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His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, #1)

Naomi Novik

Start date: January 1, 2024

Finish date: January 31, 2024

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What Members Thought

Oct 24, 2012 Cora rated it really liked it

Shelves: lost-in-fire, fantasy, kindle, dragons, historical-fantasy, alternate-history, england, magical-creatures, adventure, 19th-century

During the Napoleonic Era, a British Navy Captain and his crew conquer a French ship. After boarding the French vessel, they discover it was carrying an extremely valuable dragon's egg. When the egg hatches before the ship is able to return to England, the ship's captain must bond with the hatchling or risk losing the dragon for England. However, by doing so, the captain finds himself with no choice but to leave the Navy and join the Aerial troops. I really enjoyed reading this historical fantas ...more

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Jan 24, 2020 Marla rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, made-me-laugh, adventure, made-me-cry, war, series, asian, library-audiobook, audiobook, young-adult

I enjoyed this book despite the history. The camaraderie between the dragon captains was great, but totally overshadowed by the friendship and loyalty between the captain and their dragon. This book reminded me of Eragon meets the steampunk book Leviathan.

I enjoyed the audiobook and look forward to the next book.

Temeraire is a very bright sentient dragon who is Captain Lawrence's companion. Lawrence becomes an aviator when his ship captures a French ship which has a hatching dragon egg as cargo I enjoyed this book despite the history. The camaraderie between the dragon captains was great, but totally overshadowed by the friendship and loyalty between the captain and their dragon. This book reminded me of Eragon meets the steampunk book Leviathan.

I enjoyed the audiobook and look forward to the next book.

Temeraire is a very bright sentient dragon who is Captain Lawrence's companion. Lawrence becomes an aviator when his ship captures a French ship which has a hatching dragon egg as cargo. I was impressed with Lawrence's responsibility by becoming the dragon rider when addressed by the newly hatched dragon as duty for his country.

Most aviators have trained since childhood so Lawrence is significantly lagging in his training. The prolonged descriptions of training and dragon baths would've driven me crazy had I been reading the book, but they were a bit long but bearable listening to the story.

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With-reservations:
violence, death, war, language, sexual discussions and propositions, prostitutes on leave, discipline, traitor, hanging ...more

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Jun 25, 2016 Theresa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: series, fantasy, military, 2016, dragons, historical-fantasy

I was very surprised by how much I loved this book. The relationship of the riders with their dragons was excellently done (I keep expecting my dogs to talk to me now) as was the incorporation of the dragons into the historical record. My heart went out to poor Levitas. I look forward to the next book in this series.

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Jan 01, 2020 Ketutar Jensen rated it it was amazing

Seacaptain wins a dragon egg as loot from a fight, and the dragon hatches... and chooses him.
That starts all kinds of problems. For example, the captain's father wasn't very pleased of him going to sea, and going to air force is totally unacceptable for him. And what about the woman he had an understanding with? Being a "dragon daddy" is not easy. But it pays back. Temeraire - as the sea captain names his new companion - is delightful, intelligent, compassionate... they soon grow inseparable. N ...more

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May 13, 2020 Cambria rated it liked it

2.5

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Nov 26, 2011 Deyara rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, char-dragons, alternate-history, setting-ships

Really enjoyed it, which surprised me as I like neither history, nor war, nor ships. Dragons are cool though :) Lawrence was a bit weird, but okay. Will definitely be reading book 2.

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Feb 28, 2024 Karen marked it as dnf

Loved the dragons but too many battle scenes

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