kgbooklog

Naomi Novik, Victory of Eagles
Del Rey (2008) ISBN: 978-0-345-49688-1
Score: 2

Fifth Temeraire novel, in which many characters get to deal with the consequences of their actions. Which is probably why I liked it better than the last couple, even though I still find Lawrence to be stiff and dull (in this series I find it easier to relate to the dragons than the humans).

Naomi Novik, Empire of Ivory
Del Rey (2007) ISBN: 978-0-345-49687-4
Score: 1.5

Fourth Temeraire novel, in which the dragons get sick. Laurence gets captured, and we see the interior of Africa. There was more conflict than the previous books (though less actual combat), and it ends on a double cliffhanger.

Next Book: Carrie Vaughn, Kitty and the Silver Bullet

Naomi Novik, Black Powder War
Del Rey (2006) ISBN: 0-345-48130-5
Score: 2

Third Temeraire book, in which they try to return to England. The first quarter of the book is slow (another long, dull journey), but things pick up once they meet a bunch of feral dragons. The ending doesn't look like a cliffhanger until you read the excerpt from the (yet unnamed) fourth book. [And why the *%&*&^% are they taking the Prussians to Scotland???]

Next Book: Kelley Armstrong, "Savage"

Naomi Novik, Throne of Jade
Del Rey (2006) ISBN: 0-345-48129-1
Score: 1.5

Second Temeraire novel, in which politics happens. I really like these dragons, and the direction the series seems to be headed, but the pacing was a bit slow and I think you can safely skip the journey to China (chapters 3-10); sure, there's information in there, but it's not very useful information.

Next Book: Jane Lindskold, The Dragon of Despair

Naomi Novik, His Majesty's Dragon (vt Temeraire)
Del Rey (2006) ISBN: 0-345-48128-3
Score: 2.5

First book in the Temeraire series, about the use of dragons in the Napoleanic Wars. Requires some suspension of disbelief to treat large dragons like small (flying) ships, but the plot and characters were sufficiently well done to distract me. Should appeal to fans of Patrick O'Brien and Robin Hobb's Liveship books.

Next Book: Carol Berg, Son of Avonar