Book Review : Talon by Julie Kagawa
Review by BookBonanzaReviews
Title : Talon
Author : Julie Kawaga
Genre : YA, Fantasy
Series : Book 1
Rating : 5 Stars
Dragons? Yes please!
When I first started this series I’d just finished her last series The Immortal Rules Trilogy which if you haven’t read it yet, is a vampire fulled action packed series that you must go and read now. Right now. So, when i read that series the whole world was still in their vampire craze/obsession so picking up a book that was about a completely different mythical creature was very refreshing. I was instantly intrigued and immediately captured but the world and characters both.
I normally don’t particularly like books that take place in modern day times, perhaps because I love my fantasy settings and it doesn’t feel so magical when they’re in a time and location I’m currently living in BUT that did not bother me in the slightest with this book.
I just loved that Julie gave her readers – again – something totally different to read than the norm!
If you haven’t read this book, the story follows our main character Ember, a dragon, who goes through her days pretending to be human by living in her non-natural form as a human girl when in fact her natural form is ten times the size, with big scaly wings and a tale and bright crimson red. Her whole life has been run and decided by the secret Dragon Empire referred to as Talon. When Ember’s path crosses with Riley’s, AKA Cobalt, a rogue dragon she begins to question everything she’s been told to believe. That’s as much as I’m willing to divulge without going into spoiler territory!
So, if you haven’t read this book, toodaloo!
Because Emher already had doubts about Talon it really didn’t take much prodding in my opinion for Riley/Cobalt to get her over to the dark side – rebel against the organisation. But mind you, apparently Riley/Cobalt is dark, mysterious and handsome so I guess it wouldn’t take much for anyone to follow him blindly right? Perhaps not the smartest but in book world, her actions are totally understandable!
What I did enjoy was the really empathetic characters that really made this book all that it was. As a reader we were able to understand completely why each character made certain decisions and you felt like you were experiencing every scene with them as them.
As the characters are all teenagers a few of the scenes are appropriately immature – parties and shopping at the mall etc – but surprisingly that didn’t seem to bother me at all. I didn’t even notice it until about, two seconds ago to be precise.
So as is common these days we have two teams to cheer for, team Garret and team Riley/Cobalt. I really was not sure who I like more because both male characters in this novel are pretty bad-ass and sexy and mysterious and well just hot. So Julie is really giving my heart a workout on trying to make a decision on this one.
For now I think I’ll sit on the fence a bit and just see how things pan out.
Okay, if I was held at gun point and forced to make a decision, I think I’ll choose Cobalt. Riley. You know what I mean!
What were your thoughts on this book? Let me know down below!
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Great review! I read this book a while ago but I didn’t really connect to the characters, Ember was just a little annoying I guess… And I don’t even know what to think of Riley
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Hi Lia! Thank you! I’m so excited to join this community, I can’t believe how welcomed and accepted I’ve already become! I’m so glad I decided to do this 🙂 I found that a bit myself as well if I’m honest, I read this book a while ago so this review is a touch late! But if you haven’t tried books 2 & 3 you need to they’re better! 🙂
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I read the second book, but not yet the third, but since I have no idea what happened and I’m not really interested in knowing what’s going to happen, I’ve decided not to continue. I’m happy you enjoyed reading them!
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Yep but that’s totally okay! Can I ask, what are your top 3 favorite books?
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Hard question! My favourite book is Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer but I don’t know which books would be on the rest of my top 3… You can check out my favourites shelf on goodreads if you want (https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/11966043-lia?shelf=favorites) ? I can’t decide!
What is your top 3?
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I’ll have a look! My Favorite all time book is Poison Study (one of the first few books I ever read!) Second favorite I think would have to be Throne of glass or Court of Mist and Fury. I am not certain what my third would be, I’m not sure I have found it yet!
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I haven’t read any of those books! I should read them 🙂
I’ve heard so much about SJM’s books but I haven’t had the time to read any of them, and by now I’m just like “but what if it disappoints??”
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Oh my gosh, that is so true. Like what if all the hype was for nothing?! I would be devastated! Are you into your magical, fae type novels? Do you like when the heroine isn’t a victim and can fight her own battles? I think that’s my favourite thing about SJM! I read her second book in her other series A Court of Mist and Fury in 8 hours did not put it down once and it’s HUGE because I just loved it that much! Xx
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I don’t know I don’t think I’ve ever read any fae books. The heroine thing does sound really good though! I’ll see whether I can find some place for the books in my tbr but there are so many books I want to read!!
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I know the feeling!! The first three books in the Throne of Glass series are nothing like the last three books, the series really progresses. Try the first three and then if you like it try the last but the first three are more about assassins and stuff! 🙂 the dreaded TBR pile… I have 100 plus books and counting and its just getting bigger! I cannot keep up with all these awesome new releases!
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