
In "His Majesty's Dragon," author Naomi Novik presents an alternate history during the Napoleonic Wars where dragons play a crucial role in warfare. The story follows Captain Will Laurence, who unexpectedly becomes a dragon rider after capturing a French ship carrying a dragon egg. Laurence forms a deep bond with the dragon, Temeraire, as they navigate through the challenges of joining the British Aerial Corps and fighting alongside each other in aerial battles. The book seamlessly blends elements of historical fiction with fantasy, exploring themes of friendship, loyalty, and adaptation to new circumstances.
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From The Publisher:
In the first novel of the New York Times bestselling Temeraire series, a rare bond is formed between a young man and a dragon, and together they must battle in the Napoleonic Wars.
"A terrifically entertaining fantasy novel."-Stephen King
Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors rise to Britain's defense by taking to the skies . . . not aboard aircraft but atop the mighty backs of fighting dragons.
When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes its precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Capt. Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future-and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France's own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte's boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire.
"Just when you think you've seen every variation possible on the dragon story, along comes Naomi Novik. . . . Her wonderful Temeraire is a dragon for the ages."-Terry Brooks
Ratings (81)
Incredible (16) | |
Loved It (30) | |
Liked It (22) | |
It Was OK (8) | |
Did Not Like (3) | |
Hated It (2) |
Reader Stats (178):
Read It (82) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (75) | |
Did Not Finish (2) | |
Not Interested (18) |
3 comment(s)
A delight start to finish. I like Temeraire very much, and his handler too.
This is absolutely the best dragon story of all time.
This book was perfect.
That isn't an exaggeration or hyperbole. I genuinely believe that this book is one of the best I have ever read, and if not the best technically, then one of the most perfect through sheer enjoyment alone.
This book is about a dragon and his (initially) hesitant rider. It's about the friendship and partnership between Laurence and Temeraire, as well as their adventures as a team. One of my favorite movie series of all time is Dreamworks' How To Train Your Dragon. His Majesty's Dragon reminded me very much of those movies, if only through the close bond of dragon and rider.
Being an avid fantasy reader, I've seen a fair amount of dragons portrayed in media. Novik's dragons are by far my favorite—full of personality and quirks, if I had to choose a dragon world to live in, I would choose this one.
About the Author:
Naomi Novik is an American author of speculative fiction. She is best known for the Temeraire series, an alternate history of the Napoleonic Wars involving dragons, and the standalone fantasy novels Uprooted and Spinning Silver, which were inspired by Polish folklore and the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale, respectively. Novik has won many awards for her work, including the Alex, Audie, British Fantasy, Locus, Mythopoeic and Nebula Awards.
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