Squadrons of aviators swarm the skies -- a deadly shield for the cumbersome canon-firing vessels. Raining fire and acid upon their enemies, they engage in a swift, violent combat with flying tooth and claw! for these aviators ride dragons. Captain Laurence is a satisfied man with a respectable commission aboard the ship Reliant. His career is born from a love for the sea and he takes his duty very seriously Months before the battle of Trafalgar, on patrol in the Atlantic, The Reliant takes a small French frigate, storm-damaged and possessing a fierce crew unwilling to surrender as easily as they should. On board Laurence finds a dragon egg -- a great prize as England is in sore need. Having spent months on a slow journey from Asia, the egg hatches.

A sinewy new-born emerges from the fragmented shell, ignores his harness-bearer, approaches Laurence and changes his life. Hatchling dragons must be put in a harness immediately otherwise the dragon-young become hard to control -- fit only for the breeding colonies. The person chosen to first harness the beast must be an aviator, for the dragon will accept no other captain.

The life of an aviator is not a desirable one; reviled by fashionable society, they live hard, lonely lives bound to duty and they frequently die young. Laurence must now join them; duty demands it, though his heart is broken. But, more astonishing than the dragonet -- named Temeraire by Laurence -- are the documents found with him, documents addressed to Napoleon from the greatest, most skilled dragon-breeders in the world -- the Chinese.

The dragon Temeraire was meant for the Emperor Napoleon himself and promises to grow into no ordinary creature.


The US edition: His Majesty's Dragon



Paperback: 384 pages (March 28, 2006)
Publisher: Del Rey

Order now from:
Click to go to * Amazon US



Review

What can I say about this book...I loved it, for me it was like a meld of Bernard Cornwells Sharpe, with a touch of Hornblower and dose of Harry Turtledoves alternate history.
Temeraire is a loveable character, if you can say that about a dragon, and Captain Laurence is the epitome of the English sea Captain during the Napoleonic era.
I think alot of people will be surprised that this is Naomi Noviks first book as it is an extremely well rounded book, with deep likeable characters and a fast paced story. Putting the book down for me was like saying goodbye to some friends. I eagerly look forward to books 2 (Throne of Jade) and 3 (Black Powder War)

Del Rey will be publishing the US editions of Throne of Jade and Black Powder War, volumes two and three of the Temeraire series, in April and May 2006 respectively.

Dates for the UK editions of books two and three have yet to be finalized.

Spanish and Dutch foreign-language editions are already in the works -- more details about these and other translations to come.

Throne of Jade

US Book cover



UK Book Cover


Click to go to * Amazon US



US Paperback (432 pages, Del Rey)
Cover art by Dominic Harman
Released: April 25, 2006

Throne of Jade will be released on April 25, 2006, in the US, and in the UK on August 7, 2006. You can preorder it now at your local bookstore or online at Amazon.com


Synopsis

A historical fantasy with bite, this deliciously addictive debut novel from Naomi Novik captures the Napoleonic period perfectly and skillfully layers history with imagination by adding a Dragon Air Force to the battle for England. Temeraire is a Celestial dragon, the most highly-prized of all draconic breeds; famed for their intelligence, agility and most of all for the Divine Wind - their terrible roar capable of shattering the heavy timbers of war ships and devastating woodland. Captured by the British, Temeraire was meant to be the companion of the Emperor Napoleon and not captained by a mere officer in the British Air Corps. The Chinese have demanded his return and the British government cannot afford to provoke the Asian super-power into allying with the French - even if it costs them the most powerful weapon in their arsenal, and forces Laurence and Temeraire apart.


Review

A fantastic 2nd book in the trilogy, While the napoleonic world is almost the same as the real world, the introduction of dragons lends this world a subtle difference, that is both fascinating and appealing (what if??).

Naomi perfectly captures the essence of the british officer of the time, torn between duty, honour and his love for temeraire. You find yourself firmly immersed in the story and the hope that all works out well in the end.

The differences between the way dragons are treated in europe and china is startling, and the comparison made between dragon servitude and the black slave trade makes the reader stop and thin more deeply on how temerarie and his friends are used, is it right is it wrong, a moral dilemma appears that you the reader had never even imagined or associated with this story!

If you loved book 1 (temeraire) then this is a must, never easy to beat your first book but this one does!! roll on book 3.

Black Powder War

US Book Cover



US Paperback (400 pages, Del Rey)
Cover art by Dominic Harman
Coming soon: May 30, 2006

other editions
UK Hardcover (400 pages, HarperCollins UK)
Cover art by Dominic Harman
Coming soon: January 2, 2007

Review


When an author takes on history, it tends to be a battle of wills from the first.
A battle between the yearning for what could have been and the solid truths of what actually happened.
With a wealth of historical facts at Novik's fingertips, the author produces a richly developed character soup full of reason, treason, gunpowder plots and wings.

The rich tapestry of the Napoleonic Wars and it's possible intrigues are laid out before us with the inclusion of DRAGONS!

Emipre of Ivory




Synopsis
The fourth adventure of Captain William Laurence and his extraordinary dragon Temeraire, set during the turbulent time of the Napoleonic Wars Laurence and Temeraire made a daring journey across vast and inhospitable continents to bring home a rare Turkish dragon from the treacherous Ottoman Empire. Kazilik dragons are firebreathers, and Britain is in greater need of protection than ever, for while Laurence and Temeraire were away, an epidemic struck British shores and is killing off her greatest defence -- her dragon air force is slowly dying. The dreadful truth must be kept from Napoleon at all costs. Allied with the white Chinese dragon, Lien, he would not hestitate to take advantage of Britain's weakness and launch a devasting invasion. Hope lies with the only remaining healthy dragon -- Temeraire cannot stay at home, but must once again venture into the unknown to help his friends and seek out a cure in darkest Africa.


Emipre of Ivory



Synopsis

The fifth adventure of Captain William Laurence and his extraordinary fighting dragon, Temeraire, as they travel from the shores of Britain to China and Africa. Laurence and Temeraire have betrayed the British. They have foiled their attempts to inflict death upon the French dragons by sharing the cure they found in Africa with their enemy. But following their conscience has a price. Laurence feels he must return to face the consequences, and as soon as they land they are taken into custody. Laurence is condemned to the gallows and Temeraire faces a life of captivity in the breeding grounds. None of their friends or allies can come to their aid, for every hand is needed elsewhere. Britain is completely unprepared for Bonaparte invasion and the advanced tactics of his own celestial dragon -- Temeraire's mortal enemy -- Lien.

Review

When i picked this book up it was in the hope that naomi had managed to keep going a series that is both action packed and filled with great characters, and to start with i was worried, the action was not there, what was there though, was a new depth to the characters, a real depth of sadness and despair for Captain william laurence that really carried over to the reader, but was also counter balanced by the intelligence but naivety of Temeraire and his dragon friends.

And for those that dont care about that and just want the action...do not worry, when it does arrive it does so in spades.
As usual i finished the book in about 24 hours and was letf really looking forward to the next, and that the only pointer i need to know its been a great book.



Tongues of Serpents Delivery (Temeraire)


Product Description
Naomi Novik’s stunning series of novels follow the global adventures of Captain William Laurence and his fighting dragon Temeraire as they are thrown together to fight for Britain during the turbulent time of the Napoleonic Wars.

Laurence and Temeraire have been banished from the country they’ve fought so hard to protect - and the friends they have made in the British Aerial Corps.

Found guilty of treason, man and dragon have been deported to Australia to start a new life and many new adventures.

Review

Yawn: Tongues of Serpents Delivery (Temeraire)

I have been looking forward to this book for some time now, I remember the speed with which I read the first few books, and how captivated I was by the characters and the period, the slightly archaic vocabulary at times distracting but at others engaging. But over it all following the grown and maturity of Temeraire and Laurence.
But this book which could have promised so much with exploration of new lands, which could have hidden so much....well it almost ended up on the unfinished pile, it was very much like a middle series episode in a miniseries, it left me wondering if Naomi knocked it out to keep the fans tagging along while she works on the film rights etc with Peter Jackson?
I have to say I'm utterly underwhelmed by this book and something serious will have to be going on in the next book to make me spend cash on it.
I'm very disappointed, so much promise, seems to have been killed by author apathy.

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