Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Finally, some moral complexity! I didn’t love how the African cultures were written but it is what it is. At least the dragons were incorporated in a new and interesting way. I usually love a traveling all over the world type series but I’m surprised that I actually keep wanting them to just return to England and fight from there? I guess I enjoyed that more.
Who changed: Laurence (with his acceptance of the role of a counterpoint to Lord Nelson)
Who changed: Laurence (with his acceptance of the role of a counterpoint to Lord Nelson)
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If you like Master & Commander, and you don't mind dragons, this is exactly your speed. However, if Patrick O'Brian's writing puts you to sleep, so will this. Novik imitates the period style perfectly. And not only the style, but the mindset of a gentleman of the time. Our hero has most of the prejudices of his time, though we get some holes poked in these by other characters, such as Temeraire and several African characters.
It was a risk, setting a book half in Africa, during the slave trade. I didn't think the author could do justice to it. And it's true that perhaps there are flaws. However, I felt the people of Africa are described with all the nuance they deserve. I'm unclear how historical some of this was, but hey, there are dragons so thinks might be different. Importantly, the slave trade is emphatically condemned, and the racist characters get what's coming to them.
The main flaw for me was the pacing: it plods almost the whole first half, then a lot of stuff happens at once, then some more plodding.
It ends on a cliffhanger, so be sure you have the next one lined up. I'll have to wait for weeks.
It was a risk, setting a book half in Africa, during the slave trade. I didn't think the author could do justice to it. And it's true that perhaps there are flaws. However, I felt the people of Africa are described with all the nuance they deserve. I'm unclear how historical some of this was, but hey, there are dragons so thinks might be different. Importantly, the slave trade is emphatically condemned, and the racist characters get what's coming to them.
The main flaw for me was the pacing: it plods almost the whole first half, then a lot of stuff happens at once, then some more plodding.
It ends on a cliffhanger, so be sure you have the next one lined up. I'll have to wait for weeks.
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My second-favorite book in the series so far! Much faster-paced than the previous two; so much happened, and it was all interesting and exciting. Onwards!
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The fourth installment of the Temeraire series sees our heroes heading off to Africa! I think one of the most impressive things about the books is the way in which Ms. Novik imagines dragons existing alongside and within the various human civilizations of the age. In this book she becomes rather audacious and explicitly starts to re-imagine the balance of power on the African continent. It's hard to say too much more without giving away the plot, but I was really intrigued and indeed impressed with her handling of it. I really felt like in this book she was starting to hit a stride with the characters and take control of the world she's creating. Very much going from strength to strength!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
fast-paced