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jb4nay's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I started in print and finished in audio. I don’t think military strategy is my thing. Even with dragons, so much of the book is about strategy and formations. That didn’t grab me. Plus all the talk about status and English high-society decorum. Not my thing. I don’t think it was a bad book or poorly written, but this felt a bit too slow for me. I wished more happened for as many pages as it was.
The relationship between Laurence and Temeraire was wholesome. Probably my favorite part of the story was their moments reading together.
The relationship between Laurence and Temeraire was wholesome. Probably my favorite part of the story was their moments reading together.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
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
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
ladypalutena's review
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
flygonjinn's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, 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
velvetsilk42's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Violence, and War