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Victory of Eagles (Temeraire #5)

by Naomi Novik (Goodreads Author)

3.97 · rating details · 3,391 ratings · 392 reviews

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 height...more

Hardcover, 332 pages

Published July 8th 2008 by Del Rey (first published 2008)

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Jul 12, 2008

Kelly rated it

· review of another edition

Recommended to Kelly by: Merrin

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I made some pretty incredible noises when I opened this book and realized that I was getting TEMERAIRE'S POV -- but actually, oddly enough, that didn't end up being my favorite part of it! I wanted Temeraire's sections to be a little more distinct from Laurence's than they were, I think. I guess I'd just gotten so used to the idea that dragons think very differently from humans that I wanted that to be clearer in the narration.

Laurence's enormous pit of despair at being a traitor w...more

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Aug 07, 2008

Jeffrey rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: fantasy fans of historical fiction

Shelves: historical-fiction, fantasy, read-in-2008

Naomi Novik continues her winning alternative history series with Victory of Eagles. For those fantasy fans who have not read any of her books, you should venture to the local library and get into the books because they are a wonderful combination of history and fantasy.

In the last novel in this series, Laurence and Termeraire (his dragon) discovered a cure for an epidemic that was killing all of the dragons. Laurence brought a cure back to England but the lords decided in a little ...more

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Jul 13, 2008

Rebecca rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: everyone, but read the first four first

Shelves: fantasy, past-earth

So, at the end of Empire of Ivory, Laurence and Temeraire agree to commit treason to deliver a cure to a draconic plague to France -- Temeraire feeling that the lives of thousands of innocent dragons isn't worth victory of the war, and Laurence agreeing. Laurence then wishes to return to Britain, despite knowing he will be imprisoned or hanged for it, and Temeraire confined -- his own honor prevents him from staying in Europe, either as a French officer or a civilian. The book picks up severa...moreSo, at the end of Empire of Ivory, Laurence and Temeraire agree to commit treason to deliver a cure to a draconic plague to France -- Temeraire feeling that the lives of thousands of innocent dragons isn't worth victory of the war, and Laurence agreeing. Laurence then wishes to return to Britain, despite knowing he will be imprisoned or hanged for it, and Temeraire confined -- his own honor prevents him from staying in Europe, either as a French officer or a civilian. The book picks up several months later. Which I appreciate for two reasons. First, it give us a chance to see how dragons organize themselves on their own -- the breeding ground dragons are pretty much left to their own devices as long as they eat and mate and don't cause trouble. One of the dragons we meet, Percitia, is a mathematically inclined and quite clever dragon who refused to serve in the military because she didn't see the sense of getting shot up. Second, it gets to the interesting bit -- where Napoleon and Lung Tien Lien invade Britain -- quickly. Laurence, imprisoned on a ship, is presumed dead for a short while, long enough for Temeraire to be quite put out, and decide that he needs to fight Napoleon, and talks the rest of the dragons (ferals, captured dragons, some old retirees, and ones that just refused to fight) into forming their own flight to go fight.

Temeraire himself really shines here. He's forced to develop a sense of politics and leadership to negotiate with both other dragons and the human government and military. In Victory of Eagles he makes a lot more advances than I ever expected -- mostly because he points out that Napoleon was able to come so far because of giving dragons a reason to fight besides loyalty to their captains. Not to neglect Laurence, who is forced to go through a lot dealing with his own actions from Empire of Ivory -- questioning what honor and patriotism really mean. And even some of the secondary characters, such as Admiral Roland, get to play a role -- I'd love to see more interactions between her and General Wellsely/the Duke of Wellington, simply because the two of them quickly figured out the other was pretty damn good at their job, and developed a professional relationship, despite the fact Roland was a woman. (Thanks to Gentius, a veteran Longwings, we also got the story about how female Longwings captains got full rank. He told the story about how his first captain had left without the drunkard who had actual command, fought a tremendous battle, and then was commended by everyone, and finally got her proper rank.)

As for the end, I was quite pleased by it. It ended in a way that doesn't diminish what Laurence did in Empire of Ivory, but keeps our pair flying. Plus, this way, we might get to see new parts of the world -- I think Victory of Eagles is the first book since His Majesty's Dragon where we don't hardly leave Britain.(less)

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Dec 25, 2008

Amy rated it

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Shelves: read-in-2008

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 15, 2009

Brownbetty rated it

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I just got to this book, since I'm not planning to buy it in hardcover, since it wouldn't fit on my shelves that way. My mother read it before me and complained that it wasn't as good as the previous, since it consisted mainly of logistics; I however think logistics are pretty awesome, and have been known to give up on books which cannot explain to me how the foot-soldiers got from A to B, so this is perfectly all right with me.

This book is not, however, rolicking good fun, or not q...more

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Aug 18, 2008

Cayenne rated it

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Jan 17, 2009

Karen rated it

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy

I don't think I'm going to bother with any more of this series. This one was engaging, as always, but just unrelentingly grim. By the end of it I was more curious about what had actually happened at the battle of Waterloo than what might happen to the characters. And Temeraire is getting annoying. He's supposed to be so bright, and he's so completely clueless about people.

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Oct 14, 2008

Christine (AR) rated it

Shelves: sff

Can I give this six stars? It's the best book in the series since His Majesty's Dragon, and I've enjoyed them all.

No spoilers here, but I read this entire book with my heart in my throat. I came away thinking what an incredible commentary it was on how the right choice isn't necessarily the easy or popular one, and how making a moral decision can still exact an unbelievably high cost. I admire Novik so much for never taking the easy way out, for making her characters pay the conseq...more

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Jan 16, 2009

Katherine rated it

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Shelves: historical-fiction, fantasy

Dragon Temeraire and his hapless captain Lawrence try to fight back Napoleon's latest invasion, while trying to overcome the damage they've done to their own reputations. Lawrence is a bit of a sad sack in this one, but the overwhelming lovableness of the dragons, and the urgency of the plot, makes this a tense and wonderful read.

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Feb 13, 2009

Zen rated it

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Shelves: regency, sff

Am shockingly late, but I wanted the pretty cover in paperback. It came at exactly the right time. omg dragons are so CUTE SO CUTE.

I appreciate how you always find out something new in each book -- this time finding out about the kinda dragons who end up in the breeding grounds. V. much like Naomi's fanfic -- every story feels fresh, a new discovery, even when it's got basically the same theme/plot as the others (oh you know, falling in love with somebody and thinking they don't love y...more

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Jan 13, 2012

Richard rated it

· review of another edition

Rating: 3* of five

Series books always run a big risk: They can feel "phoned in" or less than exciting to the writer; or they can feel place-holder-y, like the book is a bridge to the next one in the series, without an obvious and unique place in the series's created universe. A little of both happens here.

I wasn't in any way doubting that Novik would take me back into Temeraire's alternative Earth with dispatch; she certainly did that. This is a writer who knows wha...more

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Jan 22, 2009

Don rated it

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It's hard coming in on a series without having read any of the previous entries (the first in this series is in my queue, but . . .). "Victory of Eagles" is the fifth in the series and I read it as part of my job. That being said, I didn't feel as lost as I thought I would, with things being explained, sometimes well and sometimes overly explained, enough that I could get a feeling for what happened in the previous book, at least. The idea of dragons being around during the Napoleonic ...more

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Jul 17, 2008

Barbara rated it

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Shelves: sf-f-goodies

Fifth in the marvelous series started in "His Majesty's Dragon". This not an upbeat book: Laurence and his dragon companion Temeraire are in disgrace, with Laurence under a death sentence for treason (see "Empire of Ivory") and Temeraire banished to the breeding grounds in Wales. Then Napoleon invades and everything changes. Every man (and dragon) is needed to combat the invading forces. A lot of action with a rousing battle at the end. And a lot of soul searching for Lau...more

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Jan 20, 2012

John rated it

Shelves: books-i-own, fantasy

Napoleon Invades England: Yet Another Great Historical Fantasy from Novik

In "Victory of Eagles", popular historical fantasy author Naomi Novik offers what may be the best installment so far in her "Temeraire" series of novels which brilliantly re-imagine the Napoleonic wars as one fought on both sides by men and dragons. It is a grim time for Great Britain; Napoleon's forces have successfully stormed ashore and have occupied London. Captain Will Laurence of the Ae...more

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May 14, 2011

Michael rated it

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Shelves: alternate-history, fantasy

Following their fateful (and many would say treasonous) decision at the end of "Empire of Ivory," Captain Will Laurence and Temeraire must deal with the consequences of their mission of mercy. While they deal with the hand their choices have dealt them (each with his own outlook toward the future), Emperor Naploean makes a bold attempt to invade the shores of England itself, culminating in a desperate and devastating battle that may see the end of Napolean's threat...or the fall of pro...more

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Mar 16, 2011

Ariana Deralte rated it

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Shelves: action-adventure, alternate-history, dragons, napoleonic, war-stories

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 15, 2011

Thomas Taylor rated it

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I tore though this book in a couple of days, bringing this series to a satisfying ending. I really enjoyed this book, and the book picked right up where the 4th book left off, at its cliffhanger ending.

Victory of Eagles is an excellent story, full of action and vivid characters, following Will Laurence and Temeraire through the climactic invasion of England by Napoleon.

Overall, the narrative is engrossing, and the world feels alive. Well written, and a real page turner....more

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Jan 05, 2011

Natalie rated it

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Shelves: science-fiction-and-fantasy

The novel opens with Temeraire in the breeding grounds (the closest thing to dragon prison) and Laurence in gaol. This is the first novel that utilizes a point of view shift and bounces between the dragon and his captain. After the first few chapters, the split POV losses its effectiveness. Temeraire manages to rouse the dragons on the breeding grounds to fight for their territory against the French. However, even with the entry of 60 new dragons into the Aerial Corps, Laurence is not pardoned a...more

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Aug 01, 2010

Erin rated it

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Shelves: fantasy, historical, adult, fiction

Victory of Eagles was a nice continuation of the plot lines and characters from previous books. The tone is certainly getting a little darker with sadness and regret colouring the characters' personalities but it only makes me look forward more to the final resolution of the series. As a whole, the characters are well developed but the action of the aerial battles never flags or disappoints either. The complexity of the military strategy is something that I find very interesting and well-thou...more

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Jun 21, 2010

Joe rated it

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This is my fifth Naomi Novik book and I have to proclaim with all of the energy in my bookish breast that it was . . . .adequate.
Novik's books have been described as Anne McCaffery's Dragonriders of Pern meets Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander.
Set during the Napoleonic Wars of the 19th Centuries first decade, Novik's novels present an alternate history in which humans coexist with intelligent dragons. In this fifth book of the series, Napoleon's army have successfully establ...more

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Jun 04, 2010

Johnny rated it

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Shelves: fantasy

Upon finishing Empire of Ivory, the fascinating novel that preceded Victory of Eagles, I was skeptical that Naomi Novik could possibly handle all the ramifications of what she had done. Presenting her protagonist with an ethical dilemma so delicious that I use it as a finals question (modified slightly and put in the context of a "game" or "film" instead of totally plagiarizing the full background and rich context of the Temeraire narrative. Today, I am totally amazed with th...moreUpon finishing Empire of Ivory, the fascinating novel that preceded Victory of Eagles, I was skeptical that Naomi Novik could possibly handle all the ramifications of what she had done. Presenting her protagonist with an ethical dilemma so delicious that I use it as a finals question (modified slightly and put in the context of a "game" or "film" instead of totally plagiarizing the full background and rich context of the Temeraire narrative. Today, I am totally amazed with the comprehensive and satisfying way she handled the social ostracism faced by Lawrence and the way Temeraire only belatedly discovers the cost of "radicalism" or "Whig"-like notions.

The only reason I've given this book (4 stars) rather than (5 stars) is because I doubt everyone will relish this book as much as I do. I'm biased. Novik's attention to political detail is faultless. Her awareness of the repercussions to arise from Temeraire's desire for reform is absolutely spot-on. The tension between military accomplishment and the political aftermath couldn't be written more perfectly in its minor key if it was accompanied by Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony (known for its clever non-apology taking as much risk toward Stalin as Temeraire takes toward General Wellesley (whom we know better as Lord Wellington)).

Yet, I suspect that the average reader is more interested in action and intrigue than political/philosophical dialogue. So, the portions that I find most interesting may not be for every taste. I love the way Temeraire usually begins with ingenuous and idealistic attitudes and then discovers the high cost of change. It resonates perfectly, the dialogues dancing from well-drawn character to well-drawn character as elegantly as a dance from the era.

On a personal level, Victory of Eagles interweaves the best of both plausible history and alternative history. Cameos (or, in some cases, more substantive appearances) by Murat, Nelson, Talleyrand, and Wellesley offer a solid historical texture--even in the midst of the preposterous fantasy conceit. And, I love the way the book weaves together authentic Napoleonic maneuvers and strategies with the new wrinkles necessitated by adding aerial tactics.

Anyone who enjoyed Empire of Ivory should not fear that Victory of Eagles will offer less. Indeed, it offers more and leaves the reader with another set-up for another installment. One wonders if it can possibly be as interesting as the first five volumes, but since Novik has more than answered my reservations in this work, I look forward to reading the next one, too. (less)

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May 05, 2010

Jennifer rated it

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This book should be a must-read for everyone who claims to have the perfect “idea” for a novel. The idea behind all the Temeraire book is enough to make anyone roll their eyes. Napoleonic wars with dragons? Ugh. I started reading this series with many reservations and very low hopes. But it turns out that a silly premise doesn’t matter when you have plot, likable characters, and interesting details.

While there are several strengths to this book, probably the strongest point are t...moreThis book should be a must-read for everyone who claims to have the perfect “idea” for a novel. The idea behind all the Temeraire book is enough to make anyone roll their eyes. Napoleonic wars with dragons? Ugh. I started reading this series with many reservations and very low hopes. But it turns out that a silly premise doesn’t matter when you have plot, likable characters, and interesting details.

While there are several strengths to this book, probably the strongest point are the characters. I was very much relieved that it was a non-sulking book. I know people tend to think that their deepest thoughts come out of their fits of sulking (they call it musing.)Novik, thankfully, spares us the sulking though there is ample reason for her characters to do so.

Laurence loses his ship because he was a brilliant captain with a strong sense of duty. He has a strong bond with a dragon who wants to live across the world where he cannot be comfortable. He is rejected by society and his family. Finally, he is condemned for running a humanitarian mission. But he is a man that focuses on the day-to-day. He works through the unfortunate circumstances and enjoys the good. When I read a book, I like for the main character to be the kind of person I could take on a road trip. Captain Laurence is the sort of man you would want by your side – practical, exacting, positive.

Temeraire is in a land where he will be treated like an animal instead of the God he was bred to be. His intelligence will always be dismissed. But even when he is unhappy, he is aware that he chose his life and accepts it because of his dream of improving the lot of dragons in Europe. His natural curiosity and plain-spoken manner are very appealing. He has a wild ideal that will turn England’s societies and values on their heads. He has an exuberance that he knows he must temper but he isn’t sure how to do it. He is a very sympathetic character because he is everyone’s best qualities at the age of 13. He is exactly the sort of person we thought we were at 13 before it was revealed to be hormonal, self-absorbed drama.

The relationship between Temeraire and Laurence is tender and affectionate. It brings to mind the comfort of a pet but also includes the dialogue that one gets from an intellectual friend. Their relationship is marked by disagreements and it does mature as Laurence learns to give Temeraire more respect. However, both sides spend time trying to understand the other and can let go of their stubborn pride without too many scenes. This is a much more realistic way of maturing relationships than the normal snipping drama that plagues too many books.

Besides having two attractive main characters, Novik makes the others to be human even if they aren't developed. In novels like these, too often the Bad Guys are portrayed like talk show hosts – blustering, without substances, and with only a few scant facts that they cling to pigheadedly. What makes these books enjoyable is that nearly all characters have a valid position that we would expect in another human being. Not all of them are well-developed. In fact, the biggest disappointment is the fact that so many of the dragons are given the same personalities. But all think and can be reasonable. There are no silly scenes set up for the sole purpose of contrasting the saintliness of the main characters against the flat blackness of the antagonists.

Besides the characters, there are the settings. The first book takes place in England and the next three start to wander the world: China, Central Asia/Middle East, and Africa. While many of the details and histories are not accurate (it is fantasy after all) I enjoyed the fact that other cultures are not simplified, demonized, or made to be overly noble. This last book returns to England for more Napoleonic war. While the alternate history of the war was interesting, I was glad to see that it ended while they left for Australia. Temeraire is a curious, sensible, character who reaches out to new people without prejudice. He is exactly the sort you want with you when traveling the world.

The main weakness is that we never have a sense of where the books are going. The Novik leans on the reader’s knowledge of the Napoleonic wars to give it framework – especially in the first book. This isn’t a terrible thing since she never meanders or blathers on pointlessly. Though she changes the history enough that when the fifth book ends we are still unsure of where the plot as a whole is going. I have read that she does have the whole series planned out so it’s probably not going to rot away like too many series do.

In general, it was a very enjoyable read. I would highly recommend it to people who read for fun.
(less)

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Mar 16, 2010

Tim Hicks rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I was disappointed. Temeraire is still hopelessly naive, Piglet, Laurence is Eeyore (and verging on being Thomas Covenant). England has only two good military minds, and a lot of dunces. About 15% of the book is about feeding the dragons. We wait all book to see if Lien is going to do anything, and then we get a "WTF?" that is just wildly implausible, right up there with the pulp-fiction serials (episode 7 ends with our hero in a 30'-deep pit full of snakes, episode 8 starts with "...more

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Mar 04, 2010

Bruce rated it

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Shelves: sf

From http://flyingsinger.blogspot.com/2009/10...

I've been sucked into Naomi Novik's "Temeraire" series. As I've written about before, this is an "alternate history" series that takes place in the early nineteenth century and revolves around the Napoleonic Wars in Europe. It's reasonably good historical fiction with one major addition: intelligent dragons that interact with humans in various ways. In the first book (His Majesty's Dragon), they were pretty much featu...moreFrom http://flyingsinger.blogspot.com/2009/10...

I've been sucked into Naomi Novik's "Temeraire" series. As I've written about before, this is an "alternate history" series that takes place in the early nineteenth century and revolves around the Napoleonic Wars in Europe. It's reasonably good historical fiction with one major addition: intelligent dragons that interact with humans in various ways. In the first book (His Majesty's Dragon), they were pretty much featured as platforms for aerial warfare, but in the second book (Throne of Jade), Temeraire and Laurence traveled to Imperial China, where dragons are deeply integrated into the culture and respected as independent, intelligent beings (though there is still plenty of fighting). The third book (Black Powder War) brought Temeraire and Laurence to Turkey after a harrowing cross-country journey from China. There were new characters and many adventures, but I found it hard to get through some parts of this book - certain contrivances threatened my willingness to suspend disbelief, and I found the plot "dragon" in some parts (sorry!). I even resolved to quit the series with this book.

But Novik managed to hook me in the end when Temeraire and Laurence finally arrived home to find that a horrible dragon plague was threatening to leave Britain wide open to Napoleon's invasion plans. This made me curious enough to download and read the next book, Empire of Ivory. This book takes place mostly in South and southern-central Africa, where there is reason to believe a cure for the dragon disease can be found, and of course more disasters and adventures ensue, and we meet a civilization with a human/dragon culture quite different from either the Chinese or European models. For me, Empire of Ivory was much better than Black Powder War (though if you should decide to read these books, I strongly suggest you read them in order and not skip any - characters and plot elements from the earlier books are important in the later books, and there isn't too much back story explanation in the later books).

This brought me to the last published book in the series (Victory of Eagles) which finds Temeraire and Laurence imprisoned as traitors (long story!) and temporarily out of the action as Napoleon's invasion of Britain looms. It's quite a page-turner (or screen-flicker since I'm reading all these books in Kindle format on the iPod Touch) and it's keeping me from my music plans, the Augustine report, and some promised housework. Fortunately the sixth book (to be set in Australia) is not due for a while so I'll be able to get some stuff done once I finish this one later today.

I normally don't go in for fantasy (for example, I like the Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter movies, but could never finish any of the books). But Novik's dragon books don't strike me as fantasy - the world she builds is richly detailed and historically and culturally realistic in most respects. The fact that there are talking dragons just happens to be the way things evolved, and it just works for me as long as I don't think too much about the flight physics and implausible payloads of these enormous dragons. Somehow it's all made possible with "air sacs" (hmmm - helium sacs maybe?).(less)

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Oct 04, 2009

Sara rated it

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jul 25, 2009

Clawfoot rated it

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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. So, I've now finished all five books in the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik, and I have to say, I've really enjoyed them a lot.

I am much pleased by the fact that it's one of those rare fantasy novels that breaks a lot of the tropes and conventions of the genre. One of the conventions it breaks away from is romance -- there are a couple of love interests, sort of, for both main characters over the course of the series, but they're never the main focus, and remain solidly in the sideli...moreSo, I've now finished all five books in the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik, and I have to say, I've really enjoyed them a lot.

I am much pleased by the fact that it's one of those rare fantasy novels that breaks a lot of the tropes and conventions of the genre. One of the conventions it breaks away from is romance -- there are a couple of love interests, sort of, for both main characters over the course of the series, but they're never the main focus, and remain solidly in the sidelines. I'm glad they're there, but I'm also glad that they're minor. The focus of the books should be and is the relationship between Lawrence and Temeraire and how they meet and overcome the difficult challenges and situations that face them while still attempting to remain true to themselves. It's a character study on some levels, and an adventure story on others, and the two marry extremely well.

I'm pretty convinced that this isn't the end of the series. They're on their way to another adventure as the fifth book ends, and the storyteller in me knows -- just knows -- that a climactic final confrontation between Temeraire and his main rival Lien is still in the cards somehow.

I'm also pleased with how Novik is not afraid to change her world, and not tie things up neatly. Lawrence was convicted as a traitor, and that hasn't changed. It's nice to see characters deal with the consequences of their actions; other books would have had the authorities seen his point of view and pardoned him. Also, isues arise and don't go away, and are not satisfactorily solved, they way they normally are in fantasy. Ferris, for example: he was dismissed from the Corps and what happened to him? No idea. Neither does Lawrence, and it bothers him that not only does he not know what's going on with him, but there's very likely absolutley nothing he can do to help, and that his help, even if he could offer it, would not be welcome. And it's just left like that, with no resolution. Ferris was a character we'd gotten to know and like (I liked him at least), and there is a marked difference between the way Novik played out that sub-plot and the way such things are normally handled in typical fantasy. Rather than find it frustrating, I find it refreshing. It's a shot of realism that makes the fantasy setting all the more believable. Not everything in life gets wrapped up neatly the way it does in stories. I like it that Novik is willing to challenge that expectation.

Speaking of which, this also calls into question my certainty that there will be another book, with that climactic confrontation between Lien and Temeraire. That's what conventional storytelling tells us to expect. I remember distinctly in a "How to Write a Novel" course I took (in which my novel "The Hidden Court" was born) being told that I could NOT introduce a rival for my main character without those two coming to a confrontation at the climax. My protagonist HAD to fight his rival (even though the whole plot of the book is about him dealing with his grief and letting go of his anger and the NEED to fight). I'm still struggling with how to reconcile that. So part of me hopes that Lien and Temeraire never do resolve their conflict beyond "they continue to dislike each other to the ends of their days," but part of me also hopes for that confrontation, if only because it means I'll get another Temeraire book to enjoy out of it. :)

Novik also does a very fine job of building her world without the ubiquitous info-dumps or excessive exposition, which is the biggest challenge for any author writing in a new or heavily-modified world. I never felt spoon-fed or like the author didn't think I could keep up with her.

I loved the Rolands, both of them (senior and junior). Jane is a fantastic character, and I love her to itty-bitty bits. Emily I also really like, mostly because she's a child character that does not make me itch. Such things are very rare. Novik manages to make her sufficiently independent and strong-willed without being needlessly disobedient, disrespectful or obnoxious (a trap many people fall into when they want to make a "strong" character: someone who talks back, resists authority, and generally makes a giant pain of themselves, all in an attempt to show how strong-willed and competent they are). Novik showcases Emily's strength and competence so much better by simply having her be strong and competent, even when she, at eleven years old, has to take up pistols and shoot men in a pitched battle (I'm thinking of the siege at the pavilion in China here). She makes no pithy remarks, does nothing to showcase either how it doesn't affect her in the slightest (in fact, I think she takes some time out to vomit a few times), nor does she fall apart -- she gets the job done and isn't crippled by it afterwards. She's awesome and I adore her. She's her mother's daughter through and through, and there isn't any higher praise.

I loved how the dragons obviously thought very differently about the world than humans did, but still similar enough for there to be communication. I loved Maximus and Lily, as well as their handlers (especially Maximus and Berkley). I adored Volly.

And Tharkay! Another wonderful character. And I have to admit a small liking of Iskierka, if only because I like to dislike her, and I hope she might learn a lesson or two in the future.

I really do hope there are more books on the way. I usually grow tired of a series by the third or fourth book, either bored of the formula or irritated with a "new" direction or flavour, but none of that happened with this series for me. I enjoyed the last book as much as I enjoyed the first, and I'd be hard-pressed to name which I liked best.(less)

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Jul 22, 2009

Ann rated it

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Napoleon invades England!

The fallout from Laurence and Temeraire's actions at the end of Black Powder War manifests with a vengeance. I'm impressed that Novik isn't presenting their ethical decision as the 100% shiny-white correct one, and there are decided life and death consequences to it. Laurence in particular is forced to come to terms with what he did and try to reconcile it with his once perception of himself as a loyal soldier and a decent man. Temeraire has to cope not only ...more

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Jun 14, 2009

chinasparrow rated it

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Shelves: spec-fiction

Words cannot express how much I love this series. An alternate history of the Napoleonic Wars (with side-tracks!) involving dragons – two of my favourite topics rolled into one. The character of Temeraire is an absolute delight – Novik has truly captured a sense of other/non-human and how strange our little customs/ideas might appear to another species.

I don't want to give any of the plot away, so I just say this (the fifth) novel is great fun and well-paced, stronger than the last two...more

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Jul 22, 2008

Eliza rated it

· review of another edition

Though much darker than the previous four in the series, I still found Victory of Eagles to be a seriously fun read. Laurence's emo (though utterly justified) gets old after a while, but Temeraire's confusion over said emo is amusing, and his efforts at bringing the dragons into the democratic process was probably my favourite part of the book. Plus I can't wait to see how Iskierka and Temeraire finally get together. I'm shipping dragons, y'all. Damn you, Naomi Novik!

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Feb 10, 2012

Kate Millin rated it

· review of another edition

I love the way Temeraiare works to improve his living conditions, and manages to get the other dragons working with him. I think there are interesting comments on the way people worked together in an 'honourable' way through the fact that the straight froward dragons find it hard to understand the reactions of their human partners - especially in the relations of Temeraire and Laurence.
It is a grim time for the dragon Temeraire. On the heels of his mission to Africa, seeking the cure for a...more

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About Naomi Novik

An avid reader of fantasy literature since age six, when she first made her way through The Lord of the Rings, Naomi Novik is also a history buff with a particular interest in the Napoleonic era and a fondness for the work of Patrick O’Brian and Jane Austen. She studied English literature at Brown University, and did graduate work in computer science at Columbia University before leaving to partic...more

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title link	preview: Victory of Eagles
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Victory of Eagles (Temeraire #5)

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