Throne of Jade

By: Naomi Novik

Narrated by: Simon Vance

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.

History takes flight in this deliciously addictive novel, which captures the Napoleonic period perfectly and skilfully layers history with imagination by adding a Dragon Air Force to the battle for England.

Temeraire is a Celestial dragon, the most highly-prized of all draconic breeds; famed for their intelligence, agility and most of all for the Divine Wind – their terrible roar capable of shattering the heavy timbers of war ships and devastating woodland. Captured by the British, Temeraire was meant to be the companion of the Emperor Napoleon and not captained by a mere officer in the British Air Corps. The Chinese have demanded his return and the British government cannot afford to provoke the Asian super-power into allying with the French – even if it costs them the most powerful weapon in their arsenal, and forces Laurence and Temeraire apart.

©2018 Naomi Novik (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic 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)

"In the best tradition of fantasy, historical fiction and nautical novels." (Guardian)

Cringing at the Orientalism

I very much enjoyed the first in the series, but this story is full of orientalist stereotypes which just aren't acceptable in this day and age. The author needs to go and have a good read about orientalism and how damaging it can be. I may try the rest, but if they continue to be written in this manner, will abandon ship.