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His Majesty's Dragon: Book One of the Temeraire Paperback – October 19, 2021
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“A terrifically entertaining fantasy novel.”—Stephen King
Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors rise to Britain’s defense by taking to the skies . . . not aboard aircraft but atop the mighty backs of fighting dragons.
When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes its precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Capt. 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.
“Just when you think you’ve seen every variation possible on the dragon story, along comes Naomi Novik. . . . Her wonderful Temeraire is a dragon for the ages.”—Terry Brooks
Don’t miss any of Naomi Novik’s magical Temeraire series
HIS MAJESTY’S DRAGON • THRONE OF JADE • BLACK POWDER WAR • EMPIRE OF IVORY • VICTORY OF EAGLES • TONGUES OF SERPENTS • CRUCIBLE OF GOLD • BLOOD OF TYRANTS • LEAGUE OF DRAGONS
- Print length336 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherDel Rey
- Publication dateOctober 19, 2021
- Dimensions5.5 x 0.73 x 8.23 inches
- ISBN-100593359542
- ISBN-13978-0593359549
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
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- “I do not obey you because it is a habit and I cannot think for myself; I do it because I know you are worthy of being obeyed. You would never treat me unkindly, and you would not ask me to do something dangerous or unpleasant without cause.”Highlighted by 444 Kindle readers
- “No, my dear,” he said at last, softly, knowing it was only the truth. “I would rather have you than any ship in the Navy.”Highlighted by 396 Kindle readers
- Laurence no longer thought of him as a creature for whom he was responsible, but rather as an intimate friend, already the dearest in his life, and one to be depended upon without question.Highlighted by 391 Kindle readers
From the Publisher
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Naomi Novik introduces a bold new world rooted in folk stories and legends, as elemental as a Grimm fairy tale. | An imaginative retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale. | From Naomi Novik comes the first book of the Scholomance trilogy, the story of an unwilling dark sorceress who is destined to rewrite the rules of magic. |
Editorial Reviews
Review
“These are beautifully written novels—not only fresh, original, and fast paced, but full of wonderful characters with real heart. [The Temeraire series] is a terrific meld of two genres that I particularly love—fantasy and historical epic.”—Peter Jackson
“A terrifically entertaining fantasy novel . . . Is it hard to imagine a cross between Susanna Clarke, of Norrell and Strange fame, and the late Patrick O’Brian? Not if you’ve read this wonderful, arresting novel.”—Stephen King
“A splendid series . . . Not only is it a new way to utilize dragons, it’s a very clever one and fits neatly into the historical niche this author has used.”—Anne McCaffrey
“Just when you think you’ve seen every variation possible on the dragon story, along comes Naomi Novik. Her wonderful Temeraire is a dragon for the ages.”—Terry Brooks
“Enthralling reading—it’s like Jane Austen playing Dungeons & Dragons with Eragon’s Christopher Paolini.”—Time
“A completely authentic tale, brimming with all the detail and richness one looks for . . . as well as the impossible wonder of gilded fantasy.”—Entertainment Weekly (Editor’s Choice, Grade: A)
“Novik has accomplished something singular with her Temeraire series. . . . At its heart, it’s a story about friendship that transcends not only time and class, but species.”—NPR
“[Naomi Novik] is soaring on the wings of a dragon.”—The New York Times
“A thrilling fantasy . . . All hail Naomi Novik.”—The Washington Post Book World
“An amazing performance . . . [I] was immediately hooked by the writing, the research and the sheer courage of the whole enterprise.”—Chicago Tribune
“Novik’s influences run the gamut from Jane Austen to Patrick O’Brian, with a side trip through Anne McCaffrey. Her books are completely involving and probably addictive, their central conceit explored in clever detail with a great deal of wit and historical insight.”—San Francisco Chronicle
“Something new and quite wonderful . . . The Temeraire trilogy could well be this year’s Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.”—BookPage
“A superbly written, character-driven series . . . What keeps one turning the pages is the urge to find out what happens next to Captain Laurence and Temeraire, characters who win one’s heart from the beginning. Bravo!”—Booklist (starred review)
About the Author
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
It was still there shortly thereafter, when they met on the deck, and the man surrendered his sword, very reluctantly: at the last moment his hand half-closed about the blade, as if he meant to draw it back. Laurence looked up to make certain the colors had been struck, then accepted the sword with a mute bow; he did not speak French himself, and a more formal exchange would have to wait for the presence of his third lieutenant, that young man being presently engaged belowdecks in securing the French guns. With the cessation of hostilities, the remaining Frenchmen were all virtually dropping where they stood; Laurence noticed that there were fewer of them than he would have expected for a frigate of thirty-six guns, and that they looked ill and hollow-cheeked.
Many of them lay dead or dying upon the deck; he shook his head at the waste and eyed the French captain with disapproval: the man should never have offered battle. Aside from the plain fact that the Reliant would have had the Amitié slightly outgunned and outmanned under the best of circumstances, the crew had obviously been reduced by disease or hunger. To boot, the sails above them were in a sad tangle, and that no result of the battle, but of the storm which had passed but this morning; they had barely managed to bring off a single broadside before the Reliant had closed and boarded. The captain was obviously deeply overset by the defeat, but he was not a young man to be carried away by his spirits: he ought to have done better by his men than to bring them into so hopeless an action.
“Mr. Riley,” Laurence said, catching his second lieutenant’s attention, “have our men carry the wounded below.” He hooked the captain’s sword on his belt; he did not think the man deserved the compliment of having it returned to him, though ordinarily he would have done so. “And pass the word for Mr. Wells.”
“Very good, sir,” Riley said, turning to issue the necessary orders. Laurence stepped to the railing to look down and see what damage the hull had taken. She looked reasonably intact, and he had ordered his own men to avoid shots below the waterline; he thought with satisfaction that there would be no difficulty in bringing her into port.
His hair had slipped out of his short queue, and now fell into his eyes as he looked over. He impatiently pushed it out of the way as he turned back, leaving streaks of blood upon his forehead and the sun-bleached hair; this, with his broad shoulders and his severe look, gave him an unconsciously savage appearance as he surveyed his prize, very unlike his usual thoughtful expression.
Wells climbed up from below in response to the summons and came to his side. “Sir,” he said, without waiting to be addressed, “begging your pardon, but Lieutenant Gibbs says there is something queer in the hold.”
“Oh? I will go and look,” Laurence said. “Pray tell this gentleman,” he indicated the French captain, “that he must give me his parole, for himself and his men, or they must be confined.”
The French captain did not immediately respond; he looked at his men with a miserable expression. They would of course do much better if they could be kept spread out through the lower deck, and any recapture was a practical impossibility under the circumstances; still he hesitated, drooped, and finally husked, “Je me rends,” with a look still more wretched.
Laurence gave a short nod. “He may go to his cabin,” he told Wells, and turned to step down into the hold. “Tom, will you come along? Very good.”
He descended with Riley on his heels, and found his first lieutenant waiting for him. Gibbs’s round face was still shining with sweat and emotion; he would be taking the prize into port, and as she was a frigate, he almost certainly would be made post, a captain himself. Laurence was only mildly pleased; though Gibbs had done his duty reasonably, the man had been imposed on him by the Admiralty and they had not become intimates. He had wanted Riley in the first lieutenant’s place, and if he had been given his way, Riley would now be the one getting his step. That was the nature of the service, and he did not begrudge Gibbs the good fortune; still, he did not rejoice quite so wholeheartedly as he would have to see Tom get his own ship.
“Very well; what’s all this, then?” Laurence said now; the hands were clustered about an oddly placed bulkhead towards the stern area of the hold, neglecting the work of cataloguing the captured ship’s stores.
“Sir, if you will step this way,” Gibbs said. “Make way there,” he ordered, and the hands backed away from what Laurence now saw was a doorway set inside a wall that had been built across the back of the hold; recently, for the lumber was markedly lighter than the surrounding planks.
Ducking through the low door, he found himself in a small chamber with a strange appearance. The walls had been reinforced with actual metal, which must have added a great deal of unnecessary weight to the ship, and the floor was padded with old sailcloth; in addition, there was a small coal-stove in the corner, though this was not presently in use. The only object stored within the room was a large crate, roughly the height of a man’s waist and as wide, and this was made fast to the floor and walls by means of thick hawsers attached to metal rings.
Laurence could not help feeling the liveliest curiosity, and after a moment’s struggle he yielded to it. “Mr. Gibbs, I think we shall have a look inside,” he said, stepping out of the way. The top of the crate was thoroughly nailed down, but eventually yielded to the many willing hands; they pried it off and lifted out the top layer of packing, and many heads craned forward at the same time to see.
No one spoke, and in silence Laurence stared at the shining curve of eggshell rising out of the heaped straw; it was scarcely possible to believe. “Pass the word for Mr. Pollitt,” he said at last; his voice sounded only a little strained. “Mr. Riley, pray be sure those lashings are quite secure.”
Riley did not immediately answer, too busy staring; then he jerked to attention and said, hastily, “Yes, sir,” and bent to check the bindings.
Laurence stepped closer and gazed down at the egg. There could hardly be any doubt as to its nature, though he could not say for sure from his own experience. The first amazement passing, he tentatively reached out and touched the surface, very cautiously: it was smooth and hard to the touch. He withdrew almost at once, not wanting to risk doing it some harm.
Mr. Pollitt came down into the hold in his awkward way, clinging to the ladder edges with both hands and leaving bloody prints upon it; he was no kind of a sailor, having become a naval surgeon only at the late age of thirty, after some unspecified disappointments on land. He was nevertheless a genial man, well liked by the crew, even if his hand was not always the steadiest at the operating table. “Yes, sir?” he said, then saw the egg. “Good Lord above.”
“It is a dragon egg, then?” Laurence said. It required an effort to restrain the triumph in his voice.
“Oh, yes indeed, Captain, the size alone shows that.” Mr. Pollitt had wiped his hands on his apron and was already brushing more straw away from the top, trying to see the extent. “My, it is quite hardened already; I wonder what they can have been thinking, so far from land.”
This did not sound very promising. “Hardened?” Laurence said sharply. “What does that mean?”
“Why, that it will hatch soon. I will have to consult my books to be certain, but I believe that Badke’s Bestiary states with authority that when the shell has fully hardened, hatching will occur within a week. What a splendid specimen, I must get my measuring cords.”
He bustled away, and Laurence exchanged a glance with Gibbs and Riley, moving closer so they might speak without being overheard by the lingering gawkers. “At least three weeks from Madeira with a fair wind, would you say?” Laurence said quietly.
“At best, sir,” Gibbs said, nodding.
“I cannot imagine how they came to be here with it,” Riley said. “What do you mean to do, sir?”
His initial satisfaction turning gradually into dismay as he realized the very difficult situation, Laurence stared at the egg blankly. Even in the dim lantern light, it shone with the warm luster of marble. “Oh, I am damned if I know, Tom. But I suppose I will go and return the French captain his sword; it is no wonder he fought so furiously after all.”
Product details
- Publisher : Del Rey; First Edition (October 19, 2021)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 336 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0593359542
- ISBN-13 : 978-0593359549
- Item Weight : 9.6 ounces
- Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.73 x 8.23 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #31,427 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #149 in Alternate History Science Fiction (Books)
- #1,000 in Sword & Sorcery Fantasy (Books)
- #2,475 in Epic Fantasy (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
An avid reader of fantasy literature since age six, Naomi Novik is also a history buff with a particular fascination with the Napoleonic era and a fondness for the work of Patrick O'Brian and Jane Austen. She lives with her husband and daughter in New York City along with many purring computers.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable. They describe the story as realistic and well-written. Readers appreciate the well-developed characters and intelligent dragon Temeraire. The book depicts dragons in a new way, with an intelligent and charming character.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the story engaging and realistic. They appreciate the well-written characters and the exciting plotline. The book is described as an alternative historical fantasy set during the Napoleonic era.
"...]], and fell in love with the two main characters and the rich fabric of the universe...." Read more
"...The language, social customs, naval hierarchy, etc., are all portrayed in realistic manner, but at the same time without being cumbersome to the..." Read more
"...Warfare and battle descriptions are not my cup of tea but the action is compelling and my interest didn't wane as it usually does, though I did..." Read more
"A great meld of fantasy, sea battles, and slightly modified history. A wonderful, engaging, and great escapist read! Try it yourself." Read more
Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable. They appreciate the well-developed characters and consider it an excellent introduction to an outstanding series. Readers praise the writing quality as high-quality fanfiction, making it an instant classic.
"...This is a suitable series for young adult and mature readers alike...." Read more
"I really enjoyed this book. It has been a long time since I read something so unique and novel, yet worked so well...." Read more
"...He is a full fledged hero, not perfect by any means but worth the flipping of every page...." Read more
"...A wonderful, engaging, and great escapist read! Try it yourself." Read more
Customers find the book engaging and entertaining. They appreciate the novel's unique blend of genres, including naval tales and military history. While some found the events interesting, others felt the writing was stiff and formal. Overall, readers enjoyed the imaginative story and charming exercise.
"...insisted on joining the navy- with careful reflection, endearingly quaint sensibilities, and dry humor...." Read more
"...It has been a long time since I read something so unique and novel, yet worked so well...." Read more
"...Temeraire is a delightful creature full of insight and dangerously Jacobite wisdom...." Read more
"A great meld of fantasy, sea battles, and slightly modified history. A wonderful, engaging, and great escapist read! Try it yourself." Read more
Customers enjoy the book's writing quality. They find the language rich and descriptive, with precise battle descriptions. The characters are skillfully drawn but not deeply portrayed. The book is an easy read that is sophisticated enough to appeal to older readers. However, some readers may find certain anachronisms off-putting.
"...As a result the dragons are well thought out and richly described, as much full characters as any human. BOTTOM LINE: I LOVED THIS...." Read more
"...But trust me, it works. Novik does a fantastic job of recreating the naval environment of the 1800's...." Read more
"...supporting characters, aviators and dragons alike, are all skillfully but not deeply sketched and I longed to get to know them better, however I..." Read more
"...It was exciting and beautifully written, and the world that Novik creates is exciting and well-developed - like a parallel universe of the times of..." Read more
Customers enjoy the well-developed characters. They find the dragon Temeraire charming and clever. The hero is portrayed as realistic, with archaic views on women. The book has a British voice with strong female characters like Jane Roland and members of the navy.
"...This book/series has a very definite style, a voice- complete with British sensibilities, archaic views on women, and the political strains of the..." Read more
"...Novik has laid the groundwork, environment, and characters for a terrific series...." Read more
"...This book earns extra love from me because the characters were very true to their time, despite the talking dragons, these are not modern people set..." Read more
"...They are, at the same time, fascinating, and outstanding characters in their own right, with unique personalities...." Read more
Customers enjoy the dragons in the book. They find the dragons intelligent and self-aware, providing a non-human perspective on humans. The book is described as a new take on the dragon genre that reminds them of Dragon Riders of Pern. The dragons are involved in combat and handled skillfully, avoiding trite language and concepts.
"...navy- with careful reflection, endearingly quaint sensibilities, and dry humor...." Read more
"...The dragon himself, Temeraire, is intelligent and witty and loving and emotional and everything that a dragon lover might hope for a dragon to..." Read more
"...ease Naomi Novik managed to create an alternate history the is larded with dragons - mythical fantasy creatures, let's not forget - and makes it all..." Read more
"...I also enjoyed Laurence’s pragmatic observations, which were quietly humorous and made me snicker at regular intervals...." Read more
Customers find the book's historical settings and era plausible. They appreciate the author's knowledge of the historical period and its authenticity. The basic premise of an alternate history where humanity has always coexisted with dragons is also well-received. The terminology and social conventions seem appropriate to the period. Overall, readers describe the book as an outstanding introduction to an outstanding series.
"...: Full of rich descriptions of the settings and the era, largely historically plausible- aside from the fantastic, of course...." Read more
"...All I can say is that in an nebulous kind of way, the historical stuff sounded about right. THE AUDIOBOOK:..." Read more
"A great meld of fantasy, sea battles, and slightly modified history. A wonderful, engaging, and great escapist read! Try it yourself." Read more
"...written, and the world that Novik creates is exciting and well-developed - like a parallel universe of the times of Napoleon Bonaparte, making this..." Read more
Customers have different views on the pacing of the book. Some find it fast-paced and engaging, with a rhythm that moves along smoothly. Others feel the pacing is somewhat slow, with a generalized timeline and weeks passing between bursts of activity.
"...The recording is pretty great in my opinion. Good volume, cadence and rhythm. No hissing, no page turning noise...." Read more
"...pragmatic observations, which were quietly humorous and made me snicker at regular intervals...." Read more
"...I found the pacing a tad slow. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing; there is much groundwork to cover...." Read more
"...The plot: the pacing worked for me, and I can't complain about plot holes or obnoxious foreshadowing...." Read more
Reviews with images
Great Book, Great Character Development, Some Sticky Pages
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2011First up: No plot summaries or spoilers.
I don't read a lot of this genre of historical fantasy, but I stumbled into this, the first book of this series: His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, Book 1), and fell in love with the two main characters and the rich fabric of the universe. Anyone who truly has a pet just waiting to learn how to talk will relate to this story.
HIGH LEVEL: This is set during the Napoleonic era- an alternate universe wherein there really be dragons... and they represent the British Air Force. Stories center around a Navy-career man who accidentally becomes the guardian, companion and "driver" for a very special dragon. This is a suitable series for young adult and mature readers alike. This book/series has a very definite style, a voice- complete with British sensibilities, archaic views on women, and the political strains of the time and the military nature of the setting- it can feel infuriating at times, but refreshing at others.
ATMOSPHERE: Full of rich descriptions of the settings and the era, largely historically plausible- aside from the fantastic, of course. First person narrative, from the perspective of the Navy-turned-Air Force man- a tight-lipped, straight backed man of high moral character who came from aristocracy, but insisted on joining the navy- with careful reflection, endearingly quaint sensibilities, and dry humor.
CHARACTERS: Given the narrative, you can only know them through observation and actions. The two protagonists are excellently written- Temeraire and Laurence unfold as you read and are fabulous to watch grow. Some two-dimentiality in supporting roles- but it keeps it simple and you focused on who matters.
FANTASY: This is a simple premise: dragons. The rest of the world stays solidly in reality. As a result the dragons are well thought out and richly described, as much full characters as any human.
BOTTOM LINE: I LOVED THIS. I read a ton of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, this was a refreshing departure from that genre. The relationship between man and dragon felt as strong to me as any bond anywhere, but without the messy emotionality and crazy fireworks of over-fantasized worlds.
RECOMMENDATIONS: I don't read this genre, so this is all I have for now... none of these are historical fantasy, more light romps with dragons. If anyone else has something, please comment.
Avi Ornstein's fairy-tale approach to fantasy with a fantastically developed dragon society (YOUNG ADULT APPROPRIATE) Sonia in Vert
G.A. Aikin's dragon themed mature romance series Dragon Actually (Dragon Kin, Book 1)
Katie MacAlister's more modern take on dragons (and other fey & witchcraft) You Slay Me (Aisling Grey, Guardian, Book 1)
- Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2015I really enjoyed this book. It has been a long time since I read something so unique and novel, yet worked so well. If you've read any other reviews, you already know this places dragons in a historical narrative during the time of Napoleon. Yeah, sounds corny. But trust me, it works. Novik does a fantastic job of recreating the naval environment of the 1800's. I felt like I was reading Horatio, or watching Master and Commander. The language, social customs, naval hierarchy, etc., are all portrayed in realistic manner, but at the same time without being cumbersome to the reader.
The author also does a great job of portraying the relationship between dragons and their masters as a mutual friendship, to the point where you care about the dragons and what happens to them as much as the human characters.
I found the pacing a tad slow. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing; there is much groundwork to cover. Don't get me wrong, it's all very interesting and necessary, and it all builds up to the action at the end, but it is definitely not non-stop action throughout.
Novik has laid the groundwork, environment, and characters for a terrific series.
(Note: I don't give out stars easily, so four stars is excellent. I reserve five stars for those four or five books that cannot be touched and make a lasting impression on your life.)
- Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2012I should start by telling you dear reader that I'm not a Fantasy or dragon buff in the least bit. His Majesty's Dragon found itself in my TBR via a recommendation of the Goodreads group Clean Romances. HMD is not a romance but it is a beautiful and rewarding love story. And so tender that I found myself a little choked by the end of the first chapter and then constantly throughout the book.
In a way Captain Laurence reminds me very much of Jane Austen's descriptions of Navy men in Persuasion. In my mind Laurence stands as a man of true worth and honor, and the more I got to know him the more I appreciated his character. He is a full fledged hero, not perfect by any means but worth the flipping of every page. In fact it is his imperfections that endeared him to me, please notice his feelings when they cast lots and after speaking with Edith. This book earns extra love from me because the characters were very true to their time, despite the talking dragons, these are not modern people set in past times. From the way they talk to the way the conduct themselves they reflect the society they belonged to.
Temeraire is a delightful creature full of insight and dangerously Jacobite wisdom. The supporting characters, aviators and dragons alike, are all skillfully but not deeply sketched and I longed to get to know them better, however I wouldn't trade one paragraph away from Laurence and Temeraire's story for more on the supporting cast. No need for such measures, HMD is the first of what is right now a six book series and I have no doubt we'll get to know them better in the subsequent books.
Warfare and battle descriptions are not my cup of tea but the action is compelling and my interest didn't wane as it usually does, though I did speed through bits here and there. What happens in the battlefield further provides insight into the personalities of those involved and moves the story forward. And although there are deaths and violence the book doesn't unbecomingly focus on them. The geographic descriptions and most historical references were pretty much lost on me since I'm not scholarly inclined. All I can say is that in an nebulous kind of way, the historical stuff sounded about right.
THE AUDIOBOOK:
The recording is pretty great in my opinion. Good volume, cadence and rhythm. No hissing, no page turning noise. I have only one quarrel and that is the reader's portrayal of Temeraire, though this problem may be attributed to my own illogical expectations. I was expecting Temeraire to sound like Sean Connery in Dragonheart (the only talking dragon of my acquaintance) and he doesn't sound anything like that. At first it bothered me very much but by chapter three I was fairly reconciled and by the end I was completely over it. On a good note I noticed that Simon Vance, the reader, remains the same for the first five audio books. Continuity is always nice for me, I hate when they switch readers in a series.
About the movie:
I don't know much about it but it seems like Peter Jackson (Lord of The Rings) is bringing HMD to the big screen. I can't pretend to be excited since Jackson's work has disappointed me in the past and I'm never much inclined to like adaptations because of all the wonderful book stuff that gets lost in translation. When the time comes I might watch it, it'll depend largely on my mood at the time.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2025A great meld of fantasy, sea battles, and slightly modified history. A wonderful, engaging, and great escapist read! Try it yourself.
Top reviews from other countries
- ArkReviewed in Brazil on February 17, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Temeraire is best derg
Not much I can say other than incredibly imaginative napoleonic wars with dragons
A must read for dragon lovers and the like.
- Raymond ThompsonReviewed in Canada on January 3, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars high adventure and heroism, and raises serious issues
HIS MAJESTY’S DRAGON
By introducing dragons into the Napoleonic Wars, Naomi Novik creates a fascinating blend of fantasy and historical fiction. Social attitudes feel authentic for the period, and the dragons’ tactical role in warfare is plausible. The result is an involving story to introduce a very promising series, a happy combination of Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonrider series and naval adventures during the Napoleonic Wars by C.S. Forester, Patrick O’Brian, and others.
At this point, the ‘history’ of dragons and the various types is rather sketchy, but it will be interesting to see how the author fleshes it out as the series progresses. One wonders at their ability to carry so much weight (not sure about the air sac explanation), but this too may be resolved and in any case this is fantasy, not ‘realistic’, fiction.
More important, however, is the disturbing relationship between dragons and humans: are they no more than beasts bred to the service of humans, like horses and dogs? If so, their intelligence and noble qualities like patience and devotion deserve far better treatment, particularly given the arrogance and rampant prejudices of humans. This, of course, may be the point and it may be explored more fully later in the series. In this first novel, however, the focus is upon the personal relationship that develops between Captain Laurence of the Royal Navy and the dragon Temeraire and the battle to protect England from invasion by Napoleon’s army. In this context, the virtues of the dragons serve as a scathing comment upon human failings rather than a demand for reform, especially since the these are attitudes more prevalent in the past rather than the present. This is primarily a stirring tale of high adventure and heroism.
Temeraire himself is a delightful creation, at once innocent and wise, curious and caring, perceptive and independent-minded. He has my vote in the next election, though I suspect that he is too unworldly to survive in the modern political arena with its emphasis upon attack and misinformation. Still, a blast of ‘divine wind’ might help to clear the air.
Highly recommended, and I already look forward to reading the rest of the series.
- Neha a.Reviewed in India on December 11, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Good read, a bit slow paced
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Kindle-klantReviewed in the Netherlands on March 29, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Rollercoaster 2.0!
Zeker een aanrader voor de beginnende lezer. (Cq 13 jaar+) maar ook lekker weglezend voor boekverslinders.
Verhaal is meeslepend, spannend, gevoelsspellend en buiten gewoon beeldschetsent.
Je leeft echt mee met de hoofdpersonen en alles wat ze meemaken.
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eliotroposReviewed in Italy on November 18, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars coinvolgente e commovente
Mi sono accostata da poco al genere Fantasy, ma devo dire che la Novik mi affascina moltissimo con la sua scrittura evocativa ed intensa.
Sicuramente Temeraire è un personaggio moolto particolare che unisce alla potenza fisica un'enorme tenerezza e ingenuità infantile; ma proprio attraverso quest'ingenuità riesce a mettere in discussione pilastri della società occidentale ormai incontestati e quasi dogmatici.
La relazione tra Lawrence ed il suo drago Temeraire è sempre commovente anche se spesso l'affettazione del capitano di marina è esageratamente controllata lasciando poco spazio al flusso emotivo, che pure traspare anche nei silenzi.
Da consigliare? si certo. Speriamo che i prossimi libri siano all'altezza del primo.