Hardcover. Del Rey 2008-07-08.
ISBN: 0345496884 / 0-345-49688-4
EAN: 9780345496881
Publisher description
Naomi Novik’s triumphant debut, His Majesty’s Dragon, introduced a dynamic new pair of heroes to the annals of fantasy fiction: the noble fighting dragon Temeraire and his master and commander, Capt. Will Laurence, who serves Britain’s peerless Aerial Corps in the thick of the raging Napoleonic Wars. Now, in the latest novel of this dazzling series, they soar to new heights of breathtaking action and brilliant imagination.
It is a grim time for the dragon Temeraire. On the heels of his mission to Africa, seeking the cure for a deadly contagion, he has been removed from military service–and his captain, Will Laurence, has been condemned to death for treason.
For Britain, conditions are grimmer still: Napoleon’s resurgent forces have breached the Channel and successfully invaded English soil. Napoleon’s prime objective: the occupation of London.
Separated by their own government and threatened at every turn by Napoleon’s forces, Laurence and Temeraire must struggle to find each other amid the turmoil of war and to aid the resistance against the invasion before Napoleon’s foothold on England’s shores can become a stranglehold.
If only they can be reunited, master and dragon might rally Britain’s scattered forces and take the fight to the enemy as never before–for king and country, and for their own liberty. But can the French aggressors be well and truly routed, or will a treacherous alliance deliver Britain into the hands of her would-be conquerors?
Temeraire rules! (Rating 5 of 5)
» Janene Walker
I am loving this book! I am only halfway through at this point, but am loving this segment of the saga even more than the past ones. The writing of Naomi Novik is so creative and descriptive, it almost makes you feel that you are there
Horatio Hornblower with Dragons (Rating 4 of 5)
» Craig B. Meyer
This is an excellent series. Victory of Eagles is the lastest book that proves Fantasy fiction isn't all about weird tales and stories. Victory of Eagles is also a character driven novel about the difficulties of the main heroes, Will Laurence and Temeraire.
The story is not just about dragons. Its also about Right and Wrong and how Patriotism and Honor plays a part. For those of you who are not fans of Sci Fi and Fantasy, but are fans of Horiatio Hornblower and Patrick O'Brian, this is a series you can read and enjoy.
Craig
www.monstrumblog.com
More great dragon fiction (Rating 4 of 5)
» Merlin
More Temeraire goodness. Great series of alternate history with Dragons, how can you not be intrigued? Really sharp and historically accurate books with a great premise to explore. This particular book was a bit depressing, with the situation that Temeraire and Lawrence start in, and some incidents that happen along the way, but excellent character development and a feeling of realism make this an enjoyable read.
Mention in some of the notes that Peter Jackson (Director of the Lord of the Rings movies) has optioned the story... how cool could movies based on these books be??
Maybe Napoleon really deserves to win (Rating 5 of 5)
» booksforabuck
Napoleon has invaded England. Using tactics recommended by his dragon-advisor, and providing dragons with far more rights than those enjoyed by English dragons, Napoleon demoralizes the English army, outmarches and outfights them, and forces them to flee to Scotland. Meanwhile, one of England's top officers has been condemned to death for treason for his part in bringing a cure to the disease that threatened to wipe out Europe's dragon population (and at the same time eliminate the threat of Napoleon's invasion). Without Captain Laurence, and his dragon Temeraire, England seems to have no hope.
Inspired by the example of Chinese dragons, Temeraire intends to have dragons recognized as people, with rights to pay, freedom, votes, and to make their own decisions. Napoleon's invasion gives Temeraire far more bargaining power than he'd held before--his corps of wild dragons and dragons retired to stud just might be strong enough to hold Napoleon's invading hordes off. Still, England dare never admit it made a mistake in condemning Laurence--indeed, by their own standards, they acted properly, although Laurence couldn't have made any other decision.
Author Naomi Novik continues her look at the Napoleonic Wars from viewpoint of a world with dragons. With Temeraire's help, the English do their best to turn England into a smaller, but still deadly version of Napoleon's long march back from Moscow, in the face of growing resistance and bitter cold. English control of the seas means that Napoleon cannot bring in food for his growing armies, and Temeraire's irregulars manage to make life miserable (and short) for Napoleon's foraging parties.
Novik manages to make Napoleon look pretty good. He's quick to adapt new tactics, even if these are suggested by others, he's open to granting dragons the kind of rights Temeraire has no hope of achieving through the English government, and he's honorable to his opponents. In contrast, the English attempt to introduce a plague that would largely destroy a continent's worth of sapient creatures, including those owned by her own allies, demand that Laurence save their cause with no thought that his doing so might commute his sentence, and continue to think of dragons as a kind of beast rather than as intelligent beings--ignoring all evidence to the contrary. Temeraire and Laurence are the protagonists, but I find myself pulling for Napoleon
Another great installment (Rating 5 of 5)
» D. Mclean
I thought the book continued the excellent pace, and turned some ideas on its head, making England more like Russia for Napoleon. As for the rest of the spoilers, you'll have to read it yourself
(Rating 5 of 5)
(Rating 4 of 5)
