Book: Soldier by Julie Kagawa

Published April 2016 by Harlequin Teen|380 pages

Where I Got It: I borrowed the hardcover from the library

Series: Talon #3

Genre: YA

The price of freedom is everything.

When forced to choose between safety with the dragon organization Talon and being hunted forever as an outcast, Ember Hill chose to stand with Riley and his band of rogue dragons rather than become an assassin for Talon. She’s lost any contact with her twin brother, Dante, a Talon devotee, as well as Garret, the former-enemy soldier who challenged her beliefs about her human side.

As Ember and Riley hide and regroup to fight another day, Garret journeys alone to the United Kingdom, birthplace of the ancient and secret Order of St. George, to spy on his former brothers and uncover deadly and shocking secrets that will shake the foundations of dragons and dragonslayers alike and place them all in imminent danger as Talon’s new order rises.

I really liked Solider!  I definitely was not sure about this series at first, because the first book is okay, and I really liked the 2nd one…it’s definitely a pretty solid series by Kagawa, and I’m thinking about re-reading the first one to see if maybe I’ve changed my mind about it.

Back to Soldier, though.  I really liked the focus on Garrett in this book and we learn more about Talon and St. George…especially St. George, since the book does focus a lot on Garrett going back to the UK.  I was surprised by a few of the things we learn in the book, and with how the book ended…that was definitely a surprise.  It makes me wonder how much that will change things in the rest of the series.  It’s definitely a heart-breaking ending, and I don’t want it to be true…even though I’m sure it is, and there is no going back.

I loved learning more about Garrett’s background, and why Garrett is the way he is.  It was definitely overdue, and I’m glad we got more of his story and life in St. George.

I really liked Ember, and how much she is struggling with both her human side and her dragon side.  I really hope she holds on tight to her human side, I really do, because I feel like that is big part of who Ember is.

I was also intrigued by Dante’s story in this book.  We don’t see much of him, but what we do see…I’m curious to see how that plays out.  He does think quite a bit about what Ember what think or do, and I don’t know that he would have done that before.  What Talon is doing doesn’t seem to sit right with him- at least on a project he’s working on- but he doesn’t do anything about it.  I just hate that he’s willing to throw away his relationship with his sister.

I definitely don’t want to spoil anything, and I don’t know what else I can about Solider without giving anything away.  Let’s just say that I’m glad we’re getting at least a couple more books because this story is far from over…actually, I feel like it’s just starting, in some ways.  It’s definitely worth checking out.

4 stars.  This is a really solid series, and Soldier is a great addition to the Talon series.  It’s really setting up a lot for the rest of the series.