Starred review from April 11, 2016
Novik’s ninth draconic alternate history of the Napoleonic wars concludes the series with a bang. It opens where 2013’s Blood of Tyrants left off, with Napoleon’s staggering losses in the Russian winter of 1813. The allied forces are demoralized by Napoleon’s escape back to France, but nothing could have provoked the English dragon Temeraire more than the news that his egg has been stolen from China—where it was left in trust—and may well be destroyed by his grave enemy, the Chinese celestial dragon Lien. Only once the safety of his egg is assured will Temeraire turn his keen intelligence and unique perception to the problem of Napoleon’s regrouping forces, and to thwarting a scheme to turn the feral dragons of the continent against the allies. This thrilling installment is packed with action and excitement, drawing the series to a delightful and satisfying close with plenty of twists, misadventures, and aerial combat along the way. Agent: Cynthia Manson, Cynthia Manson Literary.
Starred review from April 15, 2016
Ninth, and last, of the Temeraire historical fantasy series (Blood of Tyrants, 2013, etc.), reimagining the Napoleonic Wars in a world where humans coexist with intelligent dragons. Napoleon's invasion of Russia has been foiled. Following his adventures in the Far East, Capt. William Laurence and his dragon partner, Temeraire, assist the Russian forces to harry the retreating French--but Napoleon escapes to Paris, where he plots a counterstroke. While raising new human armies, he promulgates a remarkable political document granting any dragons that will fight for him--including the ferals who owe allegiance to no government--autonomous territories and humane treatment. This offer proves a powerful enticement, especially to dragons from Russia (historically treated with great cruelty) and Britain (where attitudes range from callous indifference to outright hostility). Even worse, from Laurence's viewpoint, Napoleon has stolen the egg of Temeraire (whose weapon is the Divine Wind, a rock-shattering roar) and Iskierka, his fire-breathing mate, knowing that the egg is enormously precious to them and that they will go to any lengths to recover it. So it should be a simple matter to lure Laurence and the dragons into a trap. One of the great pleasures of this long, sometimes uneven, but always fascinating series is the way Novik meticulously and patiently accumulates details of the various types of dragon, each having its particular aspect, talents, and behaviors, and the spectrum of attitudes humans hold toward them. Though employing a modern vocabulary, the early-19th-century writing style precisely captures the rhythms, manners, and sensibilities of the period. The action prose is vivid and immediate, especially when adopting a dragon's perspective. You feel that, given the existence of dragons, the alternate history the author envisions might well have come to pass. Not the finest entry in the sequence, being slow to gather momentum and somewhat patchy, but overall a satisfying conclusion to a remarkable series.
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Starred review from June 1, 2016
The ninth volume in Novik's long-running alternate-history series about the Napoleonic Warsas fought with armed, intelligent dragons and their human ridersconcludes with appropriate fanfare. Napoleon may have suffered a crushing defeat in Russia, but his escape into France gives him time to raise a new army. As a powerful incentive, Napoleon has offered any dragon who will join him the right to territory (divided from his conquered lands), treasure, and equal treatment. While dragon Temeraire works to undo the temptations of this devil's bargain, including drafting a global Dragon Rights Act for Parliament, his human companion Captain Laurence faces dangers in battle and in politics. But when news arrives that Temeraire and Iskierka's egg has been stolen from China, at the mercy of Napoleon and his dragon Lien, this small band of humans and dragons must divert from battle to save the eggeven if it means flying into a trap. Series fans will not be disappointed with this final offering. Thrilling scenes of aerial combat are interspersed with detailed character work, moral complexities, and political maneuvering. Novik expertly balances a myriad of plotlines and characters and offers an extremely satisfying resolution.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)
May 15, 2016
Although Napoleon's invasion of Russia has been checked, low supplies and roaming feral dragons mean a bitter victory for Captain Laurence, dragon Temeraire, and their allies. Chasing the French armies west, Laurence and Temeraire fail to capture Napoleon as he returns to Paris. Worse news arrives: the French have stolen Temeraire and Iskierka's egg from China. Still dealing with the aftermath of Laurence's treasonous actions (giving the cure for a draconic illness to the French), it is an uphill battle as Laurence and Temeraire fight for their country, their lives, and finally to stop Napoleon. VERDICT This series finale would not be complete without visits from familiar figures from previous books (Her Majesty's Dragon; Blood of Tyrants) and plenty of battle scenes. Novik's fans won't be disappointed.--KC
Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
December 1, 2015
Wrapping up John W. Campbell Award-winning Novik's New York Times best-selling "Temeraire" series, Lawrence and the dragon Temeraire pursue Napoleon and his army back to Paris but soon have a more important mission: rescuing Termeraire and Iskierka's egg, stolen by the French.
Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.