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A review by pilardo
Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.25
I hate to say this about a Naomi Novik book, but this book was BORING. How does a war fought with dragons become such a slog to read through? Really disappointed that this didn’t live up to the experience of the first book, which hooked me so deeply that I read it in one sitting.
Throughout the book, the pacing was really questionable. It seemed that there would be stretches of several chapters where nothing happened, then an overly quick resolution that left me feeling unsatisfied and underwhelmed by the problems the characters faced. This was especially frustrating for the end of the book. A “solution” is brought up by one of the characters, but it doesn’t address any of Laurence’s concerns. The book also ends in a way that makes me assume Temeraire is returning to England, even though the entire plot was about how the Emperor would never let that happen. The ending seemed rushed and improbable, based on how stressed everyone was for the whole story.
Also - there is a really fine line between being accurate to the attitudes of the time period, and perpetuating racist stereotypes. I’m not an expert on modern or historical Chinese culture, so I don’t have any specific qualms, but I will say that it made this book supremely uncomfortable to read at times. I am clearly supposed to be rooting for Laurence and his crew, but they are openly and proudly racist. But at least he doesn’t like slavery! Even though he’s too spineless to say that out loud to people who do! Clearly that makes it all okay.
Throughout the book, the pacing was really questionable. It seemed that there would be stretches of several chapters where nothing happened, then an overly quick resolution that left me feeling unsatisfied and underwhelmed by the problems the characters faced. This was especially frustrating for the end of the book. A “solution” is brought up by one of the characters, but it doesn’t address any of Laurence’s concerns. The book also ends in a way that makes me assume Temeraire is returning to England, even though the entire plot was about how the Emperor would never let that happen. The ending seemed rushed and improbable, based on how stressed everyone was for the whole story.
Also - there is a really fine line between being accurate to the attitudes of the time period, and perpetuating racist stereotypes. I’m not an expert on modern or historical Chinese culture, so I don’t have any specific qualms, but I will say that it made this book supremely uncomfortable to read at times. I am clearly supposed to be rooting for Laurence and his crew, but they are openly and proudly racist. But at least he doesn’t like slavery! Even though he’s too spineless to say that out loud to people who do! Clearly that makes it all okay.