His Majesty's dragon by Naomi Novik

Mass Market Paperback, 353 pages

Published March 28th 2006 by Del Rey

Series: Temeraire #1

Alternative history / fantasy

Library

I read this one years ago and enjoyed it. This time around, well, no, not as good as I remember it being. But then it was like I did not remember anything, but when I read the words I remembered everything, and some books are just not as fun the second time around.

I also see that I only read 5 and I did not like the 5th, hmm, the library did not get any more.

But ok, these are fun. What if the worlds had dragons and used them in battle? Hornblower meets dragon riders!

I like Lawrence, I like Temeraire. And now I do wonder how it all played out, I really have to check if the library ever got more.

So yes do give them a go.

Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors ride mighty fighting dragons, bred for size or speed. When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes the precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Captain Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future – and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France’s own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte’s boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire

Uprooted - Naomi Novik

“Our Dragon doesn’t eat the girls he takes, no matter what stories they tell outside our valley. We hear them sometimes, from travelers passing through. They talk as though we were doing human sacrifice, and he were a real dragon. Of course that’s not true: he may be a wizard and immortal, but he’s still a man, and our fathers would band together and kill him if he wanted to eat one of us every ten years. He protects us against the Wood, and we’re grateful, but not that grateful.”

Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.

Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its powers at bay. But he demands a terrible price for his help: one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.

The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid. She knows—everyone knows—that the Dragon will take Kasia: beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn’t, and her dearest friend in the world. And there is no way to save her.

But Agnieszka fears the wrong things. For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose. 

My thoughts:

I did like this whole fairy-tale fantasy vibe. That was nicely done, but I also felt like the book could have done with more books. Let me explain.

This is a stand alone. Through out the entire book we hear about the Big bad, and then at the end, well since it ends happily duh. That was too fast. Too easy.

Agnieszka was a nice young woman, but she had Mary Sue tendencies. The only thing not in her favour was that she was not uber pretty but whatever. No, she was awesome at something, something only she could do, and best in the world. She comes along and is all, I can do this, and does it, while others could not. And after a short time. I need more growth, now she was just Mary Sueish.

So I wished more growth for her, and more story. Because I wanted more tension, danger, death and destruction. The whole plot was so awesome and then near the end I was all cool! And then, the end!, done...eh? Too fast! You do not have to drag it out for ages, but a bit more. Now it ended too easily with Super Agni.

What I then liked what the mythology behind certain things, and I wanted more. The story was nice and exciting at times. And I enjoyed it a lot. But like I have said, I did want even more. For me it could have been even better. I also think what did it was this whole is it adult or YA? It is adult in my eyes, just light pretty fairytale adult. It would have worked better with some true darkness. 

Conclusion:

Still...very cool story.

Cover

nice

Hardcover, 438 pages
Published May 19th 2015 by Del Rey
Fantasy
Own

Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik

Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik
- a Novel of Temeraire - Book 5

Pages: 342
Published: June 2008
Genre: History, fantasy

^ Soar on the wings of Adventure ^

It's a dark time for the dragon Temeraire. He has been removed from the Aerial corps and sent to the breading pens in Wales. Will Laurence, his captain is to be hanged for treason. The sickness that killed dragons has been cured, and the dragons of England's allies, and the enemy France are cured also after Temeraire and Laurence flew over with the cure. Which leads to the beginning of this story.

Things are bad in Britain. Napoleon has managed to come across the channel and has now set up camp in the south. He is marching for London to take over the city.

It looks like Temeraire and Laurence can be Britains only hope. A celestial dragon could sure turn the tide against the hoards of French dragons and soldiers. But they have been branded traitors, still what the British government hasn't taken into consideration is Temeraire's loyalty and love for his captain and his intellingence.


Yes I have a thing of alternate history books. When I first heard about this series, dragons fighting in the Napoleonic wars I thought no way, and that it was kiddie books. Then I heard that Peter Jackson has bought the movie rights, and then some months after I happened to come across it in the library and thought why not give it a go. I am glad I did, I always did enjoy Hornblower, sailors and war, dunno why but it was nice to watch on tv. So what if there had been dragons in the world, and they were used in wars? Yes you get the idea.

A captain who loves his ship and the sea happens to get a dragon egg. And when it hatches the dragon bonds with him and now he must give up everything he has ever known to become a dragon rider. They exist outside the military in a way and doesn't get much respect. He is giving up his career for a dragon. But dragon is not any dragon, he shows Will that dragons are smart beings, and fiercly loyal. Temeraire is his best friend.

I liked book 1, the others dragged out a bit, but this one again I like. Temeraire is funny and you have to love him. Will also, even though he is rather pigheaded, and goes back to Britain where he will be hanged for treason. That is where this book starts off, the last one was such a cliffhanger and I couldn't wait to get this one to see how they can get out if it. Because at least I knew that Temeraire wouldn't want to give up without a fight. They saved their allies too, I thought they were heroes, and not traitors. Sure they saved the French too, but it was for teh dragons. Not for the love of Napoleon. Because in this alternate world he is winning.

There are also a bunchy of other funny dragons in this book. I have really grown to like the Turkish dragon Isikerka who wants to fight over all things. Poor Granby, her captain, he can't keep up with her blood lust. And one thing that are true to the dragon myths, yes treasures. They do want them and in this book the pick up the golden eagles that the French has, if they win a fight that is.

The humans in the story are great also, but they don't get much time in this one. This one truly is about Temeraire and his fellow dragons, and the interactions between Will and him. I love those, true friendship.

This is a fun series with friendship, even some romance, action, war, adventure and having a look at what the world could have been like. There is something for everyone in it. And I truly enjoy these books. She sets a good pace, and you' re right there fighting next to them and wanting the dragons to be more appreciated. Have a look at this series, it's something different.

The others books in this series are:
His majesty's dragon
Throne of Jade
Black Powder War
Empire of Ivory

and book 6's working title is Tongues of serpents