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caseythereader's review
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Gun violence
nightvaler's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
5.0
Due to the dragon theme I expected to enjoy this book before I started reading it. I did not, however, expect to become so utterly obsessed, and I DEVOURED it in two days. I haven't been this fascinated and charmed by a fantasy series since I was a little girl and read books such as Harry Potter, Eragon, and Artemis Fowl for the first time. This book is like neither of those examples, however. It seamlessly blends fantasy elements with historical fiction, and refreshingly, it is not a YA coming of age series, though there is character development. The main character very quickly entered my top three list of favorite protagonist through a combination of courteousness, wry humor, and dragon-like temper. This book has made me laugh, nearly cry, and "look very concerned" according to a roommate. If you enjoy historical fantasy, dragons, and the found family, I'd advise you to pick this up immediately!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Blood, War, and Injury/Injury detail
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
leahegood's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-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? No
4.0
Summary
Captain William Lawrence is fair-minded, duty-conscious, and entirely committed to his career in the Navy. Until he and his crew capture a French ship carrying a precious cargo. The English military are in desperate need of more dragons, and the egg aboard the French ship is about to hatch. If the young dragon is not put under harness immediately--imprinted to a handler who will remain with the dragon for life--the dragon will never be of use to the military for more than training. Duty is clear. They must attempt to bring the hatchling under harness. But it will mean the end of a Navy career for whoever is chosen.
My Thoughts
I saw this book while meandering through Barnes & Noble and recalled a bookstagrammer displaying it as part of a book haul. I bought it based on the brief mention and the interesting back cover blurb. The book was further recommended when one of my best friends saw me pull it out of my bag and began to gush about the series.
The story reminded me of the Horatio Hornblower movie series + dragons. It has all the honor and duty elements of most military-based historical epics, but there are also dragons. What lover of fantasy and historical fiction can argue with that?
Apart from the dragons--which are (to varying degrees) intelligent, can talk, and have varying abilities such as spitting acid--there are no other fantasy elements. The dragons are treated as a very natural part of the very normal historical setting.
Though I thoroughly enjoyed this book and intend to read more in the series, I will note that the plot was a little looser than I usually prefer. The main character has no true arc (he's a good guy, accepts and adjusts to his new lot in life quite pragmatically and quickly, and overall doesn't seem to have much to learn) and the arc of the story is also less dramatic than some as there is no real story goal other than a general "figure out life as dragon and dragon handler." The Writing Excuses podcast calls this kind of story the "elemental genre of wonder." The driving force of the story for the reader is, "This is a cool thing or place that I would like to enjoy through observation."
Content
Romance: A long-standing understanding is ended when the main character becomes a dragon handler. There are a couple of rather frank (though non-detailed) conversations about pr*stitution and producing children outside of marriage. It is implied that the main character is having physical relations with a female colleague, though to what extent beyond kissing is not spelled out.
Launguage: Minimal if any. It seems like there must have been a few d*mns or h*lls or at least bl**dys in a military novel, but if there were, they were so infrequent as to not stand out.
Violence: Several dragons are injured. Men die in battle. There is one execution. Nothing is graphic.
Religion: None that I can think of.
Captain William Lawrence is fair-minded, duty-conscious, and entirely committed to his career in the Navy. Until he and his crew capture a French ship carrying a precious cargo. The English military are in desperate need of more dragons, and the egg aboard the French ship is about to hatch. If the young dragon is not put under harness immediately--imprinted to a handler who will remain with the dragon for life--the dragon will never be of use to the military for more than training. Duty is clear. They must attempt to bring the hatchling under harness. But it will mean the end of a Navy career for whoever is chosen.
My Thoughts
I saw this book while meandering through Barnes & Noble and recalled a bookstagrammer displaying it as part of a book haul. I bought it based on the brief mention and the interesting back cover blurb. The book was further recommended when one of my best friends saw me pull it out of my bag and began to gush about the series.
The story reminded me of the Horatio Hornblower movie series + dragons. It has all the honor and duty elements of most military-based historical epics, but there are also dragons. What lover of fantasy and historical fiction can argue with that?
Apart from the dragons--which are (to varying degrees) intelligent, can talk, and have varying abilities such as spitting acid--there are no other fantasy elements. The dragons are treated as a very natural part of the very normal historical setting.
Though I thoroughly enjoyed this book and intend to read more in the series, I will note that the plot was a little looser than I usually prefer. The main character has no true arc (he's a good guy, accepts and adjusts to his new lot in life quite pragmatically and quickly, and overall doesn't seem to have much to learn) and the arc of the story is also less dramatic than some as there is no real story goal other than a general "figure out life as dragon and dragon handler." The Writing Excuses podcast calls this kind of story the "elemental genre of wonder." The driving force of the story for the reader is, "This is a cool thing or place that I would like to enjoy through observation."
Content
Romance: A long-standing understanding is ended when the main character becomes a dragon handler. There are a couple of rather frank (though non-detailed) conversations about pr*stitution and producing children outside of marriage. It is implied that the main character is having physical relations with a female colleague, though to what extent beyond kissing is not spelled out.
Launguage: Minimal if any. It seems like there must have been a few d*mns or h*lls or at least bl**dys in a military novel, but if there were, they were so infrequent as to not stand out.
Violence: Several dragons are injured. Men die in battle. There is one execution. Nothing is graphic.
Religion: None that I can think of.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Emotional abuse and War
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
beanaroni's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
themoonshoes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
how this book hasn’t gotten an adaptation yet is beyond me. i do not want that to happen though
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Violence, and War
Minor: Gore, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
directorpurry's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and War
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail