Throne of Jade

In the second in her best-selling series about a warrior dragon fighting for Great Britain during the Napoleonic Wars, fellow Brunonian Naomi Novik takes readers on an exciting journey through political intrigue within the early 19th Century Chinese Empire. Having discovered his Chinese origins in "His Majesty's Dragon", young Temeraire must come to terms with his ancestry, taking himself and his friend - and commander - Captain Will Laurence, on a memorable trek through Imperial China. In the ancient imperial capital of Peking, Temeraire and Laurence must contend not only with palatial intrigue, but also with the complexities of personal relationships with his fellow dragons. There they will make a most remarkable discovery regarding human and dragon affairs. Once more Novik offers readers a spellbinding tale that is more than a fast-paced historical fantasy; it is both an in-depth exploration of Qing Dynasty China and a subtle meditation on civil rights too. Her substantial gifts as both a fine prose stylist and story-teller are prominently on display here, demonstrating why her ongoing series is among the most intriguing, and best-written in all of fantasy.

An intriguing look into Temeraire's roots and a complete fleshing out of his complex character. His interactions with other dragon and with Laurence, the Chinese and other people lead to interesting conclusions. Temeraire's need to enlighten an interesting political twist that should prove most interesting in the future. All and all, a good link in the trilogy full of the unexpected twists and turns I've come to expect from the writer. A fascinating and entertaining read.

After the first book in the Temeraire series, Novik could have immediately jumped into the next battle for Europe with Napoleon's army; but instead, she sends Temeraire and Captain Laurence to China by sea after a delegation from the Emperor arrives to protest that a Celestial Imperial dragon is companion to a person of lowly station as opposed to a person of royal blood as he was destined. The delegation demands Temeraire separation from Laurence and return to China. Laurence and Temeraire refuse and must head to China as the Crown's representative will not stand his ground in fear of offending the great nation. But, the story is more than meets eye as Captain Laurence is reunited with Riley - his First Mate on the HMS Reliant - who is now captain of the HMS Allegiance, a newly constructed Dragon Carrier, and the Allegiance sails for China with Temeraire, Laurence, Temeraire's crew, the Chinese delegation - which includes the Emperor's brother - and Hammond, the ambassador sent along to negotiate a favorable embassy in exchange for giving Temeraire back to the Chinese. What at first seems like it will be a steady slog to some unknown story destination, actually turns into a character development plot for Laurence, Temeraire, and the entire dragon crew. First intrigue develops on the voyage as they circle around Africa and head east, then it intensifies once they reach China and await an audience with the Emperor. While they wait, Temeraire and Laurence learn much more about China, its dragons, and Temeraire's origins; and, Temeraire learns much more about his talents and the possibilities for all dragons. Beyond a story that deepens our understanding of Temeraire and this world where dragons live alongside humans, we also have an interesting morality play that will have repercussions in the third book, The Black Powder War (I can only assume as I have yet to read the third book). Originally billed as a trilogy, Novik has said she will write more in this universe now that the original three story arc has been completed...I look forward to reading the third book and those that will follow. >>>>>>><<<<<<< <br /> <br />A Guide to my Book Rating System: <br /> <br />1 star = The wood pulp would have been better utilized as toilet paper. <br />2 stars = Don't bother, clean your bathroom instead. <br />3 stars = Wasn't a waste of time, but it was time wasted. <br />4 stars = Good book, but not life altering. <br />5 stars = This book changed my world in at least some small way.

The Chinese leadership is irate that not only does upstart Englishman Will Laurence bond until death with a rare Chinese Celestial Dragon Temeraire; he turned the intellectual dragon into a war beast of burden. Not wanting an incident with China as they already are at war with France, the British Admiralty Board acquiesces to the demands of Yongxing, brother to the Chinese Emperor and orders Will to separate from his soulmate. An irate Will refuses risking arrest and death. The English bureaucracy sees an escape for them without alienating the Chinese Emperor; they send Will and Temeraire to China for a final disposition. On the treacherous sea voyage, monsters lurk, but to Will the most dangerous one is the sly Yongxing, who educates Temeraire on the life he missed as a venerated Celestial Dragon in the Forbidden City while teaching the dragon to speak and write Chinese. Will is perturbed by Yongxing's action, but can do little except trust his soulmate to stay with him. Yongxing also arranges for accidents to happen to Will for the Emperor's horrified brother believes the westerner mistreats this special dragon by using Temeraire in combat, but also sees the dragon as an opportunity to further his personal ambitions. THRONE OF JADE is a great fantasy that complements the tremendous first novel, HIS MAJESTY'S DRAGON, as the story line cleverly explores human-dragon relationships and de jure and de facto inequality and injustice. Will and Temeraire debate the dragon lifestyle in England after seeing the abusive ugly slave trade on the West African coast and compare England to China where dragons reside freely in towns. Even Will begins to reassess whether his mate would be better off in China where Celestial Dragons are revered and other dragons treated with respect as equals. This cerebral emotional theme enhances a powerful action-packed tale in exotic locations. Harriet Klausner

Novik succeeds admirably in creating a novel which follows on neatly where 'Temeraire' (US title 'His Majesty's Dragon') left off - and yet which could be read very satisfyingly as a stand-alone by anyone who had not read the previous tale. I was very impressed by the elegance and clarity with which she provided the whole 'Previously, on Temeraire' information in the first few pages without ever resorting to obvious expositiony tactics. The opening scene drops us into the thick of things and immediately wins the reader over to worrying about the future for Lawrence and Temeraire, and when they *are* reunited - well, I for one was quite choked, and rooting for them, and wanting to *punch* the wretched idiots who were treating them both so badly. And the story had barely begun, at that point. Other reviewers will tell you that Novik evokes an alternative history with verve and clarity through her attention to period detail, and they're right. They may also praise the fascinating way that she envisions her dragons (and similar beasts) interacting with humans, whether in Europe, at Sea, in Africa or in China. And they're right too - she gives us thoroughly intriguing and carefully considered glimpses into this unprettified fantasy world, and raises real questions about how humans would interact with other sentient beings - and how they do interact with other people. But the thing that I enjoy most about both 'Temeraire' and 'Throne of Jade' is how very rounded and real and touching are the relationships that Novik delineates. Most obviously being that between Lawrence and Temeraire - but all the interpersonal dynamics are interesting and well observed, and it is this, perhaps even more than the marvellously detailed evocation of naval life or the aerial corps, that really breathes life and soul into the books. Certainly there is an interesting plot full of swashbuckling at sea and political machinations; certainly there are fire-breathing dragons and peril and bravery and all that jazz, and there's even a dash of sex. But the heart of the novel, and its predecessor, is the relationship between Lawrence and Temeraire, and how this relationship shapes and changes them both. Look, just stop dithering, and buy the bloody thing already! It's a Very Good Book Indeed.