Status
Available
Call number
Series
Publication
Del Rey (New York, 2006). 1st edition, 1st printing. 398 pages. $7.50.
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Historical Fiction. HTML:In the second novel of the New York Times bestselling Temeraire series, the Napoleonic Wars take Captain Will Laurence and his dragon to China on a perilous mission. �Full of wonderful characters with real heart.��Peter Jackson When Britain intercepted a French ship and its precious cargo�an unhatched dragon's egg�Captain Will Laurence of HMS Reliant unexpectedly became master and commander of the noble dragon he named Temeraire. As new recruits in Britain�s Aerial Corps, man and dragon soon proved their mettle in daring combat against Napoleon Bonaparte�s invading forces. Now China has discovered that its rare gift, intended for Napoleon, has fallen into British hands�and an angry Chinese delegation vows to reclaim the remarkable beast. A reluctant Laurence has no choice but to take Temeraire back to China�a long voyage fraught with peril, intrigue, and the untold terrors of the deep. Yet once the pair reaches the court of the Chinese emperor, even more shocking discoveries and darker dangers await. �Readers with a penchant for both Patrick O�Brian and Anne McCaffrey may have found their perfect match. Naomi Novik beautifully renders an 1800s Europe in which naval buffs and dragon lovers will be keen to immerse themselves.��Alan Dean Foster, author of the Pip & Flinx series Don�t miss the magic of Naomi Novik�s Temeraire series: HIS MAJESTY�S DRAGON � THRONE OF JADE � BLACK POWDER WAR � EMPIRE OF IVORY � VICTORY OF EAGLES � TONGUES OF SERPENTS � CRUCIBLE OF GOLD � BLOOD OF TYRANTS � LEAGUE OF DRAGONS.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member atimco
The second in Naomi Novik's Temeraire series, Throne of Jade opens with an unexpected development: the Chinese are demanding that Temeraire, now revealed as a rare and revered Celestial, be returned to China. For William Laurence, Temeraire's aviator, this is unthinkable. And yet, straining to
Once they arrive, Temeraire and his small British company are astonished by the way dragons are integrated into Chinese culture. The contrast to Britain's traditional method of handling dragons could not be more marked—to Britain's disadvantage—and Laurence begins to fear that Temeraire will be seduced by the luxuries and rights due him as a Celestial in China. Meanwhile, darker plots than the seduction of one dragon are afoot in the imperial court, and Temeraire and Laurence soon find themselves struggling to survive a world they only partly understand.
This is a splendid installment in the series, quite nearly as fresh and vivid as the first book (a rare feat). The rich, fully imagined Chinese-dragon culture is fascinating, and Novik patiently sets the stage for the subtle shifts in thinking and attitude among the British that will play a pivotal role in later books. The characters continue to act, speak, and think in ways entirely believable and compatible with their period and place (allowing some leeway for the unorthodox habits of the Aerial Corps). The relationships grow deeper and more complex. We finally learn why the Chinese showed the French such favor in sending their Emperor a Celestial egg. More plot lines are laid that will be strung tight in future installments. And the ending is quite satisfying!
I haven't been so absorbed in a series for quite some time. Highly recommended!
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avoid war with China, the British powers are conceding to the Chinese demands. Under protest, Temeraire reluctantly agrees to sail to China. But he refuses to be parted with Laurence, despite all the Chinese delegation's wiles. Once they arrive, Temeraire and his small British company are astonished by the way dragons are integrated into Chinese culture. The contrast to Britain's traditional method of handling dragons could not be more marked—to Britain's disadvantage—and Laurence begins to fear that Temeraire will be seduced by the luxuries and rights due him as a Celestial in China. Meanwhile, darker plots than the seduction of one dragon are afoot in the imperial court, and Temeraire and Laurence soon find themselves struggling to survive a world they only partly understand.
This is a splendid installment in the series, quite nearly as fresh and vivid as the first book (a rare feat). The rich, fully imagined Chinese-dragon culture is fascinating, and Novik patiently sets the stage for the subtle shifts in thinking and attitude among the British that will play a pivotal role in later books. The characters continue to act, speak, and think in ways entirely believable and compatible with their period and place (allowing some leeway for the unorthodox habits of the Aerial Corps). The relationships grow deeper and more complex. We finally learn why the Chinese showed the French such favor in sending their Emperor a Celestial egg. More plot lines are laid that will be strung tight in future installments. And the ending is quite satisfying!
I haven't been so absorbed in a series for quite some time. Highly recommended!
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LibraryThing member RRLevering
When I read the first book in this series, I was willing to overlook some of its flaws because the plot rolled along fairly quickly and kept me entertained. I'm sad to say that for most of this book that wasn't the case and so some of the flaws in the writing were more apparent. To be fair, I'm
I'll start with the bad, since that's how these things are done. Did I mention the plot lagged? This is somewhat of a spoiler, but two thirds of the book is spent getting to China. China is interesting - the open sea is not. China has rich descriptions, interesting dragons, interactions that we haven't seen before - the open sea does not. The end of the book feels hurried because of this discrepancy. Conflicts are resolved in a fairly deus ex machina manner that seem unbelievable even for a fantasy book.
A minor gripe: characters are invented to be killed. It bothers me that a new name is introduced a paragraph before the guy dies. If you want us to feel something, develop the character. Otherwise, leave them faceless. Books don't work like Star Trek episodes.
If there's one thing I hound on in all off my reviews, it's that character interactions and growth are what makes a book. In the last book, Temeraire and Laurence both grew and had an interesting relationship. In this book, Temeraire is really the only one who changes much and most of that happens off camera. This sort of confused me and I found myself in several places annoyed that Temeraire wasn't talking more to Laurence to give some more glimpses into how he was thinking. Laurence definitely grows, but he has a straight-laced point of view and I find his train of thought gets tiresome and limiting. The novel would benefit with him being forced into situations that tested his composure more often (romance/torture/etc).
On the positive side, the world is pretty cool. The descriptions of China and how they worked dragons into their society was probably worth the tedium of the beginning of the book. Their descriptions paint vivid, colorful pictures in my mind with amazing asian garden backdrops and I couldn't get enough of this. A greater study of China by the author and an expansion of this part of the book would have been a boon to the novel.
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slightly biased; when I first bought the series, the bookseller mentioned the only bad part was how much the second book lagged. So it may have stood out more clearly in my mind for me being forewarned.I'll start with the bad, since that's how these things are done. Did I mention the plot lagged? This is somewhat of a spoiler, but two thirds of the book is spent getting to China. China is interesting - the open sea is not. China has rich descriptions, interesting dragons, interactions that we haven't seen before - the open sea does not. The end of the book feels hurried because of this discrepancy. Conflicts are resolved in a fairly deus ex machina manner that seem unbelievable even for a fantasy book.
A minor gripe: characters are invented to be killed. It bothers me that a new name is introduced a paragraph before the guy dies. If you want us to feel something, develop the character. Otherwise, leave them faceless. Books don't work like Star Trek episodes.
If there's one thing I hound on in all off my reviews, it's that character interactions and growth are what makes a book. In the last book, Temeraire and Laurence both grew and had an interesting relationship. In this book, Temeraire is really the only one who changes much and most of that happens off camera. This sort of confused me and I found myself in several places annoyed that Temeraire wasn't talking more to Laurence to give some more glimpses into how he was thinking. Laurence definitely grows, but he has a straight-laced point of view and I find his train of thought gets tiresome and limiting. The novel would benefit with him being forced into situations that tested his composure more often (romance/torture/etc).
On the positive side, the world is pretty cool. The descriptions of China and how they worked dragons into their society was probably worth the tedium of the beginning of the book. Their descriptions paint vivid, colorful pictures in my mind with amazing asian garden backdrops and I couldn't get enough of this. A greater study of China by the author and an expansion of this part of the book would have been a boon to the novel.
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LibraryThing member JBD1
Well, I'm definitely hooked now. I loved the first book in the series, and this one was just as much a delight. I was halfway through, left for a trip and realized I'd forgotten the book. I spent several hours trying to figure out whether I could possibly wait the few days until I got home to
Novik's Temeraire and Will Laurence are such an absolutely fascinating pair of characters, I barely even notice that some of her others don't make much of an impression. The diplomatic machinations outlined here, as Laurence and Temeraire travel to China, are fantastic, and I really enjoyed the way Novik brings the Chinese dragons to the forefront of the action, and contrasts the way dragons are seen and utliized by different human cultures.
It's a good thing the next three volumes are waiting for me when I get home ... if I can wait that long.
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finish it, or whether I should just buy a new copy. It turned out I had a terrible time reading anything else, since I just wanted to finish this ... and when the train broke down and we had to wait for a couple hours for a new one to come get us, I gave in, ordered the Kindle version, and read it on my iPhone while I waited. Not quite the same, and not something I particularly enjoyed doing, but it got me out of a jam (and definitely distracted me from the long wait).Novik's Temeraire and Will Laurence are such an absolutely fascinating pair of characters, I barely even notice that some of her others don't make much of an impression. The diplomatic machinations outlined here, as Laurence and Temeraire travel to China, are fantastic, and I really enjoyed the way Novik brings the Chinese dragons to the forefront of the action, and contrasts the way dragons are seen and utliized by different human cultures.
It's a good thing the next three volumes are waiting for me when I get home ... if I can wait that long.
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LibraryThing member silentq
The Chinese Emperor objects to having their precious dragon fighting in England's aerial corps, so Temeraire and Cpt. Laurence are ordered to China to resolve the issue. The various envoys keep trying to split them up, and the dangers of the open sea and of the coasts that they follow on their four
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month journey come close to ending the trip before anything's resolved. Temeraire is also getting notions into his head about dragon liberty, as he sees how dragons live in other countries. This one wasn't quite as good as the first, but I still really enjoyed it, especially for the descriptions of travel by sea. I really got a sense of how dangerous life was in the early 1800's and how it moved at a slower pace, even with dragons. Show Less
LibraryThing member flourishing
Well, to start off with: I don't know how to judge anything Novik says about China here. If there are errors (beyond those that are naturally created by inserting, well, dragons into a story) I couldn't identify them. I spent the first chunk of this book made uncomfortable by the way that Temeraire
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(or - perhaps I should say Lung Tien Xiang) and Laurence are set opposite Yongxing. I was preparing myself for a plot that embraced the worst of East/West stereotyping.I wasn't prepared for the way that Novik turned those stereotypes around at the end, or for the revelation that in this story, the Chinese are the heroes (at least with respect to the dragons). Because the book is from the perspective of an Englishman, I was tricked into believing that the character's perspective is the same as Novik's - which, having completed the book, I don't think it is.That said, it wasn't an entirely comfortable read for me, simply because the tension I felt (will Novik actually follow through on stereotyping Chinese culture?) was not the same tension I was intended to feel (will Temeraire/Lung Tien Xiang choose to return to China, or stay with Laurence?). However, I find the series just as beguiling as I did before, and now that we're over the hump, I look forward to seeing Temeraire/Lung Tien Xiang return to Britain and try to fight for his own rights there! Show Less
LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: When the British seized Temeraire's egg from a French frigate, they had no way of knowing that he was a Chinese Celestial - an exceptionally rare breed of dragon that are normally only treated as companions for members of the Emperor's family - intended as a gift to Napoleon. The Chinese
Review: While His Majesty's Dragon charmed the socks off of me, this one actually made me think. Still charming, but also thought-provoking... sometimes uncomfortably so, in fact. In His Majesty's Dragon, Novik's introducing us not only to her characters, but also to her world, and so we take on faith that things are the way she says they are, and if none of the characters give a second thought to the way dragons are treated, and the relationship between dragons and humans, then why should we? In Throne of Jade, however, Temeraire's growing up, and has reached the dragon equivalent of teenagerhood - particularly the part where he starts questioning the status quo. The reader gets the chance to grow with him, and as we get to see the Chinese system of dragon-human interactions, we also start to question what we'd been taught in the first book was normal and right. I actually got uncomfortable when I stopped to look at my assumptions from the first book - Why did I ever think this or that was okay? What does that say about me? - and that's a neat trick for an author to pull off. Full round of applause for Novik for that one.
The rest of the book is good as well - Novik manages to capture the style and the tone of period literature while somehow keeping it captivating and easy to read. I feel like there was more high-seas adventure - Battles with the French! Intrigue and spying! Treachery and plots! Sea serpents and fierce storms! - than in the previous book, which is never a bad thing (plus boys on boats = always good), although it did come at the cost of some of the interpersonal (inter-dragonal?) interaction that so charmed me the first time around. Still, this book went in some interesting new directions without sacrificing the key elements that make the series great, and I'm excited to see what happens in the next book. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Historical fiction and fantasy lovers alike should all be reading this series. This one isn't *quite* as strong as its predecessor, but it's still an absorbing, entertaining, and increasingly thought-provoking read.
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embassy is outraged that one of their royal dragons is being treated like a common soldier in the British aviator corps, and they demand his immediate return to China... with or without Laurence. Rather than make enemies of the powerful nation, the British Admiralty agrees, and Temeraire and Laurence unwillingly board a transport bound for China. Neither of them wants to be parted from the other, but the Chinese embassy is none too keen on the idea of keeping Laurence around, or on letting Temeraire out of their control. Together, they must find a way to stay together without sabotaging British foreign relations... but first they must survive the perils of the long sea voyage.Review: While His Majesty's Dragon charmed the socks off of me, this one actually made me think. Still charming, but also thought-provoking... sometimes uncomfortably so, in fact. In His Majesty's Dragon, Novik's introducing us not only to her characters, but also to her world, and so we take on faith that things are the way she says they are, and if none of the characters give a second thought to the way dragons are treated, and the relationship between dragons and humans, then why should we? In Throne of Jade, however, Temeraire's growing up, and has reached the dragon equivalent of teenagerhood - particularly the part where he starts questioning the status quo. The reader gets the chance to grow with him, and as we get to see the Chinese system of dragon-human interactions, we also start to question what we'd been taught in the first book was normal and right. I actually got uncomfortable when I stopped to look at my assumptions from the first book - Why did I ever think this or that was okay? What does that say about me? - and that's a neat trick for an author to pull off. Full round of applause for Novik for that one.
The rest of the book is good as well - Novik manages to capture the style and the tone of period literature while somehow keeping it captivating and easy to read. I feel like there was more high-seas adventure - Battles with the French! Intrigue and spying! Treachery and plots! Sea serpents and fierce storms! - than in the previous book, which is never a bad thing (plus boys on boats = always good), although it did come at the cost of some of the interpersonal (inter-dragonal?) interaction that so charmed me the first time around. Still, this book went in some interesting new directions without sacrificing the key elements that make the series great, and I'm excited to see what happens in the next book. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Historical fiction and fantasy lovers alike should all be reading this series. This one isn't *quite* as strong as its predecessor, but it's still an absorbing, entertaining, and increasingly thought-provoking read.
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LibraryThing member 2wonderY
I have to rate this one only 3 stars, because the story did drone on in detail, but the essential relationship still warms the center. The good surprise is that another culture treats their dragons much differently. It kind of opens up a question box of assumptions.
LibraryThing member NineLarks
Throne of Jade follows the first book closely, throwing Captain Laurence and Temeraire into a political dilemma as the Son of Heaven commands the two to go to the East.
The strengths and weakness of this book are similar to the first book. It's a good book with strong writing, and I am very pleased
However, the plot is very non-existent. It is more of a slice-of-life, develop characters and the world sort of book. I was very frustrated with the revelation of the villain and the assassination plots. It was very unimaginative and seemed too easy to resolve.
I also got progressively more frustrated with the depictions of the dragons. They do not have their own distinctive voice. They are like human infants, completely intelligent and think almost identically to the average human, but with no concept of politics or law. Which is a little strange because they are intelligent enough to understand. So.... they are mentally like humans, just with a dragon body? I don't mind them being just as intelligent, obviously, but I just think there should be some sort of fundamental difference in instincts and behavior or speech patterns between humans and dragons.
It cannot possibly be completely equal because there is even a breeding system in all countries. It's strange because they are more than pets and intelligent beasts, but the things humans do to them/deal with them are still very similar to a pet or animal companion. Perhaps a familiar like a witch's cat is more of the proper term. It's still very odd.
And the battle and fighting seem to be one of the weaker points in the books. I find all of the battle scenes rather lackluster and boring, not to mention fundamentally difficult to imagine because there is a lot of hopping and diving around with dragons that are more than 20 tons, but still easily can get on and off a boat. Meh, realistic fiction that break Newton's laws.
But there were many strengths, like I said before. I found the clash of cultures brilliantly written. Both sides were narrow-minded, pride keeps communication rocky, and nobody understands anything. The anger at the kowtowing, the importance of lineage, the chopsticks, etc. I found myself frustrated at both sides and ah so well written.
And finally, to see dragons treated more like an intelligent species! I liked the depiction of China and how Laurence slowly had to realize certain truths. That slow progression is certainly one of Novik's strengths.
There are some loose ends though... the revelation of Roland as a girl never got resolved. The slave trade conflict also never was settled. I don't actually know why that was brought up, unless it's going to be used in the future.
But I suppose that is the nature of the book. It sort of winds it's way around slowly. For goodness sakes, we spent more than half of the book on the freaking boat. There were so many details and none of them plot pushing. But I do consider this a character/world building book instead of plot-driven, so I wasn't too bothered.
Overall, a solid read. Three stars. I don't know if I can give it more than that. I think I enjoyed the first book so much more because it was fresh and different. But now being accustomed to the world, the writing and story and characters become a little more average. Still, a very good book.
Recommended for those who have read the first book, obviously. I don't think you can start at book two.
The strengths and weakness of this book are similar to the first book. It's a good book with strong writing, and I am very pleased
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to note that the quality had not gone down, as most sequels tend to do. However, the plot is very non-existent. It is more of a slice-of-life, develop characters and the world sort of book. I was very frustrated with the revelation of the villain and the assassination plots. It was very unimaginative and seemed too easy to resolve.
I also got progressively more frustrated with the depictions of the dragons. They do not have their own distinctive voice. They are like human infants, completely intelligent and think almost identically to the average human, but with no concept of politics or law. Which is a little strange because they are intelligent enough to understand. So.... they are mentally like humans, just with a dragon body? I don't mind them being just as intelligent, obviously, but I just think there should be some sort of fundamental difference in instincts and behavior or speech patterns between humans and dragons.
It cannot possibly be completely equal because there is even a breeding system in all countries. It's strange because they are more than pets and intelligent beasts, but the things humans do to them/deal with them are still very similar to a pet or animal companion. Perhaps a familiar like a witch's cat is more of the proper term. It's still very odd.
And the battle and fighting seem to be one of the weaker points in the books. I find all of the battle scenes rather lackluster and boring, not to mention fundamentally difficult to imagine because there is a lot of hopping and diving around with dragons that are more than 20 tons, but still easily can get on and off a boat. Meh, realistic fiction that break Newton's laws.
But there were many strengths, like I said before. I found the clash of cultures brilliantly written. Both sides were narrow-minded, pride keeps communication rocky, and nobody understands anything. The anger at the kowtowing, the importance of lineage, the chopsticks, etc. I found myself frustrated at both sides and ah so well written.
And finally, to see dragons treated more like an intelligent species! I liked the depiction of China and how Laurence slowly had to realize certain truths. That slow progression is certainly one of Novik's strengths.
There are some loose ends though... the revelation of Roland as a girl never got resolved. The slave trade conflict also never was settled. I don't actually know why that was brought up, unless it's going to be used in the future.
But I suppose that is the nature of the book. It sort of winds it's way around slowly. For goodness sakes, we spent more than half of the book on the freaking boat. There were so many details and none of them plot pushing. But I do consider this a character/world building book instead of plot-driven, so I wasn't too bothered.
Overall, a solid read. Three stars. I don't know if I can give it more than that. I think I enjoyed the first book so much more because it was fresh and different. But now being accustomed to the world, the writing and story and characters become a little more average. Still, a very good book.
Recommended for those who have read the first book, obviously. I don't think you can start at book two.
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LibraryThing member hairball
Stupid dragon books. I read a bit of the first one on the Kindle, then got sucked in and bought it used. That one had the first chapters of this book, and I got sucked in some more...the shop didn't have a used copy, just new ones, so I bought the new copy. I'm like, "Yeah, talking dragons,
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Napoleonic wars...I can't help myself! And I'm taking this Philip Kerr book, too..." I feel like I'm a tween reading Anne McCaffrey again. Show Less
LibraryThing member rocalisa
This was a great story, especially the sections showing how Chinese society works with dragons as part of it. Laurence and Temeraire's friendship depends as it is tested and they are much more equal friends by the end of this book.
My only complaint is with the pacing. I fully realise that this is
Laurence, Temeraire and part of their crew spend seven months on a dragon transport ship going to
China. They then spend more time caught up in the machinations of various Chinese officials making their progress towards an audience with the Emperor painfully slow. Once the obstacles are overcome, the resolution of the book and its main issue - will the Chinese allow a mere English soldier to maintain "possession" of an Imperial dragon - happens very quickly.
Everything works and the solution is ideal, it's just that it seems to happen so fast after the slow pace of the rest of the book. Of course, Laurence and Temeraire still have another seven months trip back to England ahead of them, but that's in the next book so that's part of the feeling that the balance is off.
All the same, this is a wonderful book. Novik's world expands beautifully - the reason why Temeraire's egg was ever sent to Napoleon in the first place is brilliant, the deepening of the relationship between Temeraire and Laurence is beautifully done and the plot is clever.
Black Powder War is sitting on my TBR shelf and I look forward to getting to reading it.
My only complaint is with the pacing. I fully realise that this is
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due to the constraits of the plot rather than a failure on the part of the author, but it was still a little disconcerting.Laurence, Temeraire and part of their crew spend seven months on a dragon transport ship going to
China. They then spend more time caught up in the machinations of various Chinese officials making their progress towards an audience with the Emperor painfully slow. Once the obstacles are overcome, the resolution of the book and its main issue - will the Chinese allow a mere English soldier to maintain "possession" of an Imperial dragon - happens very quickly.
Everything works and the solution is ideal, it's just that it seems to happen so fast after the slow pace of the rest of the book. Of course, Laurence and Temeraire still have another seven months trip back to England ahead of them, but that's in the next book so that's part of the feeling that the balance is off.
All the same, this is a wonderful book. Novik's world expands beautifully - the reason why Temeraire's egg was ever sent to Napoleon in the first place is brilliant, the deepening of the relationship between Temeraire and Laurence is beautifully done and the plot is clever.
Black Powder War is sitting on my TBR shelf and I look forward to getting to reading it.
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LibraryThing member beserene
This second novel in the Temeraire series is a strong follow up to 'His Majesty's Dragon' and, in my opinion, equally enjoyable. Part of the joy here is in the new setting -- Temeraire and Laurence travel to China -- so while we do not have all of our old friends to connect with, that emotional
Once again, I was impressed by the integration of dragons into this world. Novik follows that idea out to its far conclusion in China, where the novel showcases a truly integrated society and all of the logical accommodations that would follow. Nowhere does the novel fall back on "it's just magic" or "it just happens that way" -- in fact, were it not for the dragons, this would not be fantasy at all (yeah, it's funny to say that), since it presents the species and its connected ideas in a naturalistic way.
This is the best kind of escapism, in my opinion. While the novel is not going to win its author the Nobel, its imagination and heart can engage the reader in both the fun of the narrative and the political ideas that still resonate in the real world. In this installment, Temeraire discovers slavery and inequality as concepts with which he must reconcile his own experience; his naive perspective offers the reader a fresh reminder of historical circumstance as well as the importance of self-awareness. These deeper ideas, while not the point of the story, fill out the escape with depth and relevance, in addition to connecting even more strongly to the realistic historical tone. In other words, this is like beach reading with the brains left in.
If you are in the mood for adventure, derring-do, buckling of swashes, and/or tea in the garden with a very large dragon, this is the perfect series for you. Even if you aren't in the mood, read it anyway, because it will get you there. :)
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absence is made up for by a sense of wonderful discovery as the reader learns of new dragon breeds and dragon-related species. We are also on a ship for a good portion of this book, which allows Novik to lay out more of that nautical knowledge along with vivid descriptions of harrowing storms and other ocean challenges. Once again, I was impressed by the integration of dragons into this world. Novik follows that idea out to its far conclusion in China, where the novel showcases a truly integrated society and all of the logical accommodations that would follow. Nowhere does the novel fall back on "it's just magic" or "it just happens that way" -- in fact, were it not for the dragons, this would not be fantasy at all (yeah, it's funny to say that), since it presents the species and its connected ideas in a naturalistic way.
This is the best kind of escapism, in my opinion. While the novel is not going to win its author the Nobel, its imagination and heart can engage the reader in both the fun of the narrative and the political ideas that still resonate in the real world. In this installment, Temeraire discovers slavery and inequality as concepts with which he must reconcile his own experience; his naive perspective offers the reader a fresh reminder of historical circumstance as well as the importance of self-awareness. These deeper ideas, while not the point of the story, fill out the escape with depth and relevance, in addition to connecting even more strongly to the realistic historical tone. In other words, this is like beach reading with the brains left in.
If you are in the mood for adventure, derring-do, buckling of swashes, and/or tea in the garden with a very large dragon, this is the perfect series for you. Even if you aren't in the mood, read it anyway, because it will get you there. :)
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LibraryThing member PghDragonMan
"Throne of Jade" continues the adventures of the Dragon, Temeraire and his rider, Capt. Laurence. The previous story in this cycle, “His Majesty’s Dragon”, was a breakthrough work. By comparison, this story is not as exciting. While this installment may be read as a stand-alone story, it will
In essence, this is about the Dragon Temeraire searching for his roots and identity. The Dragon and rider are trapped into a diplomatic mission to China. Throne of Jade fills in some blank spots left by the first story, mainly how a Chinese Dragon egg came to be transported by the French and was subsequently captured by the British. Therein also lies the diplomatic dilemma that Dragon and rider find themselves embroiled in.
The descriptions of their journey through China are very rich in imagery. Ms. Novik also takes this opportunity to show the differing views of Dragons as see by Eastern and Western culture. To the people of the East, Dragons were seen as wise and were highly valued for their scholarly ways whereas in the West, they were mostly regarded as adversaries. There is a subtext here regarding free will and allowing freedom of choice that is at times sound almost like the author preaching her beliefs. Some readers may find this bit of character development boring and tedious.
What was lacking in military action is made for with Temeraire and Laurence’s internal conflicts. Temeraire is eagerly sought after by the Chinese as they woo the Dragon to return to what they, the Chinese, see his rightful place. Temeraire has developed a strong bond with his rider, Captain Laurence, and regards England as his home. For his part, Laurence is torn apart in trying to make Temeraire as happy as possible. The story ends with the stage being set for the next installment.
Adventure readers and military buffs may find this volume does not hold their interest as much. Dragon lovers will enjoy the development of both the relationship of Dragon and rider and Temeraire’s development. Overall, I found this story just not up to the standard set by “His Majesty’s Dragon”, but some of that may be due to “His Majesty’s Dragon” being a new experience in Dragon lore while "Throne of Jade" continues it, but does not break any significantly new ground.
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be helpful to read them sequentially.In essence, this is about the Dragon Temeraire searching for his roots and identity. The Dragon and rider are trapped into a diplomatic mission to China. Throne of Jade fills in some blank spots left by the first story, mainly how a Chinese Dragon egg came to be transported by the French and was subsequently captured by the British. Therein also lies the diplomatic dilemma that Dragon and rider find themselves embroiled in.
The descriptions of their journey through China are very rich in imagery. Ms. Novik also takes this opportunity to show the differing views of Dragons as see by Eastern and Western culture. To the people of the East, Dragons were seen as wise and were highly valued for their scholarly ways whereas in the West, they were mostly regarded as adversaries. There is a subtext here regarding free will and allowing freedom of choice that is at times sound almost like the author preaching her beliefs. Some readers may find this bit of character development boring and tedious.
What was lacking in military action is made for with Temeraire and Laurence’s internal conflicts. Temeraire is eagerly sought after by the Chinese as they woo the Dragon to return to what they, the Chinese, see his rightful place. Temeraire has developed a strong bond with his rider, Captain Laurence, and regards England as his home. For his part, Laurence is torn apart in trying to make Temeraire as happy as possible. The story ends with the stage being set for the next installment.
Adventure readers and military buffs may find this volume does not hold their interest as much. Dragon lovers will enjoy the development of both the relationship of Dragon and rider and Temeraire’s development. Overall, I found this story just not up to the standard set by “His Majesty’s Dragon”, but some of that may be due to “His Majesty’s Dragon” being a new experience in Dragon lore while "Throne of Jade" continues it, but does not break any significantly new ground.
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LibraryThing member abbylibrarian
I've read reviews that say this second book in the Temeraire series is boring... I would have to disagree. There are sea monsters, battles, assassination attemps, intrigue, and an allusion to dragon sex. What's not to love???
In this second book in the Temeraire series, Laurence and Temeraire must
I love that Novik was able to create this fascinating world of dragons in the first book and now, in the second book, has turned that world on its head and created an entirely different dragon world. Different, but entirely plausible.
In this second book in the Temeraire series, Laurence and Temeraire must
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travel to China. In the first book it was discovered that Temeraire was a Chinese dragon meant as a gift to the French. Now, the Chinese apparently want their dragon back and they will stop at nothing to attain their goal. Once Laurence and Temeraire get to China they find a world much different from their own. In China dragons roam free and are taught to read and write. They have jobs and earn their own money. The freedom is dizzying to the young dragon and dismaying to Laurence who hopes to be able to take Temeraire back to England. I love that Novik was able to create this fascinating world of dragons in the first book and now, in the second book, has turned that world on its head and created an entirely different dragon world. Different, but entirely plausible.
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LibraryThing member Shrike58
Not quite as fast-paced and entertaining as "His Majesty's Dragon" but as an intermediate book in a series it's certainly worthy in its own right, as Novik puts some more flesh on her world. I'll admit that the more I think about it the more I have some problems with the plot that brings Laurence
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and Temeraire to China, but these are comparatively minor in the wider scheme of things. Show Less
LibraryThing member SimonW11
the second volume of the series.A joy to read. who would have thought dragons and napoleonics would combine so well? Ms Novik's has a great ear for period language and a deft touch for period detail Our Hero and his Dragon are ordered to China where the egg originated. The Chinese want Tremeraire
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back apparently. Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Tremaire visits china and his relatives and finds dragons are treated quite differently in China than England. A fun bridging novel and an interesting look further at a life with dragons.
This series is just great and I look forward to the next one.
This series is just great and I look forward to the next one.
LibraryThing member John5918
I enjoyed this one as much as the first volume. Slower-paced, definitely, but no less rich. The reader gradually learns more about dragons - and about China.
LibraryThing member tedmahsun
Slower-paced, but by no means is it less on the action. This book takes Laurence and Temeraire to China after a diplomatic near-disaster. The first two acts take place on the sea and while they do have their moments, I really had to slog through them. The book shines when they finally arrive in
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China in the third act and from there it's all good. Too bad the China bit is short. Show Less
LibraryThing member mroymartin
This followed on well from the first book but I had trouble remebering which Chinese character was who, and it got even worse in China, some I couldn't even remember if they wer ehuman or dragon (it's an age thing!)
LibraryThing member lorelorn_2007
Temeraire and Laurence his captain travel to the other side of the world, to the great nation of China. Here, they both witness a very different society, where humans and dragons mingle freely.
This book has a melancholy inevitability to it, but at the end Novik skillfully turns it all around.
This book has a melancholy inevitability to it, but at the end Novik skillfully turns it all around.
LibraryThing member worldsedge
Actually liked this a bit better than the first book. Same stock characters, same clunky exposition, but this time the dragons going to China worked as a plot device to keep me turning the pages more than the Jane Austen as dragon rider in the first book.
LibraryThing member jerm
So I just finished the second Temeraire book. Even though it doesn’t have the neat origin story that the first one had, the second book develops the characters better and Novik even throws in social commentary (theories on Dragon/Human interaction).
I thoroughly enjoyed this one too, See you after
I thoroughly enjoyed this one too, See you after
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book 3. Show Less
LibraryThing member heidialice
Throne of Jade is the second in the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. This series is an alternate take on the Napoleonic Wars era, when intelligent dragons were used in combat, both as transport and as fighters with unique abilities. Temeraire is an elite dragon whose egg was won in a battle against
In this installment, the son of the Emperor of China, has come to retrieve Temeraire, since he was destined to be a gift for Napoleon. Temeraire and Laurence sail with a crew of sailors, their own air crew and the Chinese delegation half way around the world, fighting off enemies and sea monsters, to secure the right for Laurence and Temeraire to continue their special bond.
Through a cataloging mix-up, I read this one before the first, something I don't normally do. However, it's a testament to the strength of the story that it stands up well on its own, and that enough is explained to not require the first. (Though I was intrigued that she wasn't starting with Temeraire's "origin story" -- seems like she actually probably did -- I will check out the first next!) This is a fast-paced adventure story, with all the excitement of epic battles, with just a hint of the spice of political intrigue and a healthy dose of fantasy fiction to round it out. A rollicking good read, highly recommended.
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the French and has been raised to serve in the English king's air corps. Laurence, his rider, is a former sailor who has been pressed into service for the air force.In this installment, the son of the Emperor of China, has come to retrieve Temeraire, since he was destined to be a gift for Napoleon. Temeraire and Laurence sail with a crew of sailors, their own air crew and the Chinese delegation half way around the world, fighting off enemies and sea monsters, to secure the right for Laurence and Temeraire to continue their special bond.
Through a cataloging mix-up, I read this one before the first, something I don't normally do. However, it's a testament to the strength of the story that it stands up well on its own, and that enough is explained to not require the first. (Though I was intrigued that she wasn't starting with Temeraire's "origin story" -- seems like she actually probably did -- I will check out the first next!) This is a fast-paced adventure story, with all the excitement of epic battles, with just a hint of the spice of political intrigue and a healthy dose of fantasy fiction to round it out. A rollicking good read, highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member xicanti
Naomi Novik shifts gears somewhat with the second installment in the Temeraire series: when the Chinese learn that the dragon egg they sent to Napoleon was instead captured by the British, they demand the egg's return. Laurence and Temeraire must journey to China as they struggle to find a way to
While I still enjoyed this book, I didn't like it quite as much as His Majesty's Dragon. The pace was slower, (due, in large part, to the seven-month sea voyage between Britain and China), and there wasn't nearly as much of the inventive military action that made the first book so much fun. There are a lot of interesting ideas introduced here, though, including some hints that draconic abolition will play a role in future books. It was fascinating to see how Chinese attitudes towards dragons differed from British ones, and I enjoyed Temeraire's reactions to all the new things he was exposed to.
I think the main stumbling block I ran into with this book was my certainty that Laurence and Temeraire were never in any real danger of being separated. Logically, it's rather difficult to force a twenty-ton creature with an impressive aray of built-in weaponry to relinquish his best friend. I found the tension most believable at the very beginning of the book; they stuck quite close together for the rest of the story, and seemed in little danger of being forced apart. The main question became not whether Laurence and Temeraire would be able to stay together but whether Temeraire would choose to remain in China. Still a good driving force for the novel, but not one that I found as emotionally compelling.
All in all, though, this was still a good read. It proves that Naomi Novik is willing to take this series in all sorts of different directions, and that leads to some exciting possibilities for future books. I'm looking forward to Black Powder War, and will almost certainly snatch up Empire of Ivory as soon as it's released next fall.
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stay together without causing a diplomatic incident.While I still enjoyed this book, I didn't like it quite as much as His Majesty's Dragon. The pace was slower, (due, in large part, to the seven-month sea voyage between Britain and China), and there wasn't nearly as much of the inventive military action that made the first book so much fun. There are a lot of interesting ideas introduced here, though, including some hints that draconic abolition will play a role in future books. It was fascinating to see how Chinese attitudes towards dragons differed from British ones, and I enjoyed Temeraire's reactions to all the new things he was exposed to.
I think the main stumbling block I ran into with this book was my certainty that Laurence and Temeraire were never in any real danger of being separated. Logically, it's rather difficult to force a twenty-ton creature with an impressive aray of built-in weaponry to relinquish his best friend. I found the tension most believable at the very beginning of the book; they stuck quite close together for the rest of the story, and seemed in little danger of being forced apart. The main question became not whether Laurence and Temeraire would be able to stay together but whether Temeraire would choose to remain in China. Still a good driving force for the novel, but not one that I found as emotionally compelling.
All in all, though, this was still a good read. It proves that Naomi Novik is willing to take this series in all sorts of different directions, and that leads to some exciting possibilities for future books. I'm looking forward to Black Powder War, and will almost certainly snatch up Empire of Ivory as soon as it's released next fall.
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LibraryThing member Unreachableshelf
Not quite as good as its predecessor, His Majesty's Dragon, but still a good read. I do not complain about a lack of action, because considering the books roots in Patrick O'Brian, it is not surprising that there should be less in the way of fighting in some books. However, when Captain Laurence
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and Temeraire do not even reach China until the last third of the book, it seems as if there could easily have been an entire book devoted to the journey, and a second devoted to their stay in China. Some of the plot threads do seem to be wrapped up too quickly at the end. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Locus Award (Finalist — First Novel — 2007)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2006
Physical description
398 p.; 4.21 x 1.18 inches
ISBN
0345481291 / 9780345481290