Talon (Talon, #1) by Julie Kagawa

Narrated by Caitlin Davies,

MacLeod Andrews & Chris Patton

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser.

Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George.

Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey: and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him: and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons. 

“Rnesh karr slithis," I hissed back, which was Draconic for eat your own tail, the dragon version of go screw yourself. No extra translation needed.”

Love dragons!

Love Julie Kagawa!

Love this book!

I think I've read everything Julie Kagawa has ever written (with the exception of her manga books, but I'm sure I'll read those eventually). The Iron Fey series is something that I've read more than once, and one that will always have a place on my bookshelf. Kagawa has an amazing ability to create beautiful, imaginative worlds that I frequently want to go back to. When I saw she had written a series about dragons, I couldn't contain my excitement! I immediately checked to see if my library had it--they did!

Ember is fiery and determined. She loves to challenge herself and doesn't blindly follow instructions. Unlike her brother, Dante, Ember questions Talon and their rules. It causes her to seek answers elsewhere, which leads her to Riley. Riley is a rogue dragon that promises to give Ember what Talon will not--answers. He claims to know Talon's deep, dark secrets, but he needs to make sure Ember is trustworthy before he shares too much. His life isn't the only one he's concerned about.

Then there is Garrett. He's been fighting dragons longer than he hasn't. He has killed mercilessly, but still has a profound respect for his opponent. When he is sent to lure a sleeper dragon out of hiding, he finds Ember. She affects him in ways he didn't anticipate, and is caught off guard by how deeply he cares for her. They build a friendship based on lies, but something bigger develops between the two. They find themselves drawn to one another despite their misgivings.

I love the relationship between Ember and Garret. It doesn't feel forced, and it doesn't escalate too quickly. It just happens in a slow, lovely way. Her relationship with Riley doesn't make this feel like a love triangle, because her brain knows she cares about Garret, even if her dragon responds very strongly to Riley. Riley thinks their dragons are reacting on instinct, but Ember never seems conflicted about her feelings. She cares about Riley, sure, but she knows he heart is with Garret.

Ember, Garret, Riley--they are all part of a war that has lasted an eternity. Both sides have been training and grooming their soldiers since they were children/hatchlings. It doesn't seem right to force that life on someone before they've been able to make that choice for themselves. If they're even given a choice. I think they've realized it isn't something they want to be a part of, but that means dire consequences for them all.

I really enjoyed Kagawa's descriptions of dragons and how they've adapted over time. It felt natural and believable. The story is fantastic, the secondary characters didn't feel like fluff (yay), and I already want to read the next book, which is currently on my phone and waiting to be listened to. 😆