His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, #1) in Sinful Readers Anonymous

Mar 31, 2013 Brightness rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015, fantasy, reviewed, series, historical-fiction, pass-the-tissues, 4-stars, hugo

I love Laurence. I love Temeraire. I hate Rankin. Levitas breaks my heart. It took me forever to read this, but it's not you, it's me. Stupid reading slump. I would have torn through this otherwise. One of the best books I've read all year. ...more

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Feb 18, 2016 ☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, z-ammp-1000-reach, z-nbrc-wobble, z-rrrc-2016-challenge, historical-fiction, z-sfrc-2016, war-military, alternate-history

Rated 3.5
An enjoyable story. I enjoyed how Temeraire was jealous when Laurence was going to clean the other dragon. Both Temeraire and Laurence were perfect together.

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Jun 02, 2013 Athena Shardbearer rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

RTC

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Mar 23, 2014 Audrey Jane rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction

Since I wasn't satisfied with how His Majesty's Dragon ended I thought giving the book a 3 stars, but at the end of the book I got pictures of dragons and a short introduction to different kinds of dragons which put me back in a good mood so 4 stars it is.

*Spoilers*

His Majesty's Dragon made me laugh, cry and sometimes thoroughly annoyed me. It can also be dubbed as the book where things happen overnight, where you're left guessing afterwards.

The story is set during the Napoleonic Wars, mixed in Since I wasn't satisfied with how His Majesty's Dragon ended I thought giving the book a 3 stars, but at the end of the book I got pictures of dragons and a short introduction to different kinds of dragons which put me back in a good mood so 4 stars it is.

*Spoilers*

His Majesty's Dragon made me laugh, cry and sometimes thoroughly annoyed me. It can also be dubbed as the book where things happen overnight, where you're left guessing afterwards.

The story is set during the Napoleonic Wars, mixed in with fantastical elements (dragon riders). I got invested in the story right from the start. HMD has a strong opening scene: an English frigate under command of the protagonist (Will Laurence), intercepts a French ship and acquires a dragon's egg as part of the bounty. Now, despite having slow passages certainly during Laurence and Temeraire's training, the dragons and Temeraire in particular made it up for it. I'm sure that Temeraire is the most adorable, wittiest and smartest dragon you will ever read about in fiction.

Laurence at the other hand is uptight and quite frankly not the kind of person to hang out with if you want to have some fun. He needs to loosen up. He puts high value on duty and honour, and it was quite frustrating. I understand where he's coming from, and since the story takes place in the nineteenth century the author probably wanted to reflect the nineteenth century mindset (think of Jane Austen) but I wish the author had been a bit more flexible on that front. I mean Levitas' situation broke my heart. Do you need more reasons to punch the guy in the face already!
Also knowing Laurence's personality, it was funny the first time when he called his dragon 'my dear' or 'dearest'. I didn't quite know what to think about it, I thought it was cute the first time and afterwards, well he was a bit overdoing it. It's clear that Laurence and Temeraire share a strong bond.

Two things in HMD annoyed me big time. First the romance; although subdued to the point it's almost non existent, how does captain Roland fit in the picture? Laurence barely knows her, she doesn't get properly introduced to the reader and then we learn further in the book that they have a romantic relationship. Huh, they are lovers? Did I miss something?

About the ending, Dragons and soldiers are engaged in this 'epic battle' which in my eyes was a bloody massacre. But suddenly the French went 'oh non, we cannot possibly defeat that special snowflake of a dragon, allez let's pack up and go'. And then there's a big party on the British side to celebrate their victory. Wait, what? I mean the French left more than 5000 men behind in Dover and lost at least one dragon. I assume they are made prisoners of war? The author never mentions the battle or the aftermath again (in this book at least). This seems a bit convenient in the end. This review explains in other words what I thought about the ending.

Anyway I liked it and thought the author had great ideas but I do hope that Laurence will loosen up in the next book, Throne of Jade. But I do not feel the hurry to pick it up. HMD does well as a stand alone imo.

Note: How big does a dragon have to be to support at least 8 people and military provisions? I'm aware that some unbelievable action sequences happened in this book. Many times I had to stop reading and tried to wrap my mind around the descriptions given

Rating: 3.5 ...more

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