His Majesty's Dragon
Book One of the Temeraire
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4.5 • 477 Ratings
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- $3.99
Publisher Description
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
Don’t miss any of Naomi Novik’s magical Temeraire series
HIS MAJESTY’S DRAGON • THRONE OF JADE • BLACK POWDER WAR • EMPIRE OF IVORY • VICTORY OF EAGLES • TONGUES OF SERPENTS • CRUCIBLE OF GOLD • BLOOD OF TYRANTS • LEAGUE OF DRAGONS
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Not nearly enough historical fiction involves dragons—and that’s why we love Nebula Award winner Naomi Novik’s His Majesty’s Dragon. Upon discovering a mysterious egg aboard a captured 18th-century French vessel, Captain William Laurence must leave his beloved ship behind and adjust to life as a member of the indispensable-yet-boorish Aerial Corps. As his touching friendship with his winged charge blossoms, William’s reluctance fades. Novik’s world-building is lush, and we love her fantastical reimagining of the Napoleonic Wars and breathtaking descriptions of aerial acrobatics. But it’s the touching boy-meets-reptile story that really makes this book—the first in a nine-volume saga—a wonder.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this delightful first novel, the opening salvo of a trilogy, Novik seamlessly blends fantasy into the history of the Napoleonic wars. Here be dragons, beasts that can speak and reason, bred for strength and speed and used for aerial support in battle. Each nation has its own breeds, but none are so jealously guarded as the mysterious dragons of China. Veteran Capt. Will Laurence of the British Navy is therefore taken aback after his crew captures an egg from a French ship and it hatches a Chinese dragon, which Laurence names Temeraire. When Temeraire bonds with the captain, the two leave the navy to sign on with His Majesty's sadly understaffed Aerial Corps, which takes on the French in sprawling, detailed battles that Novik renders with admirable attention to 19th-century military tactics. Though the dragons they encounter are often more fully fleshed-out than the stereotypical human characters, the author's palpable love for her subject and a story rich with international, interpersonal and internal struggles more than compensate.
Customer Reviews
Levitas
I’m only giving a 4 star because of what happened to Levitas.
Interesting Historical Fiction
I have yet to go back and verify some of the historical facts but I was impressed with the story of Napoleon’s crusade to control the world.
This book!
This book is amazing!! I love reading it, I love the tone of it. I love characters (or love to hate them), and I love all the attachments I have made to these characters. There are 7 more books you say? I know what I'm going to be reading for the foreseeable future