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annathepiperAs absolutely expected, Victory of Eagles, the fifth installment in ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
naominovik's Temeraire series, is first-rate.
This time around Napoleon's forces have made it to England--and so by necessity, the plot is pretty much action from the word go. Temeraire and Laurence must deal with the consequences of certain actions taken at the end of Book Four, which are quite uncomfortable for them both. I won't go into details so as not to spoil the ending of Book Four; suffice to say that said actions do cost Temeraire and Laurence dearly. I very much approve of Novik playing out the consequences with all the gravity they deserve in this next novel.
To balance out the grimness of the personal consequences as well as the invasion, we get some very, very fine mileage for Temeraire. This is the first book in the series where we get extended sequences from Temeraire's own point of view, who does not remain idle while he is separated from Laurence in the first part of this story. It is delightful to see him flat refuse to stay in the breeding grounds where he is initially exiled--and to demonstrate to the British military command that not only is he not going wild, he is taking command himself of unused dragons to rise up against the invading forces. Temeraire even makes real gains in winning dragons rank and pay in the military, which is highly satisfying.
Several familiar recurring characters all make appearances: Jane, Emily, Granby, Catherine, Riley, and most importantly Iskierka, supremely arrogant in her position as Britain's only fire-breathing dragon, and whose impulsiveness requires Temeraire and Laurence to go on a rescue mission in the middle of the invasion. Which does not, it must be noted, stop her from hitting on Temeraire, either. ;)
All around highly entertaining, and because so much of the plot was pure action, a swift and gripping read. Four stars.
naominovik's Temeraire series, is first-rate.This time around Napoleon's forces have made it to England--and so by necessity, the plot is pretty much action from the word go. Temeraire and Laurence must deal with the consequences of certain actions taken at the end of Book Four, which are quite uncomfortable for them both. I won't go into details so as not to spoil the ending of Book Four; suffice to say that said actions do cost Temeraire and Laurence dearly. I very much approve of Novik playing out the consequences with all the gravity they deserve in this next novel.
To balance out the grimness of the personal consequences as well as the invasion, we get some very, very fine mileage for Temeraire. This is the first book in the series where we get extended sequences from Temeraire's own point of view, who does not remain idle while he is separated from Laurence in the first part of this story. It is delightful to see him flat refuse to stay in the breeding grounds where he is initially exiled--and to demonstrate to the British military command that not only is he not going wild, he is taking command himself of unused dragons to rise up against the invading forces. Temeraire even makes real gains in winning dragons rank and pay in the military, which is highly satisfying.
Several familiar recurring characters all make appearances: Jane, Emily, Granby, Catherine, Riley, and most importantly Iskierka, supremely arrogant in her position as Britain's only fire-breathing dragon, and whose impulsiveness requires Temeraire and Laurence to go on a rescue mission in the middle of the invasion. Which does not, it must be noted, stop her from hitting on Temeraire, either. ;)
All around highly entertaining, and because so much of the plot was pure action, a swift and gripping read. Four stars.