His Majesty's Dragon

Temeraire, #1

by Naomi Novik

Paperback, 356 pages

English language

Published Dec. 13, 2006 by Del Rey Books.

ISBN:: 978-0-345-48128-3

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(59 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.From the Paperback edition.

8 editions

Phil in SF reviewed His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik

Not my thing after all

4 stars

The origin story of the dragon Temeraire, captured from the French by the captain of an English ship, William Laurence. The person who drew the short straw is rejected as a rider by Temeraire, and Laurence becomes the rider in his place, but must give up his career in the navy. Training and battles in the dragon air service follow.

It is well-written, but the extended treatment of the proper relationship between riders and dragons was not interesting enough for me to want to seek out the sequels. People who like tales of manners will find this more enjoyable.

markusreads reviewed His Majesty's dragon by Naomi Novik (Temeraire)

Great read, even greater expectations for the rest of the series

5 stars

Whoa, how could I've missed this series. I already had some people recommend these books, but only started after reading uprooted and spinning silver by Naomi Novik. This first book was read in a rush, using most of my free time and commute. The characters, especially the main characters are very charismatic and the pace is excellent. Looking forward to the other 8 books in the series!

Odin Halvorson reviewed His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik

A Book That Has It All

4 stars

Content warning Very minor spoilers for one plot point (the same as you'd get from reading the back cover).

Naomi Novik's world is the historical 18th century, with one minor difference: dragons have always existed alongside man. We follow a captain of the Royal Navy during the middle of the Napoleonic Wars as he finds himself entangled in the world of dragon-riding, which alters all the conventions of his orderly gentleman's world.

I'm not a fan of historical novels usually, but the aspect of the fantastic is so vitally alive in this book that it works for me. What I love about historical novels is maximized, and what I dislike is shunted into the background. There were some flaws, and I found myself losing interest in the climactic battle sequence that forms the book's conclusion, yet these are small qualms for an otherwise superb work of literary craft and ingenuity. I'm definitely hooked on the rest of the series.

Nick Jordan reviewed His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik (Temeraire, #1)

A Brilliant Read

5 stars

I absolutrly loved this book and really raced though it. It's a very easy read, beautifully paced and wonderfully well researched. I can't wait to read the next one, which I've already ordered.

Avarla reviewed His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik (Temeraire, #1)

Review of "His Majesty's dragon" on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

Too much high fantasy for my taste, but that's entirely personal. Objectively it was a great story about friendship, loyalty and dragons, but I never felt quite with it, more dragged along by it. I also couldn't quite find the main storyline, but that might be an issue I had with the audio book.

Pentapod reviewed His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik (Temeraire, #1)

Review of "His Majesty's dragon" on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I'd heard good things about this book and they were all true - started it last night and put it down only to sleep, finished this morning! Kind of a cross between Forester's Horatio Hornblower novels, and the movie "How To Train Your Dragon". A well-written, well-researched story reimagining England fighting the war with Napoleon if dragons existed and formed an air force branch of the military. Good characters, good story, good details of the world - can't wait to get my hands on the next book!

Paul Fidalgo reviewed His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik (Temeraire, #1)

Review of "His Majesty's dragon" on 'Storygraph'

4 stars

Yes, I loved this book, and the irony is that had it not been offered free for the Kindle, I never would have read it. Let me be more blunt, actually. Not only would I not have read it, but I would have scoffed at it.

"His Majesty's Dragon"?? Come on. At best I would have read the title aloud in a mocking tone and escaped the fantasy/sci-fi section with haste. See the cover art? Just like every other magic-y, Lord-of-the-Rings-y, fantasy book you see piling up in bookstores. What's to differentiate one from another? They all blend together into a haze of something that might as well be labeled "for fans of this genre only."

But it was free for the Kindle. So I took a look. I checked up on some reviews, and the Washington Post was very favorable. What the hell, I need metro train reading, let's try the first few pages.

Hooked. Schooled.

It's smart, it's charming, it's subtle. It respects the reader, the characters are fully realized, complete with quirks that are just visible enough to fool you into thinking these people (and dragons) are real.

So smart business model. I'll be buying all the rest in the series forthwith. Stupid-sounding titles or no.

Oh, and having read the book, the title's not actually stupid. Hmph.