Black Powder War (Temeraire Series #3) » (Reprint)

An avid reader of fantasy literature since age six, when she first made her way through The Lord of the Rings, Naomi Novik is also a history buff with a particular interest in the Napoleonic era and a fondness for the work of Patrick O’Brian and Jane Austen. She studied English literature at Brown University, and did graduate work in computer science at Columbia University before leaving to participate in the design and development of the computer game Neverwinter Nights: Shadow of Undrentide.

“A splendid series.”
–Anne McCaffrey

“Naomi Novik has done for the Napoleonic Wars what Anne McCaffrey did for science fiction: constructed an alternate reality in which dragons are real in a saga that is impressively original, fully developed, and peopled with characters you care about.”
–David Weber, author of the Honor Harrington series

After their fateful adventure in China, Capt. Will Laurence of His Majesty’s Aerial Corps and his extraordinary dragon, Temeraire, are waylaid by a mysterious envoy bearing urgent new orders from Britain. Three valuable dragon eggs have been purchased from the Ottoman Empire, and Laurence and Temeraire must detour to Istanbul to escort the precious cargo back to England. Time is of the essence if the eggs are to be borne home before hatching.

Yet disaster threatens the mission at every turn–thanks to the diabolical machinations of the Chinese dragon Lien, who blames Temeraire for her master’s death and vows to ally herself with Napoleon and take vengeance. Then, faced with shattering betrayal in an unexpected place, Laurence, Temeraire, and their squad must launch a daring offensive. But what chance do they have against the massed forces of Bonaparte’s implacable army?

VOYA

Novik continues the Napoleonic War era adventures of British Captain Will Laurence and his dragon Temeraire, first encountered in His Majesty's Dragon (Del Rey, 2006/VOYA August 2006). The two met when Laurence captured a French ship and its cargo-an unhatched Chinese dragon egg. In Throne of Jade, China has found out that their egg, meant as a gift to Napoleon, is now a dragon fighting for Britain, and they demand Temeraire's return. Laurence will not give up his companion, and Temeraire will not be separated from his Captain. The only way to save diplomatic relations is for Laurence and Temeraire to journey to China and seek an audience with the Emperor himself. This trek necessitates a long, perilous sea voyage, cumulating in a visit to China that opens both Laurence's and Temeraire's eyes to new relations between mankind and dragonkind. The pair's exploits continue in Black Powder War, as they travel overland from China to Istanbul on orders from the British government to claim three dragon eggs. Novik broadens her world by creating feral dragon characters that are used to comic effect. Temeraire and his crew end up trapped in Prussia for a good portion of the novel, encountering enemies old and new, including Napoleon himself. As in her first novel, Novik creates a complete eighteenth-century world full of intriguing historical details and gorgeous language. In Throne of Jade, the reader gets not only wonderful descriptions of China's land, customs, and food but also fully formed characters and their relationships. This middle title is a page-turner. Black Powder War, however, slows things down a tad. Except for the final battle with Napoleon (inwhich Novik creates one of the most intriguing depictions of the man that this reviewer has ever read (he is in one small scene and he steals the show), the book tends to cover the landscape in greater depth than the characters. Readers might want more time with Temeraire, Laurence, and their crew and less with the scenery. But that minor complaint shows how good Novik is at creating compelling, likeable, believable characters with whom readers want to spend a lot of time. Hungry fantasy readers will devour these titles and be happy to know that more are on the way.