Review of "Talon"

"Kill every dragon in sight."

     In Julie Kagawa's Talon, the most famous beasts of legend still roam the earth unnoticed. Hatchlings Ember and Dante are sixteen when they're released into human society for "assimilation". They have trained for this day their whole lives, selecting human appearances and learning about the various cultures. Yet they are not, as Talon reminds them, actually mortal. Garret Xavier Sebastian is a soldier in the Order of St. George, the organization dedicated to eradicating the last of the dragons. With the help of the mysterious entity known as Talon, thousands of these beasts still pose a very serious threat. But he gets more than he bargained for when Ember, his next target, proves to be more human than St. George claims is possible. With both teams hiding critical truths, Garret and Ember will have to decide what they value most--and what they are willing to give up to protect it.

     Ember is not human. From the very beginning, this fact is pounded home. She and Dante are clutchmates, an anomaly among their kind, and in their natural forms are enormous fire-breathing beasts with broad wings. Yet there is a stark difference between Ember and the rest of Talon, something even her "twin" doesn't understand. Now that she sees the mortal world, she wants to live in it. Her fascination with relationships, small pleasures, and exciting experiences is beyond what she has been trained to expect, and it throws her entire worldview out of balance. For her, Talon is an oppressor trying to ruin her fun. For readers, it is a mysterious network of dragons whose intentions span from incredibly noble to shady and terrible. And if the few realizations Ember has about them are anything to go on, there is much more to them than meets the eye.

     St. George is equally layered. On the surface, their quest to free mankind from the draconic threat is admirable, almost romantic. However, the war has come a long way from the ancient sword-versus-claw duels in tomes and paintings. Modern weapons are the new go-to, and soldiers like Garret are taught to give no quarter under any circumstances. Even if a dragon is in human form, it is still a threat and must be eliminated. In light of this, it is amazing that someone as caring as Garret managed to survive boot camp, let alone earn the nickname "Perfect Soldier". His journey from blind obedience to free thought and a cause worth fighting for is just as enthralling as Ember's. He isn't simply another love interest. This boy has a life, a presence, and a story all his own, and they are fascinating.

     The world in which this novel takes place is expansive. From crowded beaches to shopping malls and training rooms, Ember, Dante, and Garret may have separate personal quests, but they tie together well, the process of which leads them to every corner of town and the human experience. The question, though, is whether their secrets will come out and, if they do, whether their relationships will survive the collision. Garret's time in St. George has seen him battle ferocious monsters with very little to protect himself, so he knows how to fight. So do Dante and Ember; after all, this feud isn't one-sided. And with a third party stirring the pot at just the right moments, violence is inevitable. It isn't graphic, however, and serves an important role in the plot. Swearing is nonexistent. Romance, on the other hand, is the primary source of conflict and quite a good read. It does not progress beyond kissing.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a daring fantasy full of twists, turns, and a romance that is vital to the plot. The dragons are portrayed well, with exactly the kind of personalities one might expect of such creatures. St. George is just as bent on their destruction as they should be, going to extraordinary lengths to wipe out their foes before dragons can rise again. Caught in the middle are a soldier with a sharp mind and two hatchlings exploring the world for the first time. Ember and Garret are larger-than-life characters living in a realistic world where everything and everyone is just a breath short of leaping off the page. Every obstacle they face is just enough to inspire more conflict, more tension, and more fire to the story. Julie Kagawa's Talon is a brilliant start to a series sure to be just as awesome, and fully deserves five stars.