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    Temeraire
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    Temeraire
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    Temeraire
    Audiobook10 hours

    Temeraire

    Written by Naomi Novik

    Narrated by Simon Vance

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    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.

    As Napoleon's tenacious infantry rampages across Europe and his armada lies in wait for Nelson's smaller fleet, the war does not rage on land and water alone. Squadrons of aviators swarm the skies – a deadly shield for the cumbersome canon-firing vessels. Raining fire and acid upon their enemies, they engage in a swift, violent combat with flying tooth and claw… for these aviators ride dragons.

    Captain Laurence is a satisfied man with a respectable commission aboard the ship Reliant. His career is born from a love for the sea and he takes his duty very seriously

    Months before the battle of Trafalgar, on patrol in the Atlantic, The Reliant takes a small French frigate, storm-damaged and possessing a fierce crew unwilling to surrender as easily as they should. On board Laurence finds a dragon egg – a great prize as England is in sore need.

    Having spent months on a slow journey from Asia, the egg hatches. A sinewy new-born emerges from the fragmented shell, ignores his harness-bearer, approaches Laurence and changes his life.

    Hatchling dragons must be put in a harness immediately otherwise the dragon-young become hard to control – fit only for the breeding colonies. The person chosen to first harness the beast must be an aviator, for the dragon will accept no other captain. The life of an aviator is not a desirable one; reviled by fashionable society, they live hard, lonely lives bound to duty and they frequently die young. Laurence must now join them; duty demands it, though his heart is broken.

    But, more astonishing than the dragonet – named Temeraire by Laurence – are the documents found with him, documents addressed to Napoleon from the greatest, most skilled dragon-breeders in the world – the Chinese.

    The dragon Temeraire was meant for the Emperor Napoleon himself and promises to grow into no ordinary creature.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins Publishers
    Release dateDec 6, 2018
    ISBN9780008338879
    Unavailable
    Temeraire
    Author

    Naomi Novik

    Naomi Novik was born in New York in 1973, a first-generation American, and raised on Polish fairy tales, Baba Yaga, and Tolkien. She studied English Literature at Brown University and Computer Science at Columbia University before leaving to work in the games industry. She soon realized she preferred the writing to the programming, and decided to try her hand at novels. Temeraire was her first.Naomi lives in New York City with her husband and six computers.

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    Reviews for Temeraire

    4/5

    2,734 ratings198 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Love it. Engaging story, likeable characters and great dramatisation. Really fun.
    • 4/5
      Ah me. I love these books. This is my second time through the series and now that I'm not frantically devouring every page I can truly savor the excellence. William Laurence is a naval captain in Napoleonic era England. When he takes a French Man of War as a prize he has no idea that is life is about it change. In the cargo hold, his crew finds a large egg. A dragon egg, and it is dangerously close to hatching. England's aerial division is in desperate need of more animals, but the aerial corp itself is much looked down upon by the rest of the armed forces. Still, duty must be done, someone must harness the dragon before it become feral. Lots are drawn but Laurence is dismayed when the beast inexplicably takes a liking to him rather than the chosen crew member.
    • 4/5
      I love dragons, and I loved getting to know Temeraire. I'm glad the story has a few more female characters than would likely be true if it were written by a man, but I still wish it had more, to offset the overall feeling that this is a "man's tale" of warfare and adventure. I probably wouldn't have stuck with it after the first few chapters if it weren't for the promise of the dragon. And he was worth it!
    • 4/5
      Temeraire (or His Majesty's Dragon outside the UK) is basically a lot of fun. I read it very quickly, and while it reminded me of other books about dragons (McCaffrey came to mind, obviously) it made a world of its own. The exclusion from society in coverts reminded me of the weyrs in McCaffrey's books, as did the importance of the hatching, but the dragons themselves are different. There are different breeds, much like dogs, and they speak aloud, not telepathically. The dragons are as much characters in themselves as their human partners. It's interesting that it's alternate history, and not pure fantasy. I have to wonder what made Naomi Novik think of that.

      It's a world you can very easily get absorbed in, anyway. The characters are interesting, and I was quite pleased that there are actually strong female characters despite the setting. It's a nice touch that certain dragons will only accept female handlers.

      I liked that the main character was pretty sure of himself and grown up by the time he came to bond with Temeraire. That makes it less 'a boy and a dragon against the world', and while Laurence obviously grows throughout the book, it's mostly Temeraire. It makes it a little different, really.

      All in all, I'm pretty eager to get onto the next one.
    • 4/5
      A very interesting book. One of those where you can simply let the words wash over you like a warm bath, without getting emotionally lost in the book and overwhelmed. Certain books I enjoy getting emotionally overwhelmed, but usually I prefer something lighter, funner, and calmer. This fit that perfectly. It was like the strange bastard lovechild of Eragon (but without the immense pomposity and ridiculous wordiness) and Master and Commander. Quite enjoyable!!!
    • 5/5
      The Temeraire series is one of my favourite book series for sure. I read the first book many times ( it was one of the most important books in my life) before finally feeling confident enough in my english to listen to the whole series and it didn`t disappoint for a second
    • 2/5
      1st novel in the Temeraire seriesAn interesting concept set in the time of Napolean and Nelson, the idea is that dragons joined in the war.I found the book slow and disjointed
    • 4/5
      Nice story without top much excitement and a wonderful narrator
    • 4/5
      I’ve always been a fan of dragons. And so I’ve been meaning to start this series for a while now. I had a long plane ride today and I just tore through this book. The action starts fairly fast and it sort of doesn’t stop. It’s not nail-biting action but it’s intense in an exciting journey/training sort of way. Laurence was a mature character which was refreshing after all the young adult books I’ve read recently and Temeraire was intelligent and could be one of my favorite dragon characters. And the interaction between hem was endearing. Great writing, great alternative history, great author. I’m looking forward to reading the next books in the series.
    • 4/5
      Captain William Laurence and the crew of the HMS Reliant capture a dragon egg from a French frigate during the Napoleonic Wars (early 1800s). In this historical fantasy, dragons are a normal part of life. They serve in the Aerial Corps, where they fly into battle with their aviators and crew. When the dragon hatches, it imprints upon Laurence, forcing him to leave his career in the Navy and join the Aerial Corps. The book follows the deep bonds of friendship forming between Laurence and the dragon, named Temeraire. It is also a military adventure, featuring an alternate history of the Battle of Trafalgar.

      The characters in this novel are wonderfully drawn. Laurence is a natural leader, motivated by his inner sense of honor, discipline, duty, and courtesy. Temeraire possesses a deep intelligence. He is a quick learner, enjoys reading, and speaks French! As he grows, he exhibits the traits of youth – he can be impetuous and a bit rebellious. He has moments of insecurity and self-doubt. He is just a marvelously well-articulated character.

      The various dragon breeds are introduced, and each dragon has a unique personality. The author seamlessly engages in world building through the education of the fledgling dragon. The Aerial Corps includes women, since some breeds of dragon will only bond with a female. The dragons carry full crews into battle. These creative touches bring a depth to the narrative. The story is a bit slow in places and the romance unnecessary (fortunately it is not the focus of the story), but these are minor quibbles.

      Fantasy represents a very small portion of my annual reading, so this is a departure from my usual fare. I read this book as part of a group, and I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It contains exciting adventures, aerial battles, and an endearing duo of lead characters. It is pure escapism and lots of fun.
    • 5/5
      I'm not usually a YA fan, but I loved this book.

      Imagine England vs France in the Napoleonic era - but both sides have dragons.

      The story focuses on a dragon egg captured during a sea battle. When the dragon hatches, there is a very short period of time when the new dragon can bond with a handler - and none of the officers on the British ship want to be the chosen handler. It will mean a completely new life away from the sea - and essentially away from all of British society since the dragons live in remote locations.

      Without giving any spoilers, the office who ends up as Temeraire's handler is at first devastated by the life changes this will require. But through the book the bond he forms with the dragon is truly heartwarming.

      There's lots of adventure, air and sea battles. But the true story here is one of loyalty and love.
    • 5/5
      Absolutely fantastic, right up my alley. The action scenes are incredible and the relationships between the Aviators and their dragons were a treat to read. Breezed through this and will definitely continue with the series. Shouldn't be surprised that Naomi Novik wrote a book I enjoy, I only wish I got to this sooner.
    • 3/5
      This was a fun alternative history about the Napoleonic Wars. with dragons. Charming fluff. I'll probably continue the series.
    • 4/5
      Much fun, must read the rest of the series!
    • 4/5
      This is a fast, light read, but very entertaining. The characters are very likeable. Just went and bought the other two in the series so I can read them next!
    • 4/5
      As the story opens, Navy Captain Will Laurence of the HMS Reliant has captured a French Man-o-War and one of the prizes found is an unhatched dragon egg. Britain has been severely outnumbered in flying battles by the superiority of the French Flying Dragon force. The egg is about to hatch and as soon as it does, someone needs to be on hand to harness, feed and name the dragon. He will then become the dragon's master and they will join the dragon riding Aerial Corps. Needless to say, things go wrong and Laurence is forced to leave the Navy and take his dragon, Temeraire, to the Aerial Corps.

      Will, a very reluctant dragon captain, is forced to change his rigidly strict Navy training for the more modern and casual Aerial Corps. The heart of the story is the friendship between Will and Temeraire as they struggle to understand one another and to earn the respect of their fellow aviators, both human and dragon. Will soon discovers that Temeraire is affectionate, intelligent and a splendid companion. After meeting with dragon expert Sir Edward Howe, Will is surprised when it is revealed that Temeraire is a rare Chinese dragon, as the oriental breeds are almost unknown on the British Isles and considered vastly superior.

      This is a wonderfully compelling alternative history of the Napoleonic War. Temeraire is a fascinating and complex character. He is kind, intellectual and philosophical, powerful and surprisingly innocent. The author believably integrates a dragon-based aerial fighting force into the late-eighteenth-century military. It is also an outstanding character driven novel, which keeps the pages turning not just for the action, but so the reader can find out what happens next to Will and Temeraire.

      I don't normally read fantasy novels but I do love historical fiction and enjoyed this very much.
    • 4/5
      His Majesty’s Dragon is set during the Napoleonic Wars in a universe where each nation has its own aerial fleet–– made up of dragons. Naval Captain Will Laurence retrieves an egg from a skirmish that later hatches and claims Laurence as his handler.The dragons in this book are very fun to read about because they all have different personalities, values, and goals. They speak (some multiple languages) and form strong bonds with their handlers. This was a light, quick read that allows you to become immersed in the world without feeling bogged down by a heavy plot. I loved the characters (except one who you will know if you read it) and had a good time learning more about them as the book unfolded. Novik (as usual) nails the pacing for the plot. It has mini climaxes that keep the story from dragging out and moves the plot forward naturally. While this is a series, I plan to read these books when I am in between others or don’t know what else to read. I don’t feel like His Majesty’s Dragon ended on a cliff hanger and am glad that I finally found a casual series to read. I would highly suggest this book to anyone looking for a relaxing afternoon read or for anyone who wants a series that they don’t have to binge.
    • 4/5
      I devoured this book in a few days, though I meant to make it last, because it was so goddamn good I couldn't stop. The worldbuilding is ace, so is the history, and I love all the characters to pieces. Why yes, it did make me cry, and I'm not even ashamed.
    • 5/5
      Sweet and clever.
    • 5/5
      I feel like I'm late to the party. While I'd heard of Naomi Novik, I hadn't read her books until I picked up Spinning Silver. I loved it so I moved onto Uprooted. And now I'm into the Temeraire series. I'm especially baffled at my Novik-lack because I love Regency historicals and fantasy, so why haven't I read these books before?Anyway, Captain Will Laurence captures a French frigate in the Napoleonic wars, he discovers they were carrying a rare Chinese dragon egg. When it hatches, the dragon imprints on Laurence. He names it Temeraire and becomes a member of the aerial corps. Ms. Novik knows her Regency period, and the book is peppered with historical references. She manages to fit the dragons in very organically. Temeraire is a delight; he's so smart, and his relationship with Laurence is sweet. The other characters, both aviators and dragons, are wonderful. I can't gush enough about this book. So, onto the next one in the series.
    • 4/5
      Fantasy/alternative history in which the Napoleonic Wars are fought with the added force of a Dragon Corps. Laurence is a Navy captain who find himself forced into a change of career when the dragon egg his ship's crew found on a captured French vessel hatches and chooses him as its handler. The change means quite a bit of adjustment for Laurence, since the Dragon Corps have very different ideas about how things are done and aren't easily moved to accept outsiders, but his fast-growing friendship with Temeraire (the dragon) makes it worth the life upheaval.I enjoyed this one a great deal (which isn't at all surprising, since I absolutely loved Novik's Uprooted), and I'd give it 10/10, except that the battle scenes went on too long for me. That sort of thing makes me go cross-eyed very quickly, and I'm not interested enough in it to make an effort at understanding what's happening. So for me the story got bogged down with the battle bits, but was otherwise excellent. I love Laurence and Temeraire, and their relationship is wonderfully developed.
    • 4/5
      His Majesty's dragon is the first novel in Naomi Novik's Temeraire series. In this alternate history of the Napoleonic Wars, in addition to armies and navies, there are aviators who fly on dragons. Will Laurence is a navy captain who captures a French ship and part of the prize includes a dragon's egg. The egg hatches and Temeraire becomes a trainee of the British forces along with her aviator, Laurence.Novik sets up her fantasy world with a wonderful imagination and integrates the dragons and their crews into the regency period. She also provides drawings of some of the dragon species and selections from the definite book on dragons at the time. An enjoyable read and a great introduction to a new world.
    • 4/5
      A cute and enjoyable historical fantasy book set during the Napoleonic Wars where dragons are common tools in the fight. The story follows a man who stumbles upon a rare dragon egg and focuses on his bond with the dragon. The dragon can speak and a lot of the book is him trying to understand the human world and culture. It's a nice spin on exploring a society and the dragon is often adorable. The first book of the series centers on a lot of world building to understand the hierarchy of soldier and dragons, the war, and the bond between William and Temeraire. It is fun and an easy read.
    • 2/5
      I loved Uprooted, it might have been my favourite book that year. But this earlier novel failed to engage me, and I stopped halfway through. I know it has a huge fanbase, so there's every chance another reader we find it delightful--but it likely hit on too many elements that aren't my cup of tea (battles, pets that aren't really pets, military life), and I realised I didn't give two hoots about any of the characters, so that's that for that--life's too short. But she's a terrific writer--given a different subject, there's every chance I will love her again. Meanwhile I can reread Uprooted!

      (Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s).
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this book by Naomi Novik. It is very much a fantasy series that follows a main character and his military endeavors but a captain of a dragon rather than an army of soldiers (or at least what we'd imagine as the 'typical' military situation). I found myself loving Temeraire no differently than any other character in a book with a beloved animal companion. I started to read through the second one but never picked it back up. I'd like to revisit this series again and work my way through it a bit further.
    • 5/5
      This is the first book in the Temeraire series, there are nine books in this series. I really enjoyed this book a lot. I loved the dragons and the characters and the alternate history in here. The book was very well written and incredibly fun as well. I listened to this on audiobook and really enjoyed Vance’s narration. He does a great job with character narration and voices. I would definitely recommend listening to this on audiobook if you enjoy audiobooks.This book has a lot of action but what really makes the story are the characters of Laurence and Temeraire. Laurence is such a respectable sea captain and harnessing Temeraire changes everything about his life. However, I love how Laurence takes everything in stead and does his best for Temeraire. I absolutely adored Temeraire, he’s just such a lovable dragon. Temeraire is intelligent, sensitive, and just amazing. Temeraire really made the book for me.The side characters are well done also. Additionally, the alternate history setting was very interesting. We get a good look at this alternate world and the wars that drive it. Most of the book focuses on Temeraire and Laurence and their training, but they do get drawn into combat as well.The story ends at a good point but hints at more interesting plot elements to come. This is a book I am considering reading with my middle schooler. There is a small part where Laurence has to explain the concept of whores to Temeraire but aside from that it is a read that is pretty friendly to pre-teens and older.Overall an amazing story that I really enjoyed a lot. I loved the characters and the alternate history setting. I would recommend to those who enjoy fantasies about dragons in historical settings. I definitely plan on continuing the series.
    • 3/5
      An enjoyable book, with a unique take on dragons as intelligent beasts who bond with their handlers to serve as beasts of war. It may sound familiar, but details and method of execution in the story make it something quite new in my experience of reading fantasy. The twist of setting the story within an ongoing war between forces of Britain and the French army as led by Napoleon is a lot of fun.

      This is a fun read, and focused very tightly on the development of the relationship between the protagonist and the dragon whom he has harnessed. As such it is a splendid character piece, but there was a part of me that hungered for a more complex plot for these two to navigate. That being said, judging by the sample of the second book of the series that was included at the end of this volume, that wish may be fulfilled later in the series.
    • 4/5
      Thought I'd read this.... must have been a different dragon/warrior novel(??). Listened on Audio CD
    • 4/5
      I loved this! The world that Novik created is so cool, and I like how she worked dragons into the Napoleonic wars. Her world building was done seamlessly and I enjoyed how she incorporated the aerial forces into the militia and navy.

      I enjoyed the characters a lot. Laurence and Temeraire are wonderful. I love the relationships between the dragons and their captains in general. The development of each main character and side character is really well done. i like how Laurence starts out not really wanted a dragon, and really just grows to love Temeraire and the lifestyle attached to it. He meets some really cool people (and some not super cool people), and I really enjoyed their character arcs as well.

      The way she writes the action scenes and battle scenes is really well done, and not confusing at all. The style was easy to follow, and the descriptions were vivid as well. I found the pacing pretty decent, and felt that this was a bit of a set up novel, but a really good one at that. We get introduced to the characters and the conflict, and also get to see some really cool actions scenes as well.

      Overall, this was really fun and I would definitely recommend if you like dragons and historical-ish fantasy. I am definitely looking forward to the next book!
    • 4/5
      I read Uprooted by Novik in the fall and absolutely loved it. I checked to see what else she had written and found this series. I listened to this first novel and loved it. Who doesn't love a dragon? Please!Thankfully, I didn't read much about the series. When I did, it was several months ago and forgot everything. When the library's Overdrive sent me notification that my book was available, I was excited because I had forgotten about looking for it. I listened to the novel in two days--nothing like a beautiful, cool day to work in the yard--I kept looking for more work to do so that I could continue to listen. Because I didn't remember anything, I didn't know who would be the dragon's handler. I could guess, but it's still nice to just let a story unfold without any prior-knowledge.In this novel, Lawrence is captain of his ship. After boarding one of Napoleon's French ships, Lawrence discovers a dragon's egg. England, as well as most big countries, uses dragons as part of their transportation & correspondence needs and war efforts. Because they have a medic on board who reads about dragons, they know what to do when the egg becomes hard. They'll need to harness the dragon in order to have him available for service or war. They draw lots to see who will leave his chosen career in the navy to become an Aviator. An Aviator has little life beyond his life with his dragon, so no one is interested in this change. When the egg hatches, the dragon is harnessed.The rest of the novel is about the dragon and his handler, as they are trained and participate in battles and meeting other Aviators. It's not a swashbuckling adventure, but it is an adventure. The relationship between the handler and the dragon is lovely. Also, the characters are engaging. i loved it. Perhaps I was in the mood for a good dragon book, but I am so glad to have read this novel. I will continue to read the series, and I am quite excited to do so. I still like Uprooted best, but I like this as well.