5/5 stars

League of Dragons (Temeraire, #9) by Naomi Novik

Dragons are the Bacon of Books…

Done! All 9 Temeraire books in 5 weeks.

I’m all for binge reading a series…but I don’t think I’ve ever done 9 back to back. Phew.

It was worth it, of course. Dragons are to books as bacon is to food.

They turn ordinary to awesome. Try this out:

Napoleon is attacking England and terrorizing Europe…

…while riding dragons.

See? Cool, right?

There’s lots to love. The dragons, obviously, are the stars of this show. Acid spitters, fire breathers, big and slow, fast and small, scholars, fighters, lazy, industrious, smart, dumb, leaders, followers, good, bad. Dragons of every size, breed, colors, skill, personality, nationality, and allegiance are here. Have you ever considered aerial combat strategy via dragon back before? Now you can become an expert.

Yep, you read that right.

Dragon fights.

This is revisionist history at it’s best. The Temeraire books tell the story of the Napoleonic Wars from the point of view of William Laurence, Captain in England’s Royal Navy. When his ship captures a French vessel carrying a dragon egg, Laurence and his crew set sail for England to get the egg off the ship and into the hands of the Royal Air Corp before it hatches…because once it hatches the dragon chooses a companion for life. Good if you’re into that sort of thing. A life sentence to a ball and chain if you not. Of course they don’t make it. The egg hatches, and Captain Laurence becomes Captain of a dragon named Temeraire instead of Captain of a ship. Together, Laurence and Temeraire travel the world in defense of King and Crown, battling Napoleon and Tyranny in the air, at sea, on the ground, and in the most dangerous battlefield of all…politics.

Oh, man. There is so much here. Sea travel. Air travel. Sea battles. Air battles. Political battles. World travel…visits to England, Russia, Prussia, Australia, Japan, China, Brazil, several African countries, Spain, France. Sea storms, sea serpents, spys, smugglers, culture clashes, betrayal, conspiracy, assassination attempts, mystery, shipwrecks, marooning, death, prisoners, escapes. Uphill diplomacy, politics, war, treason, blurred lines of right and wrong. Honor, commitment, friendship, choosing others over yourself. Seriously, it’s all there and more.

You want it all? You can have it…

…with dragons.

The prose is unique. It isn’t just a book about people living in Napoleons world. It’s as if it were actually written during that time…picture what Jane Austen might sound like if Mr. Darcy rode a dragon to call on the Bennet sisters. This is an author to knows how to write.

Recommended for all. If your the type who likes a little less talk and a lot more action you might get bored in some places, particularly around book 6. While the dragon fights are cool, this is a character and relationship driven story. I loved it…you may not.

Get your copy here

Happy Reading!