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indigo_fox's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-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
3.75
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I was going to enjoy it. Things felt a little slow at first but once Laurence moves onto training the story starts to pick up. I like the writing style, although I wasn't sure how I felt about it at first. I don't read historical fiction books often but I loved the idea of dragons existing and it is cool to see how they would have been employed during war time.
My biggest complaint with this story is that the side characters don't really matter. They are just there to give the MC chances to interact and show off. They all have surface level personalities and frankly, they were so flat that sometimes I forgot their names. It would have been nice to see a little more life poured into them even though this story is told from Laurence's POV. That being said, it was enjoyable enough that I am going to continue on to the next book. I'm very curious to see what the world has in store for these two.
My biggest complaint with this story is that the side characters don't really matter. They are just there to give the MC chances to interact and show off. They all have surface level personalities and frankly, they were so flat that sometimes I forgot their names. It would have been nice to see a little more life poured into them even though this story is told from Laurence's POV. That being said, it was enjoyable enough that I am going to continue on to the next book. I'm very curious to see what the world has in store for these two.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Gun violence and Sexism
evanrobins's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Superficially, I doubt that anyone would expect a book with this premise to be so compelling. His Majesty's Dragon is a hard sell because it's not really all that much like anything else.
Trying to explain to people the idea that in this book the various continental empires of the Regency period co-exist with dragons and, moreover, use them as capital ships, can be a little trying on their willingness to suspend their disbelief.
Like, the best way to get into this franchise is to already be really autistic about the Age of Sail, and that in itself is a prohibitive barrier for most well-adjusted people.
All the same Novik's rigorous attention to the setting—to historical and military customs, and to crafting a believable and intricately realized vision of an alternative history—elevate this book in comparison to its generic contemporaries.
Then again, I am a woman who watches multi-hour YouTube videos about Pterosaur phylogeny, so you might not want to take my word for it. All I'm saying is that if Novik were to release a reference book explaining in painful detail the skeletal articulation of her various dragon species, I would be the first to buy it.
I suppose it also helps that all of Novik's characters are well-realized and compelling. There are a ton of them in this book, and it's remarkable the degree to which Novik is able to articulate each of their respective personalities and beliefs in a few sparse lines of dialogue.
Temeraire is easily one of the most likeable characters in any book I've read, and his relationship with Laurence is of course what underpins this whole thing.
It is really is a testament to this book that you'll have forgotten how refreshing it feels to actually like a book's characters until you've read it, and then you'll never want to go back.
Your mileage might vary most with the plot, however.
His Majesty's Dragon is identical in structure to Top Gun—the characters spend 90% of the book in flight school and then have a single fight at the end.
Now I, for one, love Top Gun, and Novik manages to preserve the essence of what makes that story work (the understanding that the Navy is, all told, kind of gay) to a historical context 180 years prior and also with dragons. Dudes rock.
Also William Laurence is my little meow meow babygirl. If he were alive today I would make him play Armoured Core and try to forcefem him.
The Bottom Line is: The AO3 lady cooked hard.
Trying to explain to people the idea that in this book the various continental empires of the Regency period co-exist with dragons and, moreover, use them as capital ships, can be a little trying on their willingness to suspend their disbelief.
Like, the best way to get into this franchise is to already be really autistic about the Age of Sail, and that in itself is a prohibitive barrier for most well-adjusted people.
All the same Novik's rigorous attention to the setting—to historical and military customs, and to crafting a believable and intricately realized vision of an alternative history—elevate this book in comparison to its generic contemporaries.
Then again, I am a woman who watches multi-hour YouTube videos about Pterosaur phylogeny, so you might not want to take my word for it. All I'm saying is that if Novik were to release a reference book explaining in painful detail the skeletal articulation of her various dragon species, I would be the first to buy it.
I suppose it also helps that all of Novik's characters are well-realized and compelling. There are a ton of them in this book, and it's remarkable the degree to which Novik is able to articulate each of their respective personalities and beliefs in a few sparse lines of dialogue.
Temeraire is easily one of the most likeable characters in any book I've read, and his relationship with Laurence is of course what underpins this whole thing.
It is really is a testament to this book that you'll have forgotten how refreshing it feels to actually like a book's characters until you've read it, and then you'll never want to go back.
Your mileage might vary most with the plot, however.
His Majesty's Dragon is identical in structure to Top Gun—the characters spend 90% of the book in flight school and then have a single fight at the end.
Now I, for one, love Top Gun, and Novik manages to preserve the essence of what makes that story work (the understanding that the Navy is, all told, kind of gay) to a historical context 180 years prior and also with dragons. Dudes rock.
Also William Laurence is my little meow meow babygirl. If he were alive today I would make him play Armoured Core and try to forcefem him.
The Bottom Line is: The AO3 lady cooked hard.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Violence, Blood, and War
Minor: Sexism, Torture, Murder, and Classism
abby_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
📖
This book was great. I had a delightful time reading it. I loved the bond between Laurence and Temeraire. I'm excited to read more in this series.
This book was great. I had a delightful time reading it. I loved the bond between Laurence and Temeraire. I'm excited to read more in this series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and War
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexism, and Injury/Injury detail
skienight's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Violence, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism
sydthewitch's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Violence, and War
Minor: Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Kidnapping, Grief, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
wizardcantrips's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Sexism
ladypalutena's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It is truly remarkable that every one of Naomi Novik's series has a very different tone. Her two fairy tale retellings (Uprooted and Spinning Silver) are different from the Scholomance, and the first book in the Temeraire series reads like Jane Austen wrote it.
I have seen these books on the shelf at Barnes & Noble, and I've been interested because if you put the spines together, they make a dragon scene. I finally picked up this first book, since I finished the Scholomance earlier this year, and this is an excellent book.
It's a retelling of the Napoleonic Wars, but with DRAGONS. What more can you want? I will admit that it was a little hard to get into at first, because I had to get reacquainted with a way of writing I haven't come across since I took a graduate class on Jane Austen (that's my fault; I've been reading things written in the last hundred years or so, not from the 1800s). Novik does an incredible job of mimicking the Austen style, and my husband, who's a huge Master and Commander fan, may end up picking these up at some point as well.
I keep wavering on how to rate it, so I think I'll settle for the baseline of a four - it was an interesting story, there were some parts that felt rushed (it's a very short book!), and there were a few parts that were unclear (at one point, a character is hanged for treason. I had no idea he was killed until other characters were talking about it a few pages later. It's a poorly written scene. Gives me big "Wait, did Jet just die?" vibes). Overall, a very interesting retelling and enough for me to maybe want to buy the whole box set because they'd look great on my shelf.
I have seen these books on the shelf at Barnes & Noble, and I've been interested because if you put the spines together, they make a dragon scene. I finally picked up this first book, since I finished the Scholomance earlier this year, and this is an excellent book.
It's a retelling of the Napoleonic Wars, but with DRAGONS. What more can you want? I will admit that it was a little hard to get into at first, because I had to get reacquainted with a way of writing I haven't come across since I took a graduate class on Jane Austen (that's my fault; I've been reading things written in the last hundred years or so, not from the 1800s). Novik does an incredible job of mimicking the Austen style, and my husband, who's a huge Master and Commander fan, may end up picking these up at some point as well.
I keep wavering on how to rate it, so I think I'll settle for the baseline of a four - it was an interesting story, there were some parts that felt rushed (it's a very short book!), and there were a few parts that were unclear (at one point, a character is hanged for treason. I had no idea he was killed until other characters were talking about it a few pages later. It's a poorly written scene. Gives me big "Wait, did Jet just die?" vibes). Overall, a very interesting retelling and enough for me to maybe want to buy the whole box set because they'd look great on my shelf.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Death and Blood
Minor: Animal cruelty, Sexism, and Alcohol
miraclesnow's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Breathtakingly emotional and deeply moving characters in this one. A pity I don’t have the next book in my hands as I write this review, I need it like I need air to breathe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Blood, War, and Classism
Moderate: Gore, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexism
beeping_librarian's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
A fun reimagining of international war with dragons instead of airplanes. The main dragon is sweet, there is interesting detail on military movements and tactics, and enough side stories to keep things exciting along the way.
Watch out for the blindly upper class perspective and the lukewarm treatment of female characters, as well as the uncomfortable premise of dragons being happy to serve.
Watch out for the blindly upper class perspective and the lukewarm treatment of female characters, as well as the uncomfortable premise of dragons being happy to serve.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery and Classism
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexism, and Blood
listette's review against another edition
adventurous
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
An absolute delight!
After reading many heavier books, this felt like a breath of fresh air. The bond between Laurence and Temeraire, dragons in general, and the completely different take on historical fantasy, they all make this book a pleasure to read.
Women are scarce in this book but the few that are there are complete, fleshed out characters and not there just as tokens.
I’d love to read more about especially Emily Roland and Captain Harcouth.
After reading many heavier books, this felt like a breath of fresh air. The bond between Laurence and Temeraire, dragons in general, and the completely different take on historical fantasy, they all make this book a pleasure to read.
Women are scarce in this book but the few that are there are complete, fleshed out characters and not there just as tokens.
I’d love to read more about especially Emily Roland and Captain Harcouth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Death
Minor: Sexism