Throne of Jade is more dragonariffic than the one before!
Written: Dec 17 '06
Product Rating:
Pros: British naval history, military fantasy, China, dragons galore. Awesome cover.
Cons: None really.
The Bottom Line: You should read His Majesty's Dragon first, but even if you're lukewarm about that one, definitely give this one a go. Especially if you're interested in China.
Jellyn's Full Review: Naomi Novik - Throne of Jade
Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik is second in her Temeraire series. It's British naval alternate history, military fantasy, and chock full of dragons. You should probably start with the first book, His Majesty's Dragon.
Setting
This is an alternate history fantasy world where the British navy is at war with France, but they've got more than ships and armies fighting on their side. They have dragons. But so do the French. This series asks, 'If dragons existed, how would they have been used by humanity?'
And this book takes us to China, where dragons are treated altogether differently from the ones in Europe.
Plot
Temeraire's egg was a gift from China to France, and the Chinese are none too happy about his winding up with the English. Temeraire and his crew are forced by political reasons to go to China. Will the Chinese reclaim Temeraire or will Temeraire and Laurence convince them that they shouldn't be separated? And just how strange is China anyway? Do they really eat with sticks?
My Thoughts
I really liked this book. I liked it better than the first in the series. Partly, or perhaps mostly, because we got to see China. It's like Novik took her Patrick O'Brian/Anne McCaffrey series, which was already quite good, and anime-d it. (Before you go saying anime is Japanese, several anime series take place in China, or an alternate China. And I'm talking more about the feel of it anyway.)
We learn a lot about Chinese dragons and, in my humble opinion, I think she's incorporated them quite well with the Chinese history and culture.
The cover on this book is even better than the last one. I'd happily put that cover on my wall. Someone tell me if they make it into a wallscroll!
One Other Thing
In case you haven't read my previous review, and aren't aware, Peter Jackson is on board to turn this series into a movie. It should be really, really cool.
When Britain intercepted a French ship and its precious cargo - an unhatched dragon's egg - Capt. Will Laurence of HMS Reliant unexpectedly became mas...More at HotBookSale
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