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studiomikarts's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I enjoyed this book just as much as the previous one! In fact, it began so smoothly, following immediately the concluding events of the first book, that it didn't even feel like a separate thing. I'm not sure I've ever felt that way when reading other book series before, even my favorites like Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings. Some of the things that were especially well done in this volume included the tension at the beginning (enough to keep me reading, but not so much as to be annoying), all of the action scenes, Temeraire's amusing bloodthirstiness somehow harmoniously married to his deep compassion for other living things, and Lawrence's constant show of character flaws that miraculously do not make him any less likeable as a protagonist. Excited to get reading volume 3!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Animal death, and Death
Minor: War, Slavery, and Violence
cowardlyteaman's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I really liked this book! I must say that I really like Novik's writing style.
Although it wasn't a big topic in the book, the way the colonial slavery is treated concerning Laurence and Temeraire's opinion on it, I think is handled well considering that the main theme of this book isn't slavery in Africa. Laurence is disgusted by the concept, obviously, as we wouldn't want to read about a hero who supports such a thing. Temeraire asks questions about it, and is quite honestly appalled by the idea; and I enjoy the way the duo later reflects around the difference between their role in the army and what slavery is, and how they can't compare themselves to that.
We're not really given much depth into the Chinese main characters, though, which I suppose could be something to mention. However, the way Laurence slowly starts to learn more about Chinese culture concerning dragons and women, too, and starts questioning the ways of his own nation, I really like! The character development he goes through about women and dragons is honestly so interesting to read.
This series had a good balance between some light humour and serious themes. I don't feel like the humour is inappropriate set in this world. There are fittingly placed action scenes when things start to feel slow, and they *most of the time* have something to do with the story.
Very good read. :)
Although it wasn't a big topic in the book, the way the colonial slavery is treated concerning Laurence and Temeraire's opinion on it, I think is handled well considering that the main theme of this book isn't slavery in Africa. Laurence is disgusted by the concept, obviously, as we wouldn't want to read about a hero who supports such a thing. Temeraire asks questions about it, and is quite honestly appalled by the idea; and I enjoy the way the duo later reflects around the difference between their role in the army and what slavery is, and how they can't compare themselves to that.
We're not really given much depth into the Chinese main characters, though, which I suppose could be something to mention. However, the way Laurence slowly starts to learn more about Chinese culture concerning dragons and women, too, and starts questioning the ways of his own nation, I really like! The character development he goes through about women and dragons is honestly so interesting to read.
This series had a good balance between some light humour and serious themes. I don't feel like the humour is inappropriate set in this world. There are fittingly placed action scenes when things start to feel slow, and they *most of the time* have something to do with the story.
Very good read. :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Slavery, War, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny
bluejayreads's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed *His Majesty's Dragon* more than I expected to. I am not much for historical fiction, especially military historical fiction, even if it does have dragons, and I was delighted by how much I enjoyed the relationship between proper gentleman William Lawrence and smart but young dragon Temeraire. I had pretty high hopes for the second book.
*Throne of Jade*, though, was ... rough.
I love the ideas at play. It's fascinating to see how dragons - the massive variety, large enough to be ridden by a whole crew of men - fit into society in the early 1800s. But *Throne of Jade* is weirdly plotted and weirdly paced. Admittedly, much of the story is spent on a long sea voyage and there are only so many ways to make a long sea voyage interesting. But someone keeps trying to assassinate Lawrence, and besides a little conjecture, nobody really bothers to try and figure out who or why. There is someone powerful trying to kill him, there are four different attempts (several of which result in injury), and it's just kinda ... ignored? And then that whole attempted assassination plot thread is resolved too easily and entirely by accident - the culprit is revealed unintentionally while the characters are working on something else entirely.
The pacing here is so weird that I did not recognize the climax was even the climax. Part of that could be because there isn't really one overarching plot in this book. There's a bunch of smaller plots that overlap in parts, but nothing that could be called The Plot, and so no main thing to be finally resolved in a climactic scene. Because of that, it also seems much shorter than it is. There are a lot of words, but it says little and not much happens.
This book overall had less of what I really loved about the first one. There was less action (actually next to no action), and less of the Lawrence/Temeraire dynamic that I loved so much. There was less Temeraire in general, actually, and less of him being awesome and exceptional. (China was a really cool setting, but it took away much of Temeraire's awesomeness since Celestial dragons are rare but not unknown in China.) This book was more about Lawrence - his fears, insecurities, and jealousies. It made for an okay story, but it set him and Temeraire at odds sometimes when I really loved seeing them work as a team.
I am really not sure what *Throne of Jade* is supposed to be, and it feels like the book itself isn't sure either. It seems like in the next book things will be pretty much back to normal, so I'm not even sure what the point of this was - unless the events at the end of this will come back and be important later in the series. Overall, I'm going to chalk this up to growing pains. The Temeraire series are Naomi's first books, and sequels are hard. I'm going to keep reading and I expect book three will be better.
*Throne of Jade*, though, was ... rough.
I love the ideas at play. It's fascinating to see how dragons - the massive variety, large enough to be ridden by a whole crew of men - fit into society in the early 1800s. But *Throne of Jade* is weirdly plotted and weirdly paced. Admittedly, much of the story is spent on a long sea voyage and there are only so many ways to make a long sea voyage interesting. But someone keeps trying to assassinate Lawrence, and besides a little conjecture, nobody really bothers to try and figure out who or why. There is someone powerful trying to kill him, there are four different attempts (several of which result in injury), and it's just kinda ... ignored? And then that whole attempted assassination plot thread is resolved too easily and entirely by accident - the culprit is revealed unintentionally while the characters are working on something else entirely.
The pacing here is so weird that I did not recognize the climax was even the climax. Part of that could be because there isn't really one overarching plot in this book. There's a bunch of smaller plots that overlap in parts, but nothing that could be called The Plot, and so no main thing to be finally resolved in a climactic scene. Because of that, it also seems much shorter than it is. There are a lot of words, but it says little and not much happens.
This book overall had less of what I really loved about the first one. There was less action (actually next to no action), and less of the Lawrence/Temeraire dynamic that I loved so much. There was less Temeraire in general, actually, and less of him being awesome and exceptional. (China was a really cool setting, but it took away much of Temeraire's awesomeness since Celestial dragons are rare but not unknown in China.) This book was more about Lawrence - his fears, insecurities, and jealousies. It made for an okay story, but it set him and Temeraire at odds sometimes when I really loved seeing them work as a team.
I am really not sure what *Throne of Jade* is supposed to be, and it feels like the book itself isn't sure either. It seems like in the next book things will be pretty much back to normal, so I'm not even sure what the point of this was - unless the events at the end of this will come back and be important later in the series. Overall, I'm going to chalk this up to growing pains. The Temeraire series are Naomi's first books, and sequels are hard. I'm going to keep reading and I expect book three will be better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Blood
Moderate: War, Animal death, and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexism and Misogyny
Animal injuryeicart_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-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
5.0
Gah, I love Temeraire! Why did it take me so long to read book two?!
This book is a combination of many things that I love: dragons, adventures on the sea, descriptions of sailing ship goings on, and two beings who are fiercely loyal to and protective of each other.
Temeraire is the best boy and should be protected at all costs. He is a huge dragon with amazing physical abilities to talk, fly, fight, and invoke the divine wind. And he's a big kid, learning his way in the world and questioning society's norms when they don't make sense to him. I just love him to bits!
The relationship between Laurence and Temeraire is the best. They will do anything for each other. They hurt when the other is hurting. They place themselves in danger to help the other. And they have the best conversations, helping each other to grow and look at the world differently. I'm pretty sure that what they share would be considered a queerplatonic relationship, and honestly #relationshipgoals
(Btw, Temeraire is a dragon. Laurence is a human.)
This book is a combination of many things that I love: dragons, adventures on the sea, descriptions of sailing ship goings on, and two beings who are fiercely loyal to and protective of each other.
Temeraire is the best boy and should be protected at all costs. He is a huge dragon with amazing physical abilities to talk, fly, fight, and invoke the divine wind. And he's a big kid, learning his way in the world and questioning society's norms when they don't make sense to him. I just love him to bits!
The relationship between Laurence and Temeraire is the best. They will do anything for each other. They hurt when the other is hurting. They place themselves in danger to help the other. And they have the best conversations, helping each other to grow and look at the world differently. I'm pretty sure that what they share would be considered a queerplatonic relationship, and honestly #relationshipgoals
(Btw, Temeraire is a dragon. Laurence is a human.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, and War
mallorypen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
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
3.75
I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first book in the series. I know it’s a sign of the times, but the racist language towards people from China threw me off a little.
What I did enjoy is the ongoing development of Temeraire’s personality, and how traveling to China made both Temeraire and Lawrence realize that there was better and more humane ways to treat and integrate dragons into society.
The plot to kill Lawrence and put a young prince on the throne as Temeraire’s companion felt a little convoluted, but it made the climax plot points make lots of sense. The dragon battle was fun with Temeraire’s military training giving him an advantage.
What I did enjoy is the ongoing development of Temeraire’s personality, and how traveling to China made both Temeraire and Lawrence realize that there was better and more humane ways to treat and integrate dragons into society.
The plot to kill Lawrence and put a young prince on the throne as Temeraire’s companion felt a little convoluted, but it made the climax plot points make lots of sense. The dragon battle was fun with Temeraire’s military training giving him an advantage.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
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