abbyicebox's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
wildflower_sarah's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-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
katiedoodle's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know anything about the Napoleonic wars, and I typically find little appeal in dragons as a fantasy device, but this story was surprisingly charming. Certainly, I expected the writing itself to appeal, as Novik is a favorite of mine. This book is written in quite a different voice from others I have read, with the language setting the story firmly in the early 1800s. Still, Novik's sense of humor and heart are clear throughout.
The appeal of this story for me, as someone who is little interested in war and military endeavors, is that it strongly focuses on the personal relationships between humans and dragons, explores themes of love and duty, and raises questions of dignity and rights for all individuals, be they man or woman, human or dragon, members of "society" or the common people, guilty or innocent. There is a plot, but the book is character-driven, which is just as I prefer my stories.
The story is a little drier perhaps than some of her other novels, but this may be impacted by my relative ignorance of the historical context. The third person perspective creates some distance between the protagonist and reader, which may also affect how it compares.
Overall, a solid, pleasant read. I have the rest of the series and will be working on it soon!
The appeal of this story for me, as someone who is little interested in war and military endeavors, is that it strongly focuses on the personal relationships between humans and dragons, explores themes of love and duty, and raises questions of dignity and rights for all individuals, be they man or woman, human or dragon, members of "society" or the common people, guilty or innocent. There is a plot, but the book is character-driven, which is just as I prefer my stories.
The story is a little drier perhaps than some of her other novels, but this may be impacted by my relative ignorance of the historical context. The third person perspective creates some distance between the protagonist and reader, which may also affect how it compares.
Overall, a solid, pleasant read. I have the rest of the series and will be working on it soon!
roseybot's review against another edition
5.0
2019 goal of reviewing every book I've read -- already behind on it.
But I did think I'd already reviewed this book. Turns out, I just wrote a comment on it and went on my way. SO HERE IT IS, A REAL REVIEW.
You know how there are books that shape your childhood -- maybe you read them over and over again, drinking in their little worlds and holding on to them so tight that they always were with you? That was Anne McCaffery's Pern for me (specifically Dragonsinger and Dragonsong, because I was a child guys, and those were the YA books). As I got older I explored more of the worlds and started to get vaguely disappointed in Pern. Where was the magic that I had found in those first two books? Why was there sex and annoying men, and just generally less fun than I had had in my childhood? Then I found out that McCaffery was kind of a butthead and I stopped being interested in reading any more of Pern.
And it was sad.
Then I found out that one of my favorite current authors had written a book about Dragons. Naomi Novik (yes, sorry, that was a lot about Pern, a series this isn't at all involved with) captivated me with Uprooted and Spinning Silver. They were both excellent books, and I thought 'might as well try this series'.
Guys, it was everything that I wanted the adult version of Pern to be. It had dragons and their riders working together and speaking to one another and there was drama and action and there were implications everywhere of what this world could be if we had dragons. IT'S GREAT, and far more thoughtful and careful in the handling of issues that effect people in real life.
Temeraire and Will are lovely together and their bond is wonderful to see grow and change. I'm here for it all, and am only stalling in the series because it's not available at the library... yet.
But I did think I'd already reviewed this book. Turns out, I just wrote a comment on it and went on my way. SO HERE IT IS, A REAL REVIEW.
You know how there are books that shape your childhood -- maybe you read them over and over again, drinking in their little worlds and holding on to them so tight that they always were with you? That was Anne McCaffery's Pern for me (specifically Dragonsinger and Dragonsong, because I was a child guys, and those were the YA books). As I got older I explored more of the worlds and started to get vaguely disappointed in Pern. Where was the magic that I had found in those first two books? Why was there sex and annoying men, and just generally less fun than I had had in my childhood? Then I found out that McCaffery was kind of a butthead and I stopped being interested in reading any more of Pern.
And it was sad.
Then I found out that one of my favorite current authors had written a book about Dragons. Naomi Novik (yes, sorry, that was a lot about Pern, a series this isn't at all involved with) captivated me with Uprooted and Spinning Silver. They were both excellent books, and I thought 'might as well try this series'.
Guys, it was everything that I wanted the adult version of Pern to be. It had dragons and their riders working together and speaking to one another and there was drama and action and there were implications everywhere of what this world could be if we had dragons. IT'S GREAT, and far more thoughtful and careful in the handling of issues that effect people in real life.
Temeraire and Will are lovely together and their bond is wonderful to see grow and change. I'm here for it all, and am only stalling in the series because it's not available at the library... yet.
imakeworlds's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
horisun's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
slow-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
4.25
rants_n_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-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
3.0
birdbug's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would. My interest was primarily in the dragons and not so much in the historical period it takes place in. I was not disappointed, the dragons in the book are fantastic and imaginative. Everything I wanted in a dragon book. And I was surprisingly sucked into the setting. I almost wish I knew more about the Napoleonic wars. I can't wait to read the next book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Violence, and Blood
anotherhel's review against another edition
Dropped at 25%.
The writing was good enough, but the book was just not interesting enough for me. I had just read Uprooted from the author and absolutely loved it so I decided to give this one a try, and it was a no no.
The book either has a really slow start or it never really caught my attention. I didn't liked the main character, he was too polite, too strict. And I didn't really liked the setting (common they have dragons but somehow people still travel by boats?)(and the possibility that dragons can be dumb... ugh no)
Such a shame, because I really was down for some weird Dragon and Dragon-Rider relationship and all its iterations. It just didn't worked for me. When I noticed, I was already feeling like reading a different genre so I just decided to drop it.
The writing was good enough, but the book was just not interesting enough for me. I had just read Uprooted from the author and absolutely loved it so I decided to give this one a try, and it was a no no.
The book either has a really slow start or it never really caught my attention. I didn't liked the main character, he was too polite, too strict. And I didn't really liked the setting (common they have dragons but somehow people still travel by boats?)(and the possibility that dragons can be dumb... ugh no)
Such a shame, because I really was down for some weird Dragon and Dragon-Rider relationship and all its iterations. It just didn't worked for me. When I noticed, I was already feeling like reading a different genre so I just decided to drop it.
fishsticks26'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0