delaneybull's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
namaenani's review against another edition
4.0
In Laurence and Temeraire's Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Road Trip: Return to the Silk Road, Laurence gets himself some amnesia.
SPOILERS AHEAD
This stint of memory loss leads us through a recap of events from the past seven books, and Laurence wrestling with his sense of lawfulness and honor vs. what is morally right, all over again. It's frustrating to say the least, but does lead to some humorous moments, such as Laurence becoming convinced that Roland is his daughter, and not figuring out until much later that he can just ask Temeraire for answers to all of his questions.
The story passes through China, where we get some political intrigue, and then finally concludes in Russia. The Russian's treatment of their dragons is terrifying at best, and results in one of the biggest nightmare fuel scenes in any of the books as a could of starving ferals, released from the cruel hooks that prevent them from flying, descends on the Russian army and feeds without caring what kind of meat they get.
At this point, after seeing how Napoleon adopted a very Chinese cultural shift regarding the treatment and respect for dragons, and watching Britain (and the rest of Europe) fail at every turn to make the same changes or considerations, I'm really starting to wonder if Napoleon isn't the good guy here...
SPOILERS AHEAD
This stint of memory loss leads us through a recap of events from the past seven books, and Laurence wrestling with his sense of lawfulness and honor vs. what is morally right, all over again. It's frustrating to say the least, but does lead to some humorous moments, such as Laurence becoming convinced that Roland is his daughter, and not figuring out until much later that he can just ask Temeraire for answers to all of his questions.
The story passes through China, where we get some political intrigue, and then finally concludes in Russia. The Russian's treatment of their dragons is terrifying at best, and results in one of the biggest nightmare fuel scenes in any of the books as a could of starving ferals, released from the cruel hooks that prevent them from flying, descends on the Russian army and feeds without caring what kind of meat they get.
At this point, after seeing how Napoleon adopted a very Chinese cultural shift regarding the treatment and respect for dragons, and watching Britain (and the rest of Europe) fail at every turn to make the same changes or considerations, I'm really starting to wonder if Napoleon isn't the good guy here...
lilyphoenixx's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
katertotaf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
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? Yes
3.75
I can't stop reading these!!!
crunchy_hobbit's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Those barbarous Russians!
Just eye rollingly stereotype after stereotype. Finishing this series 100% because of the sunk cost fallacy.
Just eye rollingly stereotype after stereotype. Finishing this series 100% because of the sunk cost fallacy.
sephranix's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the first 2 parts, 3rd part dragged a little bit before soaring into a great ending.
irurian's review against another edition
1.0
I loved the beginning of this series, but it's clear that Novik is dragging things out.
The story is moving far too slowly and the amnesia plot only shows that the author is running out of ways to stall.
The story is moving far too slowly and the amnesia plot only shows that the author is running out of ways to stall.