Twins Ember and Dante have finally been trained and educated enough to spend a summer with the humans before they accept their given roles in the dragon organization, Talon. As long as they steer clear of the people who want to kill them, the Order of St. George, and the people who want to corrupt them, the rogues, they should be fine. But during their unforgettable summer, they will learn one thing above all else: nothing is as it seems.

For years, I have drooled over Julie Kagawa's fairy series then her vampire series, and now, dragons take center stage in this new series of hers, beginning with TALON. Full of the same intensity, action, and romance as her other works, but with somehow twice as much fierceness, this story refuses to give readers a chance to slow their heart rate between the kick butt dragon training scenes and the melt-your-insides kissy moments.

Several tropes are embedded in this story from star- crossed enemy lovers, the bad boy, and the organizations where corruption is overflowing. Kagawa works her magic by taking them and shaking everything up with plot twist after plot twist, but maintaining a strong line of logic that will leave readers clasping the pages in awe.

Beyond all the fights and dramatics, the subtle nuances of the story might capture readers' hearts the most. Ember is a girl who has a desired a freedom she never knew she wanted, but at the same time, breaking away from people she loves isn't easy. Love interest and top notch strong character on his own, Garrett, faces a similar feeling, along with experiencing things he never even thought of before. Riley and Dante may be in and out of focus in the story, but their own crucial roles, especially towards the end, are not something to glance over.

TALON will find no trouble in sinking its mysterious and beautiful claws into readers. From page one, Julie Kagawa crafts a stunning world where trust is impossible to measure and lies are as shiny as gems. I will definitely be on the edge of my seat awaiting the sequel!

Book Summary

In Julie Kagawa's groundbreaking modern fantasy series, dragons walk among us in human form. 

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.