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His Majesty's Dragon

Book 1 in the series:Temeraire

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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.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, particularly the bond between Captain Laurence and his dragon Temeraire, showcasing themes of loyalty and friendship.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style elegantly combines historical language with engaging storytelling, capturing the essence of 18th-century life and the adventure of dragons.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around Captain Will Laurence who captures a French ship containing a dragon egg during the Napoleonic Wars. The egg hatches and he forms a bond with the dragon Temeraire, leading to a journey in the Aerial Corps.

Setting:

The setting effectively blends historical elements of the Napoleonic Wars with a fantastical world where dragons exist as part of military strategy.

Pacing:

The pacing is initially slow for world-building but picks up during battle scenes, blending character development with action.
THE DECK OF the French ship was slippery with blood, heaving in the choppy sea; a stroke might as easily bring down the man making it as the intended target. Laurence did not have time in the heat of ...

Notes:

Captain Will Laurence is a naval captain during the Napoleonic Wars.
He captures a French ship containing a dragon egg.
The dragon egg hatches on Laurence's ship, and the dragon chooses him as its handler.
Laurence must leave his naval career to join the Dragon Corps, which handles dragons as part of the military.
The dragon, named Temeraire, is highly intelligent and forms a deep bond with Laurence.
Temeraire's personality is curious and childlike, often leading to humorous situations.
The story includes significant themes of friendship, duty, and adventure.
The existence of dragons in this world impacts military tactics and societal norms.
The series delves into social issues such as gender roles, as some dragons only accept female riders.
There are nine books planned in the Temeraire series, with continued adventures and explorations of different cultures.

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)

Incredible
1 month

A delight start to finish. I like Temeraire very much, and his handler too.

 
Incredible
5 months

This is absolutely the best dragon story of all time.

 
Incredible
5 months

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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