Throne of Jade - Ida's BookWyrm

No cover — Naomi Novik: Throne of Jade (2006, Random House Publishing Group)

eBook

English language

Published Feb. 24, 2006 by Random House Publishing Group.

ISBN:: 978-0-345-49344-6
OCLC Number:: 234262208

(1 review)

When Britain intercepted a French ship and its precious cargo--an unhatched dragon's egg--Capt. Will Laurence of HMS Reliant unexpectedly became master and commander of the noble dragon he named Temeraire. As new recruits in Britain's Aerial Corps, man and dragon soon proved their mettle in daring combat against Bonaparte's invading forces. Now China has discovered that its rare gift, intended for Napoleon, has fallen into British hands--and an angry Chinese delegation vows to reclaim the remarkable beast. But Laurence refuses to cooperate. Facing the gallows for his defiance, Laurence has no choice but to accompany Temeraire back to the Far East--a long voyage fraught with peril, intrigue, and the untold terrors of the deep. Yet once the pair reaches the court of the Chinese emperor, even more shocking discoveries and darker dangers await.From the Paperback edition.

4 editions

[email protected] reviewed Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik

An Adventure to the Far East - not Napoleonic warfare!

4 stars

Throne of Jade is a very different novel from its predecessor, being one of exploration and adventure rather than the Age of Sail / black powder army combat that formed the basis for His Majesty's Dragon. If you were expecting Napoleonic squares augmented by fire-breathing dragons, you will be disappointed, and I think the lower rating reflects these dashed expectations. However, I was drawn by Temeraire's and Captain Lawrence's relationship and that core idea is executed wonderfully as they travel to China.

I am delighted by the expansion of this alternate history as we see what China looks like given the inclusion of these intelligent dragons. Naomi Novik cleverly weaves China's traditional dragon-heavy culture into a society that is strikingly modern and egalitarian. She captures the fundamental dynamics of China and Britain's political relationship during that era, though only on the edges as this novel is ultimately about dragons. …

Throne of Jade is a very different novel from its predecessor, being one of exploration and adventure rather than the Age of Sail / black powder army combat that formed the basis for His Majesty's Dragon. If you were expecting Napoleonic squares augmented by fire-breathing dragons, you will be disappointed, and I think the lower rating reflects these dashed expectations. However, I was drawn by Temeraire's and Captain Lawrence's relationship and that core idea is executed wonderfully as they travel to China.

I am delighted by the expansion of this alternate history as we see what China looks like given the inclusion of these intelligent dragons. Naomi Novik cleverly weaves China's traditional dragon-heavy culture into a society that is strikingly modern and egalitarian. She captures the fundamental dynamics of China and Britain's political relationship during that era, though only on the edges as this novel is ultimately about dragons. The peek into the world-building -- of society, cultural values, and even economics -- is executed brilliantly and I enjoyed the months-long journey to Beijing.

I'm glad I stuck with this, since the former novel left me wanting. Recommended.