Call number
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
New York : Del Rey/Ballantine Books, c2012.
Pages
323
Description
"Naomi Novik's beloved series returns, with Capt. Will Laurence and his fighting dragon Temeraire once again taking to the air against the broadsides of Napoleon's forces and the friendly--and sometimes not-so-friendly--fire of British soldiers and politicians who continue to suspect them of divided loyalties, if not outright treason. For Laurence and Temeraire, put out to pasture in Australia, it seems their part in the war has come to an end just when they are needed most. Newly allied with the powerful African empire of the Tswana, the French have occupied Spain and brought revolution and bloodshed to Brazil, threatening Britain's last desperate hope to defeat Napoleon. So the British government dispatches Arthur Hammond from China to enlist Laurence and Temeraire to negotiate a peace with the angry Tswana, who have besieged the Portuguese royal family in Rio--and as bait, Hammond bears an offer to reinstate Laurence to his former rank and seniority as a captain in the Aerial Corps. Temeraire is delighted by this sudden reversal of fortune, but Laurence is by no means sanguine, knowing from experience that personal honor and duty to one's country do not always run on parallel tracks. Laurence and Temeraire--joined by the egotistical fire-breather Iskierka and the still-growing Kulingile, who has already surpassed Temeraire in size--embark for Brazil, only to meet with a string of unmitigated disasters that leave the dragons and their human friends forced to make an unexpected landing in the hostile territory of the Inca empire, where they face new unanticipated dangers. Now with the success of the mission balanced on a razor's edge, and failure looking more likely by the minute, the unexpected arrival of an old enemy will tip the scales toward ruin. Yet even in the midst of disaster, opportunity may lurk--for one bold enough to grasp it"--Provided by publisher.… (more)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2012
Physical description
323 p.; 9.8 inches
ISBN
9780345522863
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Library's review
After the disappointing Tongues of Serpents, Crucible of Gold represents a return to form for the enormously enjoyable Temeraire series. More of the familiar characters make an appearance, and despite a somewhat breathlessly episodic nature with one event hurtling on another with scarcely a pause
As the novel opens, Laurence and Temeraire are offered reinstatement into the Corps, as the only ones able to negotiate with the Tswana as part of an elaborate plan to turn the Portuguese against Napoleon. (The details behind this mission make sense, but aren’t terribly important here). The plans quickly go awry, and following a harrowing dragonback journey across much of the Pacific Laurence et al find themselves in the Incan empire, before eventually making their way to Brazil and their original mission.
By this point in the series, the complaints voiced about the first book that society had not changed enough from our world as a result of the existence of dragons are largely moot, as we find nation after nation outside Europe dramatically different from ours. The Incas are no exception; while the human population was decimated by European diseases as in our society, the unaffected dragons picked up the pieces and formed a fascinating dragon-dominated culture. I found this one of the most interesting parts of the book, though a careful read meant that what was supposed to be a major reveal about one of the Incan characters wasn’t surprising at all.
As with the earlier books, this is a fun, popcorn read - a guilty pleasure, perhaps, but undeniably a pleasure.
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the plot is more compelling than that of its predecessor.As the novel opens, Laurence and Temeraire are offered reinstatement into the Corps, as the only ones able to negotiate with the Tswana as part of an elaborate plan to turn the Portuguese against Napoleon. (The details behind this mission make sense, but aren’t terribly important here). The plans quickly go awry, and following a harrowing dragonback journey across much of the Pacific Laurence et al find themselves in the Incan empire, before eventually making their way to Brazil and their original mission.
By this point in the series, the complaints voiced about the first book that society had not changed enough from our world as a result of the existence of dragons are largely moot, as we find nation after nation outside Europe dramatically different from ours. The Incas are no exception; while the human population was decimated by European diseases as in our society, the unaffected dragons picked up the pieces and formed a fascinating dragon-dominated culture. I found this one of the most interesting parts of the book, though a careful read meant that what was supposed to be a major reveal about one of the Incan characters wasn’t surprising at all.
As with the earlier books, this is a fun, popcorn read - a guilty pleasure, perhaps, but undeniably a pleasure.
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User reviews
LibraryThing member beserene
This, the seventh and most recent installment in the Temeraire series, capped off my marathon with solid enjoyment. South America is the new locale this time, and a new development in the characterization and appearance of dragons adds an interesting twist to what might otherwise have become
As for the character relationships, which really drive the books even more than the period detail and the imaginative dragon-integrated world, there are some earlier-developed dynamics that come to satisfying fruition here, but there are also a few moments wherein, for the first time for me at least, the reader's patience is strained; Temeraire's grousing about Iskierka, for example, gets a bit tedious in the middle, though one does get to the reason for it by the end. Other than that, this reader at least was fully engaged with the adventure, which had quite a few sudden turns -- including one heartbreaking loss for the series -- and was, as ever, lively and diverting.
Though not a perfect book -- this series doesn't go in for perfection, because it simply wants to cram all the awesome there is into a rather snug pair of breeches and a bottle green coat, and that's a tough fit -- it does continue the best themes and developments of the series right into... another book. Unlike the previous volume, which ended on a note that rang of possible closure, this one leaves off with another adventure clearly, overtly about to begin. The result, of course, is that one wants the next book NOW, even after reading seven of them right in a row, and if that doesn't recommend the series to you, I don't know what will. Just read it. You know you want to.
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routine after half a dozen books. Though it has a strong central place, the novel does not feel quite all together centered. This slightly scattered tone has appeared before in this series, to ill effect in 'Black Powder War' but to the good in 'Victory of Eagles'. This one falls somewhere in between, because it lacks a MAJOR battle as a centerpiece but has several MAJORLY important events for the series as a whole. Those who have read the series will understand the difference. As for the character relationships, which really drive the books even more than the period detail and the imaginative dragon-integrated world, there are some earlier-developed dynamics that come to satisfying fruition here, but there are also a few moments wherein, for the first time for me at least, the reader's patience is strained; Temeraire's grousing about Iskierka, for example, gets a bit tedious in the middle, though one does get to the reason for it by the end. Other than that, this reader at least was fully engaged with the adventure, which had quite a few sudden turns -- including one heartbreaking loss for the series -- and was, as ever, lively and diverting.
Though not a perfect book -- this series doesn't go in for perfection, because it simply wants to cram all the awesome there is into a rather snug pair of breeches and a bottle green coat, and that's a tough fit -- it does continue the best themes and developments of the series right into... another book. Unlike the previous volume, which ended on a note that rang of possible closure, this one leaves off with another adventure clearly, overtly about to begin. The result, of course, is that one wants the next book NOW, even after reading seven of them right in a row, and if that doesn't recommend the series to you, I don't know what will. Just read it. You know you want to.
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LibraryThing member atimco
Just when you think Naomi Novik has run out of continents and cultures in her wonderful Temeraire series, she pulls out another unexpected and fully realized society for Laurence and Temeraire to explore. This time it’s Incan South America. Just when Laurence and Temeraire have accepted their
Novik is careful not to allow the stories to become too much of the same thing, achieving this through the very different cultures Laurence and Temeraire encounter. We start off with the British method of handling dragons; they are harnessed and treated kindly, but rather more like beasts than sentient beings. Then the story shifts to China, where dragons are full citizens alongside the people. Play with that a bit, and then move to South America, where instead of people owning dragons, dragons own people! Yes, sometimes the stories read like travelogues but a travelogue in company with a 22-ton dragon is more an adventure than not.
But now, some criticism. I didn’t care for where Novik takes some of her characters in this installment, and some of the plot seemed a bit forced (i.e., Napoleon shipping Tswana warriors around to fight for him as they search for their enslaved kindred). And the excitement of the earlier books is missing here—Laurence, Temeraire, and company are fun characters and their interactions are always amusing, but there isn’t a strong, driving, central motive to the story. Napoleon looms, but distantly.
Still, this is an entertaining read that I finished in a day. There are a lot of loose ends left—Tharkay’s story, Edith (will she reappear? what about Jane Roland?), the fate of Emily and Demane, the whole dragons’ rights subplot that fell by the wayside a couple books back, Temeraire’s and Iskierka’s possible egg, and probably a whole host of other little things I’ve forgotten. I don’t know how Novik is going to wrap all this up in one final book, but I’m looking forward to it!
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exile in Australia, the British government suddenly reinstates Laurence as a captain in the Aerial Corps, to go on a critical diplomatic mission to Brazil. A shipwreck and eventual marooning cause them to take a detour through Incan territory, where they discover Napoleon's latest plot. Novik is careful not to allow the stories to become too much of the same thing, achieving this through the very different cultures Laurence and Temeraire encounter. We start off with the British method of handling dragons; they are harnessed and treated kindly, but rather more like beasts than sentient beings. Then the story shifts to China, where dragons are full citizens alongside the people. Play with that a bit, and then move to South America, where instead of people owning dragons, dragons own people! Yes, sometimes the stories read like travelogues but a travelogue in company with a 22-ton dragon is more an adventure than not.
But now, some criticism. I didn’t care for where Novik takes some of her characters in this installment, and some of the plot seemed a bit forced (i.e., Napoleon shipping Tswana warriors around to fight for him as they search for their enslaved kindred). And the excitement of the earlier books is missing here—Laurence, Temeraire, and company are fun characters and their interactions are always amusing, but there isn’t a strong, driving, central motive to the story. Napoleon looms, but distantly.
Still, this is an entertaining read that I finished in a day. There are a lot of loose ends left—Tharkay’s story, Edith (will she reappear? what about Jane Roland?), the fate of Emily and Demane, the whole dragons’ rights subplot that fell by the wayside a couple books back, Temeraire’s and Iskierka’s possible egg, and probably a whole host of other little things I’ve forgotten. I don’t know how Novik is going to wrap all this up in one final book, but I’m looking forward to it!
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LibraryThing member JBD1
Now I'm really in trouble. Having read the first six Temeraire books in the span of a couple months, and then having this one come out (and not having enough self-restraint to hold off very long at all before diving in), I'm going to have to wait for the appearance of the next volume.
Another great
We meet some new friends here, and some old friends (and, ahem, others) reappear as well, to great effect. I enjoyed every page, and will now settle myself down to await the next volume with as much patience as I can muster.
Another great
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installment in Novik's delightful series, as Temeraire, Laurence and their ever-growing band of companions face another dangerous and uncertain military and diplomatic mission in far-flung regions. This volume brings them to the Incan empire, where once again Novik gives herself free rein to imagine what shape still another dragon/human culture might take. We meet some new friends here, and some old friends (and, ahem, others) reappear as well, to great effect. I enjoyed every page, and will now settle myself down to await the next volume with as much patience as I can muster.
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LibraryThing member byroade
A friend and I are agreed that Crucible of Gold was more satisfying than its predecessor Tongues of Gold. I love the intrepid governess, however little attention Novik (or Lawrence or Temeraire) pay to her. The storyline with yet another variation on draco-human sociology is a fun read. I look
And I'd love a check in on what year it is, exactly.
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forward to the next installment, though I hope more happens in it than just getting from here to there.And I'd love a check in on what year it is, exactly.
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LibraryThing member Morphidae
While I love the dragon personalities and the world-building is done well, after seven books of constant misery, I'm not going to read any more books by Novik. Her plots consist of one tragedy after another and I'm no masochist. I like a little hope and humor in what I read. Her novels read like a
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laundry list of trauma, "What else can I do these people?" No, thanks. Show Less
LibraryThing member JeremyPreacher
I don't think anything will top the first three Temeraire books, but the around-the-world adventures continue to be entertaining. I particularly enjoy the various examples of different ways humans and dragons can live successfully together, and, in this case, two starkly contrasted views on
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people-as-property. I remain a little eager to see things properly wrapped up - I much prefer a series to a serial - but I'll keep reading Temeraire for a while yet. Show Less
LibraryThing member nnschiller
I really want to like this series, but I'm afraid the previous two entries have fallen flat with me.
I enjoy the characters, but I don't really feel like they are progressing much. Novik is doing a good job of moving her characters around the globe and putting them in new settings. I liked the work
So, overall, I'm disappointed. I'm still a big fan of Ms. Novik's work. I'll still read everything she puts out, I'm just hoping that she tries something new. I get the feeling that she's bored w/ Temeraire. More to the point, she's developed his character to the point where there is no reconciling him with the British Empire circa the Napoleonic conflicts. This is a difficult problem to solve for a series whose main selling point is putting a dragon into that time period.
I'm hopeful, now that Temeraire has been to Australia and South America, that the series will advance in areas other than geographical. I guess we'll see when they get back to China.
I enjoy the characters, but I don't really feel like they are progressing much. Novik is doing a good job of moving her characters around the globe and putting them in new settings. I liked the work
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she did w/ the Inca culture and it was nice to meet the Tswana again. Overall, however, we didn't learn much new about the characters and they didn't seem to evolve much. Sure we learned a personal secret about Granby and his relationship with Iskierka may have *finally* come to a head. So, overall, I'm disappointed. I'm still a big fan of Ms. Novik's work. I'll still read everything she puts out, I'm just hoping that she tries something new. I get the feeling that she's bored w/ Temeraire. More to the point, she's developed his character to the point where there is no reconciling him with the British Empire circa the Napoleonic conflicts. This is a difficult problem to solve for a series whose main selling point is putting a dragon into that time period.
I'm hopeful, now that Temeraire has been to Australia and South America, that the series will advance in areas other than geographical. I guess we'll see when they get back to China.
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LibraryThing member hskey
Fading a bit. Each book seems to pull the plot further way from where I want to see it go. The last few in the series have had really strong beginnings, but middle sections that just seem to drag. I'm still really enjoying the relationship between Temeraire and Laurence, but each book just seems to
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point to a spot on the map and have their adventures go there, when I was much more interested in the first few books set in the UK fighting against Napoleon. Keen to read book 8 and eventually finish the series, Novik is still one of my favorite authors. 9 books in 10 years is astonishing output. Show Less
LibraryThing member roadway2000
I have read the entire series to this point and have very much enjoyed all of the stories. This book will not disappoint you either. I would suggest reading in order as it makes all of the books more enjoyable.
LibraryThing member WaltNoise
Crucible of Gold is Naomi Novik’s latest Temeraire Novel. Laurence and Temeraire travel from Australia to South America in this installment.
When I read a review of the first novel of this series, I didn’t think I’d be interested. Although I enjoy alternative history and military sci-fi,
In Novik’s universe, intelligent dragons share (and sometimes dispute) humanity’s status as dominant species. Her world is very well-thought out and internally consistent. The various cultures of men and dragons, and how they interact is fascinating. Not only military tactics and technology, but much of society and its mores is vastly different in this world.
In Novik’s universe, the Napoleonic Wars are raging, as happened in ours, but are complicated by a much altered geopolitical situation. China is the strongest world power, and the Inca Empire and that of the Tswana in Africa are flourishing. Apparently, dragons trumped muskets when European adventurers showed up.
The plot and characterization is superb. Novik is a great writer. Start with the first novel, His Majesty’s Dragon, to understand and enjoy this complex world.
When I read a review of the first novel of this series, I didn’t think I’d be interested. Although I enjoy alternative history and military sci-fi,
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dragons in the Napoleonic Wars didn’t seem that great an idea. I was wrong, very wrong.In Novik’s universe, intelligent dragons share (and sometimes dispute) humanity’s status as dominant species. Her world is very well-thought out and internally consistent. The various cultures of men and dragons, and how they interact is fascinating. Not only military tactics and technology, but much of society and its mores is vastly different in this world.
In Novik’s universe, the Napoleonic Wars are raging, as happened in ours, but are complicated by a much altered geopolitical situation. China is the strongest world power, and the Inca Empire and that of the Tswana in Africa are flourishing. Apparently, dragons trumped muskets when European adventurers showed up.
The plot and characterization is superb. Novik is a great writer. Start with the first novel, His Majesty’s Dragon, to understand and enjoy this complex world.
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LibraryThing member foggidawn
Crucible of Gold is the most recent addition to the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. This series is one of my recent favorites. The best way to describe it is alternate history -- the Napoleonic Wars, but with dragons. What really stands out for me, though, is the excellent characterization. The
In this book, Laurence and Temeraire travel from Australia to South America, where they discover another entirely different system of government involving humans and dragons . . . as well as another sneaky plot on the part of Napoleon to upset the balance of power in his favor.
I enjoyed this book more than its predecessor, Tongues of Serpents -- it feels like a return to the earlier books. I'm also pleased to note that, while this book doesn't end in a major cliffhanger, it's obvious that there will be more books in the future. I can hardly wait!
(If you haven't read the series yet, but are intrigued, the first book is His Majesty's Dragon -- highly recommended to dragon lovers and history buffs alike!)
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dragons are so . . . dragonly (yes, that is totally a word); they have their own morals and personalities. They manage to be both sympathetic and alien -- I never forget, when reading, that Temeraire is not human.In this book, Laurence and Temeraire travel from Australia to South America, where they discover another entirely different system of government involving humans and dragons . . . as well as another sneaky plot on the part of Napoleon to upset the balance of power in his favor.
I enjoyed this book more than its predecessor, Tongues of Serpents -- it feels like a return to the earlier books. I'm also pleased to note that, while this book doesn't end in a major cliffhanger, it's obvious that there will be more books in the future. I can hardly wait!
(If you haven't read the series yet, but are intrigued, the first book is His Majesty's Dragon -- highly recommended to dragon lovers and history buffs alike!)
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LibraryThing member keywestnan
A real return to form for Novik -- I was a bit worried after the last book but I devoured this one. Especially loved the relationship between the people and the dragons in the Incan Empire -- amusing but also thought-provoking. And the action scenes, both in accidents at sea and battles, are
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particularly well done. Show Less
LibraryThing member Queensowntalia
Naomi Novik's latest dragon tale continues the adventures of the valiant Temeraire and his captain Laurence after they were banished to Australia. A series of misadventures soon land them and their friends deep in the heart of the Incan empire - where surprises, and perhaps betrayal, await.
Nothing
Nothing
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to complain about here, series fans. An excellent installment indeed, with all the twists and turns one could hope for, and the reappearance of a few old friends (and enemies!). My main complaint is now having to wait for the next book. *sigh* Show Less
LibraryThing member phyllis2779
I love the Temeraire series and this was one of the best of the series. I read through thw whole book in one day. I couldn't put it down. The portrait of the Incan empire with dragons was fascinating. The additon of the dragons changes the whole society but it is still very plausible. Where the
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author is dealing with real events and early 19th century culture and technology, the details are very authentic. Show Less
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
For those that don't know, this is the seventh in a series with an alternate history of the Napoleonic Wars featuring fighting dragons. I thought the book before this one in the series, Tongues of Serpents, had been the weakest thus far, and feared it might signal the series had jumped the shark.
I wouldn't say this is quite the favorite of the first two books. At one point His Majesty's Dragon moved me to tears, and Throne of Jade amazed me by going in directions I didn't expect. And it's not a game-changer like the middle books Empire of Ivory and Victory of Eagles. I also have to agree this book does nothing for Temeraire's or Laurence's character arcs nor does it much advance the overall plot of the series. But while admitting this doesn't quite clear the high bar those first five books set, this was entirely entertaining from beginning to end.
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Happily, I'd say that with this book Novik is back on form. There were no dull spots in this one, where we're taken to the land of the Incas and get a look at yet another variation on a draconic society very different than that of Europe. There was plenty of high adventure and humor that makes this series at its best so fun. Temeraire is just a joy to read with his very alien, very draconic point of view on the world around him. In past books I found Iskierka rather annoying--yet this time she amused me I have to admit, and I found her a welcome part of the story--for reasons that used to exasperate me. She's very much a character that's unpredictable and brings surprises into the plot. I wouldn't say this is quite the favorite of the first two books. At one point His Majesty's Dragon moved me to tears, and Throne of Jade amazed me by going in directions I didn't expect. And it's not a game-changer like the middle books Empire of Ivory and Victory of Eagles. I also have to agree this book does nothing for Temeraire's or Laurence's character arcs nor does it much advance the overall plot of the series. But while admitting this doesn't quite clear the high bar those first five books set, this was entirely entertaining from beginning to end.
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LibraryThing member rivkat
A lot happens, from shipwreck and marooning to betrayal, one of Laurence’s party discovering the joy of coca leaves, and competition with Napoleon for the allegiance of the Inca Empire, whose feathered dragons prize humans more than their vast reserves of gold and jewelry. Reinstated to the
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service, Laurence is sent to deal with a Napoleon-aided attack on Brazil by the Tswana, who want to retrieve their enslaved families (or at least their descendants). Geopolitical reversals abound, with some terrible losses of old friends along with the emergence of new ones. All in all, an exciting read—I went through it in less than a day despite needing to grade. Show Less
LibraryThing member readafew
I really enjoyed this book. I've read the first 3 books and then this one and I think this one was the best of the bunch. The world of Laurence and Temeraire is really coming into it's own. The first books were more a look as what would Napoleon Europe look like if they had dragons in the mix. Now
Laurence is an interesting character. He still very much Victorian sexual mores (even though he's the better part of a century early) and on the other hand professes some of the more liberal ideas such as the abolition of slavery and equal rights. The books starts with our heroes in Australia, where they were sent in disgrace. It has been some time but the Empire has need of the duo again and this time in South America. Brazil to be exact. Napoleon is stirring up trouble for one of Britain's last allies, the Portuguese. He's unleashed African dragons who want their enslaved people back.
Overall, it is a very engaging book and I really enjoyed it. I now have to go back and read 4-6 so I know how he got to Australia. There's also an adventure in Africa on one of those books too. If you liked the previous books, I think you'll like this one too. If you haven't read any of them, I would recommend a different starting point, there is a lot that has happened to get to this point.
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she's willing to move farther and farther from our history to make a good story.Laurence is an interesting character. He still very much Victorian sexual mores (even though he's the better part of a century early) and on the other hand professes some of the more liberal ideas such as the abolition of slavery and equal rights. The books starts with our heroes in Australia, where they were sent in disgrace. It has been some time but the Empire has need of the duo again and this time in South America. Brazil to be exact. Napoleon is stirring up trouble for one of Britain's last allies, the Portuguese. He's unleashed African dragons who want their enslaved people back.
Overall, it is a very engaging book and I really enjoyed it. I now have to go back and read 4-6 so I know how he got to Australia. There's also an adventure in Africa on one of those books too. If you liked the previous books, I think you'll like this one too. If you haven't read any of them, I would recommend a different starting point, there is a lot that has happened to get to this point.
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LibraryThing member infjsarah
An entertaining read. This series has never really matched its beginning novel. But it's light and readable and the characters have been allowed to change with experience.
LibraryThing member amanda4242
What I like most about this series is that there are consequences to the existence of dragons. Many novels simply plunked down some fantastical element during some historical event and then have things play out exactly as they did in real life, but Novik has created a plausible vision of a world
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that was shaped by having dragons as an integral part of warfare. I highly recommend Crucible of Gold and all of the other books in the series. Show Less
LibraryThing member WintersRose
Interesting concept of South American's being beloved pets of the dragons, but otherwise disappointing. Not at all memorable.
LibraryThing member silentq
I wasn't sure where Laurence and Temeraire would end up after the conclusion of the last book, exiled in Australia. An order comes for them, via China, to go to Brasil to foil France's plans there. A storm during the long crossing of the Pacific leads them through Incan territories first. This was
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another road trip novel, with the characters flitting from location to location with barely enough time to appreciate the elements unique to each setting. Danger didn't seem to be biting at their heels so much physically as politically this time and I didn't find it as tense as I expected. It was a quick read, I'd have loved for it to have been longer. It did explore some moral quandries relating to duty, friendship, morality, but I didn't get too emotionally engaged in the story. Show Less
LibraryThing member majkia
The tale finds Laurence and Temeraire, who had been drummed out of the military because of rank insubordination (mostly on Temeraire’s part), still stuck in Purgatory (in this case Australia), and doing what they could to make the most of it. Laurence was mostly just glad neither of them had
Suddenly the British ambassador to the Chinese crown turns up with papers saying Laurence is reinstated (grudgingly) into the Aviator Corps. He also brings orders for Laurence and Temeraire to board the dragon ship still docked in Sydney and head to Brazil where Napoleon is attempting to destroy Rio.
Glad to be back in harness, glad to be doing something useful, both are eager to find themselves back in the war.
Naturally things go very very wrong.
I found Crucible of Gold to be as enjoyable as the first of the series, His Majesty’s Dragon, was. I did find Tongues of Serpents, book six, to be a bit of a slog, but this one is right back up there, with Temeraire being his usual mouthy and opinionated self, Iskierka driving him nuts, and the dragons’ captains doing whatever it takes to keep their dragons focused on the big picture: Napoleon.
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gotten shot as traitors.Suddenly the British ambassador to the Chinese crown turns up with papers saying Laurence is reinstated (grudgingly) into the Aviator Corps. He also brings orders for Laurence and Temeraire to board the dragon ship still docked in Sydney and head to Brazil where Napoleon is attempting to destroy Rio.
Glad to be back in harness, glad to be doing something useful, both are eager to find themselves back in the war.
Naturally things go very very wrong.
I found Crucible of Gold to be as enjoyable as the first of the series, His Majesty’s Dragon, was. I did find Tongues of Serpents, book six, to be a bit of a slog, but this one is right back up there, with Temeraire being his usual mouthy and opinionated self, Iskierka driving him nuts, and the dragons’ captains doing whatever it takes to keep their dragons focused on the big picture: Napoleon.
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LibraryThing member MarFisk
My sister and my son have been after me to read Temeraire for years, and I even have His Majesty’s Dragon on my eReader, signifying my intention of checking this series out. However, I have a lot of books to be read (two bookcases of them in fact), and it never leapt to the front of the pile. So
It’s often said that once the book is done, you cannot tell if it was a character-, plot-, or idea-focused novel at inception because all those elements blend smoothly. This is not the case with Crucible of Gold, which bothers me not at all, an odd statement in a reader who tends to get frustrated when where the book is going remains unclear.
Crucible of Gold is a people book, using the term “people” to identify sapient beings. While much later in the series, it neither drags down with the history, nor keeps the new reader guessing about the crucial elements, making this a plausible read even for those uncomfortable with reading out of sequence. I would say, however, that unless you’re willing and able to read the earlier books as prequels, you should start at the beginning as a lot has happened before this novel that would have made the center pin for the previous books. If knowing these things in advance would spoil the read, this is not the starting point for you.
But going back to the type of book this is, I’ll give you an example: The book starts out with Laurence reinstated into His Majesty’s Aviators for the sole purpose of seeing if a previous abduction offers him any insight into a way to sway the Tswana dragons from Napoleon so they will not endanger Portugal’s hold on Brazil. Seeing as Laurence was banished for refusing an immoral order, and he sides more with the Tswana dragons who are trying to rescue people who were taken as slaves, it wouldn’t have taken much for this novel to have a strong plot driving the characters at every step.
It doesn’t work out that way at all.
There are interpersonal conflicts between Laurence and the scraps of humanity that are all they are afforded to sail them to Brazil. Temeraire is at once attempting to have Laurence given the right amount of respect and bemoaning his lack of a trained crew to manage his own comfort. Hammond, the diplomat, is struggling to balance his own positions with those of Laurence. And those are only the tip of the iceberg that is this novel.
Disaster after disaster strikes this voyage, one of which is hinted at on the cover art, and the reader is drawn into conflicts that explore relationships between aviators and crew, aviators and sailors, officers and common sailors, and most especially, between human and dragon. Which isn’t even accounting for the dangers of weather when at sea.
Temeraire learns a whole new way of looking at the connection between dragons and humans, a way that appeals almost as much as proving himself in battle. His efforts to influence Laurence, and Laurence’s efforts to come up with workable, fair solutions to each situation, even when he himself holds deep, and warranted, grudges at times, make this novel a fascinating study of relationships and interactions. The situations are only complicated, to the better, by the other dragon pairs, each with their own conflicts and driving ties.
If you like people novels–heck, if you like alt history which looks at personalities as the key element in what determines the fate of individuals and nations–it’s worth checking out the novels of Temeraire, whether you start with the latest, as I did, or go back to the first…as I now plan to do.
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when I saw Crucible of Gold on the book signup at Library Thing, I figured I’d give fate a chance at my reading schedule. Sure enough, I won, and I am grateful for it.It’s often said that once the book is done, you cannot tell if it was a character-, plot-, or idea-focused novel at inception because all those elements blend smoothly. This is not the case with Crucible of Gold, which bothers me not at all, an odd statement in a reader who tends to get frustrated when where the book is going remains unclear.
Crucible of Gold is a people book, using the term “people” to identify sapient beings. While much later in the series, it neither drags down with the history, nor keeps the new reader guessing about the crucial elements, making this a plausible read even for those uncomfortable with reading out of sequence. I would say, however, that unless you’re willing and able to read the earlier books as prequels, you should start at the beginning as a lot has happened before this novel that would have made the center pin for the previous books. If knowing these things in advance would spoil the read, this is not the starting point for you.
But going back to the type of book this is, I’ll give you an example: The book starts out with Laurence reinstated into His Majesty’s Aviators for the sole purpose of seeing if a previous abduction offers him any insight into a way to sway the Tswana dragons from Napoleon so they will not endanger Portugal’s hold on Brazil. Seeing as Laurence was banished for refusing an immoral order, and he sides more with the Tswana dragons who are trying to rescue people who were taken as slaves, it wouldn’t have taken much for this novel to have a strong plot driving the characters at every step.
It doesn’t work out that way at all.
There are interpersonal conflicts between Laurence and the scraps of humanity that are all they are afforded to sail them to Brazil. Temeraire is at once attempting to have Laurence given the right amount of respect and bemoaning his lack of a trained crew to manage his own comfort. Hammond, the diplomat, is struggling to balance his own positions with those of Laurence. And those are only the tip of the iceberg that is this novel.
Disaster after disaster strikes this voyage, one of which is hinted at on the cover art, and the reader is drawn into conflicts that explore relationships between aviators and crew, aviators and sailors, officers and common sailors, and most especially, between human and dragon. Which isn’t even accounting for the dangers of weather when at sea.
Temeraire learns a whole new way of looking at the connection between dragons and humans, a way that appeals almost as much as proving himself in battle. His efforts to influence Laurence, and Laurence’s efforts to come up with workable, fair solutions to each situation, even when he himself holds deep, and warranted, grudges at times, make this novel a fascinating study of relationships and interactions. The situations are only complicated, to the better, by the other dragon pairs, each with their own conflicts and driving ties.
If you like people novels–heck, if you like alt history which looks at personalities as the key element in what determines the fate of individuals and nations–it’s worth checking out the novels of Temeraire, whether you start with the latest, as I did, or go back to the first…as I now plan to do.
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LibraryThing member RBeffa
I read "Crucible of Gold" out of order from the series, having not read several of the preceding books. As a result I think my enjoyment of the novel was slightly impaired. I like seeing Tremaire as such a strong character, and think that this series is one of the best from recent years. Novik does
As a reader I can't see someone enjoying this story very well as a stand alone book. The background knowledge that I do have from the early books adds a lot to my personal enjoyment of this.
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very well with her "world building", and I feel like I am 200 years back in time in a world where dragons are part of the natural order of things. I plan to re-read this when I catch up with the middle books of the series.As a reader I can't see someone enjoying this story very well as a stand alone book. The background knowledge that I do have from the early books adds a lot to my personal enjoyment of this.
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