
Temeraire
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Narrated by:
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Simon Vance
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By:
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Naomi Novik
About this listen
Naomi Novik’s stunning series of novels follow the adventures of Captain William Laurence and his fighting dragon Temeraire as they are thrown together to fight for Britain during the turbulent time of the Napoleonic Wars.
As Napoleon's tenacious infantry rampages across Europe and his armada lies in wait for Nelson's smaller fleet, the war does not rage on land and water alone. Squadrons of aviators swarm the skies – a deadly shield for the cumbersome canon-firing vessels. Raining fire and acid upon their enemies, they engage in a swift, violent combat with flying tooth and claw… for these aviators ride dragons.
Captain Laurence is a satisfied man with a respectable commission aboard the ship Reliant. His career is born from a love for the sea and he takes his duty very seriously
Months before the battle of Trafalgar, on patrol in the Atlantic, The Reliant takes a small French frigate, storm-damaged and possessing a fierce crew unwilling to surrender as easily as they should. On board Laurence finds a dragon egg – a great prize as England is in sore need.
Having spent months on a slow journey from Asia, the egg hatches. A sinewy new-born emerges from the fragmented shell, ignores his harness-bearer, approaches Laurence and changes his life.
Hatchling dragons must be put in a harness immediately otherwise the dragon-young become hard to control – fit only for the breeding colonies. The person chosen to first harness the beast must be an aviator, for the dragon will accept no other captain. The life of an aviator is not a desirable one; reviled by fashionable society, they live hard, lonely lives bound to duty and they frequently die young. Laurence must now join them; duty demands it, though his heart is broken.
But, more astonishing than the dragonet – named Temeraire by Laurence – are the documents found with him, documents addressed to Napoleon from the greatest, most skilled dragon-breeders in the world – the Chinese.
The dragon Temeraire was meant for the Emperor Napoleon himself and promises to grow into no ordinary creature.
©2006 Naomi Novik (P)2018 HarperCollins PublishersCritic reviews
"I took a jaundiced view of dragon books until Novik won me over with her first novel. the combination of military history, sympathetic characters, and engaging style makes this series great, intelligent fun." (The Times)
"Plenty of intrigue, swordplay, exotic locations, plausible invention. In short a treat." (The Telegraph)
"These are beautifully written novels, not only fresh, original and fast-paced, but full of wonderful characters with real heart." (Peter Jackson)
A mix of sharpe and eragon - what’s not to love?!
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love this book. such a great original story.
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Okay, but not super gripping
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Fantastic, absolutely loved it!
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Magical and Uplifting.
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The way that she infuses her dragons and their aviators into the real historical events of the period is stunning because somehow it's easy to accept that it was dragons more than fire ships that scattered the Spanish Armada! Not long through the book somehow this anachronistic RAF feels natural especially imbued as it is with the stoical stiff upper-lipped mannerisms of the time. Somehow Novik brings her wonderful dragons into the period while channeling the spirit of the Battle of Britain, it's heroic stuff.
The lead character or rather lead human character, Laurence, wouldn't be out of place of course in a Hornblower or Thomas Kydd novel though through his impeccable gentlemanly manners there is just a spark of a certain Captain Sharpe that rises to the fore as one particular villain is brought summarily to book! If among all these historical shenanigans there is a genuine core to this book it is the beautifully detailed relationship between Laurence and Temeraire who proves to be something a bit special even among his fellow dragons. There is genuine warmth which will give these books a much wider appeal than one containing just the more military and bloodthirsty aspects.
Simon Vance is a very successful match for Novik's writing. He brings the nobility to Lawrence and a lot of that relationship warmth and character to the varied cast making this a surprisingly good package. I wasn't originally going to try this series but on the recommendation of a friend I did and that's something I'm very glad about. The second book is due out on the 3rd January and I suspect will do much to chase away any post new year blues!
Dragon-infused Napoleonic War!
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Novik is the Priestess of Dragonlore
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What a great story. You’re carried along at a good pace and the narration is spot - very much in keeping with the period it’s set in.
A cracking story
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If you looking for a fantasy book that also takes you back in time and will make you smile and want to keep listing then this is a must listen.
Addicted!
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This series has it all. I'm at loss for words. Just buy it, you won't regret it I promise.
Some of the best fantasy I've ever read
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