It's been a little quiet on this blog over the summer, mainly because I've been busy with various projects for other venues (for example the Clarke shortlist review). But also, because I've been busy reading. A lot. 2016 is shaping up to be one of--if not the--most prolific reading years of my life. Quality-wise, it's also been very rewarding, and though my other writing prevented me from
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By: Abigail Nusbaum,
on 8/31/2016
Blog: Asking the Wrong Questions (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: kim stanley robinson, ann leckie, recent reading roundups, naomi novik, Add a tag
By: Powell's Staff,
on 8/18/2015
Blog: PowellsBooks.BLOG (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Naomi Novik, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Ask a Book Buyer, Add a tag
Title: His Majesty’s Dragon
Why I Enjoyed It:
I found the dragons to be fully fleshed out characters, unlike the majority of dragon novels where they exist as talking horses. In fact I found that the characters of the dragons in the book to be better developed than the majority of the humans.
The language in the book is a treat consisting of authentic sounding(to me, having been forced to watch BBC Jane Austen dramas by the wife) 19th-century English. Novik works to maintain the language not only during dialog, but also in scene descriptions, creating a lush reading experience.
The battle scenes are engaging but don’t overwhelm the book be being every other page. Novik also shows a love for the era and an understanding of the Napoleonic wars that goes beyond that of a layman.
If you are a fan of the film Master and Commander, love to read McCaffery’s Pern novels, or just wish Jane Austen would throw a little action into her novels, I can highly recommend Naomi Novik’s His Majesty’s Dragon.
By: Leila Roy,
on 1/24/2007
Blog: Bookshelves of Doom (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Books - Fantasy, Books - Grown Up, Books - Historical Fiction, Naomi Novik, Temeraire, dragons, fantasy novels, Add a tag
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By: Abigail Nusbaum,
on 8/31/2016
Blog: Asking the Wrong Questions (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: kim stanley robinson, ann leckie, recent reading roundups, naomi novik, Add a tag
By: Powell's Staff,
on 8/18/2015
Blog: PowellsBooks.BLOG (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Naomi Novik, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Ask a Book Buyer, Add a tag
At Powell's, our book buyers select all the new books in our vast inventory. If we need a book recommendation, we turn to our team of resident experts. Need a gift idea for a fan of vampire novels? Looking for a guide that will best demonstrate how to knit argyle socks? Need a book for [...]
0 Comments on Ask a Book Buyer: Dragons! as of 8/18/2015 7:52:00 PM
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By: Emily,
on 5/26/2008
Blog: Deliciously Clean Reads (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: review by James, His Majesty's Dragon, fantasy, Naomi Novik, Temeraire, Add a tag
Blog: Deliciously Clean Reads (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: review by James, His Majesty's Dragon, fantasy, Naomi Novik, Temeraire, Add a tag
Title: His Majesty’s Dragon
Series: Temeraire Book 1
Author: Naomi Novik
Review by James Barrett
Summary:
Naval Captain William Laurence is thrust unwillingly into the world of His Majesty’s Aerial Corp, after bonding with the newly hatched dragon Temeraire. The understaffed Aerial Corp places him in an accelerated boot camp designed to bring the new pair up to speed, as they are desperately needed to hold off Napoleon’s Imperial desires for Britain.
Naval Captain William Laurence is thrust unwillingly into the world of His Majesty’s Aerial Corp, after bonding with the newly hatched dragon Temeraire. The understaffed Aerial Corp places him in an accelerated boot camp designed to bring the new pair up to speed, as they are desperately needed to hold off Napoleon’s Imperial desires for Britain.
Why I Enjoyed It:
I found the dragons to be fully fleshed out characters, unlike the majority of dragon novels where they exist as talking horses. In fact I found that the characters of the dragons in the book to be better developed than the majority of the humans.
The language in the book is a treat consisting of authentic sounding(to me, having been forced to watch BBC Jane Austen dramas by the wife) 19th-century English. Novik works to maintain the language not only during dialog, but also in scene descriptions, creating a lush reading experience.
The battle scenes are engaging but don’t overwhelm the book be being every other page. Novik also shows a love for the era and an understanding of the Napoleonic wars that goes beyond that of a layman.
If you are a fan of the film Master and Commander, love to read McCaffery’s Pern novels, or just wish Jane Austen would throw a little action into her novels, I can highly recommend Naomi Novik’s His Majesty’s Dragon.
6 Comments on His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik, last added: 5/30/2008
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By: Leila Roy,
on 1/24/2007
Blog: Bookshelves of Doom (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Books - Fantasy, Books - Grown Up, Books - Historical Fiction, Naomi Novik, Temeraire, dragons, fantasy novels, Add a tag
Dear Naomi Novik,
I finished His Majesty's Dragon earlier this week, and am now a few chapters into Throne of Jade.
Would it be possible for you to write a short story in which Captain Jeremy Rankin gets beat up for at least thirty pages?
Thanks very much,
Joshua.
"...or just wish Jane Austen would throw a little action into her novels"
that one line made me want to read this book. I'm curious, is it the start to a series? and if so, is the series complete?
great review.
I really love this whole series. Can't wait for the next book to come out!
Sounds interesting. I can't imagine dragons being involved in the Napoleanic Wars but I'm willing to give it a try. Good review. I also enjoyed the reference to Jane Austen. I wish I could get my husband to watch Jane Austen with me. :)
My husband loves this series!!! I think that there are 4 books out so far. Highly recommended from here.
I do have to say that I liked this book too, but as the series continue, the main character makes some immoral choices. Just so you know.
There are 4 in the series so far. Unfortunately the others in the series have some swear words. Not many, but all the more jarring because of it