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pamc_1996's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
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
4.5
sir_dagonet's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
brandidean's review against another edition
4.0
Liked this just as well, maybe better, than the first one and was wanting to get back to it all day. Thought it was an unexpected direction to go in and an unexpected ending. Interested to see if the ending sets up the main “conflict” of the rest of the series — I’m not complaining, but 9 books is a lot when there hasn’t really been an epic quest type of problem yet. If it’s just going to be the individual adventures of Temeraire, I’ll probably still read it, but that’s a little less interesting to me than if the rest of the series is him trying to lead a dragon revolution or something like that.
lunaliz'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
3.5
hegoodrich's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
illiteratebrownbear's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
4.5
I thoroughly enjoyed Throne of Jade. While the book kept me enthralled throughout it did feel pretty one-toned so I can't give it the full 5 stars.
The action was riveting, the intrigue was intriguing, watching Temeraire expand his understanding of the world remained an enjoyable part of the experience. I highly recommend picking this up after reading His Majesty's Dragon!
The action was riveting, the intrigue was intriguing, watching Temeraire expand his understanding of the world remained an enjoyable part of the experience. I highly recommend picking this up after reading His Majesty's Dragon!
triplebriiii's review against another edition
3.5
I was uncomfortable with the portrayel of the Chinese in this one but reading reviews i seem to be the only one??? So idk, idk anyway..
A lot slower than the first book. While I still love the relationship between Temeraire and Laurence, there seemed to be a... block... this book???? Like they were saying the right things, but I wasn't feeling it?? The pacing was also off, I would have appreciated more time actually spent in China, instead of on the boat. I also missed the other characters😩😩😩.
Also comparing this trip to China to Robin's trip in Babel (shut up, I know they are two separate books with different themes and POVs shut up) was stark when it comes to Chinese-British relations and who is portrayed as the bad guy.
I felt weird, I'm looking forward to getting back to the Napoleonic Wars.
EDIT: Okay, apparently I just needed time to process bc I thought about this more and changed my rating 😅😅😅. So it's not that I was uncomfortable with the portrayel of the Chinese characters in this one, it was that I was uncomfortable with how our MC thought about said characters, as well as the culture, in particular the food.
This is the catch-22 white authors face when writing historical fiction - they can 1) only have white characters pretty much and stick to European or Colonial settings, 2) include POC characters and those settings and have the MCs (if they are not POC themselves) act and behave in a more "modern" framework and mindset, or 3) include POC characters and settings and have the MC act in more "historically accurate" ways.
Now I think the whole "historically accurate" argument is flimsy at best, while it's true that racism and other bigoted attitudes were more socially acceptable in the 1800s, there are plenty of examples of real people in those times who did not subscribe to these "norms." So it is 100% a choice on the author's part how they choose to present their characters and what attitudes and beliefs they choose to give them.
Which is not to say that I thought Laurence was a violent bigoted racist through this, not at all. But he was very much the centrist white liberal who is uncomfortable trying new things and adheres to the supremacist idea of white people's "right to comfort." The good news is that it's been clear since book 1 that Laurence is going to go through some sigificant character development over the course of the series that will move him away from this archetype, bad news is that we still have to suffer through it on his ~journey~.
A lot slower than the first book. While I still love the relationship between Temeraire and Laurence, there seemed to be a... block... this book???? Like they were saying the right things, but I wasn't feeling it?? The pacing was also off, I would have appreciated more time actually spent in China, instead of on the boat. I also missed the other characters😩😩😩.
Also comparing this trip to China to Robin's trip in Babel (shut up, I know they are two separate books with different themes and POVs shut up) was stark when it comes to Chinese-British relations and who is portrayed as the bad guy.
I felt weird, I'm looking forward to getting back to the Napoleonic Wars.
EDIT: Okay, apparently I just needed time to process bc I thought about this more and changed my rating 😅😅😅. So it's not that I was uncomfortable with the portrayel of the Chinese characters in this one, it was that I was uncomfortable with how our MC thought about said characters, as well as the culture, in particular the food.
This is the catch-22 white authors face when writing historical fiction - they can 1) only have white characters pretty much and stick to European or Colonial settings, 2) include POC characters and those settings and have the MCs (if they are not POC themselves) act and behave in a more "modern" framework and mindset, or 3) include POC characters and settings and have the MC act in more "historically accurate" ways.
Now I think the whole "historically accurate" argument is flimsy at best, while it's true that racism and other bigoted attitudes were more socially acceptable in the 1800s, there are plenty of examples of real people in those times who did not subscribe to these "norms." So it is 100% a choice on the author's part how they choose to present their characters and what attitudes and beliefs they choose to give them.
Which is not to say that I thought Laurence was a violent bigoted racist through this, not at all. But he was very much the centrist white liberal who is uncomfortable trying new things and adheres to the supremacist idea of white people's "right to comfort." The good news is that it's been clear since book 1 that Laurence is going to go through some sigificant character development over the course of the series that will move him away from this archetype, bad news is that we still have to suffer through it on his ~journey~.
kromanuski's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
purps's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.5
This one was better then the first, but I didn't think Nepolianic war books are for me, even if they have dragons.
catpingu's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
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
4.0
As expected another brilliant adventure for Temeraire and Laurence as they both learn about Temeraire's heritage and Napoleon Bonaparte's encroaching military takeover.
A special envoy from China has come to persuade the British government to return Temeraire. However, Temeraire and Laurence are determined not to be parted. They've weathered the Air Corps' previous attempts to match Temeraire to an aircorpsman, they're certainly ready to refuse a foreign government as well. However, for diplomatic reasons, Temeraire and Laurence are invited to court with the Emperor of China to plead their case; thus, undergoing a long and eventful sea voyage to the Far East.
I thought the first book was going to have the most action. Nope, it's definitely this one! The first book is growing pains, learning about the culture and dragon husbandry and setting the tone for a war against Napoleon with dragons. And while we've only heard that dragon rearing in China is superior, we finally get to see evidence of it in this book and wow wow wowit's like Dinotopia! Independent, studious, contributing dragons! Smart, gloriously adorned, and living in harmony with humans in the big city. It's such a departure from the West that I fully expect the rest of the series to be Temeraire turning into a politician for dragon rights. Except, maybe, to continue to allow them to serve because he finds it fun .
Naomi Novik did an excellent job of painting a vivid picture of how dragons are portrayed differently between Western and Eastern media. In the West, they are firebreathing ferocious beasts preying on livestock and humans. In the East, they are dignified and powerful heralds of heaven and symbolically equivalent to the emperor himself. I imagine this to be the true adopted/immigrant experience for Temeraire, and I'm eager to see how he develops; we're able to see growth in both Laurence and Temeraire,who is still growing more wise with each new experience and even gets busy with a cute Imperial named Mei! While for Laurence, he has grown more relaxed and open-minded compared to the tightly-jacked British naval officer he was before.
Most of the book takes place at sea; after all the sea voyage from England to China is nothing to sneeze at, especially when it's all done by boat and to be removed from Napolean's forces. We all remember how Temeraire was literally hatched on the sea; well, more sea antics for him!
I will say though, being so heavily flooded with both British and Chinese attitudes towards politics and polite society makes me want to reread [book:Babel|57945316].
A special envoy from China has come to persuade the British government to return Temeraire. However, Temeraire and Laurence are determined not to be parted. They've weathered the Air Corps' previous attempts to match Temeraire to an aircorpsman, they're certainly ready to refuse a foreign government as well. However, for diplomatic reasons, Temeraire and Laurence are invited to court with the Emperor of China to plead their case; thus, undergoing a long and eventful sea voyage to the Far East.
I thought the first book was going to have the most action. Nope, it's definitely this one! The first book is growing pains, learning about the culture and dragon husbandry and setting the tone for a war against Napoleon with dragons. And while we've only heard that dragon rearing in China is superior, we finally get to see evidence of it in this book and wow wow wow
Naomi Novik did an excellent job of painting a vivid picture of how dragons are portrayed differently between Western and Eastern media. In the West, they are firebreathing ferocious beasts preying on livestock and humans. In the East, they are dignified and powerful heralds of heaven and symbolically equivalent to the emperor himself. I imagine this to be the true adopted/immigrant experience for Temeraire, and I'm eager to see how he develops; we're able to see growth in both Laurence and Temeraire,
Most of the book takes place at sea; after all the sea voyage from England to China is nothing to sneeze at, especially when it's all done by boat and to be removed from Napolean's forces. We all remember how Temeraire was literally hatched on the sea; well, more sea antics for him!
I will say though, being so heavily flooded with both British and Chinese attitudes towards politics and polite society makes me want to reread [book:Babel|57945316].