When we last checked in with Temeraire, I wasn’t all that thrilled with the story line. However, Hubby insisted that the next one in the sequence was worth slogging through Throne of Jade, so I kept with it.
And he was right.
If anything, Naomi Novik is becoming a better writer. The first book was solely carried on the novelty of the idea. The second she tired subtlety and totally fell flat. But this time, she managed delightful ambiguity along with all the daredevil adventures and suspense. And, I have to say, it’s the best of the three.
Laurence and Temeraire are waiting to leave China and head back to England when 1) a fire breaks out on the ship and delays the journey and 2) they get urgent orders to head to Turkey to pick up some eggs that were bought by the British government. They decide, because of incident number 1, that it would be faster to go overland. For that, they need a guide, and get a sort of nomad, Tharkay, to fill the role. I loved Tharkay as a character. Is he loyal to Temeraire and Laurence? Is he a traitor? What is his deal? Kept me guessing the whole book.
That, and Lien (the dragon of the bad guy in book two) becomes a rogue element, eventually signing up with the French army as part of her revenge against Temeraire. There’s a brilliant passage where she confronts Temeraire and explains what she’s going to do to him. Chilling.
On top of that, they endure sandstorm, avalanche, mistrust, betrayal, loss, death, and a host of other things before their journey is done. Yeah, it’s a little over the top, but I was left hanging, desperate to know what happens next.
Great reading.
The Book Nut 
A big thing to note is that these were originally ebooks, so they are still finding their groove. I am not sure if the third one was the first to go straight to paperback or if it is the one that is coming out in the fall.
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I did not know that, Kailana. That’s interesting, and does explain a lot. I think the first three were all published mass market paperback at the same time; they all had the same pub date.Perhaps she’s truly breaking out of the fanfic realm with this next one?
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I have been trying to verify the Louisa May Alcott quote, “She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain.” I have found this also as “too fond of reading,” and attributed to Mark Twain. However, it has NOT been possible to verify that EITHER of these writers actually said or penned this attributed statement. Can you tell me if you have a verifiable source? (I am doing a presentation on LMA, and I’d like either to use or debunk this. Thanks! Elaine
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Ah, Elaine, I can’t. I got it from a < HREF="http://www.femailcreations.com/products/sku-58912.html" REL="nofollow">catalog<>, which is probably not a reputable source. I do like the quote, though. Have you tried contacting the Louisa May Alcott house/museum in Concord, Mass?
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I think we saw the same catalog! and I laughed and cut out the item…but do not want to use it unless verified. I somewhat doubt I’ll get a response from Orchard House or the Alcott foundation, but it’s a good thought. I spent a lot of time viewing the website. I will say that it does not sound like LMA to me (and I have read most of her books.)
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About the Louisa May Alcott qoutation: my wife asked me to look for it, too. Hooray for Project Gutenberg! It’s from chapter 2 of a novel called Work: A Story of Experience.Mrs. Stuart, though in her most regal array, seemed to have left herdignity downstairs with her opera cloak, for with skirts gatheredclosely about her, tiara all askew, and face full of fear and anger,she stood upon a chair and scolded like any shrew.The comic overpowered the tragic, and being a little hysterical withthe sudden alarm, Christie broke into a peal of laughter that sealedher fate.“Look at her! look at her!” cried Mrs. Stuart gesticulating on herperch as if about to fly. “She has been at the wine, or lost herwits. She must go, Horatio, she must go! I cannot have my nervesshattered by such dreadful scenes. She is too fond of books, and ithas turned her brain. Hepsey can watch her to-night, and at dawn sheshall leave the house for ever.”http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext03/wasoe10.txt
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Thank you very much for this information! I aaw this quote in Signals catalog and fell in love with it – I used this quote today as a feeble excuse for my mental confusion – not sure if it will work!
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