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Talon

Julie Kagawa

461 pages

A sun-drenched, action-packed summer romance where secret identities and ancient rivalries collide.

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What it feels like

Reading this book feels like stepping right back into the golden era of YA paranormal romance, complete with a sun-drenched California beach town setting and irresistible star-crossed angst. The pacing is brisk and cinematic, effortlessly balancing the carefree thrill of a summer vacation with the mounting dread of an ancient, deadly rivalry. Alternating perspectives keep the tension high, allowing the reader to experience both sides of a forbidden connection as the characters grapple with duty, indoctrination, and their own rebellious desires. The prose is accessible and dialogue-driven, prioritizing emotional immediacy and action over dense world-building. It is a perfect, propulsive escape for anyone who loves the delicious tension of enemies-to-lovers romance wrapped in a secret supernatural world.

Mood
  • sun-drenched
  • tense
  • romantic
  • thrilling
Tone
  • earnest
  • dramatic
  • suspenseful
  • angsty
Pace
brisk
Themes
forbidden romance · questioning authority · duty versus desire · secret identities · coming of age
The writing
Accessible and cinematic, driven by alternating perspectives that highlight internal conflict and fast-paced action.
The arc
Begins with the thrill of newfound freedom and summer romance, escalating into a tense, high-stakes struggle between loyalty and love.
Who it's for
Readers who crave classic YA paranormal romance with star-crossed lovers, secret societies, and a sun-soaked summer backdrop.
Content notes
  • fantasy violence
  • mild profanity
  • underage drinking

About the book

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.

In a world where dragons pass as humans to secretly grow their numbers, Ember and Dante Hill prepare for destined positions in the world of Talon only to be hunted by a dragon-slaying soldier. The plot contains mild profanity and violence. Book #1

Description from Open Library.

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