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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
What a ride. I love this addition to the story and what Novik did with the dragons and the peoples of Africa (and alluded too in the Americas) is amazing.
Looking forward to the next in the series - and definitely to revisiting the places and characters in this volume.
Temeraire in Africa! And a delicious double-rich blend of draconic and cultural world-building, to fulfill an anti-colonial, anti-racist wish fulfillment fantasy which I found very sympathetic.
I won't spoil this one for anyone, but I couldn't help a grim nod in places.
Also, the full implications of a draconic influenza epidemic are explored in this novel, in ways that genuinely surprised me.
Temeraire forever.
I won't spoil this one for anyone, but I couldn't help a grim nod in places.
Also, the full implications of a draconic influenza epidemic are explored in this novel, in ways that genuinely surprised me.
Temeraire forever.
I wolfed this one down with gusto. A very pleasant page-turner. This time the slave trade and the Mysteries of The Dark Continent get the draconic treatment. Lots of nice ethical problems crop up, duty and insubordination, duty and liberty, war and murder. How the aerial corps handles pregnancy, bastardy and the distaff sex. More insights into draconic "civilization". A rattling good yarn.
This book really begins to tear the milieu away from history, as if the visit to China hadn't. It is difficult to see how history could have arrived at this point if dragons had been present all along. Attitudes to women and to freedom and equality could never have survived this long. Nevertheless I don't care. I'm perfectly content to just enjoy the dialogue and the Regency stage set.
This book really begins to tear the milieu away from history, as if the visit to China hadn't. It is difficult to see how history could have arrived at this point if dragons had been present all along. Attitudes to women and to freedom and equality could never have survived this long. Nevertheless I don't care. I'm perfectly content to just enjoy the dialogue and the Regency stage set.
Each as delightful as the last
These books, which depict a world with dragons in the time of Napoleon, have completely captured my imagination. Such fun. I appreciate that each book brings a broader view of the world—from England to France to China to Africa.
These books, which depict a world with dragons in the time of Napoleon, have completely captured my imagination. Such fun. I appreciate that each book brings a broader view of the world—from England to France to China to Africa.
adventurous
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What can I say? I'm hooked. The world gets steadily more complex as more areas are explored, yet it also feels like a comfortable, welcoming, and amusing niche.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My buddy Todd and I have been loosely reading them together (though I think he's already burst through and read all of them while I've been dragging my feet.) I struggled with the first half of this one, it felt slower to me than the others. As such, it took me a couple of months to meander through. The last half was excellent though - there's a bit white-savioring to prove what a Good White Man Captain Lawrence is (I had to roll my eyes at a little, I don't think there's any universe where someone who thinks of himself as an upright 19th century gentleman would be so aggressive about abolition), but once past that Novik throws her characters right back into the messy (un)ethical consideration of slave labor and personhood.