ARC Book Review: Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

Title: Seraphina
Author: Rachel Hartman
Links: Website
Series: Seraphina #1
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Publication Date: July 10th 2012 
Add it: Goodreads | Shelfari
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Summary from Goodreads;
Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd. Folding themselves into human shape, dragons attend court as ambassadors, and lend their rational, mathematical minds to universities as scholars and teachers. As the treaty's anniversary draws near, however, tensions are high.
Seraphina Dombegh has reason to fear both sides. An unusually gifted musician, she joins the court just as a member of the royal family is murdered—in suspiciously draconian fashion. Seraphina is drawn into the investigation, partnering with the captain of the Queen's Guard, the dangerously perceptive Prince Lucian Kiggs. While they begin to uncover hints of a sinister plot to destroy the peace, Seraphina struggles to protect her own secret, the secret behind her musical gift, one so terrible that its discovery could mean her very life.
Rating:

Thoughts:
I have heard amazing things about this novel through other bloggers and was excited to read it. The cover is gorgeous! Truly unique. Very different than from what YA covers now usually look like.
The characters were great but I couldn't connect with them and that's what ruined my experience with this novel. Seraphina was a strong female character who kept to herself and her music to not cause any trouble or call attention to herself. Prince Lucian was a really strong male character who cared about his kingdom. He was really sweet and caring at the same time though and that's what won me over. ^-^ The rest of the characters all had roles in Hartman's world and it was fascinating to read how they all took a life of their own in this book. 
The world building was fantastic! Rachel managed to make a whole new world within Seraphina's pages. Every little place described was fascinating and entertaining to read about because I could easily visualize them. The world was just brilliant and I could really imagine it being a real world.
The romance wasn't the main topic in this book but it was great nevertheless. The romance between Seraphina and her love interest ( which I shall not reveal ;D ) is truly realistic, in a way. The chemistry between them is there and the reader knows it but it develops slowly and in a realistic and believable way and I adored that!
The pacing in this world and just novel in general was perfect! It was consistent and easy to read which I enjoyed. The prose was fairly easy to read, there were some words thrown every now and then that made me confused and I later found out, the definitions were in the back of the novel due to the author making them up.
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a novel with fantastic world building and gorgeous writing.
First Sentence:

"Four decades of peace have done little to ease the mistrust between humans and dragons in the kingdom of Goredd."

Quotes:

"But I will try, uncle," I murmured," though it burns me. I will keep it close."

Book Trailer: