The third book in the Temeraire Series is not bad, but not as good as the first. As you can tell from the title, the book mostly concerns a war and we return to Europe and Napoleon. It once again introduces a large number of new characters while retaining several old ones. I feel that Laurence is best appreciated against other British people, where their humor is best illuminated. Temeraire is also most likeable with other dragons.
Temeraire develops an increasingly radical political consciousness about dragon's rights, which borders Hermione Granger's obsession with SPEW. Temeraire's idealism is often impractical and inconvenient, which is realistic but also immensely irritating. William Laurence is a pushover when it comes to Temeraire, but sometimes comes off as stubborn/ stupid.
However, the novel redeems itself in the last third and sets an interesting stage for the next book.