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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
4.0 ⭐️
The second book follows Laurence and Temeraire on their voyage to China, and that voyage takes up most of the book. It’s a lot slower and not as light-hearted as [b:His Majesty's Dragon|28876|His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, #1)|Naomi Novik|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1376392909l/28876._SY75_.jpg|726205], and lightly touches on some pretty heavy themes as well. Honestly, I miss reading books like that. Books that make you disagree with the main protagonist and still understand and like them. Books that let their protags be ignorant and learn to be better, and trust the reader enough to understand and empathize.
I also have a soft spot for books about traveling and dragons so I had a pretty good time all the way through!
The second book follows Laurence and Temeraire on their voyage to China, and that voyage takes up most of the book. It’s a lot slower and not as light-hearted as [b:His Majesty's Dragon|28876|His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, #1)|Naomi Novik|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1376392909l/28876._SY75_.jpg|726205], and lightly touches on some pretty heavy themes as well. Honestly, I miss reading books like that. Books that make you disagree with the main protagonist and still understand and like them. Books that let their protags be ignorant and learn to be better, and trust the reader enough to understand and empathize.
I also have a soft spot for books about traveling and dragons so I had a pretty good time all the way through!
The most jarring thing about this book is: WHY ARE THE CHINESE DRAGONS SHAPED LIKE WESTERN ONES??
Also: why is there YU SHENG in this period?? Bruhhhhhhhh
Still a good read, but choosing to set this story in CHINA, a civilisation with its own extensive storied draconic histories and iconographies, makes it hard for Novik to write a convincing story for this Chinese reader.
But i guess all these details would work well enough for a western audience with a vague idea of "China"
Also: why is there YU SHENG in this period?? Bruhhhhhhhh
Still a good read, but choosing to set this story in CHINA, a civilisation with its own extensive storied draconic histories and iconographies, makes it hard for Novik to write a convincing story for this Chinese reader.
But i guess all these details would work well enough for a western audience with a vague idea of "China"
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The ship segment was long and most of it I found very boring which I reflected in the star rating, but ultimately where it began and where it ended up, it was good. On to Black Powder War, now.
slow-paced
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If the worldbuilding was stronger and the ending wasn't wrapped up in such a neat nice bow, maybe I could have enjoyed this. The bit of charm between Laurence and Temeraire from the first book disappeared here. There are forced fight scenes that seem in place simply for having a fight scene and do not strengthen the plot. The entire ship voyage to China could have been skipped, or at least summarized into one chapter. I am left still flailing wanting answers about dragon culture (desperately need there to be expansion about feral dragons for this world to make sense). Would also like Temeraire to have agency with the plot.
Highly enjoyable with likeable characters and a cool story line wit great twist and turns and you just have to love Temeraire.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An improvement over the first book in the series (in my opinion at least).
Temeraire and Laurence journey to China, facing storms, battles, assassins, and politics. You continue to get the excellent English gentleman dialogue with all of its subtle posturing, and entertaining battle scenes. Some character motivations seem a little off, but overall everyone is well written. It's great to see how dragons are treated in China as well.
Not the most spectacular book ever written, but it's highly entertaining.
Temeraire and Laurence journey to China, facing storms, battles, assassins, and politics. You continue to get the excellent English gentleman dialogue with all of its subtle posturing, and entertaining battle scenes. Some character motivations seem a little off, but overall everyone is well written. It's great to see how dragons are treated in China as well.
Not the most spectacular book ever written, but it's highly entertaining.