Helpful Score: 1
Well, the series does odd things here. Temeraire becomes a viewpoint character and Will Laurence becomes all but a cardboard cut out. Whether this is a failing by the author or actually reflects the character's despair and anger is up to the reader. I liked Temeraire as a viewpoint character, especially as he became an officer under Wellesley (Wellington's) harsh tutelage.
Did I like it? Yeah, grudgingly, but yes. I liked seeing more of the dragons as characters, from Requiescat to Perscitia and what they did in Temeraire's dragon militia. And Temeraire and Perscitia are a formiddably intelligent team. The world changes due to dragons - using them for field engineering and transport - helped make the book. That and the response to play strength to weakness by Wellesley.
I'm curious about a 6th book, but what the heck can they have happen in Australia?
Did I like it? Yeah, grudgingly, but yes. I liked seeing more of the dragons as characters, from Requiescat to Perscitia and what they did in Temeraire's dragon militia. And Temeraire and Perscitia are a formiddably intelligent team. The world changes due to dragons - using them for field engineering and transport - helped make the book. That and the response to play strength to weakness by Wellesley.
I'm curious about a 6th book, but what the heck can they have happen in Australia?
Helpful Score: 1
I love all the books in the series, but this one may be my favorite. Poor Temeraire's been shipped off to Wales, told that if he behaves his captain won't be killed. Temeraire's rise to be a military campaign leader is hilarious, as he plans out how to bribe the humans to herd cattle and stops his dragons from fighting among themselves while developing new battle tactics to drive Napoleon's forces out of England.
Victory of Eagles, A Novel of Temeraire, by Naomi Novak (recognizable historical mileu): Thoroughly enjoyed this story of Napoleon's invasion of Britain and how dragons, led by Temeraire, and his captain, Will Laurence, help the British repel the French, who have their own dragon force. While Napoleon escapes, by dragon flight, of course, Temeraire and Laurence are sent to Australia. Both have been removed from military service because they rescued the dragons of France from a debilitating and lethal disease ( a treasonous act), Laurence's death sentence is repealed if he and Temeraire will move to Australia. This is the fifth in a series about Temeraire and Laurence. This book dwells primarily on the battles during Napoleon's invasion and occupation of London. It's an exciting and enjoyable read.
Good book. But, I like the prior ones better. I'm not sure if it was a push to get another out. But, it seemed to drag a bit.
Got these for my brother---they had great promise, but I found the books dull....Temeraire, the dragon was cool, but the writing was just dull. I LOVED Anne McCaffrey's Dragonrider series, but this just didn't cut it.
Laurence and Temeraire has a time of it in this installment. Convicted of being a traitor, Laurence is jailed and Temeraire is remanded to a breeding colony. Both are miserable. Upon falsely hearing of Laurence's death, Temeraire decides that he is going to war. He convinces all the dragons at the colony (about 100) to join him and off they go to fight Napoleon. At the same time, Laurence and Temeraire are needed by the admiralty so Laurence sets off to retrieve Temeraire only to find him gone. A cat and mouse game ensues and then the battle begins.
This is great and leaves the story hanging so book 6 is definitely in the making. I can't wait...Australia here we come.
This is great and leaves the story hanging so book 6 is definitely in the making. I can't wait...Australia here we come.
