Book 2), Throne of Jade (Temeraire

This book was much harder to read than the first just because it was so uncomfortable. The exploration of how the other is treated in two different societies and the pros and cons of both is good and valuable, but it was slow and painful because the outcome of the conflict in this book was based on Temeraire choosing between the two options and it was so long and drawn out.

After reading the first book- His Majesty's Dragon, I was hooked onto the second book I thought with joy! Half way there the joy disappeared. Me personally im not a big fan of SMALL SPOILER when for almost the whole book the main characters are stuck on a boat. yeah things happen here and there but its pretty boring. ended up not finishing it, yeah the ending probably was great but I was getting sea sick with all the boating!

Throne of Jade

Having consumed the "Throne of Jade", and now enthralled in the "Black Powder War", I've just purchased the "Empire of Ivory" to gratify my Temeraire addiction.

My best comparison for anyone considering this series is that of the excellent Harry Potter novels. While they are two distinct stories it is their magical captivating content that comes alive in their readers imagination that they share.

I loved book one of this series and was quite excited to purchase book #2. It's an incredible let down. Slow to the point of not moving, and the characters just don't act true. We take a long, slow, boring, boat ride to China with the dragon. It's brutal in the detail. The author tries to stir up something interesting by having some assassination attempts but never really follows through with them. Most of the characters just shrug, oh well, nothing we can do about it. REALLY?

I got about half way through the book and put it down. I just couldn't make myself plow through anymore. Very disappointing.

I loved the first novel in the series, "His Majesty's Dragon". I highly recommend that first book!

However, you may as well stop there. The first book is satisfying and complete on its own, WITHOUT the rest of the series.

I personally found this sequel to be boring and meandering.

That said, I do think fans of historical Chinese travelogue fiction would actually truly enjoy this particular installment.

There are parts of this book I really enjoyed and then there are parts of this book that totally bored me. Naomi Novak’s writing is always beautiful and detailed and had I not read Uprooted before starting this series I might not have had such high expectations but alas I did and so I wanted something more.

Throne of Jade is a lot more about cultural differences, social acceptances and politicking. Unlike His Majesty’s Dragon which involved getting to know the dragon culture and being in quite a few battles, much of the time in Throne of Jade is spent traveling to China and the focus is more on the bond of loyalty between Teremaire and Laurence. There are a few battles in this book but a lot of the action comes at the very beginning and the very end. Those were my favorite parts.

The Sea voyage is the part that became a bit tedious for me. Teremaire spent much of it brooding and there were many different discussions about slavery, dragon rights and why things are done a certain way in England. Teremaire seemed to have a lot of very specific ideas about all of it. There was some extraneous information about what everyone was eating including Teremaire and a funny bit when he caught a cold but it turned a little bit into what to feed a dragon for awhile and I started wondering when we would ever get back to the crux of the story.

I did appreciate how things changed once settled in China and it was interesting to see how the Chinese incorporated dragons into their everyday society and how that changes both Laurence and Teremaire’s opinions of the practices of raising and keeping Dragons in England. It will be interesting to see if anything comes of that. I also loved seeing the tale of Mulan weaved in with a dragon twist to it.

Overall much of this book became the care and upkeep of a dragon which I could have done without. But if I ever do hatch a dragon I will know which spices and dishes he should like the best. I do like the loyaty shown between Laurence and Teremaire even if the endearments Laurence uses for his dragon sometimes seem like something he would say to a love instead.

I’m hoping that in the future there will be more action and fighting and less dragon poetry

Wow. I can honestly say I've never read I've never read anything like that before. Book 1 of this series (His Majesty's Dragon) was a strong start, introducing great characters and a well-imagined quasi-historical world where dragons are real. So where does Novik go with this second installment?

A slow boat to China, that's where. I don't mean that figuratively. No. what happens is, Laurence and Temeraire board a ship to China (leaving all of our other good dragon rider characters behind), and they spend the next several hundred pages just hanging around on the boat. We get long, agonizing descriptions of every meal they eat in transit; Naomi Novik must have something wrong in her head if she sees imaginary dinners this vividly, and she apparently thinks it's her duty to make sure we see every apple, veal strip and biscuit as clearly as she does. There's also a chapter about Temeraire learning how to climb on and off the ship deck to go for a swim. If that issue was a burning concern of yours in the first book, don't worry, it's covered here in detail. That's what this book actually is.

This is a breathtaking imposition on the reader's time. I hammered through only because of the good faith built up by the first book. Now, that is all spent. I don't know if I can bring myself to read the third. This is a couple of wonderful characters stranded in one of the very worst stories I've ever read, and without a doubt the most boring book I've ever read.

China has discovered that their celestial dragon has not gone to Napoleon, but was captured by England, bound to a common soldier and at risk regularly in warfare. They send a delegation to England to reclaim Temeraire and return him to China.

Temeraire, as always, is curious about China, meeting other celestial dragons and his mother. He does not like the idea of leaving all their dragon and human friends in England's Arial Corps. He will not even consider leaving without Laurence and most of his crew.

They are all packed off for a long ocean voyage to China. There is plenty of excitement, intrigue, illness and misunderstanding between the air corps, the naval crew and the delegation. Once in China, they find how the dragons are respected and wander the streets as they choose, interacting with the people. Not everything is wonderful though, and both Laurence and Temeraire are at risk. You will have to enjoy Throne of Jade to see how everything turns out.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again- I should never have ignored Mike the GM's recommendation about this book series. Rarely is the sequel as good as the first book, but in this case.....well, I shouldn't be surprised, given how amazing Naomi Novik is. Laurence and Temeraire's relationship continues, and gets more complicated, both from internal influences (Temeraire entering teenage hood, more or less, and Laurence being under real threat of losing him) and external (China).

I thought the handling of Chinese culture was well done, especially given the British-centric perspective, and how history actually played out with those two world powers. Novik's cultural differences in how each country treats its dragons continues to delight and intrigue me. And although there are very few full-scale dragon aerial battles in this book, the danger is nearly constant. Actually, the pacing as a whole is pretty constant, although there were moments things seemed to skip from resting action into battle action a bit abruptly.

I listened to this one on audiobook, and I'm going to continue the series that way. The narrator has a beautiful voice, and although his female voices are a bit put-upon, he does accents well and narrates so smoothly. Of course I continue to highly recommend this to fans of fantasy, historical fiction/historical fantasy, dragons, Great Britain in the 1700s, naval/aerial warfare, and interesting friendship dynamics.

Second in the Temeraire science fiction and alternate history series revolving around a former navy captain and his dragon, Temeraire.

It really needs to be a “7”!

My Take
The start of Throne of Jade will infuriate you!! You'd think the Chinese would have a better handle on a dragon's temperament when they go after Temeraire. As for Barham…hmph…what a dishonorable fool! Treating Temeraire as an animal! Demanding that Laurence lie! Ya gotta laugh even in your fury as Barham reveals even more what an idiot he is, that he has no idea that dragons are sentient, protective beings.

Which only makes me wonder why the Chinese allow Barham to do any of this???

It impresses me every time how beautifully Novik has created Temeraire's voice…

Oh, lord, that scene where Barham is trying to arrest Laurence and threatens to tie Temeraire down and Maximus gets curious about why Temeraire needs to be tied down. You will laugh and eagerly read as fast as you can to see what happens next.

I had thought the Chinese too arrogant for words, but then the ship's dinner came up. Oh. Boy. And it only gets worse. I did enjoy Laurence's defiance. The whole voyage will be a nasty battle of will, enticement, and insult with Hammond slowly revealing his true colors. There's also the battle with the sea dragon that finally rehabilitates Temeraire in the crew's eyes.

And, yes, worse continues when Temeraire and his crew reaches China proper, and it's only their reverence for Celestial dragons that keeps the men, sort of, safe.

China is an eyeopener for Laurence and Temeraire. The equality dragons enjoy in China, that dragons can write and conduct business, have jobs, create poetry, and purchase goods. You can imagine how excited this all makes Temeraire! Between these experiences and the encounter at sea, a number of philosophical discussions crop up between Temeraire and Laurence that force Laurence to re-think how dragons are viewed and what they suffer in western countries. Laurence's eyes are further opened by the classes of young dragons and how they are treated compared to those of the West.

No, I don't believe in that attack at the palace. There have been guards on Laurence and his crew, and all of a sudden they can't protect them? They disappear and the bad guys get access to them? No, that doesn't make any sense.

I certainly did not expect either ending! The accommodation that makes everything all right and the choice Temeraire makes. Oh, yeah…now I can't wait to read Black Powder War !

The Story
Such a lowly soldier cannot possibly be partnered with such a distinguished breed as Temeraire, but Temeraire doesn't see it that way, and his attitude is quite at odds with Lord Barham's lack of discernment!

It takes a rebellious, belligerent Temeraire before the Chinese delegation is forced to acknowledge the truth of how they will return Lung Tien Xiang to China where they are confident that Temeraire will realize his true station in society.

Fortunately, or is it unfortunately?, Temeraire's crew is ordered to accompany him. It will certainly be safer for them after their almost mutiny.

The Characters
Captain Will Laurence is now in the Aerial Corps with Temeraire, a Chinese Celestial dragon with his divine wind, as his partner. Temeraire's proper Chinese name is Lung Tien Xiang. Lung Tien Qian is his mother. Lung Qin Gao is an Imperial dragon and Temeraire's father. Gao's companion is a prince of the third rank. Lord Allendale is Laurence's disapproving father.

The Admiralty in London
Lord Barham is the officious idiot who is First Lord of the Admiralty.

The Aerial Corps is composed of…
…men and dragons partnered into squadrons. Admiral Powys is there in London. The supportive Admiral Lenton hasn't broken up Laurence and Temeraire's crew, which includes Lieutenant John Granby who is refusing any new post. Willoughby and Porter are harness-men; Harley is an ensign; Second Lieutenant Evans; Lieutenant Riggs; Johnson and Miggsy are bellmen; the twelve-year-old Allen, Quarle, and Martin are wingmen; Calloway; Therrowes; Lieutenant Ferris is captain of the topmen who include Croyn, Portis, and Macdonaugh; Digby is the forward lookout; young Emily Roland, Morgan , and Dyer are cadet runners; Dunne is one of the riflemen; Blythe is the armorer's mate; and, Keynes is Temeraire's dragon surgeon with Baylesworth as one of his aides.

Captain Chenery and Dulcia and Nitidus partnered with Captain Warren are part of Laurence and Temeraire's formation along with Sutton on Messoria and Immortalis. Berkeley is partnered with Maximus, a Regal Copper, who has had a growth spurt.

Captain Jane Roland is partnered with Excidium and is Emily's mother. Sanders is her new first lieutenant. Lloyd is to be put to Obversaria's egg — she's the flag dragon, an Anglewing, partnered with Admiral Lenton. Captain Harcourt and Lily are doing much better. Volly is a Greyling courier with Captain Langford James as his partner.

Patson is the gatekeeper at the London covert where the powers-that-be have put Temeraire. Jervis is overseeing Temeraire's care. Hollin (he'd been a leather worker on Temeraire's ground crew in His Majesty's Dragon , 1) and Elsie, a Winchester, are couriers.

The Allegiance is…
…the dragon transport that will return Temeraire and the Chinese delegation to China. One of Laurence's naval friends, stuck while Reliant is in dry dock, Captain Thomas Riley, will captain the Allegiance. Lord Purbeck is the first lieutenant Franks is the third lieutenant, and Beckett is another lieutenant. Tripp is the youngest midshipman. Garnett is the master. Macready is the Marine lieutenant and his men include Harris. More of the crew includes Jenkins, Harvey, the snotty Reynolds, Leddowes and Eklof are carpenters, Cornell, Sacker is a master's mate, Dyfydd, and Chervins.

China
Lung Li Po of the Tang Dynasty was a great poet. The Son of Heaven is the Qianlong Emperor. Lung Tien Chuan is Temeraire's older twin and the companion of the crown prince, Mianning. Lung Qin Mei is an Imperial female with whom Temeraire is, ahem, consorting. It's why he forgot the time. Miankai is a young boy whom Yongxing is trying to partner up with Temeraire. Zhao Wei is a functionary at court.

The dangerous De Guignes is the French envoy. His nephew is Lieutenant Jean-Claude De Guignes.

The Chinese delegation is…
…headed by His Imperial Highness Prince Yongxing, the emperor's brother. We will meet the white Celestial, Lung Tien Lien, who is considered unlucky but a great scholar and partnered with the prince. Sun Kai appears to be the prince's aide and is quite intelligent…and sneaky. Liu Bao is the older envoy open to new possibilities; he is related to the emperor's mother and is an official in the Manchu White Banner. Feng Li and Ye Bing are some of the prince's attendants. Li Honglin is quite adventurous aboard ship.

Arthur Hammond is the diplomat assigned to accompany Laurence and the Chinese delegation back to China. Some years ago, the English envoy to China, Lord Mccartney, had refused to perform the kowtow before the emperor and was forced out of China.

South Africa
General Baird is temporarily in command of Capetown.

Macao
Major Heretford is angry over the seizure of the East India Company's ships captained by Mestis, Holt, and Gregson. Sir George Staunton is the chief of the commissioners and very angry over Chinese treatment of the English.

The Dragons
The English dragons include Angelwings, Regal Coppers, Longwings, Greylings, Xenicas, and Winchesters.

There are very few Celestial dragons: Temeraire's mother and father; Lien who is with the prince, Grandfather, Chu, Chuan, Ming, and Zhi. They must breed with Imperials to become pregnant. The lower breed of Chinese dragons partner up with women and go into the army. The Emerald Glass are lazy and slow on their tests, and the Scarlet Flower like fighting too much.

The French dragons include the Flamme-de-Gloire, Papillon Noirs, and Fleur-de-Nuit. Accendare is a Flamme-de-Gloire and notorious for her fire.

Canada has its own breeds, including a Dakota. The kiao is a sea dragon.

The abolitionist, Lord Wilberforce, is one of Lord Allendale's political allies.

The Cover and Title
The cover is a a swirl of malachite greens with a white dragon curled around a pocket watch inset with the image of a Chinese temple. The title is an embossed gold at the top while the author's name is outlined in black at the bottom.

The title is the ultimate authority in China, the emperor, the Throne of Jade.

After discovering that Temeraire is a Celestial, the rarest and most prestigious of Chinese dragon breeds, Laurence and crew must make a political journey to China itself. I love an extended training montage; as such, this second book in the series lack the immediate appeal of the first. Its focus is politics and culture clash, sometimes in petty ways (which suit the historical setting, but still weary), but improving as themes develop and Chinese dragons are explored. The plot is unremarkable, but what I love about this series is the proactive way it engages the companion animal trope, and here it extends both its setting and purview to explore the social role of dragons across two cultures, while maintaining an emotional center in the relationship between Laurence and Temeraire. I may not have loved this as much as the first book, but I remain content with the series so far--it's a satisfying and increasingly thorough take on one of my favorite tropes.

Book 2 of the Temeraire series. Probably best read in order, but not a deal buster. I had to describe the series quickly today, and my title does it, though actually the books are far better than that summary! In this volume we find out a lot more about Temeraire's early life and his illustrious ancestors. There is some pretty terrifying action, and the great writing and wonderful characters continue. I am never sure if I'm more fond of Will Laurence or Temeraire himself.

Run get these books!

Small enjoyable fact: Temeraire was the name of a British fighting ship and is French for "intrepid." Which he certainly is.

(1) The Book Beginning:
Where? How? What? When? Why? Does the book start out by giving you information that you need to know

(2)The characters:
Are the characters believable?
Are their actions believable?

(3)Division of the book: how the chapters are divided? Is it kindle friendly?

(4) The flow: how the book flows from one chapter to another. Five: a smooth flow from chapter to chapter. Four; it has ripples. Three; has rapid in it. Two; it has a falls in it. One; it is Naval disaster.

(5) Cost of book: if you're reading this book on a kindle. The prices over $3.00 it is too much. the store.com will not like this. But being that this is an e-book, and not a real book $3.00 and under is a good price for them.

This is the second and a series of Temeraire. In this book I rate it, any three stars. The story line was good. But the author got carried away in the background, tried to describe everything which took away from the plot of the story. Once again I got this from my state library over the Internet. I had 21 days to read this book and it took me 18 it got to the point where I dread it to pick it up. There were a lot of characters in this book with little background knowledge of these characters. I think the best chapter in this book is the next to last chapter it deals with a little bit of action.

Kindle's price for his book is too high, as I said in the previous paragraph you can get this through your state library for free.

There are about four more books in a series. But I think I will stop here and read no more of the series. I'm afraid that they will continue to be dry and very hard to read

This book develops and advances the series' plot a great deal, but as a consequence, seems a bit of a let-down. Loads of cool stuff happens, but as much as the plot is developed and made more complex, the pay-off is in later books. Still great stuff.

As with all books in the series, the story mixes historical military fiction elements (Sharp's rifles, master and commander, etc.), adventure novel elements, and fantasy tropes. And it does so really well.

Ms. Novik clearly has a better understanding of this historical period than I do. One of her challenges (self-imposed, but righteous) was to include racial minorities, women, etc. in a meaningful way into a narrative set in a historical period where they might otherwise be invisible or absent. She does so with consummate skill, naturally, and in a manner which enhances her storytelling rather than drawing attention to their presence for the sake of being present.

Great stuff, highly recommended.

Most of the book was spent crossing the ocean to get to China. There were chapters where things happened to keep my interest such as murder attempts, or attempts to separate Laurence from Temeraire But on the whole the book built up to Temeraire finding that he can be more than a tool used by the British in their war against France. He discovers that dragons in China are not treated as animals as they are in Britain and it rankles him.
The end of the book was the most interesting as the action picked up and the relationship between Temeraire and Laurence was strengthened through adversity.
The slowness of the book by no means caused me to want to stop reading the series. I have already downloaded the next book in the series and am anxious to continue the journey with these two amazing characters.

Back in March I read the first two books in the Temeraire series very close together. In fact I had barely finished the first one before I started the second one and I was so surprised that I did that because I don't do it very often.

When I first started Throne of Jade I was both excited and nervous. I was excited because I had loved the first book so much and I was nervous because I loved it so much and wanted it to keep up the momentum which can sometimes drop off when it comes to a second book in a series but I was so relieved to see that this wasn't the case with this novel at all.

This novel follows the growing juvenile dragon Temeraire and his keeper Captain Laurence as they travel by sea back to China the so-called rightful homeland as per request of both the Chinese and British Governments. Full of deception, heartbreak, joy, betrayal and of course copious amounts of adventure the author's writing really came together in this one.

Throne of Jade was full of plot twists with political undercurrents that made it a very intriguing and consuming read. Poor Mr. Turning the Pages was neglected for the couple of days that I spent reading the first two books in this series and I think he grew rather tired of me talking about talking dragons, months long sea voyages and battles with sea creatures. Throne of Jade was just one of those books that I had to talk about because it was so detailed and complex.

While I was pleased to see that the plot was so cohesive and detailed I was even more ecstatic to see that the characters of Will and Temeraire were growing and evolving so well. It was awesome to see their personalities coming out more and especially in the case of Temeraire as he along with Will were presented with some tough situations that have the potential to cause severe repercussions for not only the two of them but both the nations of England and China.

Overall, with all the new plot twists that were throne in, the story line was fantastic and I really enjoyed the descriptive way Naomi Novik described the scenes in her book especially when it came to China and the dragon's living there. It was a fantastic follow up to His Majesty's Dragon and I can't wait to read the third book in this fantastic series.

I would recommend this book to all those who read and enjoyed the first book in the series His Majesty's Dragon. If you haven't read the first book in the series I highly suggest doing so especially if you have a penchant for talking dragons, adventure, alternative history and well developed stories that are equally character and plot driven.

At the close of the first book in the "Temeraire" series, "His Majesty's Dragon," we learn that the title character is in fact one of the rarest and most valuable dragons in the world and was intended as a gift for Napoleon from the imperial family of China. The book closes with nervous speculation that the Chinese government may not be happy with their gift not reaching its intended destination. Book two, "Throne of Jade," opens with this threat coming true and Temeraire and his human companion Laurence must travel to China to fight for their future together.

The most common complaint I see about this novel is the sea voyage that takes up most of it. This is a legitimate complaint. Novik's depiction of life on a 17th century English frigate are vivid and fascinating, but it cannot mask the fact that, to put it bluntly, nothing happens. By the time the characters reach their destination, events are rushed, motives are glossed over and hand-waved away, and the mighty Chinese dragons we've been expecting to meet are as interesting as a cup of weak tea. It's like Novik really wanted to write a naval adventure in the tradition of Horatio Hornblower but felt obligated to tack on the Chinese subplot due to the tease at the end of the previous book.

All of this could be forgiven if not for the book's climax. It is an anti-climax at best and has absolutely no escalation of tension leading up to it. The Big Bad is revealed and overcome in literally a matter of paragraphs and it is impossible to believe that someone of such vast resources and intellect could be so consistently hasty and sloppy. What is intended to be an epic battle fails miserably as our heroes are not pitted directly against the Big Bad, but against a proxy adversary whom we have come to neither love nor fear.

There are good parts to this book. Temeraire's awakening to the reality of his and his fellow English dragons' situation in comparison to the dragons of the rest of the world is beautifully handled, and Laurence's fears of abandonment are poignant and realistic. The description of the sea journey and its occasional perils does keep the reader's attention and makes a boring journey bearable.

I give "Throne of Jade" three stars because I didn't hate it. But "His Majesty's Dragon" was a page-turner and this simply isn't. If you don't mind books about leisurely ocean cruises then this one is bearable. But if you loved HMD and are coming back for more swashbuckling, rip-roaring, dragon-riding action then you'll probably want to grit your teeth, skim through this one, and hope that things pick up again in book three.

Overall I thought the book was good, but it suffered from some pacing issues. That seems to be a typical flaw in the series, though. It's a bit slow, and would probably seem downright bogged down with a slower reader. While part of that can be written off as embodying the monotony of sea travel and tense diplomacy, that explanation can only extend so far.

However, the action was quite well written, the intrigue was interesting and engaging, and the ultimate resolution was a bit surprising, which is always nice.

Another common flaw in the series seems to be the rapid denouement to wrap things up. I like to read a more protracted resolution, not a quick tying up of knots and moving to the close. I suppose that's more of a personal preference, but with the slow pacing throughout, the fast resolution seems like a bit of a cop out.

I especially liked anything with Prince Yongxing. He was a mysterious character from the start, and as a reader I couldn't decide whether to feel any sympathy for him or not. The reader is masterfully kept in the dark the same as the characters are, not knowing who is behind what plots, and not being able to accurately ferret out what will happen to Temeraire in the end. I do think that the author would have been wise to include a little bit more reader omniscience when the party was in China--while keeping the reader in the same state as Lawrence worked, I think that the pacing would have been easier to bear with a little bit more knowledge.

The final showdown and how it all happened was fun and worthwhile, though some aspects of it seemed forced. [**SPOILER**]Keeping both dragons from using the divine wind seemed a bit contrived, there didn't seem to be any reason for Tien to be markedly faster than Temeraire, as she wouldn't have ever trained to fight that way, and I think the prince would have been more grateful to Lawrence for saving his life, but we didn't see any of that.[**SPOILER**]

Never before have I encountered a marvelous fantasy tale that blends together both exquisite historical details with an exciting pirate `feel', akin to Pirates of the Caribbean versus Bernard Cornwell. Naomi Novik writes like Robin Hobb or Stephen King; with such extensive knowledge of her creation and spectacular world-building. Assured and accomplished this impressive novel is highly believable, compelling and a thoroughly engaging read that takes your breath away - literally! This is also the kind of story which similarly to "The chronicles of Narnia by C S Lewis", it appeals to all ages from the younger reader to the adult reader.

`Temeraire: Throne of Jade" is an exceptional debut novel, full of inspired creativity and fresh ideas within a popular and highly competitive genre. From the lush cover of this beautiful book, with the map, to the thrilling fast-paced action and intense drama this is something truly special and noteworthy. I have been on many great quests that span from the vastness of Middle-Earth to the brilliance of the Northern Lights, and yet never have I encountered so much danger and remarkable happenings as when I plunged into this book. History takes flight in this deliciously addictive story, which skillfully layers the history of the Napoleonic war with breathtaking imagination.

The battle for Europe rages upon land and sea...and in the skies. Squadrons of aviators rain fiery death upon their enemies, but the destruction is not caused by gunpowder alone - it comes from the very guts of the beasts they are flying Dragons. Temeraire is a Chinese Celestial Dragon, the most highly-prized of all the draconic breeds; famed for their intelligence, agility and most of all for the Divine Wind - their terrible roar capable of shattering the heavy timbers of war ships and devastating vast swathes of infantry.

Appealing to readers who enjoy historical novels and are interested in Napoleon, this singular novel is quite distinctive and truly wonderful. Reminiscent of Chris Evans `Iron Elves' trilogy, I just loved how the author brought together fighting military with a fire-breathing twist that was so unexpected and astonishingly original.

I loved this book! This is a great continuation of the Temeraire series, exactly like the Patrick O'Brian Napolean seafaring novels - but with dragons! The adventure continues, with British diplomatic relations with China at an all-time low. The Chinese are angry over the mishandling of the dragon egg they'd meant for Napoleon - now fully hatched, Temeraire refuses to be separated from his human companion Wil Laurence. Finally, it's agreed that they'll take an ocean journey to China.

A sea battle with the French, a rough storm, and an attack by a wild sea serpent are a few of the adventures that the crew survives on the long (over half a year) ocean voyage East. Lots of descriptions of all their meals as well, both at sea and in China.

Much to Laurence's surprise, China is a very civilized and enlightened place, where dragons and humans live together peaceably, and where Temeraire is considered part of the Imperial Family. The Chinese officials are eager to drive a wedge between Laurence and his dragon, enticing the bookish Temeraire with poetry as well as opportunities to meet his dragon family, and threatening Laurence with several assassination attempts. Intrigue in the royal court finally comes to light - it seems that Temeraire's position as the twin brother of another dragon has created some instability in the line of human succession for the throne.

Ultimately, everything works out and a return to England for Temeraire and Laurence is planned. Why on Earth would Temeraire leave such a wonderful place? Because he misses his friends in England, of course. And he's a bit more adventurous - while he enjoys the opportunities to study, he misses going to battle as well. Temeraire plans on returning to England to reform the way dragons are treated there - a task he naively assumes will be easy, but his handler Laurence knows will be challenging. Things are never boring with Temeraire around!

This book delivered exactly what I wanted: dragons and more of them.

I loved the first in the series, as it was fresh, and yet reminded me of old favorites, Anne McCaffrey"s Dragonflight series and the social shipboard niceties of Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander series. This has all the faults of a rushed sequel in response to the success of the first. Badly researched, and without depth of plot and character. I lost interest in the first battle scene. Novik does not know a sailing ship from a Sheltie. The technical errors were horrible. She needs to go back to the O'Brian series, read a couple of Hornblowers, and read Mansfield's and Lavery's books about life in the RN at the time. I won't be reading any more. Pity.

After the action in "His Majesty's Dragon", this follow up novel represents a marked change of pace. After helping to block Napoleon's invasion of Great Britain and revealing Temeraire's identity as a rare Celestial dragon, Laurence and his partner now find themselves at the center of a brewing diplomatic dispute between the British and Chinese. When it appears that the British are prepared to surrender Temeraire to the Chinese, Laurence finds himself embarking on the long sea journey to the Far East to negotiate for their future at the Chinese Imperial Court.

The pacing of this story reflects the monotony of such a long sea voyage during this time period, as well as the glacial pace of diplomatic negotiations. As a result, this book doesn't grip the reader's attention quite as firmly as the first novel, but it does manage to provide a great deal of character development and does a great deal more to define the dragons as characters in their own right, especially in China, where they are a much more integral part of society. This makes the book worth reading as a companion piece, but I suspect that it would be difficult for a reader that picked this book up first to find the story sufficiently compelling to finish.

As a huge fan of ancient Chinese history and growing up on a steady diet of Chinese movies with their fascinating tales of court intrigues, I had looked forward to the Throne of Jade anticipating a fascinating insight into this ancient civilization from the perspective of a Westerner. Alas, unlike His Majesty's Dragon with its interesting cast of characters and their development, as well as the fascinating battle scenes, this second book is a MAJOR letdown.

I agree with others who commented that the really really boring boat ride is just ridiculous. I was almost interested again when they finally reached China (last 1/3 of the book), only to be let down by the poorly researched attempt at capturing the splendor and cultural sophistication of the Chinese. The descriptions of the cities, architecture, and culture hardly engages me and I felt like the author merely slapped on a few details without helping the reader visualize the richness of the environment. The Chinese characters truly are 1 dimensional and the plot, while decent enough, is hardly imaginative.

I've downloaded the rest of the books in the series onto my ebook reader, but I'm not so sure now, I want to go on to the next book. Unlike HMD, when I immediately jumped to the sequel, the TOJ leaves a rather hollow feeling.

One of the things I enjoy most about reading is getting the sense that time is just pausing and that everything around you - the noise and chaos just falls away. Then, when you are deepest into the story and your imagination is filled with the incredible things being described and you can hear the voices of the characters and the sounds of the cities or oceans or landscapes they are in... the author drops a simple little comical thing that tips everything over the edge and you end up laughing hysterically because that is life.

Throne of Jade is the journey of Temeraire the dragon and Captain Laurence to China. Temeraire is a special breed of dragon, a dragon given only to Emperors and their descendents, yet this lowly Captain, originally of His Majesty's Naval Force, is the one Temeraire has chosen. The book begins with a trial and an attempt to separate these two personalities that feed off of each other.

Most of the story takes place on the sea with the fierce battles I've now come to expect of Novik and the fascinating historical descriptions. Everything is treated so carefully that sometimes I find myself wondering at how easy it would be to imagine Napoleon astride his own dragon, leading the French to war against England.

But in the midst of battle and death, of polities and intrigue there is heart, emotion and laughter. From a comical moment in which a man spits a fish out of his mouth during the heat of battle to Temeraire falling in love when it was.. most inopportune, I found myself smiling and feeling the release of the tension that had been building up and I was able to fall even more deeply into the story.

This was a beautifully written, well-paced story and I'm very much looking forward to book 3.

I somehow expected a different second novel. I thought we’d learn about how Lawrence managed to use his navy skills to integrate dragons on ships. I was expecting a tactical novel. Instead it was an interminable boat voyage followed by time in China. Interesting and novel to a point, but not up to par with the first book

At the climax of her debut novel, Naomi Novik revealed that the dragon Temeraire was the rarest kind in the world -- a Chinese Celestial.

But the discovery of the dragon's true nature comes with some pretty nasty problems attached, as William Laurence discovers in "Throne of Jade." While this book -- which is about 75% travel-by-sea -- could have been a boring slog of traveling details, Novik instead infuses it with political and cultural clashes, a creepy conspiracy on Chinese shores, and a haughty prince determined to separate Temeraire from his rider.

With the discovery of Temeraire's breed, the haughty Prince Yongxing demands that Temeraire be returned to the Imperial family -- and the bowing-scraping-groveling diplomats are inclined to obey him. But Temeraire and Laurence are having none of that. And when they can't tempt away Temeraire, both dragon and rider are sent to China on a very large boat, along with the prince and his entourage, in hopes that they can sort out the mess.

Unfortunately it's not a boring trip for Laurence, who has to dodge assassinations, storms, and the prince's ongoing quest to lure away Temeraire away from his rider. And China turns out to be no less dangerous as Laurence learns the reason that Temeraire's egg was sent to Napoleon, and the malevolent prince's true plans -- to get power for himself, using Temeraire as a pawn.

Jewel-encrusted dragons wander through gardens, streets and palaces, Englishmen wander into the ornate lands of the East, and a silent political struggle rages with Temeraire in the center. Having explored a dragon-augmented England in her debut, Naomi Novik refocuses her attention on China in "Throne of Jade." Consider Laurence a stranger in a strange land.

Most of the story is spent on a boat, which admittedly sounds boring. But Novik's intricate writing and plot twists keeps things interesting, along with her nimble sense of humour (such as Temeraire asking where human babies come from). Lots of culture clashes between the Chinese entourage and English crew, and Laurence's constant tug-of-war with Yongxing over the naive Temeraire.

And her formal style really blossoms when they get to China, lovingly describing everything from beautiful gardens to the ghostly albino Celestial. After the slow-building journey, the plot really blossoms when the ship gets to China. The conspiracies and secrets are finally figured out, and the string of assassinations and plots climaxes with a disastrous attempt at a coup.

Laurence spends this book haunted by the possibility of being separated from Temeraire, and especially worrying about Yongxing seducing him into a culture that literally worships the Celestials. Temeraire also continues to grow, learning voraciously (and developing a taste for Chinese food) while remaining steadfastly loyal to his beloved Laurence.

And there's colourful string of supporting characters: the sneering prince and his kindly brother, the toadying diplomats, and even the Celestial relatives of Temeraire's. One of them turns out to be quite a surprise.

"Throne of Jade" is an excellent follow-up to Novik's brilliant tale of draconic warfare, and a journey across Asia is no less interesting.

Throne of Jade is the second installment in the story of Temeraire the dragon and his human handler/companion - Will Laurence. This one takes up where "His Majesty's Dragon" left off and we find the pair involved in the defense of the British homeland from the nefarious machinations of Napoleon. The nice thing about this series is the way it melds the historical realities of the time period with the effects of the Dragons and their folks on the events it depicts.

Temeraire is celebrating his first year. He is a very precocious dragon and throughout the book he starts looking around at the way things are and is starting to ask questions. Being a very intelligent being, he is unhappy about some of the things he observes and questions Laurence about them. Laurence tries his best to answer him, but he is somewhat inadequate for the task since he is a "properly" brought up English Gentleman. For instance, in the matter of females serving in military organizations, Laurence is still scandalized about the presence of women Captains in the Air Corps and even more so about the presence of young girls being trained as Midshipmen. He is brought up very short when Temeraire points out to him that there is no similar distinction made about the Dragons - females fight just as fiercely and intently as the males. Laurence's shallow rejoinder is that it is only because some breeds of dragons will only allow female handlers that created that situation.

A major focus of the book is that a Chinese embassy has arrived in London and is requiring - nay demanding! - that Temeraire be returned to China. Since England captured him as a prize off of a French Frigate, Laurence does not support this move. However, the English government would rather have the Chinese not join Napoleon in a war against them so they are more than willing to send Temeraire to China. There is a major problem here that I will address at the end of the review, but for now, let's ignore it.

The Dragon, his handler, and the complete Chinese retinue is sent off via a specially outfitted ship and most of the book is dedicated to a description of the voyage. Of course, the ship is set upon by a patrol of French ships and Dragons that are much more than the ship and Temeraire can handle, and of course, Temeraire's Dragon friends just happened to be in the vicinity to rescue them. Then, of course, the last Typhoon of the season hinders their passage. What is not so expected is the appearance of a water serpent of such size that it threatens to capsize the whole ship. Temeraire ends up killing it, but he notices that it was treated poorly from the beginning and immediately shot at, and he questions Laurence about why a water serpent is treated as a beast right away?

Temeraire also observes slavery first hand and, when they get to China, his eyes are really opened as the Chinese treat their dragons completely differently than the English and Europeans. Dragons are treated as citizens and are subject to the same rules and regulations down to the ability of Dragons to read and write, and even earn and spend money with the merchants for fulfilling their wants. As if this is not enough, the Chinese cities feature broad roads that are very straight and islands full of servants and comforts to allow the dragons a very comfortable life. All of this is in very stark contrast to the European ways and Temeraire brings that up to Laurence's attention and the two discuss these in some depth.

Another storyline that is intertwined throughout is the Chinese mandarin's attempts to separate Laurence from Temeraire. All kinds of ploys are attempted - from the obvious ones that include seducing Temeraire with food, company, and mental stimulation, to several attempts made to kill Laurence when it becomes obvious that the two will not be separated. The climactic battle in this book comes when Temeraire and one of his cousins end up in a major fight - almost to the death because of the attempts of the Chinese to kill off Laurence. This fight ends when the Chinese man ends up being killed and we find out that the whole time there was an ulterior motive and storyline behind the events. This alternative story does not become obvious until the very end and this plot twist puts all the events that occurred in a different light.

The book is exciting, written so that it grabs and holds your attention, and keeps you reading whether you are interested in Napoleonic battles (naval or land-based), the fantasy elements of having Dragons in your armies, or are content to enjoy the development of the Dragons and the appearance of a completely different viewpoint of Dragons - as represented by the Chinese.

My main disappointment in the book, and the reason I took one star off, is that the timeline is all akimbo. We are repeatedly told that it takes between eight months and a year to make the trip from London to Beijing. Indeed, it takes Temeraire and his folks eight months to get to Canton alone. However, even though scarcely one year passes after his birth, a Chinese embassy including a Prince is in London demanding his return. The math simply does not add up!

I finished up Throne of Jade audiobook version a few days ago and have just started Black Powder War. I am definitely a Naomi Novik fan now. The Temeraire series is turning out to be fun - and addicting!

One thing I think may be useful for newcomers to Novik is - at least with the three books I am familiar with - she is all about the "journey," not necessarily the "destination."

It's something to keep in mind since other alternative history/fantasy books can be heavily action-laden in scene after scene, leading up to a huge denouement. Not so much Novik - she is more character-development driven, allowing us to get to know more and more about the people and dragons she writes about, taking us on a journey with each book. Yes, she leads us to a conclusion with questions as to what will happen next, but at least for me, the journey to that conclusion is what makes her books so enjoyable.

Naomi Novik resisted a strong temptation to do in her second volume in the "Temeraire" series what has plagued so many great first books and movies in recent years. As explained by the doomed film geek in "Scream 2," sequels are by definition inferior products, merely being more of the same with a higher body count and more explosive action sequences.

Novik shuns this practice with "Throne of Jade," which expands upon the themes of "His Majesty's Dragon" and, more enjoyably, further explores this alternate Napoleonic world populated by dragons as well as men. Fresh off the triumphant defeat of Napoleon's invasion in "His Majesty's Dragon," Laurence and Temeraire find themselves embroiled in a global political crisis. China, ancestral home to dragons and Temeraire, demands Britain return Temeraire to his homeland - Temeraire was intended for Napoleon, not some lowly captain such as Laurence.

So, with heavy hearts and deep suspicions, Laurence and Temeraire are carted off on the Allegiance, a monstrous dragon-transport, for a trip to the Middle Kingdom. Along the way, we explore the history of dragons, Temeraire's place in that world, and the complex political intrigues that comprise daily life among the Chinese nobility.

While there are a few action scenes of note - look for a titanic sea battle with an ocean-going dragon - "Throne of Jade" is more about the characters involved. Laurence and Temeraire experience the first real test of their relationship, and the tests keep coming from unexpected sources.

Through it all, Novik writes with her usual period-appropriate prose style, neither high-blown nor prosaic. While Novik makes no pretensions to being a literary artist like Cormac McCarthy or Nick Tosches, she is an enjoyable writer who has "done her research" in her alternate world. The joys of this series come from her great characters and her casual explanation of this dragon-blessed alternate universe.

Definitely a "second novel" in a series, do not pick up "Throne of Jade" until you've read "His Majesty's Dragon." Once you've done that, you won't be able to help yourself.

I was a little apprehensive when I learned early on that Lawrence and Temeraire would be leaving behind all the characters and the aerial corps they knew to go to China. Especially knowing it would be a long boat trip there.

I had no need to worry as this book was full of political intrigue, gorgeous settings, a big mystery, new and interesting characters (including many dragons) and a deepening of the emotional bond between Lawrence and Temeraire. (I mean really emotional. I was crying multiple times in this book.) I loved learning of the different dragon culture in China. It questioned everything that Temeraire has come to know about being a dragon, while making Lawrence wonder if England really is that humane to dragons. They both developed in this book. I got to know them better, which is always what I love about series.

I have to say I liked this book even better than the first one. The first one was fantastic, but it was a lot of set-up. This one starts quick, and while there is a long boat trip with little action, it's full of interesting characters, and lots of great interactions between them all, not to mention storms and sea creatures aboard the boat.

I can't recommend this series enough, though I try to tell everyone I talk to how great it is!

Throne of Jade is the second novel in the Temeraire Series, currently at five novels. Set during the Napoleonic Wars (with dragons providing each country an air force), the Temeraire Series follows Captain Will Laurence and his dragon Temeraire, a powerful dragon of Chinese origin captured from the French as an egg.

Throne of Jade picks up shortly past where His Majesty's Dragon ends. The Chinese emperor is demanding Temeraire back, so he and Laurence must travel to China. The entire sequence leading to their departure left me more than a bit incredulous, but it gets better. The ship ride over is a cauldron of conflict. The Chinese do not trust the English and vice versa. Even amongst the English, there is animosity between the aviators and the sailors. We are taken far away from the action on the Continent but introduced to a remarkable new world.

Throne of Jade is again short on action (at least in the sense of actual battle), but the political tensions make up for it and the action sequences themselves are much improved from His Majesty's Dragon.

I thuroughly enjoyed In His Majesty's Service, and in the process came to love Naomi Novik's characters. I have always been interested in history and an avid fantasy reader. Novik marry's the two quite well...creating a seamless alternate history of the Napoleonic Wars. She has a knack for creating characters who live and breath, and you just want to be friends with; dragons included.

Sad to say, I think this attribute more than anything caries the second book. I liked it. I like some intrigue and politics, so a new take on Chinese culture and relations during this time was interesting to me. But the story lags greatly, as 4/5ths of the book are spent aboard the dragon transport. Some assassination attempts, storms and sea serpents help to carry things along, but overall the voyage is a bit on the dull side.

Once they reach China, however, Throne of Jade, really finds itself. Looking at Chinese culture through the lens of draconic existance was facinating and pulled off flawlessly. These last hundred or so pages are very strong. Relatively light on the action, but more heavy on the intrigue.

Still...it's Temeraire, so it will still enthrall and evoke some smiles...and in my case some saliva. Beware the food descriptions, especially for the Chinese New Year, they sound very good if you're reading on an empty stomach!

Naomi Novik, Throne of Jade (Del Rey, 2006)

Novik's Temeraire series (previously just a trilogy, but a fourth book came out on September 25, 2007) keeps going full-steam here, managing to avoid the middle-book doldrums entirely. Pretty amazing for a first-time writer attacking a fantasy epic, and all the more impressive for it.

In this episode, the Chinese have discovered that the English have captured Temeraire's egg, and they've sent a delegation headed up by the Emperor's second son to try and retrieve Temeraire himself. No one's happy with the compromise: Temeraire will head for China (which angers the English) with Laurence and the crew in tow (which angers the Chinese), the sole dragon on a transport that has to go all the way around Africa and up to China (which pretty much angers the entire Navy). At least Riley, Laurence's second from his final days in the Navy, gets the command... which should ease things, really, but it doesn't. And the journey is just the beginning of their troubles.

Novik knows how to write a swashbuckling tale, and this one's just as good as His Majesty's Dragon. As with that one, this is readable to the point where I finished it in a single day, something of a rarity for me (I usually switch off between four or five books and finish all of them in about a week's time). If you enjoyed the first one, you'll get just as much of a kick out of this one. ****

Throne of Jade is the sequel to His Majesty's Dragon and the second book of Novik's Temeraire trilogy. This book isn't as stellar as its precursor but it still manages to capture the magic and intrigue born out of the first book.

The story picks up where His Majesty's Dragon left off. China wants Temeraire back and that is really all you should know going into the novel. Again the characters continue to grow and the action sequences are breathtaking and intense for the literary medium. It's interesting to see Temeraire change as he gets older and I like how Novik used Termeraire to tackle social issues within the story. This adds a sense of gravitas and importance to Temeraire to go along with his role as an extremely rare Celestial dragon.

Throne of Jade's plot is perhaps it's biggest deterrent as it is extremely limiting in locale and Novik missteps a bit with the pacing. I'm primarily referring to a boat trip and what perhaps should have been a 50 page section ends up taking 75 percent of the novel. I think the initial novelty of the dragon culture wore off at the climax of the first novel and Novik was stuck with some hard choices to make regarding the direction of Jade Throne.

Bottom Line: Overall a very enjoyable sequel appropriate for all ages. Should not be read without reading the first book in the series.

Still love the relationship between the dragon and the protagonist. They make this story. Temeraire the dragon continues to grow and change.

Much of the novel takes place on a ship to China, a while many things happen on the trip, much of the story is driven by the interaction of the people on the boat. Admittedly, I enjoy stories where people are contained, and much of the tension comes from their relationships and exchanges, so this was right up my alley.

Once they get to China, the action increases dramatically, nicely offset by the intensely different culture of China as compared to Regency Britain.

Looking forward to the next in the series.

Second in the Temeraire trilogy, this story begins shortly after the events in the preceding novel, His Majesty's Dragon. Novik again captures the period perfectly, seamlessly introducing her dragons into the Napoleanic Era.

Temeraire is a Celestial dragon, the most highly-prized of all draconian breeds; famed for their intelligence, agility, and most of all for the Divine Wind--their earth-shattering roar capable of sundering the heavy timbers of warships. He was meant to be the companion of Napolean himself, not to be a companion for a mere English officer.

The Chinese are very angry, and demand his return, forcibly separating him from Captain Laurence. Temeraire balks at the separation, and in a show of power, demolishes the building in which he is being held. In the end it is decided that Laurence will accompany him to China, where it is assumed that Temeraire will come to his senses.

On the journey, several attempts are made on Laurence's life to no avail. The plotting and machinations only become worse once they arrive in China as the Chinese use means both fair and foul try to come between Laurence and his dragon. Eventually a resolution is achieved that allows the pair to remain together formally.

Temeraire is astonished to find that dragons are honored members of society in China, earning their own money, and taught literacy. Being of a philosophical bent, this encourages him to speak out against the injustice done to the dragons of England much to Laurence's chagrin, as Laurence can't deny the inequity, even though Laurence is afraid that attempts at change will be futile.

Having discovered how much nicer life is in China for dragons, will Temeraire willingly return to England?

This episode has less focus on combat than the first, but still manages to provide enough action to be exciting. It also deepens and develops the relationship between Capt.

Laurence and Temeraire, adding depth and yet another dimension to the story.

Armchair Interviews says: Novik has written another highly character-driven novel, which keeps the pages turning as the reader has to discover what will happen next.

Throne of Jade is the second book in The Temeraire series by Naomi Novik which centers around the adventures of a dragon fighting in the Napoleonic Wars. In the first book of the series, His Majesty's Dragon, we were introduced to Temeraire, a just hatched rare dragon won from a French frigate by captain Laurence in the service of the Crown. Laurence is forced to join the dragon aerial corps as Temeraire has chosen him as his handler, and dragon's being very precious during wartime as powerful assets against Napoleon's own dragon and ship fleets. Temeraire undergoes great growth, both physically and affectionately, for Laurence which the captain also reciprocates, during their months of training and the hard fought battles afterwards, all leading to a decisive victory over the English Channel. The first book is very well rounded and intriguing, with endearing characters, realism yet wit, cohesiveness, and ties everything nicely and coherently as it should have.

Now to the Throne of Jade, which is the main subject of this review. There are many fans who will continue reading the series in spite of this book, because of the momentum established by the first. As objectively as I can see it, this book was clearly a rush job of some sort. There are many instances of run-ons, confusing punctuation, nonsensical sentences, repeating words next to each other, etc. that scream poor editing that the first book did not exhibit. These are just the small worries.

SPOILER ALERT

The larger issues are the many plot holes, complete omissions, disjointed and scatterbrained writing, lack of character development, and long periods of dragging and nothingness that plague the book. The biggest peeve that "rankled" me throughout the book was how the battle with the French convoy was completely cut short, with no details whatsoever about the second half nor Laurence even bothering to ask what had happened, making it seem almost inconsequential.

Then there was the atrociously long boat ride on the Allegiance that took nearly 75% of the book, that other reviewers have complained about. Beyond the handful of main characters constantly brooding and being in dismay, none of which seem to be lasting or of any consequence, the political interactions between them and the Chinese envoys make up much of the rest and are as interesting as watching paint dry, with no side yielding and no new revelations. The Chinese envoys themselves are emotionless and are one dimensional to a T. Laurence's inner dialogue and mind seems to lack any permanence throughout, like a goldfish or a dumb child, and is constantly baffled by the slightest things, seemingly devoid of any intelligent thought processes.

Once finally reaching China, many of the details of the country as well as the social hierarchy, the influence of dragons, and any semblance of order is sloppily and confusingly handled, or not well thought out. Temeraire's standing among the Chinese is unclear, whether he is a guest, or a member of the royal family, or what part of the social structure he inhabits, or why the Chinese even brought him here if they do not worship him like royalty but were so adamant to bring him back when they have no purpose for him once he arrives. The same can be said about the other imperial dragons, what status they hold, or even the princes themselves, as there is no order. Everyone is just running amok with no one in charge, doing as they please, with the allegedly hated foreigners running amok with them as well. It is unrealistically lax, with women running amok naked, vendor's not prostrating themselves to give their wares to a mighty Celestial, thugs running onto imperial grounds when they should be guarded at all times, many servants seeming too casual and not fearing for their life or the Chinese guillotine, all of which is like the author never bothered to research and is just forming her own machinations from bits and pieces of hearsay.

The book still, drags on for months within China as they sit idly waiting for the Emperor. There is one final battle that Laurence participates in, that pops out of nowhere and seems to serve no purpose as the mastermind would only have everything to lose from it and the book itself constantly discredits its merits. The battle is wholly fantasy, a dozen men trapped in one building against a gang of several hundred, with hundreds of the enemy dead afterward and only one British casualty, this battle lasting an entire night. The realism that Novik tries to portray so far throughout is destroyed in this one scene, not that it wasn't festering prior. Temeraire in a fit of rage kills the villain and his accomplices solely from suspicion, and the only insight we get to the true scheme, however unelaborate it may be, is the few conjectures that Hammond makes along with un-damning testimony by the younger prince, none of which make remotely a strong case nor does it seem there is really any sort of court or governing body or hierarchy when the three princes themselves seem only peripheral and whatever officials that will determine their innocence or their ability to establish an embassy is never mentioned. Laurence is adopted by the Emperor so easily as well. Apparently the entire Chinese court is as gullible as a dog waiting for some beggin strips or some pepperoni treats.

The imperial dragon family are barely glossed over, none seeming to have any personality. The short fight between Temeraire and Lien is also very contradictory. An albino female dragon, coddled since birth with no military training or experience, is able to make the first strike against Temeraire, as well as exceed him in speed and agility, while having naturally poor sight from her albinism. Ridiculous. The most grating is the end. When Temeraire gives an unconvincingly short speech for his reason to leave China, saying he wants to change the way dragons are treated in Britain. Not only have they never mentioned any strong bond between him and the dragons at home beyond vague comraderie, but Temeraire has been thoroughly one-track minded and selfish through the entire book, so why he suddenly cares about the others back in England makes no sense. He also so easily shoves off his affections for his mother, or even Mei, his first love, as if it was all inconsequential, and nonchalantly decides to go back.

I would also like to emphasize the scatterbrained and incomplete feeling every segment of the book feels, full of lost details, ambiguity, and curtailing. This book was a big disappointment, but I forced myself to endure it anyway, for what little interesting details it may have had, as well as it being Temeraire and the interesting premise. Hopefully the next book will be head and shoulders better.

If you've not read Namoi Novic's Temeraire series you've missed!! She writes so well and these dragons are not like any other dragons ever created....you'll want to start with the first book...they do stand alone but I can't imagine not starting at the beginning and following these amazing characters through each stage of their lives...Termeraire is one surprise after another and Will is perfect as his partner...though you will be in love with the dragons not not humans...LOL...sorry humans this time the dragons are the stars and they shine...each one of the dragons are well developed characters as are each of the human partners...these stories are all set during the Nepolenanic Wars and if you don't know that history you'll be running to find reference books about that too!! This story has Termeraire returning to his homeland and Will is a bit alone and sad while Temeraire learns his own culture and finds his own kind...lots of action and plenty of interaction with new and old friends and these characters will become your friends...as all great fantastic stories are this one leaves you wanting more and more...and Namoi Novic gives us more....so far each and every book has been wonderful...if you like fantastic stories these are for you!!

I really enjoyed the first book, but found myself really sludging through this one. I don't need a lot of action to stay interested, but there is not much going on in this book other than their day to day activities. Eating, sleeping, swimming, trying to communicate with people in various ways, staring at sky while stuck on a boat for several months, possible scheming going on but no one seems to really care...I could keep going with this list but I've probably bored you already, much like this book to me while reading it.

But, in spite of all that, I still have enough interest in this series to keep going, so the book is not a failure, just terribly dull.

...we just didn't know it until Naomi Novik's trilogy came out. What a terrific book. I listened to this story as a book on tape, and was so enthralled by both the story and by narrator Simon Vance's characterizations of Laurence and Temeraire that I found myself taking the long route for my daily school commute just so I could hear more of the story each day.

Novik's grasp of details for the world of the Napoleonic era is a delight. She seems equally at ease describing scenes in Macao and China as in England and France. Those details form a solid foundation from which to launch the story of a former British naval officer and his dragon. The theme of duty to one's country ties the story down in a way that feels real, even with the addition of dragons.

I won't cover the plot since other reviewers have done such a capable job of it; all I will say is that the characters live and breathe in this book. Kudos to Novik for creating such vividly imagined and realistic characters. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series so I can live in Temeraire's world a little longer.

The Throne of Jade is a worthy installment in a gripping series, but suffers in part from having to play a transitional role. The first novel introduced us to the major characters, and was centered around Laurence coming to embrace his role as companion to a dragon. The real "job" of this novel is to clarify who Temeraire really is and why he is so important, and to allow him to reach full maturity and a vision of his own "vocation" -- thereby setting the stage for whatever important things are going to happen with both of them in the third novel (which I haven't read yet). The problem is that most of that can only happen when they get to China, which isn't until nearly the third quarter of the novel. Up to that point there is much that is interesting and engaging (intrigue and the like, loyalties and friendship being tested, introduction of Temeraire to the cruel realities like slavery of the larger European world). It does, though, drag on a bit leaving the reader (at least this one) with the nagging question "are we there yet?" Some of the "bigger issues" Novik tries to introduce, seem a bit forced as well. Slavery, for example, is introduced in part to give Temeraire the opportunity to compare the plight of dragons with that of slaves -- but this issue figured more as a minor subplot as if Novik felt she shouldn't shy away from it but didn't really want to deal with it, since obviously she doesn't want to just treat it as a "fact" like so many of the nineteenth century novels that she emulates. The analogy Temeraire develops in his mind might have been stronger if he had actually been introduced to someone who was a slave and was in some way devoted to his master but at the same time had no choice. Perhaps if there had been some reason why a slave should have to accompany them on the voyage -- rather than simply make it a peripheral issue that illustrates political differences between Laurence (who doesn't like slavery but isn't actively involved in putting a stop to it) and Riley (whose family is heavily involved in the trade). All in all and in spite of such quibbles this is still a very satisfying novel, especially for its depiction of China and its thorough assimilation of dragons into the fabric of their culture (and for the ironic critique -- given its current communistic system -- Laurence makes of this China's market based approach to dragons: that if dragons are free and expected to earn their way then absurdly there are bound to be some that go hungry; especially Laurence's thought that it would be petty to point this out to Temeraire in order to mitigate his admiration for China, and Laurence's own inability to see the British treatment of people under the class system and under colonialism in similar terms). Not a stand alone success but a very nice transitional novel for those who are already invested in the characters.

The Chinese leadership is irate that not only does upstart Englishman Will Laurence bond until death with a rare Chinese Celestial Dragon Temeraire; he turned the intellectual dragon into a war beast of burden. Not wanting an incident with China as they already are at war with France, the British Admiralty Board acquiesces to the demands of Yongxing, brother to the Chinese Emperor and orders Will to separate from his soulmate. An irate Will refuses risking arrest and death. The English bureaucracy sees an escape for them without alienating the Chinese Emperor; they send Will and Temeraire to China for a final disposition.

On the treacherous sea voyage, monsters lurk, but to Will the most dangerous one is the sly Yongxing, who educates Temeraire on the life he missed as a venerated Celestial Dragon in the Forbidden City while teaching the dragon to speak and write Chinese. Will is perturbed by Yongxing's action, but can do little except trust his soulmate to stay with him. Yongxing also arranges for accidents to happen to Will for the Emperor's horrified brother believes the westerner mistreats this special dragon by using Temeraire in combat, but also sees the dragon as an opportunity to further his personal ambitions.

THRONE OF JADE is a great fantasy that complements the tremendous first novel, HIS MAJESTY'S DRAGON, as the story line cleverly explores human-dragon relationships and de jure and de facto inequality and injustice. Will and Temeraire debate the dragon lifestyle in England after seeing the abusive ugly slave trade on the West African coast and compare England to China where dragons reside freely in towns. Even Will begins to reassess whether his mate would be better off in China where Celestial Dragons are revered and other dragons treated with respect as equals. This cerebral emotional theme enhances a powerful action-packed tale in exotic locations.

Harriet Klausner

I have to admit that His Majesty's Dragonis a tough act to follow. There was something really fresh and honest in that first book that made it an instant winner. While Throne of Jade contains many similar nice elements, it has lost the advantage of surprise and it has also lost a bit of the edge around the pacing.

The idea of the book is to take us from the introduction of Temeraire to a more detailed understanding of his nature and his grown-up personality. Accordingly, it is necessary for Temeraire to go to China but also necessary not to spend too much time in China since China is not really the point. This leads to a really really long getting to China sequence, which is really only interesting because Novik is good at the details of life on board ship.

Anyhow, still a good read, even if it is not great. Probably goes without saying, but do not begin here, begin with His Majesty's Dragon. I would recommend the book, and plan to read the third.

Imagine if the Napoleonic wars had been fought using an air force... of dragons.

That idea is the root of Naomi Novik's Temeraire series -- an alternate-history fantasy that explores the idea of a Horatio Hornbloweresque navy officer who suddenly finds a dragon uprooting his life. Novik stretches credibility here and there, but the first three volumes of her series are a solid, intelligent, often amusing adventure story.

"His Majesty's Dragon" enters the scene when Captain William Laurence's Reliant captures a French ship -- which turns out to have a dragon egg in its hold. And when the baby dragon hatches, it decides it wants Laurence and no other to be its rider.

Unfortunately, accepting the dragon (now named Temeraire) means giving up his Navy commission and joining the Air Corps -- especially since Temeraire violently rejects the idea of accepting another rider. Both rider and dragon have a lot of learning to do, especially since Laurence has some very unusual ideas about how to treat his dragon. But as the bond between them grows and Temeraire grows rapidly to maturity, the Napoleonic Wars are raging -- and Temeraire's true power hasn't yet been shown.

And in "Throne of Jade," an ill-tempered Chinese prince demands that Temeraire be returned to the Imperial family. Temeraire and Laurence are having none of that -- and when they can't tempt away Temeraire, both dragon and rider are sent to China, along with the prince and his entourage. But the journey is full of storms and assassinations, and China turns out to be no less dangerous as Laurence learns of plot around Temeraire.

Having returned from China, Laurence and Temeraire don't even get to go home before being thrown into "Black Powder War." They're sent straight to Istanbul to pick up three dragon eggs sold to England by the Ottoman Empire -- only to deal with deal with wild dragons (who alone make the book worth reading) a treacherous Sultan, and the vengeful albino dragon Lien.

The Temeraire series is what Christopher Paolini's books SHOULD have been -- a richly-drawn, intelligent series about the bond between a young man and his dragon. Novik still has some rough spots in her first three books ("His Majesty's Dragon" is rather short on plot, "Black Powder War" short on characterization) but they are undeniably fascinating meshes of what 19th century war would have been like if there had been dragons.

She conjures up a pretty fascinating world, giving dragons different breeds, quirks, biological features (they blast acid, fire, even sonic waves), and relationships with their riders (one poor little dragon whose rider treats him like a disposable vehicle). There's even some delving into dragon rights -- are the dragons being treated like slaves?

And despite long stretches of traveling over land and sea (often for months), Novik keeps it interesting with lush, detailed writing and some truly thrilling aerial battles aboard the vast dragons. On land, there's plenty of gentle comic relief ("I am afraid that some of them go there to drink, and keep low company." "Oh, you mean whores!") and lots of messy eating.

Temeraire and Laurence are a study in contrasts. The human is mannered, thoughtful and very tied to society's mores, while the dragon has a child's enthusiasm, curiosity, honesty and stubbornness (and frankly he's an adorable little dragon). There's also a colorful collection of supporting characters -- fellow Corps dragons Lily and Maximus, the malignant Prince Yongxhing, the mysterious Tharkay, and many others.

"Temeraire Volumes 1-3" is a solid trio of alternate history stories, with plenty of adventure, humour and a lot of lovable dragons. Definitely worth flying with.

I loved His Majesty's Dragon, the first book in the Temeraire series, but was somewhat concerned that Throne of Jade wouldn't measure up. But it does, and magnificently. Will Laurence and Temeraire's visit to China and the events they become involved in once there are spellbinding. I especially liked how Laurence's crew slowly came to embrace the culture they were so leery of at start and how Novik allows the plot to develop naturally.

It's also refreshing to come across a series that is mature in tone without being 'adult' enough to make the books unsuitable for younger readers. Novik has the ability to face adult subject matter such as violence and sex without going into details parents of young adults might be uncomfortable about while still narrating the events in a way that doesn't seem cloying or childish.

I'd definitely buy this book for a young adult reader, but I'd also buy it for anyone who likes good honest fiction. Great stuff all around.

Temeraire and Captain William Laurence are back for more draconic fun! Having successfully joined the British Arial Corps, one might wonder what lies in store for the dragon and his crew. More of the same, patrolling the English Channel against Napoleon? Wrong!

It turns out that Temeraire was meant to be a gift from the Chinese for Napoleon himself - and now that the English have him, the Chinese are none too happy. To try and calm them down, Captain Laurence and Temeraire agrees to take the journey to the far East. Unfortunately, Dragon Politics are never quite that simple...

In the first book, we saw England's view and treatment of dragons. Now in Throne of Jade, we see a whole new dragon culture. China has very different views of how dragons should be treated - respected, rather. The reader, Captain Laurence, and Temeraire himself all go through a bit of culture shock in just how differently dragons are treated.

What made His Majesty's Dragon so good comes back for more in the sequel. There is no incongruity in mixing dragons with the 1800's - everything is seamless, acting as if dragons have always been and always will be part of culture. Dragons can talk, but everyone knows that. They're not treated like space aliens, or battleships. Temeraire and the other dragons are treated as fully rounded characters.

If you enjoyed the first book at all, you'll definitely want to read this.

This follow-up to Novik's debut novel, "His Majesty's Dragon", has many of the same qualities as its predecessor: tightly-plotted action, rigorous historical authenticity of the period (the Napoleonic Wars), an emotionally vibrant bond between human and dragon, lovely prose style and the pleasures afforded when an ingenious writer can shape her creative additions to the known properties of the period. She has sense, which strikes me perhaps more than anything else, for everything she changes about the period -- usually to do with how dragons can exist in this world -- fits authentically with historical reality.

This novel follows swiftly from the action of the last novel, when a Chinese delegation demands the return of Temeraire to China, after his egg is captured on the way to France and hatched by a British Naval captain, Will Laurence, for he is apparently one of the rarest breeds of dragons, a Celestial; it is a grave thing to Chinese dignity to have Temeraire attached to a lowly British captain and used as a battle-dragon. Laurence and Temeraire are sent halfway around the world to a society much unknown to the Western world to defend their bond, and this threat of separation dominates the emotional life of the novel. This was one of my favorite things about "His Majesty's Dragon" -- that Temeraire doesn't just play the role of exotic beast of burden and battle, that he's as much of a personality as Laurence, if not more-so. Temeraire is an intriguing mix of innocence, for he is barely more than a year old, and rebellious curiosity, for he's extremely bright and constantly questions the reasons why everything is as it is and often doesn't buy into the reasoning. This makes for an interesting relationship, for Laurence is very much a man of his time, and his faith in the strictures and rules of society are sorely tested by Temeraire's more radical views. This is actually one of the important themes of the novel, how Temeraire's person-hood -- or rather, dragon-hood -- should be defined, and I can't go into it without being spoilery, but it resolves as satisfying on a personal level and difficult on a societal level, as these questions often do.

About the first 2/3s of the book take place aboard the ship to China and this makes for a very grim book. The wealth of detail Novik brings to life aboard ship is staggeringly impressive and accurate, and depressing. Life is lived on a thin measure, and it's pretty much the exact opposite of a modern leisure cruise; much of the action revolves around seven months of hard sailing, marked by incidents of violence, illness and excitement caused by weather. You can tell this is where her storytelling heart lies, as the China portion is less detailed and lingered over, somewhat to my regret. Though she acquits herself admirably, I've always had a thing for Pearl S. Buck and novels about that era in Chinese history, and I was half-wistful upon realizing how much of the novel revolved around life on the ship. Not my passion, but I was still transfixed while reading; I picked up the book about a quarter of the way through, late at night, meaning to read for about an hour and finally looked up around 4 a.m., totally unable to put it down till the finish. It's that much of a good, absorbing read.

She writes action and plot superbly well, and I love her main characters dearly, but what really impressed me the most was Novik's way of giving every character a feeling of validity. None of the bad guys are stereotypically bad -- not greedy and sadistic, or cartoonishly villainous. There is no great evil to be fought, but misunderstandings, prejudice, ignorance, differences of opinion, cultural clash: the kaleidoscope of human behavior that causes most of the world's ill. I can say that I truly understood every single character's motivations. Even though many of the events in the novel are violent and quite ugly (for conflict is the basis for drama), I got most of all a sense that Novik herself has compassionate understanding for every character under her hand. Everybody has their own point of view -- if we get to see it or not -- and she doesn't judge them for it, or portray them meanly, letting their actions speak for themselves. This really struck me at the end, when I realized the character whose fate broke my heart was a minor character that was arrayed on the side against Temeraire and Laurence. The emotion evoked is small and perfect and absolutely not manipulative; in keeping with the lack of melodramatic Evil (with a capital E), Novik doesn't blatantly tug at your heartstrings, but works on a smaller, consistent scale, but with no loss of poignancy or power.

I really cannot say too much about how I'm loving this series; I can't recommend it enough. Go, buy it!

The second Temeraire novel, this one is both slower-paced and more interesting than His Majesty's Dragon. The first book is so exploratory, going through the basic details of living with dragons and being a dragon, that not a lot else happens; this one moves on from there and has much more action, but at the same time, there is almost no dragon action in this book at all. So I can almost see being disappointed by the lack of flying combat -- though it does have a scene or two of that, definitely -- but I felt the opposite. I was impressed that the author could change gears so smoothly, and still stay true to the character and the basic feel of the first book. This is not a one-dimensional series, it seems, and I was very glad to see that. If I had a complaint, it would have to do with the long sea voyage that dominates so much of the book and allows for so little action as it is going on, but the quality of the writing never wavered, and the China section more than made up for any brief doldrums.

In this one, the Chinese try to get Temeraire back, because as a Celestial dragon, he is the rarest and finest type of dragon in the world, and they cannot abide the thought of him living beneath his station, being treated as an animal, used in warfare, and partnered with a lowly military officer. So right from the get-go, these people suck. The simplest answer is that Temeraire should be given his own freedom to choose what life he prefers, as allowing freedom of choice is the highest honor you can bestow; since they do not want him simply to choose, but want him to choose the life they want him to have, their whole argument rings hollow -- and it is hollow, as we find out by the end. But the bad part is that the British government, fearing China's power as a potential ally of Napoleon, gives in to whatever demand the Chinese envoy makes, up to and including separating Temeraire from Laurence and shipping the dragon back to China, bowing and scraping and apologizing all the way. So the British government sucks, too.

Luckily, though, Temeraire and Laurence don't suck, and so they act as they should -- Laurence determined to give Temeraire the chance to see all of his options, and the freedom to choose once he understands the choice before him, and Temeraire determined to stay with his dearest companion regardless of any blandishments or criticisms leveled at him -- and that makes the book a joy to read, as you keep nodding fiercely for Temeraire and Laurence, and shaking a fist at everyone else. The depictions of the historical peoples and societies were, to my unprofessional eyes, outstanding, and so this book has much more of the feel of an alternate history, or even just a historical novel, with the dragons interwoven seamlessly into the past of our world. It was great, and I can't wait to read the next book.

I really loved the first book in the trilogy, with the character development, love and camaraderie. The first book was great because you had the underdog Laurence and Temeraire trying to fit in and succeeding in their new societies and discovering their affection for one another. However, for most of this book, everybody is on a ship, Laurence and Temeraire barely speak to each other, Temeraire barely gets to fly at all, the aviators and sailors hate each other and both hate the Chinese delegation, and even when they arrive in China, the Chinese Celestrial dragons seem like cardboard characters. We never got to hear any interesting conversations between Temeraire and his Celestial relatives. All and all, I was disappointed in the second book. In this book, there didn't seem to be anyone to cheer for. Laurence was either sick/injured or in an absolute fury of anger, Riley was cold and stubborn (and not at all like the third lieutenant of the first book), Temeraire was silent and thinking rebellious thoughts, the aviator crew never got into harness and the Chinese people were difficult to differentiate and emotionless. I hope the next book is better.

After the first book in the Temeraire series, Novik could have immediately jumped into the next battle for Europe with Napoleon's army; but instead, she sends Temeraire and Captain Laurence to China by sea after a delegation from the Emperor arrives to protest that a Celestial Imperial dragon is companion to a person of lowly station as opposed to a person of royal blood as he was destined. The delegation demands Temeraire separation from Laurence and return to China. Laurence and Temeraire refuse and must head to China as the Crown's representative will not stand his ground in fear of offending the great nation.

But, the story is more than meets eye as Captain Laurence is reunited with Riley - his First Mate on the HMS Reliant - who is now captain of the HMS Allegiance, a newly constructed Dragon Carrier, and the Allegiance sails for China with Temeraire, Laurence, Temeraire's crew, the Chinese delegation - which includes the Emperor's brother - and Hammond, the ambassador sent along to negotiate a favorable embassy in exchange for giving Temeraire back to the Chinese.

What at first seems like it will be a steady slog to some unknown story destination, actually turns into a character development plot for Laurence, Temeraire, and the entire dragon crew. First intrigue develops on the voyage as they circle around Africa and head east, then it intensifies once they reach China and await an audience with the Emperor.

While they wait, Temeraire and Laurence learn much more about China, its dragons, and Temeraire's origins; and, Temeraire learns much more about his talents and the possibilities for all dragons.

Beyond a story that deepens our understanding of Temeraire and this world where dragons live alongside humans, we also have an interesting morality play that will have repercussions in the third book, The Black Powder War (I can only assume as I have yet to read the third book).

Originally billed as a trilogy, Novik has said she will write more in this universe now that the original three story arc has been completed...I look forward to reading the third book and those that will follow.

>>>>>>><<<<<<<

A Guide to my Book Rating System:

1 star = The wood pulp would have been better utilized as toilet paper.
2 stars = Don't bother, clean your bathroom instead.
3 stars = Wasn't a waste of time, but it was time wasted.
4 stars = Good book, but not life altering.
5 stars = This book changed my world in at least some small way.

I devoured His Majesty's Dragon with out regret but Throne of Jade simply did not leave me quite as satiated. I didn't despise the book but in the end I was left with more questions about what had just occurred then a feeling of warm-fuzzy-good-book-afterglow that I had with HMD. The plot wasn't super strong to begin with and as many others have pointed out the boat voyage was needlessly lengthy. It seemed to focus more on the perils of ocean traversing then the adventure of a dragon.
I also felt like the characters of Laurence and Temeraire sort of devolved in that Temeraire seemed more petulant and Laurence more wooden. In the first novel there was a great journey of personal development for Laurence from a strict one minded Navy man into a more empathetic dragon Captain. But all through out TOJ he seemed more concerned with what was best for England then Temeraire. Also I found Temeraire's character to be presented as more impetuous and fool hearty. His romance with another dragon was strange because even though at first Temeraire seems completely twitterpated (so much so he allows great danger to befall Laurence) he just as swiftly decides to return to England to amend dragon's rights. That again I found confusing, the correlation between human slavery and Western dragons was sort of a stretch. The sudden spirit of needed change in the treatment of war dragons was an unnecessary plot branch for me. The love and partnership of HMD also seemed to be missing from this sequel.
Once the characters reached China I was spellbound by the beautiful description and incredible relationship of Chinese dragons and people. But it felt like just a sip of the setting when I wanted a gallon. The Celestial dragons were touted for they're fabulous wisdom and skill. They seemed to study a lot but their intelligence wasn't really fleshed out. None of the creatures said anything particularly astute and there was talk of their poetry and some sorts of examinations were mentioned but this was never explained leaving me feeling shorted.
But I think in the end that like others have said more eloquently Throne of Jade is simply a stepping stone to Black Powder War and it definitely at times feels that way. It's not a bad book and if you love His Majesty's Dragon you will surely like Throne of Jade and it is worth a swift read. But if you're like me and desire a more solid story of human and dragon interaction then you may not love TOJ in the same way as it's magnificent prequel.

while Throne of Jade was a good book, it was not as good as book one in the series. There seemed to be less interaction between Temeraire and Lawerence-which was a big attraction of the first book. That vacancy made the book drag a bit for the first 100 pages, and in the middle. Luckily, the engaging, dramatic, and moving parts of the story are done very well, so you want to finish the story.

Book Two doesn't throw me off wanting to read later books, but I'd only suggest it to fans of the series, as you do get some vital information about Temeraire that I'm sure will prove important in later books. So, I'd only recommend book 2 for fans of the series, as I'm sure it would be confusing for anyone to follow as a stand alone book. 3.5 stars.

I love this series, these dragons, Cap'n. Laurence, and add all that to the Orient, and I'm headed for bliss... except, I hardly got there. I realize, middle book and all, but this pacing was too slow. And too bad for the readers, since once the whole entourage does arrive in China, it's all as fascinating as we'd hoped! The Chinese dragon characters were wonderful, and all I wanted was more! Of course, it really doesn't matter, I'm totally hooked on this series now, and expect that Black Powder War will pick the pace back up. As I write this, I realize I feel rather guilty for chiding Novik for the slack -- really it just amounts to what a high standard she has set for herself from the first book! Bottom line from me, read them all, highly recommended!

Every bit as good as its prequel-- "His Majesty's Dragon" wherein an English captain, Will Lawrence, imprints a Chinese Celestial dragon (intended as a gift to Napoleon). In this sequel, the Chinese want their dragon back because they consider Lawrence unworthy of Temeraire (the dragon). Celestials are meant only for kings!

The British send the Captain and Temeraire to China. 2 thirds of this book is the sea journey to China. But there's plenty of adventure on the high seas. Assassination attempts, pneumonia, gales, a hungry sea serpent, (this is where the treatment of dragons, morality and sentience comes up . . .) It only gets more fascinating as Will finds that dragons in China are treated very differently. THey're educated and respected! China is Dragon Paradise!

The last third of this book is terribly exciting as well. More murder and mayhem, dragon love, and a great fight between 2 Celestials. And a unique solution to the dilemna of Temeraire and the Captain. I give this book 4.5 stars! (I wish it was longer!) In fact as long as "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell--another novel with an alternative History of Napoleonic Britain. Only it has Magic in it.

A very satisfying read. Can't wait for the next installment. Looking forward to seeing my old dragon friends: Maximus, Lily, Nitidius and little Volly!

I was surprised by the majority of this second book in the Temeraire series taking place on a slow journey to China. So much time was spent at sea. I expected much more time in China or more action and more plot.

I loved the first book and rated it one of the best I've read in a long time. And I still enjoy the characters, although I would have enjoyed more development of the personalities of the Chinese dragons, especially Temeraire's Mother. That whole scenario fell flat. Interesting addition of slavery into the discussions. But it just felt like it was missing something of the heart of the first installment. Temeraire's character is not as beloved as in the first book.

Throne of Jade felt like the middle of the trilogy. An interesting twist at the end, but no closure. I really like the series but the second was not as good as the first. Still better than most.

"Throne of Jade" is an alternate history novel, set in Europe and Asia at the time of the Napoleanic war. This novel continues where "His Magesty's Dragon" leaves off. The story is told from the point of view of L--, a dragon captain to a rare and precious Chineese dragon, T--. Dragon T-- was a gift from the Chineese to the French, captured by L-- in battle, and the Chineese demand T--'s return. To facilitate this, L-- is asked to lie to T-- and claim to no longer likes him. An honorable man, L-- refuses, causing problems for all of the politicians. Bound by affection, L-- and T-- set of for China, and are surprised by what they find there.

This novel is wonderfully creative and interesting. The personalities are well developped, and the dragons and setting quite unique. The setting is a reasonably accurate portrayal of history except for the dragons -- no magic, no mystical creatures, no fantasy in the traditional sense -- simply "what would the world be like if there were dragons." Personalities are varied and there are a few surprises. The author's portrayal of China is fascinating. This novel progresses at a moderate pace.

My problem with this novel is that the rise and fall of plot are a bit rough; that is, this novel is not intended to stand alone, but rather reads like the middle portion in a much longer multiple book novel, and the reader is left at the end wondering what happens next. The overall feel of the novel is "the continuing adventures of L-- and T-- as they meander through life", and I would have prefered a coherent thrust to the plot. The novel has all of the usual sequel problems -- the unique premise being conveyed in the first novel, the second novel was left in a weaker position. Readers who prefer books with multiple sequels may disagree on this issue and should probably add one star to my rating.

"Throne of Jade" is wonderfully entertaining and overall a pleasant book, well worth reading.

In this one, Temeraire and Laurence have to travel to China, which is where Temeraire's egg came from. Most of the book takes place on the boat to China, and the latter part, which takes place in China, is the best part. I like that there's a reference to Hua Mulan in the book, although her name isn't said, but anyone familiar with her story will know who they're talking about.

For a second, sort of "in-between" book, this was good. The large chunk of the book that takes place on the boat to China can be slow, but was necessary to develop both the plot, and the characters of our heroes Temeraire and Laurence. I'm looking forward to reading the third book, hoping that at least some of the characters introduced in this book will be part of the next story.

Throne of Jade continues the story of Captain Will Laurence, the navy captain who becomes an aviator in the English dragon corps and forges a lifelong bond with the dragon Temeraire. In the second installment, the Chinese demand the return of their stolen dragon, and Will and Temeraire set off on a voyage to the Far East, facing storms, French attacks, and constant attempts by the Chinese to drive them apart. The second book is considerably less fast paced than the first one, but still entertaining and intriguing - especially when they reach China and discover a dragon culture distinctly different from what they've come to know in the West.

Still loving this series about the joint adventures of Captain Will Laurence and his Chinese dragon, Temeraire. A few really good battle scenes bracket a slow gentle exploration of the ramifications of the relationship between human and dragon. There is always a mystery that is solved by the end, but that really isn't the point. It is just the pleasure of learning of a world where men (and women!) can bond with a creature of such size and complexity.

Yes, this book is different from the first but--so what? This is a high-seas adventure, complete with sea monsters, typhoons, on-board intrigue, exotic ports, and a mystery. It reminds me a little of the Hornblower adventures and very much of the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, the third book of the Narnia series. Temeraire's character further develops as he gains experience and continues to grow up, giving us glimpses of what he will become.

The point of the book isn't "get to China," it's the journey itself. I didn't find the book slow-going at all, and what's the hurry anyway? The more time I can spend with Laurence and Temeraire, the better. I thought the pace satisfying and enjoyed every second of it.

Another reviewer compares this with slash fiction--I assume slash fan-fic? Is so, I find this comparison very strange. I've read slash (reluctantly--not really my thing), and these books are nothing like it.

The series thus far is well conceived, well written, and well characterized. These are thoughtful books, not meant to be frantic, mindless action-adventure (although there's plenty of action). Thank goodness! I'll certainly be reading the rest of the series.

I agree with other reviewers who have commented that this was a disappointment after the first book. I felt like I was on a long sea voyage with nothing to read but Robert Jordan. When the characters finally reached the orient, the plot was obtuse and unsatisfying. I continue to like the characters, but I would like to see the setting return to the hook that made the first book in the series appealing - a book about dragons in the Napoleonic Wars, set in Europe (i.e., "Hornblower with dragons"). If "Throne of Jade" had been the first in the series, I doubt many would have read the second. It was however, just good enough to convince me to move on to the (already published) third in the series, with the hope that it is more than a long journey overland to the middle east with detailed description of dragon cuisine.

I am through two books of the series and I am conflicted. I mentioned after His Majesty's Dragon that I love Naomi Novik's dragons. While that still holds true, I now wonder how much, if at all, I truly love the rest of the story.

Throne of Jade is over 400 pages long and I felt like very little happened for the first (roughly) 300 pages. Once it was time for the few important events to take place, they happened so abruptly I wondered if they were as important to the story as they seemed that they should be.

Ms. Novik brought dragons into our world in the first book and here she broadened our horizons with a look at dragons from the far ends of the Earth. I will continue to read the series, at least for now. But I am beginning to wonder if it is the idea that I love and not its execution. It may become difficult to get through what is now already a five-book series if I cannot get excited about what happens on dragonless pages.

With the strong Chinese claim on the Dragon 'Teremaire', the British Captain 'Will Laurence' is forced into a voyage to China. This voyage was long, too long. It went on for over two thirds of the book!

Yes, it was dangerous, and perilous, and long, did I mention LONG?

Tensions abound, Chinese delegates plot, and loyalties are tested. For Teremaire and his Captain, this is harder story to unfold and their relationship as dragon and human flyer is evolving. I'm not sure why but as I read the last third of the I was made a little uncomfortable by the ideas of equality and social change. Maybe it's because as a human I was uncomfortable with ideas of prejudice and was forced to stand in Laurence's shoes and justify it.

Like great movies which loose steam in the second book, "Throne of Jade" which continues with Teremaire and Laurence's story... was a little disappointing. After the great first taste in "His Magesty's Dragon, the expectations were not met... Still it was a nice read and worth buying.

This is book 2 in this great new fiction series and takes off where book 1 left off. This series takes place during the Napoleonic Wars but has a twist of what if there were dragons. Temeraire (the dragon) and Laurence(his captain) must return to China. What takes place is the adjustment for them where dragons are treated royally unlike in England where they are servants. This book is action packed and full of intrigue. A great read for anyone especially fans of this type of fiction.

An intriguing look into Temeraire's roots and a complete fleshing out of his complex character. His interactions with other dragon and with Laurence, the Chinese and other people lead to interesting conclusions. Temeraire's need to enlighten an interesting political twist that should prove most interesting in the future. All and all, a good link in the trilogy full of the unexpected twists and turns I've come to expect from the writer. A fascinating and entertaining read.

Thoroughly absorbed by the first in the series, I bought the sequel as soon as it was released. Novik's proficiency with both story structure and the English language is brilliant and has already earned her due acclaim. She has created wonderful characters in Temeraire and Captain Lawrence that are thoroughly endearing, and has now placed them in an unfamiliar environment surrounded quietly hostile acquaintances ...

Don't miss this, it's brilliant.

I truly enjoyed "His Majesty's Dragon", the first book of the series. I eagery started the second book, and ended up forcing myself to have to finish the book. I will agree with most observations that the development of Tereraire is very good in this book. Unfortunately, it seems that the author forgot about the main human character in the book, Laurence. The problem is, is that Laurence started out as a Captain of a Royal Navy Ship, and served for more than three years, yet for all of that, his character appeared to be as green as a raw recruit in everything in this book except the single fight scene. I felt that he was immature and had almost no common sense in this book, which is completely at odds with his character in the first book. True, this is more of a diplomatic area than wartime, and I could forgive a little uncertainty on his part, yet it just seemed like less thought was put into his character development than in Temeraire's.

This second book in the Temeraire series (sequel to "Her Majesty's Dragon") follows Captain Laurence and his bonded dragon Temeraire as they journey to China to (hopefully) resolve some thorny diplomatic issues.

The first book in this series was one of the best I've read this year. The sequel offers the same engaging characters and some interesting discussions related to the nature of service (servitude?), but overall the storyline lacks a driving narrative. It feels very much like Captain Laurence is along for the ride here, cast about with the whims of politicians. The moments where he can take action and determine the course of his own destiny are very few, and Temeraire is generally sulky and not as engaging a character as he was in the 1st book.

All-in-all, the "Throne of Jade" feels very much like a bridge between the 1st and 3rd books. I am enjoying the series but would definitely rate this one lower than the first.

Do not read this book if you have not read HIS MAJESTIES DRAGON first!!! this book is very exciting with a happy aending. if you love dragons as much as i do, you will LOVE this book. lawrence gets a little intolorable at times, obsessing over his cloths and stuff like that, but otherwise the book is great. temerair is as awsome as ever and so are all of his friends. Niamoe makes you love the goood characters and hate the bad ones this is an awsome book!!!

After the joyful exuberance of His Majesty's Dragon, this sequel was disappointingly full of preachy political arguments that quickly turned into an interminable bore. In addition, it was sad to watch Laurence and Temeraire's relationship sour. Lastly, don't think the final book in the trilogy will tie everything up or resolve anything -- it's just a series of depressing and weary battles that go on and on and on. If the first book hadn't left me so invested in what happens to Temeraire, I would have give both this second book as well as the third one a single star.

The books really pulls you in to the world and makes you care about not only the human but also the dragon characters in the book. I've read few historical fiction but this book has left me wanting more.

I got the first book, "His majesty's dragon" free when I bought my Kindle 2. I have enjoyed that book so much that I purchased "The Jade Throne". I just finished it and it too was a very pleasant read. I often found myself so engrossed into the story that I continued reading into the night when I should have been sleeping. (I work 12 hour shifts). LOL. Anyway, I just purchased the third book in this series and am anxious to start reading it, but I thought you would all like to hear of my joy at this read. Take care.

Novik succeeds admirably in creating a novel which follows on neatly where 'Temeraire' (US title 'His Majesty's Dragon') left off - and yet which could be read very satisfyingly as a stand-alone by anyone who had not read the previous tale. I was very impressed by the elegance and clarity with which she provided the whole 'Previously, on Temeraire' information in the first few pages without ever resorting to obvious expositiony tactics. The opening scene drops us into the thick of things and immediately wins the reader over to worrying about the future for Lawrence and Temeraire, and when they *are* reunited - well, I for one was quite choked, and rooting for them, and wanting to *punch* the wretched idiots who were treating them both so badly. And the story had barely begun, at that point.

Other reviewers will tell you that Novik evokes an alternative history with verve and clarity through her attention to period detail, and they're right. They may also praise the fascinating way that she envisions her dragons (and similar beasts) interacting with humans, whether in Europe, at Sea, in Africa or in China. And they're right too - she gives us thoroughly intriguing and carefully considered glimpses into this unprettified fantasy world, and raises real questions about how humans would interact with other sentient beings - and how they do interact with other people.

But the thing that I enjoy most about both 'Temeraire' and 'Throne of Jade' is how very rounded and real and touching are the relationships that Novik delineates. Most obviously being that between Lawrence and Temeraire - but all the interpersonal dynamics are interesting and well observed, and it is this, perhaps even more than the marvellously detailed evocation of naval life or the aerial corps, that really breathes life and soul into the books. Certainly there is an interesting plot full of swashbuckling at sea and political machinations; certainly there are fire-breathing dragons and peril and bravery and all that jazz, and there's even a dash of sex. But the heart of the novel, and its predecessor, is the relationship between Lawrence and Temeraire, and how this relationship shapes and changes them both.

Look, just stop dithering, and buy the bloody thing already! It's a Very Good Book Indeed.

I'm really happy that these books are being released so quickly in sucession as normally it's hard to keep up and remember when the next in series is going to come out. The small details, such as the goldfish, the types of food and jewels worn by other dragons were great additives to a fun story :)

Having throughly enjoyed His Majesty's Dragon, I had the store ship me Throne of Jade the day it was released. I then promptly stayed up until Midnight to read it. Just as enjoyable as the 1st book. Think Ms. Novik did an excellent job setting us up for book 3. Can't wait and must pre-order that as well.

I liked the series, the dragon growes up, the poor handler stays the same to the end of the book. Never makes the change from a company man. This was a time time when pirates and freebooters were ruling the carribeeen . Where are are the pirate dragons? why do our dragons accepted enslavement? the writer needs to get a boost and let her enslaved dargons free, not to mention the handlers!!! Painful to read book. Makes you think about the right to refuse "orders" I work at intel, watch lots of men get laid off that belived following rules would save them. Ha.
maybe the next book.. sigh
the store playing games with prices, this is not a new relaese, is an old book,,,, library has a copy....

Finshed first two books, now reading the third.

These are good books for kids.

Based on Napoleon's era, but combine's dragons and ships.

(The ships portion is similar to many of the hornblower series by C s forester.)

The first book is excellent, the second slighly drags with all the intrigue in China, but the third picks up the pace again.

Once introduced to captain Will Lawrence and his unlikely but very likeable codependent, I have revisited all of the books many times, as library books and then, unable to reread each volume every time a new one came out--bought them, each and every one. The story is not finished, when do we continue? Thank You, Mrs. Novik.

As much as I loved His Majesty's Dragon, that's about how much i was disappointed in this outing. It was predictable in almost every way. The gang spends an inordinate amount of time on boarda ship en-route to China, and while it's handled very well, I could have used more action. I'm enjoying this series, but this book is a least-favorite.

I bought the book originally because I read that Peter Jackson of The Lord of The Rings fame had bought the film rights to the series. The book and indeed the series are very easy reading and would appeal to anyone interested in this fantasy genre though if you are looking for anything particularly clever or challenging, look elsewhere. All in all I think it will make a better film than a book.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, but feel like this second book goes far, far astray. The first book sets up a wonderful world in which dragons fight in the air during the naval battles of the Napolionic (sp?) war. This book throws it all away to get onto a literal slow boat to China. I bought the third book at the same time, I hope the series picks back up.

Wonderful work. I love reading Temeraire stories. I enjoyed reading about their journey to China and after a lot of difficulties getting the Emperor to grant Laurence and Temeraire's bond his blessing by adopting Laurence into Imperial family. I hope you'll enjoy reading it as much as I have