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 ...
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Jul 12, 2008
Kelly
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Aug 07, 2008
Jeffrey
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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...
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
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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
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Dec 25, 2008
Amy
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Mar 15, 2009
Brownbetty
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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...
This book is not, however, rolicking good fun, or not q More...
Feb 11, 2010
Cayenne
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Jan 17, 2009
Karen
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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)
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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...
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
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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
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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...
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
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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...
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
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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
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Jul 17, 2008
Barbara
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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
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Jan 20, 2012
John
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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...
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...
May 14, 2011
Michael
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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
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Mar 16, 2011
Ariana Deralte
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Jan 15, 2011
Thomas
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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...
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...
Jan 05, 2011
Natalie
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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
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Aug 02, 2010
Erin
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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
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Jun 21, 2010
Joe
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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...
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...
Jun 04, 2010
Johnny
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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
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May 05, 2010
Jennifer
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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 More...
While there are several strengths to this book, probably the strongest point are t More...
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Mar 16, 2010
Tim
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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 "
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Mar 04, 2010
Bruce
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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 More...
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 More...
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Oct 04, 2009
Sara
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Jul 25, 2009
Clawfoot
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Jul 22, 2009
Ann
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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...
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...
Jun 14, 2009
chinasparrow
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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...
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...
Jul 22, 2008
Eliza
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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
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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...
It is a grim time for the dragon Temeraire. On the heels of his mission to Africa, seeking the cure for a More...
