In another pre-reader review that I saw floating around on Goodreads, a reviewer argued that "Tess of the Road" had no plot. I couldn't disagree more. Though Tess's story lacked a capital-v villain and end of the world-esque stakes, "Tess of the Road" was a surprisingly refreshing look at trauma and recovery. And that should be enough. The arc of the story is the journey of a young woman's healing as she rages against the double standards of rape culture in a society where a woman's value is equated to her reproductive worth. I loved the interwoven narrative of past and present. Also, dragons. I never read "Seraphina," but I might have to give it a try if "Tess of the Road" is any indication.

It's such a joy to return to the world of Seraphina, which is as complex and interesting as ever. This book is at times slow, but is extremely rewarding, and Tess is a great character. It's made me desperately want to re-read Seraphina and Shadow Scale, and I can't wait to read the sequel to this one.

There were a lot of great things about this book: the ideas, the perspective, Hartman's prose, returning to the land of Goredd . . . but unfortunately I had the same problem with Tess of the Road as I did with Shadow Scale. A lot of journey and not that much happening. I would still recommend people read the book, because I liked it, but it was just . . . really . . . dense. I found I could only get through a little bit each day and it took me a while to finish. I appreciated the way Hartman portrayed Tess, and the unflinching honesty in which she dealt with the subject matter, but the story around it was slow-going.

I haven't read Seraphina, but I thought this book sounded really interesting and I was excited to read it. For me, it started out slow, but I kept reading hoping it would pick up. Unfortunately, it just seemed to drag on more and more as the story continued. I was never able to fully connect with Tess or any of the other characters and soon found myself skimming... which is never a good sign. If you're a fan of Seraphina, you might really enjoy this one, but it just didn't do anything for me.

When I saw Tess of the Road on NetGalley, I was captured by the cover. But I wasn’t going to request it. Then I read the blurb and went “Hmmm“. Dragons, a subspecies of dragons, half-dragons, and a great adventure. I thought “Why not, sounds like a good read“. Having read the book, I can say with absolute certainty that this book was a disappointment. It dragged while reading it. I couldn’t keep my head in the book. I was actually bored and came <this close> to DNFing. But I have a personal vow never to DNF a book, so I finished it.

Tess of the Road did have a promising plotline. Girl strikes out on her own with her quigutl companion. She is determined to find dragons that were lost. She has many adventures along the way before resolving her quest. It was everything else that happened in the book that ruined it for me. What I was expecting was dragons, women empowerment, and adventures. I wasn’t expecting teen pregnancy, rape, and child abuse to be discussed.

I felt awful for Tess. From the beginning of the book, she was abused by her mother. She did something wrong, she got beat with a wooden spoon or locked in a closet. Her mother was a very bitter, abusive religious nut. I was not expecting to read such vivid accounts of child abuse in a book like this. Her family puts the fun in dysfunctional. So I got it when Tess ran away. If I was put down, verbally and emotionally abuse as much as Tess was, I would have done the same thing. I wish that it was mentioned why she hated Tess so much.

I did like that the journey helped Tess come to terms with her abusive past and the loss of her child. While she did act childishly for most of the first half of the book, I felt that her change came when talking about her son’s birth and death. It was after that I saw her mature and own up to her past. That was one of my favorite parts of this book. Seeing Tess grow from a selfish girl-child to a woman who was ready to take acceptance for her past and forge a new future.

I thought Pathka and Kiku were fascinating. Their relationship was very complex. Pathka resented Kiku for being born. Kiku resented Pathka for being there for her. Kiku was disturbed and vowed to kill Pathka if she got the chance. The whole race of quigutl was interesting but the author didn’t spend much time on them. Other than to explain that Pathka and Kiku were able to dream separately from the others, which made them different. I do wish more was spent explaining the quigutl’s race and why they were living among humans. Or their connection to the World Dragons. Only the barest explanation was given.

I could not connect to any of the characters. While I felt awful for Tess, there wasn’t any connection. As there wasn’t anything with Pathka and Kiku. My disconnection with the characters made the book tedious to read.

The end of the book was very predictable. I did not like what they did to the World Dragon that Tess found. I could not wrap my mind around why the author chose that route. It baffled me.

I would recommend an Adult rating for Tess of the Road. There are some very adult themes in this book that wouldn’t be right for a teenager. There are sexual situations, language, and violence. There are several scenes of verbal and physical abuse of a child. One flashback to the death of an infant. There is also a flashback to a rape scene that I didn’t see coming. These are triggers for some people and I would recommend that if they trigger you, don’t read it.

This is not a book that I would recommend or would reread. The book itself was too long. There were several lags in the plotline that I almost couldn’t overcome. I got bored halfway through the book before I wanted to put it down and not finish it. Like I said above, I had to make myself read the book to the end. It was a relief when I realized I had read the last paragraph.

I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group, Random House Groups for Young Readers, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Tess of the Road.

All opinions stated in this review of Tess of the Road are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

My Rating: 2.5 Stars

Tess, the main character is proof that we are NOT cut from the same cloth, that we all dance to the beat of a different drum and that no matter how hard one tries, that square peg will never fit into that round hole of conformity. Unfortunately for Tess, in the medieval kingdom of Goredd, that is totally and completely unacceptable for a “lady.” Rebellious acts, even if justified have consequences and Tess has spent her life facing them, head on, but she is who she is, period. The final straw came that sent Tess on a journey to find herself, her place in life and a purpose to go on.

TESS OF THE ROAD by Rachel Hartman is NOT light reading or even easy to read at times. Ms. Hartman can write, there is no doubt, but the chaos that is Tess’s life and the dark and heavy feel to this tale is too weighty to be immersed into.

Tess is NOT the misunderstood victim, nor is she the perfect heroine. She is flawed and has some serious self-image issues that show in the way she acts out at times. She also seems almost to flaunt her “differences” with her actions instead of trying a little self-control. There were times I felt I was not being allowed to be “in the story” but being held outside of it. Perhaps it was my own misinterpretation of feeling I was being told, not been shown what is going on.

All told, in spite of some very nice writing, this dark and emotionally draining tale just wasn’t my cup of tea, it was far too bitter for my taste.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Random House Children's. This is my voluntary review.

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (February 27, 2018)
Publication Date: February 27, 2018
Genre: YA Fantasy | Coming of Age
Print Length: 544 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

Tess of the Road is a new novel set in the world of the Seraphina duology by Rachel Hartman. I read Seraphina (which I loved) when it was first published, and I think it's necessary to read at least Seraphina before starting Tess of the Road. I was excited to return to the world of dragons and saints Rachel Hartman has created, and Tess of the Road does not disappoint. Tess Dombegh hasn't had an easy life. Now that her twin sister is happily married, Tess faces spending the rest of her life as the family pariah or in a convent. However, Tess decides to forge her own path on the Road of life, teaming up with an old friend and setting off on an epic adventure.

Tess is such a fully realized character. She makes mistakes and learns from them, and has a deep compassion for others that really resonated with me. Her backstory comes to light through flashbacks and lends an understanding as to why she reacts to situations the way she does.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I can't wait to read more stories featuring Tess. For now I'll reread the Seraphina series!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

“You can’t walk away without also walking toward.”

DNF 50%


I tried with this one. I wanted to like it.

But the main character was so so unlikable. I kept reading because the writing was excellent. I wanted to see some character growth from Tess, but I was pushing to make it through this book. She might improve in the second half, but the plot was slow and rambling and it was not going anywhere. I skipped to the last chapter and still had no interest in any of the characters, or even plot.

I was unable to connect with any of the characters and the plot was slow.

But the writing is excellent, and if you enjoy a rambling character driven story, light on plot, and like reading unlikeable characters, this may be the book for you. Also if you liked the author’s other series Seraphina, you will probably like this one too since it’s in the same world.

The cover is amazing.

This book was undeniably well crafted in its writing structure and prose. Hartman does an excellent job at creating a world and allowing the reader to become fully immersed in it and its characters. Unfortunately, the story left a lot to be desired, and as I expect more fleshed out plot from a fantasy novel, this was disappointing to me. I did enjoy the book well enough due to its lovely narrative style, and therefore I still think it deserves a 3 star rating from me.

*Thank you Netgalley for providing this free book in exchange for an honest review*

I have been reading this book in fits and starts for over a month and I still can't tell if I even like it or would ever recommend it to a student. That being said I can tell you that I have loved both of Rachel Hartman's other books and recommended them over and over again. So to say I am conflicted is an understatement. I love the writing and I think my biggest problem with the book may be Tess herself. I also find myself wondering if my problem is that I want my fantasy to be simple.... people/creatures/aliens are either good or bad, kind or cruel, funny or not. What I am having a problem with may be the fact that Tess has issues and to be honest I don't have a lot of patience with issues. Especially when they are hinted at over and over without actually explaining them. So there you have it. Not my favorite but it could be yours!

Let me start by saying that this is the first book that I have read by Rachel Hartman. I did not read her previous book that it seems also took place in this world. Therefore, I did not know exactly what to expect besides my previous experience with the YA fantasy genre.

This book started off slow. After reading the first few chapters and then seeing the length of the book, I did not know if this was one that I would want to finish.

The story is told from the point of view of Tess, someone who is not well liked and has endured pain and trial in her life. In the beginning she is difficult to like, but as you get to know her throughout the story she grows on you.

Not many major events happen in the story and it seems to plod along at a pretty steady pace. But by the end you realize that this the book is more about the journey than the story itself. A journey of self-discovery, revenge, bitterness, guilt and pain. This made the last part of the book my favorite.

This is definitely a longer book and could have been a little shorter. It is nothing like most of the YA fantasy that I have read to date, but I enjoyed it and would say it is probably worth a read. It also deals with some mature themes, so I would recommend that you read it before giving it to a preteen so that you can talk about it together.

Rachel Hartman's new novel, "Tess of the Road," brings us back to the world she created in "Seraphina." Our story this time is with Serphina's other half siblings, twins Jeanne and Tess. There are predjudices in this world around dragons (saars), quigotls and half human/half dragon hybrids. Tess is the oldest of the twins and has responsibilities to uphold to her family. She also has a penchant for trouble. She says the wrong things, is adventurous, and curious about the world. These all lead her to shame in the eyes of her family. After a most embarrassing moment at an important family gathering, Tess is faced with the prospect of being sent to a convent. She makes a bold decision without much planning and heads out on the road of life with little to her name but a few supplies and some sturdy new boots. Over the course of the book, Tess learns many life lessons and has many hard decisions to make about where she is headed. One of my favorite quotes from the book during this journey, "There is no pain-free path, sweet girl. Choosing is what makes life bearable," stuck with me throughout. Life is full of pain but the pain makes us who we are and it is how we embrace that pain which can make us stronger or destroy us. Tess must learn to live with her pain or it will truly destroy as we travel with her on the road. There are many other tender moments throughout this book where Tess has to make decisions about her life ahead and whether she will continue on her journey. This novel was such a delight and quick read for me. I couldn't put it down in the last half of the book until the last page. There are more journeys beyond this one for Tess as there are for all of us on the road of life.

DNF @ 40%. I loved Seraphina and Shadow Scale, but I just couldn't make it through this one. After two months, I haven't even managed to get halfway through this story. Rachel Hartman was clearly setting up some interesting themes and plot points. Unfortunately, I just can't bring myself to care. I want to like this book and Tess, but ultimately I just felt bored.

Hartman is great at clever prose and deep characters. This book started out much more accessible than the Seraphina books which was very exciting. Still great world building but much faster moving.
Until it wasn’t.
Tess had only been on the road for a few days when her self-hatred and mental illness (which to this point had been subtle and deftly portrayed) became tedious and melodramatic for me. It became clear this would be one of those plot-takes-a-back-seat to emotional growth and episodic meaningful experiences. Ug.
Slogging through the Seraphina plots was bad enough. I refuse to take a ride to nowhere with an emotional wreck drowning in her own uselessness.
(Thanks NetGalley for this copy.)

Full review to be posted on my blog.

For some reason, it took me awhile to sit down and write this review. I'm not sure if that was because I liked it so much or if it was because there was so much that was crammed into this novel that I didn't know where to start. I think it was the latter, although I did enjoy this novel immensely.

Hartman is the author of Seraphina which I did not read before I read Tess of the Road. There are parts where Seraphina makes an appearance in the novel and I found it interesting enough that I want to look into the first book, to see what Seraphina's life was like. The world building was a bit hard to follow in the beginning but I was able to easily pick up on it. If I had read Seraphina first I'm sure I would have understood it right away.

There is a mention of rape in this book so for those who are triggered by that, please be aware.

This novel also deals with gender identity, something that I found really refreshing to read about since most authors don't tend to write about it. Tess' old friend, a quigutl -a subspecies of a dragon-, was female when Tess knew her as a child and then transitioned to a male when Tess sees him again in the novel.

Throughout the journey that Tess takes, she doesn't really have a distinct purpose, other than to get away from her parents, until she meets her friend. That's when the plot beings to pick up and she has a distinct purpose. (Much like in The Grisha series when one doesn't know the real plot until the second book with the different amplifiers that there are.) 

This novel is a bit of a slow burn because of the large quantity of events that happen, not all of then filled with action. However, this novel is jam-packed with different adventures and quests that Tess goes on and I can only assume that in a second installment of the series, we will see Tess once again braving a new adventure on her quest to find something. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for allowing me to read this novel!

Sadly, this book is not for me. It greatly lacked the spark and magic of Seraphina. All this book makes me feel is bored.

This book is a DNF for me. I just couldn't get through it and at 23% I had to call it a day. I absolutely did not connect with this book. I felt nothing but frustration for the main character, who at first is told to be a lively child but then years later is portrayed in my opinion as a rather weak alcoholic with rebellious tendencies, who at the tender age of 17, has pretty much given up on life. But not totally, so she decides to rebel once more and goes on a journey at which point I gave up. The part I read is well written, but even the writing couldn't hold my attention.

***ARC received in order to provide a review***

4.5 stars

I read part of Seraphina (and then the ending was spoiled for me so I didn't finish it). But at around 80% of Tess I grabbed Seraphina to read it again. Rachel Hartman is that good.

So you can read this if you haven't read Seraphina (or Shadow Scale). However, it helps to orientate yourself in Hartman's world. Because - yes - there is serious, glorious world-building going on here, and you are going to want to revel in ever minute.

This is a book written with the art of the true story-teller. The beginning seems wandering, uncomfortable and unnecessary. Tess goes through a lot - at her own hand and at her family's. But by the end of the book everything ties together - and you realize that your struggle was as necessary as Tess's.

This is a young woman's quest - the road is a metaphor for the distance Tess must travel to heal - from her imposing mother, a man who took advantage and in the process took everything, and Tess's blindingly perfect twin sister Jeanne. And the road is also the literal road beneath Tess's feet - each step taking her away from her wreckage and toward...what? More wreckage? Salvation? Tess's journey seemed like wandering until suddenly it didn't.

<b>"'We fulfill our parents' direst prophecies, then curl around our own pain until we can't see beyond ourselves. You want to walk on? Walk out of that shadow. Walk, girl.'"</b>

Tess meets amazing people on her journey. Has big adventures. She's Huck Finn with a lizard-person sidekick and a drinking problem. And the ending (not quite an ending - but I'm not complaining at all) brought everything full-circle in a way that was satisfying but left me desperate for more.

<b>"She still held sorrows, but she was not made of them. Her life was not a tragedy. It was history, and it was hers."</b>

I am thrilled thrilled thrilled for the next book in this series and delighted that I got to experience this one. I cried a little. Highlighted a lot. And basked in Hartman's excellent writing and dazzling imagination.

<a href="http://www.alleskelle.com/"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1471716947r/20097901.jpg?v=1471716951482"width="400"></a>

Having read Hartman's previous works set in the world of Seraphina I was hesitant to expect much from a character I had not found particularly interesting in the past. I was wrong. Tess is not 'special' in the way of Seraphina, who by circumstances of birth is set apart. Tess is both extraordinary and ordinary but has been through great trauma and dealt poorly with the aftermath- something I think many can understand. This book gently introduces the reader to methods to deal with trauma, the idea that recovery can be quick or slow depending upon the person, and that personal responsibility can be hard to define. All through this we are exposed to an entrancing adventure which reveals more about a rich world that Hartman has created. We knew from the first two books how Queens and Dragon-kind behaved and interacted, now we get to see the 'regular' people and how the world works for them. Subjects like sexuality, assault, and familial expectations are tackled in a way which teens will find relatable and helpful. Absolutely loved it.

I would like to first point out that YA is young adult not early teens or middle teens but young adult. There is some confusion for some people that this is too graphic for twelve year olds and that age group would be middle grade books not YA. With that out there let's get to the review.
This is a great continuation of Seraphina. I was pleasantly surprised and liked the route this book took about Tess. I think there is a lot of undesirable traits some might enjoy but I think there are a lot of people who would find relatable and inspiring. I like also the family dynamics and how it affects the character, Tess, and her role throughout the story. There is some back story that takes place in the book so you don't have to read the two previous books on Seraphina, but I personally hate to read a book out of sync. If it doesn't bother you then dive right in, you won't be disappointed or confused. It definitely approached some internal conflicts and who you are as an individual, which I found appropriate for this age bracket. The characters are well rounded and give you plenty of emotional depth that makes the characters realistic and easy to build on one's mind. The story of Tess and her struggles will make you root for her and feel sympathetic to her fight.