efjens 's review for:

Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik

4.0

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I definitely enjoyed the plot and pace of this. It had some really nice movement, and interesting cultural/political tensions. I also continue to adore Laurence and Temeraire! My only complaint is just a matter of personal preference

Spoiler

I liked the dynamic between dragons and aviators in book #1, so to have that set up so challenged by the Chinese dynamic/culture was oddly off putting. The book wants us to totally side with the Chinese treatment of dragons, but I had so thoroughly accepted the British treatment as right and perfectly moral that the about-face threw me. Somehow it feels very much like the backlash against having outdoor pets. But obviously I was erring in viewing the dragons TOO much like pets and not enough like people.