Staff Pick
At first I was tentative to pick up this book, and to delve into this lengthy series. Now, I wish there was more to come. His Majesty's Dragon is historical fiction with a twist: Dragons exist. They're vital to the success of each nation, a valuable asset to be used when Napoleon comes knocking at the door. What captivated me was the style of storytelling, the diverse cast of characters, and the uniqueness of the dragons from region to region. After the first read, His Majesty's Dragonhad me rushing to get the next book in the series in hand. I could not get enough. The Napoleonic era with dragons, you say? Novik has me saying "Yes, please!" Recommended By Samantha C., Powells.com
Synopses & Reviews
Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors rise to Britain's defense by taking to the skies...not aboard aircraft, but atop the mighty backs of fighting dragons.
When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes its precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Capt. Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France's own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte's boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire.
Review
"[A] superbly written, character-driven series....[W]hat keeps one turning the pages is the urge to find out what happens next to Captain Laurence and Temeraire, characters who win one's heart from the beginning. Bravos for a most promising new author!" Booklist (Starred Review)
Review
"What could've easily been a D&D-inspired mess is, in Naomi Novik's hands, a completely authentic tale, brimming with all the detail and richness one looks for in military yarns as well as the impossible wonder of gilded fantasy. (Grade: A)" Entertainment Weekly
Review
"It's an amazing performance, the first of three books to be published one a month through May. I only hope Novik's prodigious energy and imagination hold up. I know of one ghostly literary presence looking down with a hopeful smile." Chicago Tribune
Review
"[A] terrifically entertaining fantasy novel. Is it hard to imagine a cross between Susanna Clarke, of [Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell] fame, and the late Patrick O'Brian? Not if you've read this wonderful, arresting novel." Stephen King
Review
"Enthralling reading it's like Jane Austen playing Dungeons & Dragons with Eragon's Christopher Paolini." Time Magazine
Review
"The action sequences are terrific, the characters enormously appealing, the style accomplished and ironic, and the promise of future volumes quite inviting." Locus
Review
"A splendid series. Not only is it a new way to utilize dragons, it's a very clever one and fits neatly into the historical niche this author has used." Anne McCaffrey, New York Times-bestselling author of the Pern series
Review
"Just when you think you've seen every variation possible on the dragon story, along comes Naomi Novik to prove you wrong. Her wonderful Temeraire is a dragon for the ages and a fitting companion for the brave, steadfast Will Laurence." Terry Brooks, New York Times-bestselling author of the Shannara series
Synopsis
This first adventure of a new fantasy series introduces the remarkable dragon Temeraire and his heroic captain, Will Laurence, who are thrust into the world of the Aerial Corps, offering aerial support to the British during the Napoleonic Wars. Original.
Synopsis
Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors rise to Britain s defense by taking to the skies . . . not aboard aircraft but atop the mighty backs of fighting dragons.
When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes its precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Capt. Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France s own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte s boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire."
Synopsis
In the first novel of the New York Times bestselling Temeraire series, a rare bond is formed between a young man and a dragon, and together they must battle in the Napoleonic Wars. "A terrifically entertaining fantasy novel." --Stephen King
Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors rise to Britain's defense by taking to the skies . . . not aboard aircraft but atop the mighty backs of fighting dragons.
When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes its precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Capt. Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future-and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France's own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte's boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire.
"Just when you think you've seen every variation possible on the dragon story, along comes Naomi Novik. . . . Her wonderful Temeraire is a dragon for the ages."--Terry Brooks
About the Author
An avid reader of fantasy literature since age six, when she first made her way through
The Lord of the Rings, Naomi Novik is also a history buff with a particular interest in the Napoleonic era and a fondness for the work of Patrick O'Brian and Jane Austen. She studied English literature at Brown University, and did graduate work in computer science at Columbia University before leaving to participate in the design and development of the computer game
Neverwinter Nights: Shadow of Undrentide. Over the course of a brief winter sojourn spent working on the game in Edmonton, Canada (accompanied by a truly alarming coat that now lives brooding in the depths of her closet), she realized she preferred writing to programming, and on returning to New York, decided to try her hand at novels.
Naomi lives in New York City with her husband and six computers. Her website and LiveJournal are at www.temeraire.org.