Together in one volume, here are the first three novels in Naomi Novik’s New York Times bestselling Temeraire series, combining the gr...
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reviews
Apr 02, 2008
Terence
rated it: 
Being a fan of Patrick O'Brian and the Aubrey/Maturin series as well as Bernard Cornwall's Sharpe books, I was intrigued with Naomi Novik's Temeraire series. On the whole, I would give it a C+/B-.
First to the "good" stuff: Novik is a good writer. She manages to capture the "flavor" of the Napoleonic era more often than not (though she can't hold a candle to O'Brian's evocation of early 19th century Britain). She's also created likable characters in William Lauren More...
First to the "good" stuff: Novik is a good writer. She manages to capture the "flavor" of the Napoleonic era more often than not (though she can't hold a candle to O'Brian's evocation of early 19th century Britain). She's also created likable characters in William Lauren More...
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Jun 18, 2011
Erica
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I tried to read this, and though the worldbuilding was outstanding, ultimately the intense details of life in army, in navy, of the Napoleonic Wars and battle plans, just bored me.
If you read this perhaps the best way would be to do one book, then stop for a while, and then another book. Then take another breather for a while, etc.
Her writing in Napoleonic period style is incredibly good, she manages to keep the prose lively for a modern reader while also being extremely More...
If you read this perhaps the best way would be to do one book, then stop for a while, and then another book. Then take another breather for a while, etc.
Her writing in Napoleonic period style is incredibly good, she manages to keep the prose lively for a modern reader while also being extremely More...
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Aug 02, 2011
AnEyeSpy
rated it: 
***** <fan> "In His Majesty's Service" collects the first three books of Naomi Novik's Temeraire series: "His Majesty's Dragon", "Throne of Jade" and "Black Powder War", reviewed separately, and a short story. "In Autumn, A White Dragon Looks Over the Wide River" tells how Lien meets Napoleon. The title evokes her origin in a culture of poetry, centuries of knowledge, and aristocracty. The albino Celestial (most intelligent breed) dragon le
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Jan 05, 2012
Didi
rated it: 
Once I got started I couldn't put it down! You can tell because I effectively read it in 1-2 days.
I got sucked into the fantastical world where dragons talk! Laurence's affinity for Temeraire is so sweet and endearing, as is Berkley's camaraderie with his dragon and Captain Harcourt with Lily. I want a talking dragon!! Watching Laurence and Temeraire's relationship evolve throughout the book, in a time of war no less, was fascinating. U learn with Laurence about dragons and their pe More...
I got sucked into the fantastical world where dragons talk! Laurence's affinity for Temeraire is so sweet and endearing, as is Berkley's camaraderie with his dragon and Captain Harcourt with Lily. I want a talking dragon!! Watching Laurence and Temeraire's relationship evolve throughout the book, in a time of war no less, was fascinating. U learn with Laurence about dragons and their pe More...
Feb 07, 2012
Kate
rated it:
The writing style is quite old fashioned, and matches in some ways writers of the time period. It's not for everyone, but I didn't mind at all, and thought it actually added something positive to my experience of the story. I think what I liked best about this series (the compendium has the first three books) is that Laurence, the main character, actually grows as a person. He changes his mind, he agonizes over what he feels are moral dilemmas, and he is a dynamic character. Temeraire himself
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Sep 22, 2011
Justin
rated it:
In His Majesty’s Service contains the first three novels—His Majesty’s Dragon, Throne of Jade, and Black Powder War—in the Temeraire Series, currently at five novels, collected in a single volume. Each novel is quite short, so even in a single volume they are manageable (for comparison’s sake, they remain dwarfed by The Way of Kings on my bookshelf). It also contains a new short story set in the same secondary universe.
Set during the Napoleonic Wars, the series begins with a ship f More...
Set during the Napoleonic Wars, the series begins with a ship f More...
Dec 30, 2008
Chris
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I got this because everyone seemed to be raving about it. I can understand why. The first book presents a very interesting alternate reality and plays around with the whole animal/human bonding theme that runs though some fantasy novels (think Pern, for instance). Novik also writes good history for she give the reader a real sense of time and place. I found the second book, "Throne of Jade", to be not as good as the first. The journey seemed to go on forever with nothing much happ
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Jan 25, 2012
Earl
rated it:
I cannot speak as one well read in the "dragon riding" genre. To be honest, despite being a big fan of all things dragons and riding, this is the first novel of its kind I have read. Therefore I can only speak to its merits as its own book, not against similar genre titles, and maybe that's a good thing.
I quite enjoyed the first three books in Naomi Novik's Temeraire series. The first book in particular enthralled me with its riveting combination of Napoleon-era naval cultu More...
I quite enjoyed the first three books in Naomi Novik's Temeraire series. The first book in particular enthralled me with its riveting combination of Napoleon-era naval cultu More...
Mar 10, 2010
Neal
rated it: 
Ugh.
Okay, I love history. Big fan of the historical fiction of Bernard Cornwell and Patrick O'Brian. Love me some nerd fiction as well. Best of both worlds, right?
No.
Some kind of cool ideas poorly executed. Some chapters have little to no consequence to the overall story. Character choices are fairly toothless and one note. Opportunities for conflict are setup but never followed through. Pretty disappointing read.
And I read all three books.. More...
Okay, I love history. Big fan of the historical fiction of Bernard Cornwell and Patrick O'Brian. Love me some nerd fiction as well. Best of both worlds, right?
No.
Some kind of cool ideas poorly executed. Some chapters have little to no consequence to the overall story. Character choices are fairly toothless and one note. Opportunities for conflict are setup but never followed through. Pretty disappointing read.
And I read all three books.. More...
Feb 02, 2012
Matt
rated it:
I have a tough time giving this book 3 stars. The first book in this tome is certainly at least a four and then the other two are probably 3.5s, but averaging out them together I think a 3 is closer to how a feel rather than a 4.
The first book is fascinating, the main character Laurence and the dragon Temeraire make an amusing duo as they are thrust into Britain's Ariel Corps during the Napoleonic Wars. The look into a society with dragons, how they train, how they live, made for exc More...
The first book is fascinating, the main character Laurence and the dragon Temeraire make an amusing duo as they are thrust into Britain's Ariel Corps during the Napoleonic Wars. The look into a society with dragons, how they train, how they live, made for exc More...
Jun 18, 2011
Robert
rated it:
A very fun and fast read. As other reviews have mentioned the author does get it when talking about military culture and tactics. I was very happy to see character development and not every loose end finished in book one. Especially as this is part of a three book volume :)
Definitely if you like military stories, or just nice solid character stories, this will be a good read for you. If you are in it for magic and dragons.... well there are lots of dragons!
<edit review a More...
Definitely if you like military stories, or just nice solid character stories, this will be a good read for you. If you are in it for magic and dragons.... well there are lots of dragons!
<edit review a More...
Jan 05, 2009
Mandeep
rated it:
when i first picked this up to read i thought an alternate reality about the napoleonic wars with dragons inserted in it would just be too strange. but i was wrong. what won me over was how well Novik sets the 19th century tone - the language used in the book, and the motivations behind the characters' actions. and despite the story sometimes going very slow plot wise, it managed to hold my attention.
Aug 24, 2011
Alternative historical fantasy at its best. What if dragons had been available as aerial troops during the Napoleonic Wars? Novik provides the answer to that question as well as some excellent action and character evolution. Especially in the first book, the historical details are so well done that the reader might forget for a moment that dragons were not used during the Napoleonic War. --Rebekka
Oct 11, 2011
Meaghan
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The Napoleonic Wars is my favorite time era in Britian (sp?) after the Victorian Era, so imagine my surprise when I found a book series that basically just adds dragons to it! I was hooked from chapter one! It was amazing! This particular book incorporates the first three books in the series. I love the writing and the main character, Temeraire. He's an amazing dragon and I love what Naomi Novik has done with him and all the other dragons she created. I also love that his captain, Will Laurence,
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Jan 06, 2011
Thomas
rated it:
I really enjoyed the Napoleonic flavor of this book, there were spots where the story seemed to founder, and die on the vine a little, but I found myself riveted and mowing through the pages.
I enjoyed the dragons as characters and the people were well written as well, and some of the equality/suffrage/slavery undertones were pretty poignant.
A good read.
I enjoyed the dragons as characters and the people were well written as well, and some of the equality/suffrage/slavery undertones were pretty poignant.
A good read.
Jul 26, 2010
R. Michael
rated it:
Napoleanic wars, with dragons. Nifty historical fantasy that will appeal to fans of napoleanic era (though I think the presence of air combat would have radically changed war fighting and geopolitics even more than she asserts).
The First one is great, the second is good, and the third is somewhere between the two. Will read the later ones in the series.
The First one is great, the second is good, and the third is somewhere between the two. Will read the later ones in the series.
Dec 01, 2009
saxtell
rated it:
I found this to be a really good and entertaining book. The plot is incredibly ridiculous, dragons in the time of the Napoleonic wars, where every character seems to be straight out of Jane Austen. Not anything close to what I normally read, but I love it!
Oct 15, 2009
Tyler
rated it:
A really good read. Fairly involved though, make sa person think through and process. I like one of the review descriptions that states the series to be like Jane Austen combined with Christopher Paolini. One stress induced F-Bomb in the writng so far.
Jan 10, 2012
Jennifer
rated it:
Great world-building, excellent writing -- I admire writers who just integrate the world's workings without lengthy expository. It makes the book very smooth and wholly immerses the reader. The characters are rather flat; I felt like the dragons had more three-dimensionality than the humans. Laurence was definitely a predictable British soldier type -- very nice and admirable and all that, but unsurprising. Temeraire was more interesting!
Dec 03, 2008
Stephenee
rated it:
I loved this! The introduction of the dragons to the war with Napolean was great! The main characters are brought in and described wonderfully! The story is full of action and moves along wonderfully!
Aug 12, 2011
Theresa
rated it:
a mixture of fantasy and history, dragons used as air force in the Napoleonic expansion. Great dynamics with them going to china and seeing nearly the entire world during that time. It leaves you hanging though waiting to find out if they survive their last leg of the race home.
Aug 05, 2011
Scot
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The realm of dragons during the time of Napoleon. This is an exciting delve into alternate history. Great fun.
Jun 18, 2011
Tami
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Finished book2: Throne of Jade. I liked this every bit as much as the first book. Rather than spending the entire book on battles, in this book we took a very long trip to China where Celestial dragons, of which Temeraire is one, live. Turns our the Chinese are very possessive of this 'line' of dragons and want Temeraire back as Celestial dragons should only be matched with someone of royal blood and should NEVER be used to do battle. I look forward to the next book in the series - Black Powder
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Aug 28, 2011
Starts out really good, then veers into alt history. And politics. Not dragons.
So not cool.
So not cool.
Sep 14, 2011
Jen
rated it:
A spectacular, thrilling series with some of the best dragons I have ever read. Longer reviews on the pages for each individual volume: His Majesty's Dragon, Throne of Jade, and Black Powder War.
Dec 28, 2011
Dove
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Oh man, why did I wait so long to read these books? It's delicious alternate history and endearing dragons and I have the biggest crush on Laurence. But in non-fangirly talk, the story was well-written, and most of the battles kept my attention well (which is difficult to do for me in any media). The building of the alternate history was fascinating and the style was engaging and memorable. I loved all of the characters, and how real Temeraire felt. I cannot wait to get the other books in t
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Jun 18, 2011
I sometimes forget that I am very fond of this type of book. Not so much of the wonders of dragons, but the great adventures of a Navy man. Oh pits I realize I just claimed I finished the wrong book. Well I guess this means I will have to finish the second and third books to make it true. I was going to anyways. Very amused of the relationship between man and dragon; it is somewhat like the relationship between man and dog, except the dog is rather large, deadly, and intelligent.
Jan 29, 2009
Jamie
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Only on Chapter 2, but so far I'm really enjoying it. I was wary of talking dragons and dragonriders since I hated Pern, but I like the different, historical milieu and the characters so far are way more likeable than Anne McCaffrey's.
Nov 04, 2008
Dennis
rated it:
I generally do not review my books in writing I am a speak about the book fan, but honestly for those of you into alternate history / fantasy (BTW, this has been only my second foray into it) this series was amazing. Novik has a way of captivating you with her writing and this series hooked me. When I finished the last book, I wanted more.
Time to find out what she is working on next, I think I have another favorite author.
Time to find out what she is working on next, I think I have another favorite author.
