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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
So it was nice to return to this series and this installment was far from bad. Reading about the dragons interacting has always been my favourite part in the series, so this book had a lot going for it. I also liked Novik changing historical events in her world and it'll be interesting to see the consequences of that in the future.
However, there are some negative aspects of the work. It's far from the best novel in the series and it honestly seemed to drag on in parts. I'm hoping that the series will return to form in future books.
However, there are some negative aspects of the work. It's far from the best novel in the series and it honestly seemed to drag on in parts. I'm hoping that the series will return to form in future books.
One of my favorite books in Naomi Novik's excellent Temeraire series so far.
I unfortunately have fallen behind and so have been trying to make up for lost time. This is my favorite since the first book.
This particular book recalls, as so many have noted, the Patrick O'Brian naval stories, of course, but also the high adventure of books by H. Rider Haggard and Robert E. Howard (and refreshingly without the racism of those authors' time).
But that's not the major point of this book. There is plenty of swashbuckling action to keep you turning pages well into the night and a quite satisfying ending that will have you heading out to to get the next book in the series.
For a while dragons seemed kind of worn out, much as vampires have become. If you think that, give this series, beginning with His Majesty's Dragon, a try.
I unfortunately have fallen behind and so have been trying to make up for lost time. This is my favorite since the first book.
This particular book recalls, as so many have noted, the Patrick O'Brian naval stories, of course, but also the high adventure of books by H. Rider Haggard and Robert E. Howard (and refreshingly without the racism of those authors' time).
But that's not the major point of this book. There is plenty of swashbuckling action to keep you turning pages well into the night and a quite satisfying ending that will have you heading out to to get the next book in the series.
For a while dragons seemed kind of worn out, much as vampires have become. If you think that, give this series, beginning with His Majesty's Dragon, a try.
Overall I really liked this one! A few critiques about how race/slavery was handled below.
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I think Novik could have given a little more care to avoid the 'savage native' stereotype, but I appreciated that at the very least Novik included a lot of praise for how ingenious the prison they were held in was. I also thought it was interesting that the missionary's wife chose to stay, commenting that she and her daughters would never be truly free in England because of their race and gender. I also really liked that Novik forced Lawrence to be actively anti-slavery by choosing to risk his friendship by taking the missionary family abroad in the first place and freeing the captured people after escaping himself. Prior, he's just said he was against it, but never really did anything about it. I love the character arc, and I think the ending (choosing to do what's right even at the cost of going against his government) is a great example of how his character is slowly becoming more active and less passive in what he claims to believe. I hope that theme continues with the 'rights for dragons' arc too!
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I think Novik could have given a little more care to avoid the 'savage native' stereotype, but I appreciated that at the very least Novik included a lot of praise for how ingenious the prison they were held in was. I also thought it was interesting that the missionary's wife chose to stay, commenting that she and her daughters would never be truly free in England because of their race and gender. I also really liked that Novik forced Lawrence to be actively anti-slavery by choosing to risk his friendship by taking the missionary family abroad in the first place and freeing the captured people after escaping himself. Prior, he's just said he was against it, but never really did anything about it. I love the character arc, and I think the ending (choosing to do what's right even at the cost of going against his government) is a great example of how his character is slowly becoming more active and less passive in what he claims to believe. I hope that theme continues with the 'rights for dragons' arc too!
This is definitely the darkest, most depressing of the books so far. Sure, the other ones deal with war and battles, but we're doing a deep dive into
I made the mistake of reading the summary text for the next book and spent the last half of the book trying to figure out what the heck was going to happen to set that up. It was far more awful than I expected. I really hope the tone goes back to the joyful discovery of a world with a dragon best friend. Instead of this all too real examination of the harsh realities of history/human behavior.
Spoiler
slavery, oppression, inequality, treason, government betrayal, loyalty, racism, etc.I made the mistake of reading the summary text for the next book and spent the last half of the book trying to figure out what the heck was going to happen to set that up. It was far more awful than I expected. I really hope the tone goes back to the joyful discovery of a world with a dragon best friend. Instead of this all too real examination of the harsh realities of history/human behavior.
adventurous
informative
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
I have a few things to say; I will enumerate them.
1) Tom Riley is literally lower than doggie poop under my feet, and I cannot even begin to explain the amount of resentment I have for the author making Harcourt marry him because
2) Catherine Harcourt is my baby and no one will touch her goddammit!
3) I cannot understand why/how Novik hates Harcourt so, making a veteran captain out to be such a poor judge of character, first making her fall for a traitor/spy old enough to be her father, and then for a slaver who is racist to boot. Just NO!
4) Is there any way I can kidnap her and take her away?
5) Aaanyway. #4 is much better than #3 even if I shed several (very stoic) tears over the misery of the sick dragons because omigosh sick dragons :'(
1) Tom Riley is literally lower than doggie poop under my feet, and I cannot even begin to explain the amount of resentment I have for the author making Harcourt marry him because
2) Catherine Harcourt is my baby and no one will touch her goddammit!
3) I cannot understand why/how Novik hates Harcourt so, making a veteran captain out to be such a poor judge of character, first making her fall for a traitor/spy old enough to be her father, and then for a slaver who is racist to boot. Just NO!
4) Is there any way I can kidnap her and take her away?
5) Aaanyway. #4 is much better than #3 even if I shed several (very stoic) tears over the misery of the sick dragons because omigosh sick dragons :'(
Enjoyed this next installment in the series, although you really ought to read the first three first to properly get your footing.
Also, Novik is taking us on a world tour! Which continent should we visit next? I have a suspicion . . .
Also, Novik is taking us on a world tour! Which continent should we visit next? I have a suspicion . . .
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
So good!! The end of the book literally made me feel ill, but only because of how well written it is and how high the stakes are!!
4.5/5
The ending I thought was really good and shows remarkable character. Overall it felt like not a lot happened, but it was still engaging.
The ending I thought was really good and shows remarkable character. Overall it felt like not a lot happened, but it was still engaging.
My favorite book in the series so far. Not only do we see the return of the other British dragons and their captains from the first book, but the conflicts introduced here (and subsequent adventure) do more to build the world than any of the previous entries. The dragon flu added a great amount of tension from the onset, and, after being slowly shown just how inhumane the British dragons were being treated, the flu was the final horrible nail in the coffin in demonstrating just how little the dragons were cared for. We were already shown the disparity between the quality of life between dragons in Britain and China, and even in the last book, we're told that conditions in France had been improving as well due to Lien's advice. Here, we're introduced to yet another area of the world that takes far better care of their dragons than Britain. And despite them being a largely antagonistic force towards our main cast for the duration of the book, you completely understand where they're coming from. And that also leads to another great aspect of this book, how it tied the slave trade into the main plotline. Something that I hadn't even considered until this book was that dragons are the universal equalizer; any amount of artillery and weapons will always pale in comparison to a well-trained and cared-for dragon. So it only makes sense that in this world where dragons populate every country on the globe, an African population looking to rectify injustices committed against them via the slave trade would have the means to effectively retaliate.
Aside from the main story, I enjoyed a great deal of the characters as well. As I said earlier, it was great having Berkley, Maximus, Harcourt, and Lily return to the story, and all the new characters, specifically Mrs. Erasmus, were amazing as well. However, Laurence and Temeraire trump all of them, with Laurence's character arc being of note due to how compelling it is. In the past couple of books, we've slowly seen Laurence begin to question certain aspects of his home country, mostly in part from Temeraire's blunt method of approaching social issues (which is a huge part of why they're such a great duo), but in this one Laurence is forced to confront the many faults of Britain, specifically concerning the slave trade and dragons. From beginning to end, it's greatly engaging to see Laurence reflect on these ideals while building up his own resolve and goals. Goals that might not even align with his home country.
Of course, my favorite aspect of this book (and all Temeraire books so far) is the relationship between Laurence and Temeraire. They're the beating heart of these books, and they get put through the wringer in this one. Seeing them overcome it all together both warms your heart and leaves you rooting for them through it all. And after seeing where that ending left them (oh boy that ending!), I'm incredibly excited to see where they go next.
Aside from the main story, I enjoyed a great deal of the characters as well. As I said earlier, it was great having Berkley, Maximus, Harcourt, and Lily return to the story, and all the new characters, specifically Mrs. Erasmus, were amazing as well. However, Laurence and Temeraire trump all of them, with Laurence's character arc being of note due to how compelling it is. In the past couple of books, we've slowly seen Laurence begin to question certain aspects of his home country, mostly in part from Temeraire's blunt method of approaching social issues (which is a huge part of why they're such a great duo), but in this one Laurence is forced to confront the many faults of Britain, specifically concerning the slave trade and dragons. From beginning to end, it's greatly engaging to see Laurence reflect on these ideals while building up his own resolve and goals. Goals that might not even align with his home country.
Of course, my favorite aspect of this book (and all Temeraire books so far) is the relationship between Laurence and Temeraire. They're the beating heart of these books, and they get put through the wringer in this one. Seeing them overcome it all together both warms your heart and leaves you rooting for them through it all. And after seeing where that ending left them (oh boy that ending!), I'm incredibly excited to see where they go next.