HIS MAJESTY'S DRAGON BY NAOMI NOVIK

 

 Publication Date:  2006

 Pages:  353

 Series Name:  Temeraire, Book the First

Summary:  [from Amazon] 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.

My Thoughts:  The first word that comes to mind is swashbuckling.  Although if that term can only be applied to pirates, then I have my term wrong.  This book is all dragon and no pirate.  I love the concept of changing the events of the Napoleonic Wars through the use of giant talking, fighting dragons put into aerial combat service.  The book is all action and moves along at a swift pace.  

I guess being a woman, though, my favorite parts were the hints at romance and camaraderie throughout.  I mean I'm nothing if not relational.  I love relationships between men and women and, it now appears, that I love relationships between men and women and their dragons.  It has all the manners and etiquette of Jane Austen's novels, yet the characters are surprisingly 21st century all at the same time.  

This is the first in the Temeraire series.  I will definitely read on if not to watch the relationship between Laurence and Temeraire develop then for the relationship between Laurence and Jane.  There is an interesting 21st century twist to the novel when Jane brings to Laurence's attention the fact that Temeraire will outlive Laurence by a few centuries.  Unfortunately, dragons only attach to a very few people.  The humans in the story have been known to have their own children to ensure the dragons a new owner upon their own death.  The children are put into "service" at a very young age and often separated from their parents. 

I have not looked ahead in the series, but I do wonder if the stories will progress far enough into the future when Temeraire will lose Laurence to old age. 

Parental Warning:  I had at one point suggested that these novels were as clean as a whistle.  The story does heat up a bit when Temeraire begins to discover his sexuality (there must be a better way to say that!).  The romance between Laurence and Jane also heats up a bit, there is some talk about whores and Laurence does avail himself of some adult refreshments from time to time.  I can no longer recommend this book to the 14 and under crowd.  I would definitely say it could be appropriate for the 16-17 and above crowd.  

Should you read it?  I'd say if you're in the mood for something a little different than the usual contemporary fiction or mystery novel.  It is a nice, gentle foray into the fantasy genre.