This is the fourth book in the Temeraire series. It is the story of a navy man who, after rescuing a dragon egg, unwittingly forms a bond between himself and the dragon. They become part of England’s elite dragon unit sent to defeat Napoleon. It is an interesting premise and by taking events from actual history and adding a fantasy element they seem more realistic that some other fantasy novels. It relies heavily on military matters and yet I like these books. Though I like dragon books, I am not usually big on the military angle. Novik has managed to create an intriguing mess of characters that makes you want to keep reading to find out what is going to happen. There are also broader issues such as slavery, rights for dragons, and the stigma of being a dragon fighter that come to the forefront of some of the books. This series is unlike anything I have ever read.