(DNF at 25%)
I can say the writing was great but the story was not for me. It was difficult to continue on as the story was very slow and the characters were not interesting
I would like to mention that I looked into several other reviews and it seems, if you have read Hartman's previous work you would better understand the world in Tess of the Road.

** spoiler alert ** wow this book was fantasy but had some things that are happening here now. I loved that dragons were apart of this book and that we got to see some of the other characters from Saraphina. I loved her journey to finding herself and some romance in the book. I'm not usually a fan of a girl dressing like a boy, but this book was good. I didn't want the journey to end. I loved that we got to see what happened with Seraphina and her romance. So much real life here with trans, rape, and family, childbirth, and other real-life issues. Loved it

[Disclaimer: I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley for review purposes.]

I really loved Hartman's first book in this world, Seraphina. There was a lot to love about Phina, and a lot to learn about the dragons. In Tess of the Road, we see Phina from a different angle, and it's not quite so lovely. In fact, I think that's why I wasn't as thrilled with this book as I was with Seraphina.

In Tess of the Road, we get the story from Tess's POV. Tess is the younger half-sister of Seraphina, and while she played only a minor part in the first book, this is the beginning of her story. And it's not a pleasant one. Tess is an alcoholic, scarred by a romance-gone-wrong which has left her "sullied," a fallen woman, who then has to pretend to be the younger twin so that her real younger twin, Jeanne, can get married first and bring the family back to prosperity.

I feel for her, really I do. She has experienced tragedy like I could never imagine. And it is understandable why she hates her life - I hate her life. And I hate pretty much everyone in it, including Phina. That's what bothered me - one of the characters I had grown to love in another book, I was essentially told to hate in this one. She's pictured as cold, annoying, superior, and generally unable to feel anything for anyone. That doesn't completely jive with the character I got to know.

Also, there was a LOT going on in this book. Once Tess runs away from home (which we all know she's going to do, because otherwise the book couldn't be named as it is), she goes for a walk. She doesn't think it through. She just knows she's leaving, she has a bag-o-crap to get her along for a few days, and after that it's the glory of open roads and everyone leaving her the heck alone. All of that sounds fantastic, but then she sees men on the road and in the fields, and because of her mother's batshit St. Vitt, she thinks that all of them are going to try to assault her because that's what men do. She goes on like this for a while until she realizes, hey, why don't I become a man too? Then they'll leave me the heck alone.

Now, this trope is pretty overdone. I've read so many books just this year alone that deal with characters who cross-dress because of reasons. Frankly, I'm surprised Tess is believed for a man. She doesn't seem to make attempts to really alter herself other than the clothes she's wearing, and eventually cutting her hair (it is noted a few times that she deliberately pitches her voice down, but honestly, how realistic is that?). I didn't particularly enjoy the whole man thing, and I thought it was completely ridiculous that she used her brother-in-law's name the entire trip through Goredd, as if no one was going to track her down that way.

The slow reveal of Tess's relationship with Will was also drawn out a bit too much. We don't get the whole story until the very end, and I guess you could say that was for character development since by the end she's finally "strong" enough to face what happened to her, but I felt like some of it could have been revealed a little earlier, or at least not in such scattered pieces.

Then we have Tess's development as a person. She sobers up on her trip, and meets up with and rescues an old friend, Pathka, a quigtl (we met those in Seraphina, if you recall). Pathka is on a quest to find Anathuthia, a World Serpent, something of myths and legends and that no one believes is actually real (except Pathka and Tess). So Tess decides to join up with Pathka, go find this giant serpent, and so begins their quest. Tess learns she's a terrible thief, but never thinks to actually work for her food and lodging until much later. She's a little brainless sometimes, never quite thinking things through until it's too late. She rescues an old man, meets the nuns she was supposed to join but ran away from, and poses as "Brother Jacomo" to just about everyone who will listen. She tries to think of herself as a hero, as someone who is strong, but doesn't want to face the hard things about herself and her past. When she finally does, it is very emotional. I admit I teared up a little when she has these major revelations about herself.

But despite the heavy emotions in this book (and they are super heavy), I still didn't love it. Like I mentioned above, there's a lot going on. There are a lot of side-stops, a lot of attempts to find Anathuthia, and a lot of flash-backs while she's trying to find her way. Eventually she's responsible for something very tragic while trying to be a hero, and I'm not quite convinced she truly understands how completely ridiculous she was. The repercussions of what happens towards the end aren't even felt in this book (I'm hoping they will be left for the next book, since there's a pretty big cliffhanger there).

And it made me hate Phina. That sucked.

Good book, but while I loved Seraphina, I didn't love this one. Read if you like a slow burn and a lot of side stories.

It's hard to say what exactly fell flat about Tess. After Seraphina (which I absolutely adored), I expected much of the same beautiful writing and jaunty wit within the same world but new story. Unfortunately, Tess does not live up to that standard. I see where she struggled and her story was interesting, but I think for those who have read Seraphina, the comparisons will obviously be made-and Tess will be found lackluster. With that being said, it was not a bad book from what I read. I got to about 65% before I decided to give up. Tess has her good moments, and Hartman's writing is still enticing and elegantly weaves words into poetry, but perhaps Tess's series is better geared as a standalone. This way, those who have not read Seraphina get the complete background of the world Hartman completely woven instead of bits (albeit a lot of bits) in Tess of the Road. From what I read, I'd put it at a solid 3 stars because while the plot doesn't appeal to me, the writing was still amazing.

I read Seraphina a few years ago and enjoyed it (I gave it a 3/ 5) so I was excited for the chance to read Tess of the Road before it comes out. I was really confused during the beginning of the story. Even though I have read Seraphina I didn’t remember all the details of the characters and culture of the places and this story jumped right in like you should know all that. For someone who hasn’t read Seraphina (or doesn’t remember it well) the story is very hard to follow in the beginning.

I felt so bad for Tess during the first half of the story, her parents were both awful in their own ways and it seemed like no one really cared if she was around other than her twin. I loved that she was determined to set out on her own but the majority of the book is Tess traveling on the road (hence the name of the book) and it really dragged in places. I felt like it took me forever to get back to an exciting plot that I wanted to read.

Tess’s friend the Quigutl is by far my favorite character. He was unique, dynamic, and experienced so much throughout the story. I also loved the mother and son duo who show up in the last third of the book. They both really provide something Tess was missing and were great friends to her.

While the book started slow and confusing the ending was engaging. I loved that Tess finally stood up to her family and we get a little more insight into her twin, who is battling her own problems. I’m interested in seeing where the next book goes and what happens to Tess and her band of misfits.

While I loved Rachel Hartman's other books, this one is my least favorite. The characters, including the main one, were pretty unlikable. It was understandable based on in-story information that they were unpleasant, but still, I didn't enjoy spending my reading about them. I'd still recommend people try it though.

Tess of the Road is the first installment of a new duology set in the world of Seraphina, the doughty half-dragon, half-human heroine of Hartman’s earlier duology.

Tess Dombegh and her fraternal twin Jeanne are step-sisters of Seraphina. They have always exemplified the descriptions given to the three of them: Seraphina: the smart one; Jeanne: the pretty one; and Tess: the “One Who’s Always Been Trouble.”

We first learn about Tess as a small girl and what life is like with her parents. Her father has been disgraced for his earlier liaison (marriage to a dragon in human form was illegal), and her mother remains bitter and has retreated into religious rigidity to cope. She gives constant lectures on the evils of lust and desire, and the roles (very restricted) of women. She harps the sins of the flesh, and on Tess’s perceived sins in particular, all the more blatant since apparently Tess bore a child out of wedlock. (We only learn the details gradually as the story progresses.). Tess has grown up believing she was “singularly and spectacularly flawed, subject to sins a normal girl should never have been prone to.”

Her vinegary mother tells the twins:

“Girls, remember: this mortal, material world will let you down. Husbands, love, life - everything and everyone will disappoint you eventually. Only one thing never fails. Do you know what that is? Heaven.”

When Tess is 16, and Jeanne receives a marriage offer, she is faced with only two options: to live with Jeanne as nursemaid for her children at the home of Jeanne’s new husband and his horrific family, or to enter a convent. Tess doesn’t look forward to either. She longs to have adventures like her childhood hero, the fictional pirate Dozerius.

Tess takes increasingly to drinking, but after one disastrous episode that led to a run-in with Jeanne’s new family, she decided to take off, disguised as a male. At first she is accompanied only by the inner censorious voice of her mother, but eventually she is reunited with her childhood friend Pathka. Pathka is a quigutl, a small species related to dragons.

Pathka asks Tess to help her find Anathuthia, the World Serpent, “the one beneath our continent, the one who will restore us to ourselves.” It was important to Pathka, her oldest friend, that Tess accept, and so she did.

The two have many adventures, indeed, like Dozerius, although Tess gets a new outlook on her old hero as they travel along their road. Tess wants to bite him, which is a concept among quigutl that enables someone who hurts to find forgiveness. But there is another she wants to bite too: “‘What do you do, Pathka,’” Tess half whispered, ‘if the person you most desperately need to bit is yourself?’” Pathka explains to Tess how it is done, and it’s really not so far from a human concept.

Tess also learns some life lessons from a nun she meets on the road, Mother Philomela. The nun tells her that both guilt and love can carry a person a long way, but your own two feet can take you farther than either of them:

“We’re all on this road, metaphorically. . . . “

She also tells Tess that the religious strictures under which she was raised are just wrong. “The body is innocent,” she insists. And children are not born evil. But “goodness withers when it is continuously ground underfoot. 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. . . . “Walk on, yes, but don’t walk past people who need you. Uncurl yourself, so you can see them and respond.”

In other words, the past is never really past, unless you can learn to bite it and move on.

Tess has a decision to make, about how she can finally be the hero of her own story, and whether guilt or love will hold her back.

Evaluation: I loved this story, and its portrayal both metaphorical and literal of the road to healing. And I loved meeting another worthy young female heroine who will make a great role model for girls. I can't wait for the next book!

I was anticipating a book filled with dragons, adventure, and haunting secrets. What I got was lizard-creatures, a lot of walking, no adventure, and a whole lot of "why am I bothering to read this?"

In the medieval kingdom of Goredd, women are expected to be ladies, men are their protectors, and dragons get to be whomever they want. Tess, despite societal, religious, and parental pressures, is too curious and independent to properly fit into the mold everyone is trying to stuff her in. After her latest incident (almost ruining her sister's wedding by breaking an in-law's nose) her parents have had enough and arrange to have her admitted to a nunnery. Before it can come to pass, Tess yanks on her boots and sets out on a long road where she happens upon a childhood friend, a quigutl, who gives her both a purpose and protection on the road.

DNF @ 60%.

I confess to not having read Seraphina before picking up Tess of the Road. While I don't believe it was necessary since it follows her half-sister, I may have missed some world-building that explains how dragons/quigotl/humans fit together in society. I got the gist but it may have helped me see quigutl's as sub-species of dragons rather than the lizard-creatures I could only imagine them as. The beautiful cover SCREAMS normal dragons and I can't help but feel slightly lied to because of it.

When I started, I liked Tess. She always tried to do right by her family but always managed to somehow "screw things up" because, no matter how much her parents tried, she just can't fit the mold they wanted to stuff her in. There was always ongoing tension between her and them.

"She'd always known she was particularly flawed - it was the fabric of her life - but she hadn't been bad on purpose."

However, as the book progressed, I became frustrated at the breadcrumb reveals for her "tumultuous past" and the "memories [that] threaten[ed] to expose her to the world in more ways than one." They were timed extremely weird and came way too slow.

In fact, the entire pacing of the story was grueling. I kept wondering when the action was going to happen, why we kept flashing back to a relationship that DIDN'T MATTER to me, and why I was being fed piecemeal breadcrumbs of her past...only to be GOBSMACKED when (at 55%!) I figure out this isn't supposed to be an adventure to find the World Serpents...it's all about Tess learning to be at peace with herself (not the version of her that everyone tells her she should be).

"The hated innocent becomes hateful. Goodness withers when it is continuously ground underfoot. We fulfill our parents' direst prophesies, 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."


If I'd gone into this expecting the plot to be about Tess working through the various societal, religious, and parental pressures that have been placed on her but never seem to fit in order to find that she actually wasn't broken, or flawed, or inherently bad (despite everyone telling her so her whole life) then I would have had a completely different rate. I would have been able to focus on her growth and each of the scars that she had to tear open to heal and accept herself.

"Your credo goes further than you realized: walk on, yes, but don't walk past people who need you. Uncurl yourself, so you can see them and respond."

Recommended for coming-of-age enthusiasts and Seraphina lovers. Not recommended for adventure enthusiasts because, despite appearances, it isn't one.

I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't realize this was a book with predecessors. Usually I try not to enter a book world on the third book--but this book was phenomenal despite my lack of knowledge. Rachel Hartman writes a coming of age story that touches on depression, anxiety, what friendship means, rape, teen pregnancy, religion, and how your experiences change you.

The main character, Tess is infuriating and unlikable at first. She's a drunken, depressed teen who treats everyone badly--yet she's entirely engaging and lovable by the end of the story. Tess's past experiences influence who she is and help her become the strong, smart, wonderful character that we want to follow in more books...hopefully there are more books?

I can't wait to read SERAPHINA and SHADOWSCALE. If you like fantasy and dragons and action that is not only plot based, but character driven, you'll love this book!

First of all, let it be clear that I immediately found myself completely won over by Hartman's choice to give voice to a heroine (and a YA heroine at that!) with such a past. I think that alone held a lot of promise as regards the development of the plot, and above all, the character. I was disappointed, however, by the actual unfolding of the events, partly the world building, and basically everything else. The plot is terribly boring, the characters the very opposite of compelling, and I had to struggle with the world building, since this was the first book I've read by Hartman and didn't know the knowledge of the Seraphina duology was, if not necessary, then very useful. I disliked the episodic structure, the tendency to wander off, although the writing style is very rich and luscious, and I also, to my inexpressible regret, I also disliked the heroine.
I am sorry, but Tess of the Road is a no for me.

Finally, all of the hard work Tess had put into finding her sister a good match was coming to fruition. Perhaps after this, her family would leave her alone to do as she liked.

Once the wedding came up, however, she finds out she's wrong. Ever since she made the mistake of falling in love and having a child (that unfortunately died at birth), her family considered her ruined. They preferred she ended up far out of their hair and in a place where they could hide their embarrassment--preferably in a remote nunnery. After all, no one would marry her.

Tess has other ideas. She seeks refuge with her half-dragon sister (another family embarrassment, but at least even half-dragons are considered saints), who gifts her with a pair of traveling boots that fairly beg to be on the road. Tess decides to answer the call, and heads toward a remote city where she might be able to earn a living as a seamstress. On the way, she stumbles upon an old friend--one of lizard-kind, who wants to find one of the fabled World-Serpents revered by his kind. Tess is eager for an adventure.

Tess of the Road is an interesting road-tale of a young woman figuring out for herself what she wants of life, finding it in herself to heal, and deciding what's important to her. It's got solid world building and characters, and made for a good read.

I was under the impression that you didn't need to have read the author's previous books to read this one. Maybe you don't have to, but I think it would have helped. I have not read anything else by this author. I don't think that impacted my overall enjoyment of the book, but I think I would have understood things better if I were already familiar with this world.

I was under the impression that this was a middle grade book. Now I'm not sure. The writing seemed middle grade appropriate, but some of the topics, and a lot of the premise seemed a bit mature to me. I wasn't sure what to make of it. I also didn't really enjoy it. I don't think I liked a single character. But what really killed it was the writing. Bland, long, and dull. I did not have fun with this one. Presumably people who are already invested in the previous series will enjoy it more.

A really wonderful fantasy book for all ages. This is the first book that I have read from this author and I was definitely impressed with its originality and strong storyline.  While I have not read the other books in the previous series, I  didn't feel like I was missing anything so it can be read as a stand alone.

"Tess of the Road" is entertaining and full of great world building, adding depth to the world we were introduced to in the Seraphina duology. It is also a deeply personal story, built more around character then action. When we first meet Tess (introduced briefly in the previous books as Seraphina's younger half-sister), she is both depressed and extremely angry. She's not entirely likeable in this phase, since she has a tendency to lash out at everyone around her, especially those who the outside viewer can see are trying to offer help. After a particularly vicious emotional explosion at her sister's wedding, Tess's family plan to send her away to a nunnery. At this point Tess runs away instead, and the story really begins.

Tess suffered through some horribly traumatic events a few years before this book begins, and she has never really been encouraged or allowed to deal with her emotions (hence her emotional state at the beginning of the story). Alone on the road is the first time Tess has the space to even begin to sort through her memories and discover how she feels about herself, and how those feelings have been warped by how she is seen by the rest of her family. At its heart, this is a book about healing. Tess's story unfolds throughout the book, and while I was at first frustrated by the lack of details it becomes clear that this slow unfolding is completely deliberate. We learn about Tess's past as she is able to face each piece and learns to see events and emotions more clearly then she has in the past. I don't want to give away too many details because I think that it's best for the reader to discover the story slowly.

Don't go into this book thinking that you know what it is. The summary talks about a quest, and while there is a quest it is not really the driving force of the book. The summary also mentions that Tess disguises herself as a boy in order to travel alone. I've seen a few people comment that this makes them wary of the book since they're tired of the "girl dresses as a boy" trope, or because they feel like we need girls who can be heroines as themselves. Don't worry that this is a rehash of a tired fantasy idea. There are strong reasons for Tess to disguise herself as she does. It is very true to her character as established, and is an integral part of her healing process.

There's a lot more that I could talk about in this book, but most other things delve into the realm of spoilers. If you liked Seraphina, then definitely pick up Tess of the Road as soon as you can. If you haven't read Seraphina then I would recommend reading it first since that's where most of the world building details are established (you can probably read this as a standalone, but would be somewhat confused about certain things). This book presents a fantastically accurate and sometimes heart wrenching account of healing from emotional trauma, including the ways that different people around you can help and hinder attempts at healing. Ultimately, Tess's healing takes time, patience, and distance from her former life. It is a journey well worth taking and I hope that other readers enjoy this book as much as I did.

I'm going to admit straight away that I hadn't read any of the previous books set in this world, but I wanted to.They had kind of flickered on my radar, but you know bookish life...so many distractions, so little time. I was first drawn to this book entirely by the cover; I love a dragon story, and the blues (my favorite color) of the beast looking down at the main character was very memorable. So I requested this on Netgalley, and hoped. Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for fulfilling that hope!

Still though, this was a chunk of a book for me, not least because I tried reading it in between shifts and while doing other things, so I settled in last night and determined to finish it. Nearly midnight, and finally, the last pages. But I was hooked, and it just took time for me to fall in love with this world.

Speaking of, the world is obviously vast and you probably do benefit from reading the other books first if you can. There are mentions and hints I found very frustrating, but this just means I'll have to hunt down the other books. The vastness means there is always something else to be discovered, some new character you didn't realize you needed in your life to come along. I felt both sweptup and confused, but it was a good confused.

If you like your heroines impulsive, a little broken but still good, and utterly lost this book might be for you. I don't want to give away any spoilers on the plot since the release date is so far ahead, but suffice to say I loved it and can't wait for more. Four stars!

I didn't realize going into this that Tess of the Road is a companion novel to Hartman's Seraphina books, but it is! If you loved the world she created there, you will love this. But if you have not read those books, you can still read and thoroughly enjoy Tess of the Road. It stands alone and covers new ground. With impeccable world-building and a complicated main character you will root for every step of the way, it's a wonderful addition to YA fantasy.

While I loved Rachel Hartman's other books, this one worked less well for me. The characters, including the main one, were all pretty unlikable. It was understandable based on in-story information that they were unpleasant, but still, I didn't enjoy spending my reading time with them.

It's possible I wasn't the right audience for this book. As much as I loved the Seraphina books, maybe this one would work better for a younger reader.

I'd still recommend people try it. Hartman's other books are worth not taking my word on this one. Hopefully it will work better for you!

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. I absolutely loved this world and all of the characters in it. I haven't previously read anything by this author and this book is set in the same world as her other book Seraphina but I was able to follow along quite well. Tess is a misfit who gets in trouble no matter which way she turns and when she is faced with a life as a governess or a nun she decides to make her own fate and goes wherever the road takes her. She meets her old friend Pathka (gender fluid lizard) along the way and they head on an adventure to find the great world serpents. They run into all kinds of trouble along the way and meet all kinds of different people. Anyone who loves fantasy or YA would absolutely love this book. This book is in my top favorites of the year!

I really enjoyed Seraphina and its sequel, Shadow Scale, but this was continuation set in the same world with related characters was even more striking. While those books dealt with real human problems and emotions through a fantasy metaphor, this book ditches the metaphors and deals with pain, trauma, and rage directly while keeping the fantasy setting and situations. I'm only upset it's not a standalone, because now I have to wait for the sequel!

The latest foray into the kingdom of Goredd (previously seen in Amy Unbounded, Serephina, and Shadow Scale) is perhaps Hartman's best effort yet.