littlemustard's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
fahyhallowell's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
misssusan's review
3.0
fun bit of alt-history. figures that europe's whole captain system would have come off some random dissolute discovering that dragons are a sight more interesting than anything else going on in his life
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
eowyndoodles's review
3.0
Nice little bit of prologue/intro to dragons fighting. Definitely worth it considering it was a free story. I'm glad I read it.
bookaneer's review
4.0
A nice short story on the first (?) dragon rider, or should I say, an aviator. Novik's dragons are always hungry, it seems. And they're usually good natured and sweet. Oh gosh, I can not wait for the last Temeraire novel. 2015 :(
jljaina's review
4.0
This book takes place in ancient Rome. Some known names you will find: Cato, Marcus Antonius and Caius Julius (Caesar). This, right off, made me smile.
So for the story, Antony is in heavy with debts and is sent to kill a dragon as reimbursement. No one, including himself, expect him to live. Yet he does and returns home with a special souvenir. A dragon egg. Adventures await once the dragon hatches and starts to grow.
This book was well-written. I wish the author showed a bit more of the Roman life, but you can only convey so much in 15 pages. Still, nice characterization.
So for the story, Antony is in heavy with debts and is sent to kill a dragon as reimbursement. No one, including himself, expect him to live. Yet he does and returns home with a special souvenir. A dragon egg. Adventures await once the dragon hatches and starts to grow.
This book was well-written. I wish the author showed a bit more of the Roman life, but you can only convey so much in 15 pages. Still, nice characterization.
cavalary's review
3.0
It's just a short story, but since it's on Goodreads I guess I might as well write a little comment, even if it doesn't have anything to do with the Temeraire series other than the fact that it also involves a newly hatched dragon, the start of her relationship with the human she chose, and just a little bit of fighting. It even takes place in an entirely different period, during the time of the Roman Empire, and I must say I'd quite like that setting to be explored more in this sense.
That said, the dragon definitely is interesting and makes all the difference, reminding of a feeling that was at times lost later during the Temeraire series. On the other hand, the human elements, which in this case also include the captain, or more exactly the one who would be called the captain in the Temeraire series, definitely are still particularly annoying, humans being humans. Still, the story's so short that there's no time for that to be an actual problem.
That said, the dragon definitely is interesting and makes all the difference, reminding of a feeling that was at times lost later during the Temeraire series. On the other hand, the human elements, which in this case also include the captain, or more exactly the one who would be called the captain in the Temeraire series, definitely are still particularly annoying, humans being humans. Still, the story's so short that there's no time for that to be an actual problem.
else's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0