 90210 fame it was a popular location in the book).

Ember was a likable character. She had normal teen insecurities and a twin to go through it with in Dante. They had a believable relationship but if I had one beef it was that they blended into the teen beach scene a little too easily. I know that Ember and Dante had been trained on how to live among humans but they seemed to fit in with no major issues. I guess I was expecting a lot more 'fish out of water' floundering but they seemed to jump into the teen beach scene easily.

Kagawa is an amazing writer and she kept this mom of three's interest for the most part. I just think that her focus in this book was more about the romantic entanglements than in the dragons living among us which was a let down. I would suggest this book for older tween/young teens who want a lighter fantasy read with the emphasis on budding romantic entanglements.

My Rating: 3/5 stars

** This book review, as well as hundreds more, can also be found on my blog, The Baking Bookworm (www.thebakingbookworm.blogspot.ca) where I also share my favourite 'tried and true' recipes. **


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Talon The Talon Saga Julie Kagawa Books Reviews

If you are expecting something along the lines of the author's Blood of Eden Series you will be disappointed. This novel feels less developed. The pace is much slower. The lack of details concerning the history of the dragon race and a slight drag in the pacing at the center of the novel gave me a reason to drop a star. HOWEVER-- as far as the genre requirements, this novel meets the grade. One yet-to-bloom heroine. Two boys from opposite sides of track to vie over her. A worthy antagonist to cause problems and a shadowy organization with evil designs that threaten the heroine's way of life. Be aware that the maturity level of this work sits squarely in "young" YA. Plot complications and/or character dilemmas are within the expectations of a novel geared for young teen fiction.
The core of Talon lies in two disparate institutions the titular one and the Order of St. George. Despite each's animosity towards the other (or more likely, because of it), both Talon, the organization for dragons, and the one for their hunters deal in indoctrination, intimidation, lies, and half-truths.

With the threat of St. George constantly on their tails, dragons have had to find more covert ways to survive. They hide in human form and teach their hatchlings not only how to assimilate, but also prepare and train them in ways best suited for Talon and all of dragonkind. Unfortunately, the hatchlings have no say whatsoever in what their occupation might be. They have no say in their life at all and are granted just one summer, where they test their assimilation skills, to live the semblance of a teenage normalcy.

This is the world twins Ember and Dante Hill are born into. Ember is clearly the more "fiery" of the two, and it was pretty obvious she'd be the one to flaunt and eventually break the rules. Her brother Dante has a cooler and more collected nature, which both Talon and the guardians the institution assigns to them hope will temper Ember's flame.

Twin dragons are an unheard of anomaly, which serves well to hide their true nature from Crescent Beach's human inhabitants and the Order of St. George. Guardians are humans in the employ of Talon, entrusted with their secrets, but the guardians are not only responsible for looking after the young dragons, they also report to Talon on their progress.

Unfortunately (for the dragons) St. George's Order has evolved along with them, changing from armored knights with swords to specially trained soldiers with a much more impressive arsenal. Their only purpose is to seek out and slaughter their enemies, and they are well aware of "sleepers," dragon hatchlings strategically placed in human territories in order to acclimate them to their way of life aka Ember and Dante's current situation. For this reason Garrett and Tristan are also sent to Crescent Beach in order to sniff out the sleeper and eliminate it.

The chapters alternate between Ember and Garrett with a few from a dragon named Riley cycled in later on. They're written in the first person, but since the switch is dictated by chapter, head jumping isn't really a problem. Garrett's introduction was frankly annoying, and I'm wondering if the author did that purposely to throw sympathy towards the dragon kids, since she presented Ember and Dante's "case" first before showing the young soldier and his unit taking down a full grown adult. It's immediately clear the Order uses propaganda and half-truths about their lifelong enemy to keep the troops loyal (e.g. dragons are unfeeling monsters that are trying to take over humanity), which is exacerbated in Garrett since his entire family was killed by them leaving him only with St. George. I still rolled my eyes so hard when he was described as the "perfect soldier."

Since he and Tristan are the youngest in the unit (around 17 or 18), they're assigned the special mission to find and take down the Crescent Beach sleeper. It doesn't take long for Garrett and Ember to meet, and there's instant attraction between the two of them, which for Ember is strange since humans usually hold no interest for her, but it's possible that Garrett's aloof, detached nature is a draw, because that's how dragons are supposed to act. Ironically, she's much more boisterous, and it doesn't take her long to start chaffing at Talon's bit.

Throwing rogue dragon Riley into the mix serves to confuse Ember even more (and of course adds the ubiquitous YA love triangle). There's clearly something Talon is keeping from its hatchlings, but even seeing a rogue in their town in cause for concern. The organization is swift to hunt them down, and Ember's by the books brother would immediately report such activity to their guardians. Of course because this is a YA, Riley serves as a second love interest for Ember, but I like the dilemma it causes. Should she go with her gut (and dragon) and pick Riley, or follow the heart she didn't think she had and pursue Garrett?

An interesting thing about the "heart" is Talon tries to instill in its pupils that emotions such as love are human weaknesses. While dragons can feel a sense of devotion and loyalty, they really don't love, and they certainly don't fall in love with humans. Of course this is BS propaganda they use to indoctrinate the young ones, but if you repeat a lie long enough, eventually it becomes true insofar as enough people believe it. It's not that dragons can't love; it's more that they're told love is foolish and human, which means they close themselves off to it.

That's how propaganda and indoctrination work, and Garrett was taught the same about dragons by the Order of St. George. They can only mimic human emotions; they don't really experience them. This is of course a common tactic in war othering your enemy. If you see an opponent as similar to yourself, it's much harder to kill them, but if you're convinced that they're not like you, it's far easier to put a bullet in their brain.

Both Talon and St. George see each side as "other," and it's their children who pay for that. Neither Ember nor Garrett really know how to "human." Ember because she's been taught that humans are prey and dragons are predators, so any seemingly human emotion is something to be expunged, and Garrett because after his family was killed, St. George took him in and exacerbated the natural hatred that would grow from such a loss to mold him into someone who only wished to rid the world of that threat. But emotions aren't solely for humans, and there's been animosity on both sides.

Both teens them have an inner voice. Ember has her "dragon." Garrett has his "soldier," but they're both just teenagers wishing to be normal. I was fortunate to be reading this at the same time as An Ember in the Ashes, so the similarities between the two were apparent. Garrett is a soldier like Elias, and both of them are beholden to some higher authority. Granted we start Ember with Elias wanting to get out, whereas Garrett initially is more than content with his place in the Order. They both fall for girls not only outside of their organization, but completely anathema to it and are forced to choose where their loyalties will lie or fall. Both matters of heart and morality depend on only one choice (though arguably this is a common theme in fiction).

I don't blame any dragon for going rogue. Once it's discovered not only what Talon does to them but to any member who doesn't live up to expectations, it's surprising there aren't more defectors out there. Ember's naivete is to be understood though. The organization makes sure hatchlings only know what they want them to know. Dragons are supposed to serve however it sees fit, and I, personally, would not want my whole life planned out for me without my input and against my desires.

Obviously Ember and Garrett eventually find out the truth about each other. That's not a spoiler; it's pretty clear it has to happen (though I did guess how), and the end of this book is a whirlwind, roller coaster ride that I shotgunned through the Saturday morning I finished. The narrative is fast paced throughout, but it's nearly impossible to but down once the end is nigh. I believe this really helps the story overall, since the teenagers act...well really teenagery in the beginning, and Garrett's first chapter comes off as utterly sanctimonious. Even though Ember's "rebellious teen" is cliched, her character is a relief from both Talon's and St. George's stringent rules.

Adults pass their mores on to the next generation, and they also attempt to instill in them the fear of questioning. In an authoritarian society, which is what both Talon and St. George are, adherence to authority is absolutely necessary in order for that society to continue on as it is. They follow the rule of teaching children what to think instead of teaching them how to think. If you can indoctrinate them with your propaganda, they'll do the same to the next generation and the next one into perpetuity. Until someone dares to break the cycle.

Garrett's been in St. George his entire life after his family was killed by their sworn enemy. He was completely indoctrinated into their belief system until he met Ember and realized it was all rubbish. Even before he knew she was the dragon sleeper, the thought that she could be didn't mesh with what he'd been taught about them, and what Garrett was taught is exactly how Ember is expected to act. She's not supposed to have human emotions. She's not supposed to legitimately make friends with humans, and she sure as hell isn't supposed to fall in love with one. Talon teaches them that humans do nothing but destroy everything and are a cancer on the world. I can't deny the truth in that, but the elitism deriding "mere mortals" is really just what some humans use to treat other humans poorly. If you don't believe someone has the same feelings/emotions you do and/or if you think your emotional status is on a higher level, you're not going to consider their viewpoint at all (which is what I was elaborating on above).

For Ember, getting closer to Garrett and just being friends with other teenagers teaches her that this just isn't true. While her brother has no issues "making friends," he does so like a dragon with only the veneer of emotional attachment. He also won't question Talon or their motives, using the all too familiar "appeal to authority" fallacy. If Talon says it, it must be to keep them safe, and when Ember confides in him her findings, he falls back on cognitive dissonance in his denial, which puts a great deal of strain on a relationship that was hitherto skin tight..

I was a bit sad to see so many low ratings and disparaging reviews. It seems like most readers were expecting Daenerys's dragons from Game of Thrones and not more sentient ones that can shift into human. While certainly possessing a bestial nature of sorts (especially when she gets angry), Ember still has a rational mind and is no more a mindless maniac than any other character with an animal form. It's an odd expectation given that these dragons are taught to assimilate in order to survive (a concept I could say a lot about) and (according to the Order of St. George) eventually take over the world.

While Talon didn't do anything particularly new in the genre of YA (at least in terms of love triangles and teenage angst), the shapeshifting/weredragon angle was something I haven't see before (and I've read quite a few books on all types of shapeshifters including ones that turn into leopards and swans). Additionally, the book's lesson on why authority should be questioned is necessary especially in these turbulent times. Not doing so is detrimental, dangerous, and a far greater plague than dragons could ever unleash upon humanity.
My Review Going into this book I was hoping it to follow along the lines (action, pace, amazing character development) of Kagawa's earlier Blood of Eden series (Immortal Rules, Eternity Cure and The Forever Song) which I ADORED! That was an utterly engaging and a great series for teens and adults alike.

It is obvious from the beginning that Talon follows more in the footsteps of her Iron Fey series in that it's much more suited for older tweens or young teens. The premise of Talon was interesting (dragons living among us and dragon slayers out to get them) but like the Iron Fey series the pace and focus wasn't as raw or engaging as I was hoping. Case in point, my thirteen year old son liked this book. Me? Argh. Not so much.

I'm going to assume that Kagawa has set her audience as a late tween/early teen reader. If I'm going from that standpoint this was a decent read. The plot itself is straight forward and fairly predictable from the get go. I think that older tween/young teens will enjoy the Romeo and Juliet themed romance as well as the warring young men vying for the affection of Ember and the general teen drama that is a large part of the book.

For me the book was divided into two sections. The first half was much slower paced with the emphasis being on Ember and Dante making friends and setting up the romantic element. In the second half the pace picks up and the story line takes on more intrigue ending with a cliffhanger to entice readers to proceed with the next book in the series, Rogue. Overall, I found the book to be predictable and a bit slow since more time was spent with the budding romantic entanglements than dragon in plain sight issue . There were some great action scenes towards the end of the book but when dealing with dragons, an evil organization and dragon slayers I guess I was expecting a little more fire and fight throughout the book.

I also missed the world building. Kagawa is amazing at bringing her readers into the worlds she creates. Talon brings the reader to ... the California coast's teen beach scene. Yup. I almost expected Dylan Walsh, Brandon and Brenda to walk up to them at the beach smoothie hut (I jest about the 90210 reference but the Smoothie Hut? Yup, like the Peach Pit of 90210 fame it was a popular location in the book).

Ember was a likable character. She had normal teen insecurities and a twin to go through it with in Dante. They had a believable relationship but if I had one beef it was that they blended into the teen beach scene a little too easily. I know that Ember and Dante had been trained on how to live among humans but they seemed to fit in with no major issues. I guess I was expecting a lot more 'fish out of water' floundering but they seemed to jump into the teen beach scene easily.

Kagawa is an amazing writer and she kept this mom of three's interest for the most part. I just think that her focus in this book was more about the romantic entanglements than in the dragons living among us which was a let down. I would suggest this book for older tween/young teens who want a lighter fantasy read with the emphasis on budding romantic entanglements.

My Rating 3/5 stars

** This book review, as well as hundreds more, can also be found on my blog, The Baking Bookworm (www.thebakingbookworm.blogspot.ca) where I also share my favourite 'tried and true' recipes. **