| Title | : | Throne of Jade (Temeraire, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0345481291 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780345481290 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Mass Market Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 398 |
| Publication | : | First published April 25, 2006 |
| Awards | : | Locus Award Best First Novel (2007) |
Now China has discovered that its rare gift, intended for Napoleon, has fallen into British hands–and an angry Chinese delegation vows to reclaim the remarkable beast. But Laurence refuses to cooperate. Facing the gallows for his defiance, Laurence has no choice but to accompany Temeraire back to the Far East–a long voyage fraught with peril, intrigue, and the untold terrors of the deep. Yet once the pair reaches the court of the Chinese emperor, even more shocking discoveries and darker dangers await.
Throne of Jade (Temeraire, #2) Reviews
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This was supposed to be my St. Patrick's Day book (green) read, but I still read it in March so it still counts =)
I love Temeraire and Laurence so much ! A man and his dragon, what's not to love !
Now the Chinese want Temeraire back. I think it's stupid as everyone stated, they had given the egg away to the French and just because Laurence ship took over the one with the egg in it doesn't mean they deserve to get Temeraire back. BUT . . . that's not what happened.
I loved that Temeraire was very protective over Laurence in this book. He was not going to let anyone separate them. So, they end up going to China together on the Allegiance. We get to meet up with Riley again =)
Some stuff happens on the trip over and some of the other dragons in Temeraire's crew help them out a for a little bit. I'm glad they got to be together again. And we got some of the crew back to be there for Laurence and Temeraire.
It was sweet when Temeraire got to meet his family and some other dragons. AND a little girlfriend, uh, stuff =)
Of course, there are some bad things happen while they are there as well. And more people die through-out the book =(
I liked the ending very much and look forward to what Temeraire is going to do with his new-found knowledge.
What wonderful books these are so far! -
This was much slower than the first book and the pacing was overall off, with lots of meandering and a rushed ending. It was enjoyable in a quiet way, but I hope the rest of the books in the series pick up as I prefer to have a bit more action with these stories.
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Introducing…Throne of Jade: the pros and cons.
Yes, I'm starting with the cons, so what? This is my review, I do want I want.
✘ The pace is slow.
Wait. No. It's not slow. It's painfully slow. That kind of painfully slow:
✘ There isn't much action.
There is so little action here that Laurence reading to Temeraire at night feels like a major event. Exciting, right?
✘ There is a story, but it's not that gripping.
Laurence, Temeraire and friends are on a boat to China. It takes them a long time to get to China. They finally get to China. One or two things happen (wow). End of story.
Now would probably a good time to remind you that I did actually give this book a 4-star rating. I mean, these cons up there ↑↑ might lead you to think I got my stars mixed up. But I didn't. Because the pros outweigh the hell out of the cons.
✔ Laurence and Temeraire.
✔ Laurence and Temeraire.
✔ Laurence and Temeraire.
✔ Laurence and Temeraire.
✔ Laurence and Temeraire.
✔ Laurence and Temeraire.
►► Get the point? Good.
I said it before, and I'll say it again. And again, and again, and again: this series makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside Why? Because Laurence and Temeraire. Because Temeraire and Laurence. The cutest, most adorable, most heartwarming, greatest friendship that ever was. So cute, adorable and heartwarming that even I, the heartless cynic, fell victim to it. So cute, adorable and heartwarming that reading about them makes me feel like I'm 10 again. Because, yes, unbeknownst to most of you, I was a child once. And no, I wasn't yet nefarious back then. I was kind of a late bloomer in the villainous department actually. But I'm a fast learner. And I caught up with my inner wickedness in less time than it takes Temeraire to eat a sheep. Pretty impressive, huh?
So basically, what I'm trying to say is: as long as Laurence and Temeraire are in these books, I'm happy. Who ever said I was hard to please? And always needed non-stop action? And kickass heroines? And overbearing assholes? And poof-off-to-the-harem-you-go material?And sex scenes?Hey, I can be perfectly content with utter nothingness, too. Take that, ye of little faith.
And where does that leave us then? Well. I wanted to steal Temeraire away from Laurence, but then realized neither of them would allow it. So now my evil, nefarious plan is to work some, evil, nefarious magic so as to become Laurence. So that I can have Temeraire. And the greatest interspecies friendship that ever was. Piece of cake.
So we actually have 3 cons and 1 pro here. Which takes us to the moral of this review. Which is to never underestimate the minority. Because the minority will get your ass kicked every single time.
· Book 1:
His Majesty's Dragon ★★��★
· Book 3:
Black Powder War ★★★★ -
3,5/5
Me sigue encantando Temerario, la historia, los personajes y lo disfruto un montón, pero no me pareció un libro tan redondo como el primero... creo que su argumento está algo descompensado en algunos puntos..
Aún así, para mi estos libros son altamente comfort y me gusta mucho leerlos poquito a poco, dejándome llevar por los personajes y sus tramas. La autora en este caso traslada la acción hasta China (aunque más de la mitad del libro transcurre en el viaje en barco), me gustaron mucho todas las comparaciones que se hacen entre China e Inglaterra, relacionadas con cómo entienden a los dragones y sus relaciones con ellos.
Muchas ganas de seguir con la saga, que no es de las que enganchan, pero sí las que te hacen pasar muy buenos ratos :) -
Buddy Read with my Dragon loving peeps at Buddies Books and Baubles
There are parts of this book I really enjoyed and then there are parts of this book that totally bored me. Naomi Novak’s writing is always beautiful and detailed and had I not read Uprooted before starting this series I might not have had such high expectations but alas I did and so I wanted something more.
Throne of Jade is a lot more about cultural differences, social acceptances and politicking. Unlike His Majesty’s Dragon which involved getting to know the dragon culture and being in quite a few battles, much of the time in Throne of Jade is spent traveling to China and the focus is more on the bond of loyalty between Teremaire and Laurence. There are a few battles in this book but a lot of the action comes at the very beginning and the very end. Those were my favorite parts.
The Sea voyage is the part that became a bit tedious for me. Teremaire spent much of it brooding and there were many different discussions about slavery, dragon rights and why things are done a certain way in England. Teremaire seemed to have a lot of very specific ideas about all of it. There was some extraneous information about what everyone was eating including Teremaire and a funny bit when he caught a cold but it turned a little bit into what to feed a dragon for awhile and I started wondering when we would ever get back to the crux of the story.
I did appreciate how things changed once settled in China and it was interesting to see how the Chinese incorporated dragons into their everyday society and how that changes both Laurence and Teremaire’s opinions of the practices of raising and keeping Dragons in England. It will be interesting to see if anything comes of that. I also loved seeing the tale of Mulan weaved in with a dragon twist to it.
Overall much of this book became the care and upkeep of a dragon which I could have done without. But if I ever do hatch a dragon I will know which spices and dishes he should like the best. I do like the loyaty shown between Laurence and Teremaire even if the endearments Laurence uses for his dragon sometimes seem like something he would say to a love instead.
I’m hoping that in the future there will be more action and fighting and less dragon poetry -
I have never audiobook'd a whole series before, but I might have to for this one because Simon Vance is simply amazing. He should read all the books that way I could enjoy them all, even the ones I probably wouldn't like--pretty sure he could make me like 'em. So 5 stars for him and 4 stars for the book itself because, honestly, I don't know how far I'd get or how much I'd enjoy if I'd read these books on my own.
The writing is very descriptive, with long passages about early-19th Century culture and society of both Britain and China, and then there are more long passages about politics and intrigue. The previous book was mostly about Napoleon and his continued efforts to take over the rest of Europe; this book expands on that some more, but now there's also China thrown into the mix as both Britain and France fight for the Celestial Emperor's favor.
In middle of all of that, you have Temeraire and Laurence and their unbreakable bond. Or, well, what we thought was unbreakable. It was revealed at the end of the first book that Temeraire is a Celestial, the most prized breed of Chinese dragons, and here we learn that Celestials are companions only to Emperors and crown princes. Laurence is most definitely not royalty--he's barely nobility--and so the Chinese disapprove of his bond with Temeraire, and they would very much like their dragon back. The British aren't willing to comply with the request, but they see it as an opportunity to gain an alliance with the Emperor--and to one-up the French--and so they ship Temeraire, Laurence, and the rest of their crew halfway around the world.
Peking and Macao of the early-19th Century are a sight to behold for the British envoy and a whole new world full of wonder, for Temeraire especially who's eager to learn of his birth country and discover his roots. The lives of dragons of the East are fascinating to him, and the more he learns about them, the more he's pulled away from Laurence. Laurence, too, is fascinated by the treatment of dragons in Peking, and not just of the Imperials and Celestials, but of the smaller and less important breeds too. He's surprised that they all can live among people so peacefully, and thus comes to understand why Temeraire is so taken in by what he sees. At the end of this book, Temeraire and Laurence are still in China.
I'm most impressed by how Naomi Novik inserted dragons into actual history, and with just a little adjustment, she's inserted dragons into the tides of Chinese politics that will forever change the landscape of China for centuries to come. Colonialism is on its way, gradually at first but it's coming nonetheless. I can't help feeling a sense of dread, knowing what's coming in just a few years, but since this story is told from the British perspective, there's a sense of accomplishment and celebration in the writing, especially near the end, when the British envoy have permanently established themselves in China to open up more trading opportunities.
It will be interesting to see how much Novik sticks to or deviates from history in later books. I looked ahead and see some hints of Temeraire and Laurence traveling the Silk Road, visiting the Ottoman Empire, and making a stop in Russia. Lots to look forward to, and I can't wait.
Cross-posted at
https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2... -
Throne of Jade offered a relaxing continuation to the story, containing all of the elements I enjoyed in
His Majesty’s Dragon. “Relaxing” might seem like an odd term to attribute to a military dragon story, but the smooth writing and slow pacing had me snuggling into my seat under a pile of blankets, enjoying what I would earnestly call a true “armchair adventure.” Exciting action scenes are spliced throughout the tale, but for the most part my expectations for this series has developed into a knowledge that I can just ease back into the immersion and trust that the gradual flow of the story is taking me somewhere worthwhile.
This series is playing havoc on my expectations for it. In His Majesty’s Dragon, I got a beautiful dragon/human bonding story that focused on their budding relationship… when I expected a full-blown military showdown and very little character development. In Throne of Jade, I got a nautical adventure with some great inter-character moments… when I was expecting most of the book to focus on some sort of military conflict with China (are you seeing the pattern here?). Honestly though, a lot of that has to do with marketing. If they really wanted to represent the contents of this book, a more accurate title would’ve been “Voyage to the Throne of Jade,” lol. Slight discrepancy aside, it was still a journey I was on board to take (pun), and the payoff with wonderful things experienced at the end of the book was worth the wait. The beautiful imagery surrounding the unique dragon culture Novik created was stunning, and I love the dynamics it added to the overall story and to Temeraire’s character profile. I can’t wait to see what surprises like this I’m in for in future books. :)
As impressed as I was with the story-weaving and world building, Temeraire and Lawrence are still the selling points of this series, and I imagine that will always continue to be the case. There was a lot of introspective dialogue between them in this installment, and I love how the dragon is beginning to shape some of his convictions. I also love how much I’ve learned about Novik’s vision for dragon culture evolution in this alternate world, and, as with fun surprises, look forward to seeing how she develops this throughout the series.
Series status: Temeraire is currently my #1 priority at the moment, and I’m trying to strike a balance between satisfying my cravings for them with my desire to also avoid burnout lol. Good stuff. :)
Recommendations: I would recommend this series to fantasy readers who don’t mind a slow-moving, character-focused plot. It’s a bonus if you like alternate history stories, but so far that aspect seems to be taking a backseat to general dragon awesomeness.
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at
www.NikiHawkes.com
Other books you might like:
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A fun read, but not quite as captivating as the first book. We got an interesting look at shipboard life as they travel for a long time, which made the book drag a bit, but not too much. The story had some twists & turns, some quite unexpected. From the long build up, it seemed to end quickly & completely, much to my surprise. A bit too abruptly & neatly, perhaps. I look forward to reading the next book, which I have, but I won't be reading it next. I don't feel I HAVE to read the next book.
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Two important things I must establish before getting on with the actual review:
1. This is absolutely one of the best Simon Vance performances I have ever listened to. His Temeraire is not what I imagined when I read the first book myself, but it forever will be now. Vance expertly captured every nuance of the young dragon with Chinese roots.
2. This is what Temeraire looks like in my head. Deal with it.
As I discovered in reading the previous book in the Temeraire series,
His Majesty's Dragon, this is not necessarily an action/adventure fantasy. Yes, there are skirmishes that Temeraire and the other dragons participate in and there are several other moments of action, but at the heart of this story is a beautiful friendship between man and beast - only, this beast is a massive, highly intelligent dragon.
Throne of Jade picks up right where the previous left off, with the Chinese demanding the return of their Celestial Dragon. Laurence risks the stockade with his adamant refusal to simply relinquish the dragon he has come to adore, much less lie to Temeraire as his superiors and the Chinese emissaries suggest. And Temeraire feels much the same way. But circumstances eventually force the pair into a seven month voyage from England to China in hopes of pleading their case before the Emperor himself.
The beauty of this series is in watching Temeraire grow and learn and watching Laurence grow and learn with him. If there was any doubt before, Laurence's friendship with the dragon has clearly moved well beyond that of master and pet to a very deep bond that is thoroughly tested as Temeraire learns more and more about his homeland of China. Not the least of which is the vast difference in the treatment of dragons. The way Novik winds dragons into history is already fascinating, but now we get to see them within an entirely new environment.
The ending was a bit of a disappointment, but I am curious to see what Temeraire and Laurence will do with what they learn in China.
See more reviews at
The BiblioSanctum
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There will be serious spoilers in this review. Seriously. Spoilery.
2,5 stars, but I'm sad to say that I can't round this off to three stars. It's just not good enough.
I loved
His Majesty's Dragon, I really did. I loved the setting, the world, the action, and most of all, the characters. It was epic, and emotional, and nerve-wrecking, and fun.
Throne of Jade are all of those things as well. Just not all the time. Actually, not even most of the time. It drags, is what I'm saying. The bigger part of the book is spent during the eight months that it takes for Laurence and Temeraire to get to China. Okay, I know eight months is a long time, and if Naomi Novik was trying to get across just HOW long, then she really succeeded. Which is all fine and dandy, EXCEPT THAT IT EVENTUALLY GROWS OLD. I feel like several large chunks could have been cut out; there was so much that didn't further the story, so much meandering and repetition: so much that just didn't have to be there.
But, worst of all by far, is that after that longass trip to China, the actual events IN China are rushed!
Are you serious? Are you actually serious? The book is called THE THRONE OF JADE, and yet we only get to the actual Throne of Jade in the last fourth or so?! BTW, don't expect an explanation why it's called the Throne of Jade: the emperor and everybody dresses in yellow clothes, AND they never really use the name. As of right now, I'm not even sure it's actually called 'the Throne of Jade'. Novik might just have used it because it sounds epic.
But I digress. Where was I? ...Ah yes, the part in China is rushed. And I mean it: Temeraire gets a love interest (it's even hinted that they have sex!), which is LITERALLY never introduced. Suddenly, she's just there. The same goes for the crown-prince of China, who's supposedly an important character, but I don't think he had a single line. Laurence and his men are attacked by some group from a province that had never been introduced , and on top of that, they never step back after the attack and honestly ask 'Wait, why where those people after us?' In the very last chapter, we're told that the death of the bad guy has shifted the power-struggle back into favour of the crown-prince, BUT WE WERE NEVER INTRODUCED TO THIS POWER-STRUGGLE TO BEGIN WITH! And it just goes on and on like that: Novik hints at things which seem interesting, but she never fucking develops them. Instead, she focuses on a few simple things, and it gets boring.
But, you know, I'm a pretty forgiving fellow. Even with all these flaws, I would have been able to give this book 3,5 starts. After all: the fight-scenes are still extremely good, the relationship between Laurence and Temeraire is taken in a new direction, the different cultures and their treatment of dragons was extremely interesting, the characters are still good, without a simple, boring 'bad guy' or other stereotypes, and I still laugh out loud at parts.
But no. I'm so sorry, no. Because on top of all these flaws, there were the little things.
You know what I'm talking about, fellow readers and reviewers; the little things that doesn't quite ring true to you; the little things that grinds at you and can be outright aggravating if stumbled upon too many times.
Throne of Jade is full of those little things. Most prominently, there is something slightly off about Laurence and Temeraire. Laurence is just... he feels insanely passive, something I never experienced in the first book. Oh, he makes a big show of standing up to the Chinese when they try to separate him from his dragon, but when it comes to stuff like the diplomacy and relations and, y'know, the stuff that actually matters, he doesn't really try to understand anything! At times, his allies sit at the same table and discuss political elements and moves that directly affects him and Temeraire, yet he doesn't seem to care. Really?
As for Temeraire... remember in the first book, how when another dragon lost their rider, he was miserable for like a week? Yeah, well, in this book, he practically murders another dragon's rider right before her eyes, and doesn't seem to have any qualms about it. He kills a sea serpent that's trying to eat the crew of his ship, and it tears him up completely. Yet when it comes to another dragon - his cousin, at that - losing her rider, he just snorts at her.
The climax is another one of those little things: a fight between two giant dragons should feel way more epic than that! We know Novik can write kick-ass battle-scenes, so why is this so unimaginative? Also, why the fuck does Laurence stay for the fight?! I know he's Temeraire's rider and everything, but someone just tried to assasinate him! Yet everybody, including Grandby, who's been very protective of Laurence this whole book, just leaves him there alone!
Umm, guys, what if the assassin had a companion or a backup-plan? Nobody's worried about that? Just sayin'...
Oh, and at the end, Laurence is adopted by the insanely traditional, suspicious-of-strangers royal family.
It fits because the hippo kinda talks like the people in this series!
All of this: the big stuff, the little things, coupled with the fact that I was looking forward to this book like mad, has left me very disappointed. I will continue with this series, but something had to change, or I'll leave it!
I really hope something will change, though...
Please,
Black Powder War, please be good! please, please, please, please... -
I've read reviews that say this second book in the Temeraire series is boring... I would have to disagree. There are sea monsters, battles, assassination attemps, intrigue, and an allusion to dragon sex. What's not to love???
In this second book in the Temeraire series, Laurence and Temeraire must travel to China. In the first book it was discovered that Temeraire was a Chinese dragon meant as a gift to the French. Now, the Chinese apparently want their dragon back and they will stop at nothing to attain their goal. Once Laurence and Temeraire get to China they find a world much different from their own. In China dragons roam free and are taught to read and write. They have jobs and earn their own money. The freedom is dizzying to the young dragon and dismaying to Laurence who hopes to be able to take Temeraire back to England.
I love that Novik was able to create this fascinating world of dragons in the first book and now, in the second book, has turned that world on its head and created an entirely different dragon world. Different, but entirely plausible. -
Another book that I have been putting off writing a review for, because I did not enjoy it nearly as much as I thought I would.
The story has enough of Temeraire and Will to satisfy, and plenty more in the form new dragons, a new country, great action and interesting history, but it really tested my patience.
My chief complaint, is that most of the book was a journey and NOTHING happened in between, apart from a single interesting incident involving a sea-serpent. It was a chore turning pages and I longed for the book to end. Luckily the ending was strong and I will more than likely pick up the next book in the series early in 2016.
Also, it has dragons. That’s almost a star on it’s own. -
These books--the audiobooks in particular--are amazing. I'm not usually a fan of "alternate earth" scenarios, but these are just fantastic. On to the next!
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*** 4 ***
A buddy read with my buddies from BBB and loving it!
I thought I knew dragons, since I am well versed on Dragon behavior due to my rich PNR expertise. I already knew that DRAGONS are petulant, temperamental, strong willed, gorgeous, smart, always hungry, and charming. Now I see they get sick and act like babies, just like real men do, get preconceived notions, are ready to get into a fight at the slightest provocation, and like spicy foods :-) I am glad there is much more to learn about them and I am open for the knowledge:-)
I also thought that Naomi Novik could not possibly make the Napoleonic-British wars more interesting then they are already, but I was wrong! She discovered a great additive to spice the whole thing up - Just Add DRAGONS!!!! Then things get really interesting:)
This book starts where the first one ended and the Chinese Prince and their delegation wants their dragon back! Whaaaat??? They have no claim, none, if you ask me, but obviously the two governments think differently. But as much as I disliked the Chinese in the beginning, because I feel they have no right to our Dragon, NO right!, once we see how dragons are treated as a whole in China, I felt bad for the Western dragons and it is kind of obvious that they are being mistreated. Although since in China they have all the autonomy of a human, some of them are down on their luck, just like humans.... I was very nervous that Temeraire is going to have a hard time choosing what to do. Only his dragon friends back home and Laurence were pluses for our side... :-( I am a bit melancholic with the way the book ended, but I guess it was the best we could have hoped for under the circumstances... I feel sad for all involved. I especially feel this heartbreak for the albino dragon... What will happen to her, can't the British take her home with them??? And so on, and so on... We also lost some people in battles, but it is war, I guess...
The weird thing about this book is that it is not chock full of action, has many sections of slow development, and plenty of descriptions, but in spite of all that, I could not put it down! It is engaging and compelling and I am a fan! I am definitely continuing with the series:) -
I just really love these books and the Laurence/Temeraire relationship is phenomenal <3 The fact that they branched out from the typical European/British setting and went all the way to China for this book was fantastic.
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Se ha hecho un poco mas pesado que el primero, pero la ambientación oriental y los derechos mas laxos de los dragones ha sido algo que me ha gustado mucho❤️
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#1)
Throne of Jade ★★★★★
➸ Trigger warnings for .
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3.5/5.0 stars. I liked it well enough, especially all the parts with Temeraire and Lawrence, but it did get a little slow for me in the middle. The ending was better, and I look forward to continuing the series.
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I can't seem to get engaged with this instalment of Temeraire. I enjoyed the first book very much as it was action-packed & the bromance provided the lighter relief. Even as the first bit of this book was rather exciting with a suspenseful circumstance whereby others were seeking to split this partnership and the action following, the rest, I found a little bit of a let down. It is more like a court intrigue novel without there actually being a court (except at the very end). I just couldn't get excited, not even at the resolution.
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A bit slow, even compared to the first one which was already fairly slow going. This book seems to exist solely for the purpose of world building. We learn a great deal about the differences in Chinese and British cultures, mostly with how they treat dragons and not much else.
There are some nice conversations between Temeraire and Lawrence, a couple gripping battle scenes, and some cute childish antics on the part of our lovable dragon of war. Overall though, not much of a plot, but it does resolve an important conflict in the series satisfactorily. -
-Mucha transición, demasiada.-
Género. Narrativa fantástica.
Lo que nos cuenta. En el libro El Trono de Jade (publicación original: Throne of Jade, 2006), una delegación diplomática china exige la devolución del dragón Temerario, o Lung Tien Xiang para ellos. Aunque el gobierno británico está dispuesto a considerar la petición con buenos ojos, preocupados por el repentino interés de China en la situación de guerra en Europa occidental y su posible acercamiento a la Francia de Napoleón, Temerario no está de acuerdo y Will Laurence acompañará al dragón celestial en un largo y tenso viaje hasta China, durante el que varios incidentes y las informaciones de lo sucedido en Austerlitz ensombrecen más la singladura. Segundo libro de la serie Temerario.
¿Quiere saber más de este libro, sin spoilers? Visite:
https://librosdeolethros.blogspot.com... -
3.5 that I'm rounding up because I love Temeraire. This one was rather like war - long stretches of boredom punctuated by insane action. I kid, a little - I actually love the slowness of these books, but this one did have me wondering at the overall plot. Nonetheless, lots of fun!
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3.5 rounded up. Continuing the series of dragons in the Napoleonic era, I'm starting to realize how this will be a 9 book series if we manage to travel around the world all the time.
The second book in the series follows Temeraire and Laurence as they go to China to appease the empire after it's discovered that Temeraire is in fact a super special dragon to them.
There's definitely some interesting underlying themes with the British going to China. I enjoy the voice that Novik uses that feels realistic but in no way antagonistic of differing cultures. China here is presented as wholly foreign to Laurence and Temeraire (which it would be to an upright British guy and his young dragon) but it's never villainized or put down. I enjoyed Novik's presentation of China and it's culture of dragon here though I can not properly speak for all of it.
I enjoy her use of Temeraire to call out how ridiculous parts of almost any culture was at the time including England.
I think her only misstep being a completely out of place martial arts moment.
I was confused at points for there seemed to be some action scenes that happened just to happen with no real meaning behind them.
These books are also very slow. Novik puts so much detail into travel and how this world actually works that the book can feel plodding even when there are dragons. I stand by my assessment of this being a history book first and fantasy second.
But overall, I continue to love the relationship of Temeraire and Laurence, the tension that's created through the story and the historical aspects. -
What can I say about this? It goes on as the first book ended and in the same style.
To me it feels like the Temeraire series is a gigantic road trip. The plot isn't really there. It is more a trip with some goal, occasionally interrupted by some random action sequence/attack by someone or something and finally ending with a significant fight, only to have everything wrapped up rather nicely so the heros can continue on their journey.
My biggest gripe is actually the lack of real plot. On occasion it's just very boring. Which on the other hand, makes it a very relaxing read ... you can read it half asleep before actually going to sleep and you don't miss much.
The relationship between Temeraire and Lawrence is perfect, just as it used to be in the first book. And I really really really want a dragon as a pet now! ^^ -
Nada emocionante en esta segunda entrega. Se aburre uno leyendo como Temerario y su jockey (el capitán ese) se van a China a ver si descubren los orígenes del dragoncito.
Más o menos.
Olvidable. No malo, malo, pero olvidable. No sigo con la saga. -
Rating: 3.5 stars
Based on the synopsis from the back of the book and what I remembered from the first book, I went into this one expecting a grand adventure in China for Temeraire and Laurence filled with political intrigue in the Chinese court, some aerial action and to meet new dragons. Instead this is primarily a travelogue with a meandering plot and not near enough dragons though I really enjoyed the ones we got to meet.
The voyage to China, which makes up almost 75% of the book, was long and tedious. There is some commentary on society around slavery and the treatment of dragons. For the most part though we're given the day to day of ship life, with plenty of descriptions of what everyone was eating and a little tension between the British and Chinese as well as the Aviators and the ship's crew. Mostly that felt a little like how the pandemic lock down has been feeling - people stuck together in a small space with no other outlet than to fight with each other over real or perceived insults.
The final quarter of the book, when Temeraire and Laurence finally arrive in China, was quite interesting and the ending felt rushed after spending too much time at sea. I loved seeing the differences in Chinese culture and how they incorporate dragons into their society. It is an eye opening experience for Temeraire and Laurence, one I hope they can take back with them to England for the benefit of the English dragons. The Chinese dragons were so much fun to meet. I wish we'd had time to get to know them more! As always I continue to love Temeraire and Laurence's dedication to each other. It is the heart of what makes these books special.
I already have the third book in my TBR though I find I'm not in a rush to read it since I think it will include yet another voyage. I will get to it eventually though when I am in dire need of something to fill the Temeraire-sized space in my heart. -
Once again, I have to admonish my past self for only giving this second Temeraire book a measly 3 stars. I think I was in the "new to Goodreads, must add EVERYTHING I've ever read!" mode, and just arbitrarily scored this so I could move on to the next addition to the list. But for whatever reason, I am glad that I got the reread under my belt, as this deserves more than 3 stars for sure. It may not be a 5 star read, and also isn't quite as good as
His Majesty's Dragon, but it's still a fantastic read.
Unfortunately, things are off to a much slower start this time around, as we join Laurence and Temeraire in the middle of negotiations with China...regarding Temeraire's future with the English Aerial Corps. Through a series of various events Lawrence ends up heading to China as a quasi-ambassador, joining Chinese nobility and various other characters for the long journey across the waves. Many characters are brought into the fold here, some new, some old, and with the Chinese added to the mix, the stage is set for some volatile situations. China wants the dragon back, the British military just wants to appease the Chinese government, and Laurence is caught in the middle, bound by duty to his country, but unwilling to lose his dragon companion.
The first 2/3's of the tale are essentially Laurence and Temeraire's encounters and conversations while on the slow boat...to CHINA! ZING! Naomi Novik tries every trick in the book to keep the journey interesting, and is mostly successful. But it's a long journey, and despite her best efforts, things drag somewhat. Once they've reached the mainland, their tale picks up a bit, but this second book is more of a "fill in some of the gaps" effort than an action-packed spectacle. I am assuming that some of the political and social views on dragons are introduced here so they can make an impact on the British dragons in future novels. Which is fine by me, as I was very taken by the roles of dragons in Chinese society.
While a full-fledged character in the first book, Temeraire really gets to shine here. As he matures and learns more about the world around him, the more he questions why things are the way they are, and what his true place is in all of it. This also helps further along Laurence's own internal changes and struggles, as he starts to adopt more of Temeraire's progressive leanings. Some of the supporting characters are brought back into the spotlight here as well, which helps immerse the reader into the story. I wish that the Chinese had been given a bit more character, but all in all, everyone is well realized.
Battles are few and far between, but are excellently rendered. Naomi Novik knows her stuff, and the danger that our heroes are in is never understated.
The last time I read this series, I only made it to this book, so from here on out I'll be in uncharted territory. And that's perfectly fine by me, as I can't wait to be surprised and dazzled by what comes next! -
*This completes my Potions O.W.L. for the Magical Readathon 2019 as it's the 'Next ingredient' a.k.a. a sequel*
I have to say, I really enjoyed the first in this series when I picked it up a while back, and this one I also found to be a wonderful adventure. It's a slow-moving and character-driven series, which focuses on Lawrence and Temeraire, a man and his friend, a Celestial Dragon. The Temeraire we learned to love in book 1 is back, and he has just as much sass and sense as before. He's unafraid to speak plainly about things he sees as wrong, and he's a delightful character to follow. Lawrence is a little more of a wet blanket at times as he's so very rigid on following rules, but I think this story sees him start to understand that rules aren't always right and we follow his transformation over the course of the book.
I like the plot of this one, it's a story which travels from England to China in a time of the Napoleonic war. The war is ongoing, but there is also political trouble between China and England as Temeraire is assumed to have been treated incorrectly for a Dragon of his station. These negotiations and worries force Lawrence and Temeraire to travel on a Dragon carrying boat across the seas on a voyage to a land very different from their own. Along the way they have to fight of illness, monsters and treachery, but the story is a good one and one I recommend trying.
I ended up giving this a 3.5*s which is what I gave book 1 too. It's a very pleasant series and it stays chirpy whilst addressing big ideas of slavery, freedom and more. I found that the discussions that Novik is making through her characters were informative and thoughtful, and I like that a lot. However, I do think it's a little low on the action at times for me which is why it doesn't get quite as high a rating as it could have. I'll certainly continue the series though! -
4 stars.
This book, the second of the Temeraire series, continues the story of Temeraire and his companion, naval captain turned dragon aviator, Will Laurence. As Temeraire hatched from an egg being sent to Napoleon from the Emperor of China, the Chinese are demanding that he must be returned to his homeland. As Temeraire is one of the most powerful dragons in the British Dragon Corps, this would be a real blow in their war against the French. For Laurence, being forced to part with Temeraire would be a more personal loss - for him, Temeraire is a dear companion. So he's part of the delegation that accompanies Temeraire to China.
This book pretty much follows the pattern laid in the first novel; Laurence and Temeraire face various challenges which challenge or reinforce their bond. In this novel this involves a long sea voyage to China, several vocal skirmishes with the Chinese delegation, and events that happen when they finally arrive in Temeraire's ancestral homeland.
The Temeraire series is one of the more pleasant fantasy series I've read; that's not meant to sound disparaging, so I hope it doesn't come across that way. The problems that face Laurence and Temeraire are not necessarily small ones, and this book certainly has its share of action, but with its emphasis on the relationship of Laurence and Temeraire and the friendships between the other dragons and their pilots, it has a 'nicer' feel than many of the fantasy books I've read.
If you like books about dragons and don't demand grimness in your fantasy, than you may find this series a pleasure. -
Novik goes from strength to strength. Because Temeraire is naive but intelligent, she has the opportunity to question all the wrongs of Regency British society and colonialism, and to defend them according to the beliefs of the time. Maybe there are other writers who can evoke so much about time and place and character from the difficulty of finding suitable evening wear, but most writers overlook such prosaic material, particularly in a series that has war and adventure at its core. Brilliant stuff, deeply layered and truly thoughtful. I want to downgrade everything else, in order to give Novik more stars.
Somewhere in the course of reading this one, I became convinced that the dragons aren't based on humans, but on cats. Maybe that's because I was sick, and covered with sleeping cats, but it still seems plausible to me. There's something different about them.
Library copy.
09/18/2011
