Jolteon reviewed Black Powder War by Naomi Novik (Temeraire, #3)
None
4 stars
A great continuation of a great series. Not quite as good as the first (IMO), but still a really good book.
English language
Published 2007
Black Powder War
by Naomi Novik
Naomi Novik: Black Powder War (2007)
- ISBN:
- 978-1-4159-4021-1
- Goodreads:
- 9817341
Copied ISBN!
4 stars
(53 reviews)
"A splendid series."--Anne McCaffrey
"Naomi Novik has done for the Napoleonic Wars what Anne McCaffrey did for science fiction: constructed an alternate reality in which dragons are real in a saga that is impressively original, fully developed, and peopled with characters you care about."--David Weber, author of the Honor Harrington series
After their fateful adventure in China, Capt. Will Laurence of His Majesty's Aerial Corps and his extraordinary dragon, Temeraire, are waylaid by a mysterious envoy bearing urgent new orders from Britain. Three valuable dragon eggs have been purchased from the Ottoman Empire, and Laurence and Temeraire must detour to Istanbul to escort the precious cargo back to England. Time is of the essence if the eggs are to be borne home before hatching.Yet disaster threatens the mission at every turn--thanks to the diabolical machinations of the Chinese dragon Lien, who blames Temeraire for her master's death and vows to …
"A splendid series."--Anne McCaffrey
"Naomi Novik has done for the Napoleonic Wars what Anne McCaffrey did for science fiction: constructed an alternate reality in which dragons are real in a saga that is impressively original, fully developed, and peopled with characters you care about."--David Weber, author of the Honor Harrington series
After their fateful adventure in China, Capt. Will Laurence of His Majesty's Aerial Corps and his extraordinary dragon, Temeraire, are waylaid by a mysterious envoy bearing urgent new orders from Britain. Three valuable dragon eggs have been purchased from the Ottoman Empire, and Laurence and Temeraire must detour to Istanbul to escort the precious cargo back to England. Time is of the essence if the eggs are to be borne home before hatching.Yet disaster threatens the mission at every turn--thanks to the diabolical machinations of the Chinese dragon Lien, who blames Temeraire for her master's death and vows to ally herself with Napoleon and take vengeance. Then, faced with shattering betrayal in an unexpected place, Laurence, Temeraire, and their squad must launch a daring offensive. But what chance do they have against the massed forces of Bonaparte's implacable army? From the Paperback edition.
ridel reviewed Black Powder War by Naomi Novik (Temeraire, #3)
A Phenomenal Conclusion to Throne of Jade
4 stars
Black Powder War continues the adventures of Lawrence and Temeraire as they return from China, and if you enjoyed Throne of Jade, then this will be equally enjoyable. In fact, I suspect if the two books were combined into one, it would have been a much bigger success, as the journey to China culminates in a great deal of Napoleonic warfare merged beautifully with the realistic handling of dragons that has put this series on the map.
Despite starting these novels for Age of Sail battles, I find myself preferring the adventure more than the action. Naomi Novik sketches out a wonderfully rich alternate history that our main characters wander through, passing through the Gobi, up into the Karakorum, and finally into Istanbul and continental Europe during Napoleon's greatest victories. There's a surprisingly large cast that surrounds Temeraire and not all of them make it home. Those losses keep …
Black Powder War continues the adventures of Lawrence and Temeraire as they return from China, and if you enjoyed Throne of Jade, then this will be equally enjoyable. In fact, I suspect if the two books were combined into one, it would have been a much bigger success, as the journey to China culminates in a great deal of Napoleonic warfare merged beautifully with the realistic handling of dragons that has put this series on the map.
Despite starting these novels for Age of Sail battles, I find myself preferring the adventure more than the action. Naomi Novik sketches out a wonderfully rich alternate history that our main characters wander through, passing through the Gobi, up into the Karakorum, and finally into Istanbul and continental Europe during Napoleon's greatest victories. There's a surprisingly large cast that surrounds Temeraire and not all of them make it home. Those losses keep the adventure tense, and when we shift into the depth of the Napoleonic Wars, the stakes are raised but I found myself missing the exploration and introduction of familiar cultures that have been made alien through their use of dragons.
Ultimately I wish this novel was combined with Throne of Jade, as they pair wonderfully together and I assume the author planned both at the same time. As it is, Black Powder War as a standalone is excellent, but it could have been so much more.
Recommended.
Wetdryvac reviewed Black Powder War by Naomi Novik (Temeraire, #3)
Review of 'Black powder war (Temeraire Book 3)' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
Ejecting from the series at this point. It's not bad, it's just not my thing.
Pentapod reviewed Black Powder War by Naomi Novik (Temeraire, #3)
Review of 'Black Powder War' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Enjoyed it, but not quite as much as the first two. It has that "middle of the series" feel and too much of it is about getting from A to B or B to C, which are still interesting, but not really what I want to be reading about most.
New characters Iskierka and Tharkay are very good, but Laurence's behaviour seems inconsistent at times, and I felt there were too many ends left dangling and questions left unanswered. Hoping the next book gets back up to the standard of the first.
