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artistsallie 's review for:
Throne of Jade
by Naomi Novik
While I didn't feel like this book was paced as well as the first one, I can't get over how fascinating this is as a YA series. Lawrence feels antithetical to almost every protagonist in the genre and yet his interactions with Temeraire are legitimately engaging and endearing (Also, they actually *communicate* with one another about their feelings and ideas, so that is refreshing). This isn't a perfect book, but I can't wait to see how the experiences from this installment shape the duo moving forward. I am also getting more and more impressed at the command Naomi Novik has over her various narrative voices. Every world she creates has a "mood" that feels intensely immersive.
It's also interesting to see how Novik tries to balance Temeraire (a voice of "modernity") with Lawrence (a man of his time) so that he actually begins to question many of his "obvious" beliefs about personhood, gender norms, and freedom. Still some "uncomfy" stuff, but I'm hopeful that more of these themes will continue to evolve throughout the series (there's definitely development from the first book at least!)
I'm not an expert at this period in history, but the explanation of this fictional version of China seems vastly simplified (though in the context of this book it makes some sense since Lawrence is the narrator and he himself has only a vague awareness of political/cultural ideas).
Once I finish reading this series and see how the Chinese characters are developed in the future I would love to analyze this more closely with examples from Said's "Orientalism" to see how the book challenges historical renderings of "The East" and where Novik ends up reproducing stereotypes due to the research she likely did of first-hand historical accounts that ignored the Euro-centric viewpoint of INTL relations and how manipulative the uneven treaties offered by Britain and France were at the time. I also wonder if Novik will bring up the Opium wars, but I don't know how long this dragon-fantasy stretches on.
Speaking of history, if you enjoy history, then this book has a lot of hidden easter eggs that will catch your eye. If you don't already have some awareness of this history, obviously a dragon-buddy fantasy isn't the best place to look for absolute accuracy and an immaculate analysis of imperialism.
It's also interesting to see how Novik tries to balance Temeraire (a voice of "modernity") with Lawrence (a man of his time) so that he actually begins to question many of his "obvious" beliefs about personhood, gender norms, and freedom. Still some "uncomfy" stuff, but I'm hopeful that more of these themes will continue to evolve throughout the series (there's definitely development from the first book at least!)
I'm not an expert at this period in history, but the explanation of this fictional version of China seems vastly simplified (though in the context of this book it makes some sense since Lawrence is the narrator and he himself has only a vague awareness of political/cultural ideas).
Once I finish reading this series and see how the Chinese characters are developed in the future I would love to analyze this more closely with examples from Said's "Orientalism" to see how the book challenges historical renderings of "The East" and where Novik ends up reproducing stereotypes due to the research she likely did of first-hand historical accounts that ignored the Euro-centric viewpoint of INTL relations and how manipulative the uneven treaties offered by Britain and France were at the time. I also wonder if Novik will bring up the Opium wars, but I don't know how long this dragon-fantasy stretches on.
Speaking of history, if you enjoy history, then this book has a lot of hidden easter eggs that will catch your eye. If you don't already have some awareness of this history, obviously a dragon-buddy fantasy isn't the best place to look for absolute accuracy and an immaculate analysis of imperialism.