Last read Feb 2008 - listening to audiobook Jul 2011

The third in the series - Temeraire, Laurenec and crew are sent on a mission to retrieve 2 dragon eggs from Istanbul, and must cross the width of Eurasia to do so. Along the way they endure privations, clash cultures with Middle Easterners, meet a band of feral dragons and (once they reach Europe again) become involved in military engagements.

I would have liked to have seen more of how the Arab culture dealt with dragons; tho with Laurence & Co. being basically under house arrest, I suppose it was difficult to demonstrate. The Prussian dragons fell nicely into the Germanic stereotype; they didn't seem to impressed with the idea of draconic sufferage, tho. While the battle scenes made my eyes glaze over a bit, I enjoyed the general adventure. - and once again, the novel ends at a dramatic point.

Gripping enough to keep my interest while on the treadmill; yet not difficult/deep enough to completely absorb my attention & make me stumble or fall :^)