Review: Talon (Talon #1)
Talon (Talon #1)
By Julie Kagawa
Published By: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: October 28, 2014
Date Read: March 20, 2022
Genre: YA – Parnormal Romance
Source: Bought
Format: Paperback
Pages: 449
From Goodreads:
THE DRAGONS OF TALON: Once hunted nearly to extinction, they are now poised to take over the world.THE ORDER OF ST. GEORGE: The legendary dragonslayers will stop at nothing to wipe dragons from the face of the earth.
These mortal enemies are locked in secret and deadly combat, with humanity none the wiser.
To take her rightful place in the Talon organization, young dragon Ember Hill must prove she can hide her true nature and blend in with humans. Her delight at the prospect of a summer of “normal” teen experiences is short-lived, however, once she discovers that she’s also expected to train for her destined career in Talon. But a chance meeting with a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught.
As Ember struggles to accept her future, St. George soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian is tasked with hunting her down. But when faced with Ember’s bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything the Order has ingrained in him—and what he might be willing to give up to uncover the truth about dragons.
“Alone we fall, as one we rise.”
Julie Kagawa has been one of my favourite authors for so many years. I read her Iron Fey series back when it was first releasing and I read and devoured every single one. I have had Talon on my shelf for so long, and I really can’t explain why I didn’t start it sooner. I am so obsessed with dragons so this series was bound to be an absolute favourite of mine. I was not wrong. I absolutely loved this book.
Talon follows the story of Ember, a teenage dragon shifter who has been let out into the human world for the very first time. She is determined to have a normal summer, having fun with humans her age and proving to Talon that she can fit in. Enter Garret, a soldier from St George, a secret organisation who hunts down dragons and puts an end to them before they can harm anyone. He has been sent to find the hiding dragon, Ember is his number one suspect… but as they grow closer can either of them do what they need to?
I loved this book! It is a fantastic YA enemies to lovers paranormal romance. Now, I’m not usually a fan of enemies to lovers. I usually find that one of them is usually just an asshole, and that is what makes them enemies. But this kind of enemies to lovers? Dragons and Dragon Hunters? This is the enemies to lovers I can get behind. I absolutely loved every moment of this book and I was dying to see what was going to happen when all of the secrets came out into the open. I was absolutely loving for the angst and the drama… This book is absolutely everything I love about YA.
There was a slight love triangle going on in this book as I expect in older YA series. This book first released in 2014 which was the era of YA love triangles. I honestly loved both guys so much… I genuinely cannot choose between them. A gorgeous dragon hunter who is falling in love with a dragon… or a dark and mysterious rogue dragon that will challenge everything Ember has ever thought was true. I just loved both of them. I do hear that this triangle is resolved a couple of books before the end of the series which has me super excited to read more. I hate it when things get resolved at the end of the series… I like to be able to see the couple actually together for a while.
Talon was utter perfection for me. It has everything, danger, romance, secrets and plenty of plot. I did think it was a little longer than it really needed to be which did affect my enjoyment a tiny bit but honestly… this was such a fantastic read. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book and see what happens next. Especially after that explosive ending. If you’re a dragon fan, I highly recommend that you pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed.
“If we never took a chance on anything, we might miss out on something incredible.”
K-Books
I’m Kayleigh, a teacher and blogger who is obsessed with all things bookish. I love reading YA books of all genres and I am happiest when sharing my love and passion for books.