Summary
As a child, Tess was a handful. She was curious and bright. She acted on instinct and impulse. And it nearly always got her into trouble.
Tess grew up with a religious and controlling mother. Tess wanted to do the right things and keep her mother happy. But eventually Tess’s choices left her shamed. She had to abandon her role as the oldest and instead let her twin sister pretend to fill that spot in the family. Tess would help Jeanne find a husband so their family would have a more secure place in society. She likely would have ended up serving her sister for the rest of her life.
As if that future wasn’t depressing enough, a few more of Tess’s choices instead leave her days away from a permanent trip to a convent. But Tess’s half sister, Seraphina (the half dragon) gives Tess an “out,” and Tess takes it. She hits the Road to find her own path.
Review
I have mixed feelings about this one. I loved Tess. I enjoyed all the parts of the story where she deals with her past and her choices and her future. I felt for her as she wrestled with her “evil nature” in light of her mother’s Puritanical faith. I loved the parts when other wise voices spoke into Tess’s pain and showed her there’s another way to look at her life. It was these parts that led to me giving this book the rating that I did.
On the other hand, this was not the book I was expecting. I thought there would be dragons – just look at that cover – and adventure. There were moments of action, yet the book as a whole was long and slow at times. I kept waiting to get to the adventure Tess was walking toward. But the point of the book is her evolution, her journey overcoming her past. It took almost half the book to realize the road trip WAS the story, not just a means to get to the story. The fantasy pieces felt disjointed as the character pieces would break into the story. It was like the book was uncertain about its own identity.
If you are looking for a dragon-focused adventure story – something like what the cover seems to promise – you may be disappointed. If you are looking for a character study or a hero’s journey sort of story, this might be a good fit for you. (Some mature content.)
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read an electronic review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.