The bestselling series starring the fighting dragon Temeraire and his captain, Will Laurence, reaches a peak of excitement with this fifth installment from award-winning author Novik.

Reviews

Napoleon has landed! England is under siege, and it's up to the dragon Temeraire and his captain, Laurence, to stop the invading army. Unfortunately, Laurence has been convicted of treason, and Temeraire banished to the far-off Welsh breeding grounds, after their daring mission to deliver a cure for the dragon plague to the French. In this fifth volume of the Temeraire series (after His Majesty's Dragon, Throne of Jade, Black Powder War, and Empire of Ivory) and the first to be published in hardcover, we return to England after the exotic locales of the last two books, and the action takes place more on land than at sea. Fans of military historicals like Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe novels will likely enjoy the detailed points of military strategy and supply-line wrangling (it takes a lot of cows to feed an army of dragons), but fantasy readers will still find their sense of wonder. Novik's latest doesn't have quite the sparkle of Empire of Ivory, but series fans will certainly be eager to find out what happens after the previous book's vertiginous cliff-hanger of an ending. Recommended for all public libraries.--Jenne Bergstrom, San Diego Cty. Lib. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

In the thrilling fifth installment (the first in hardcover, following 2007's Empire of Ivory) of the bestselling Temeraire series, Novik returns to familiar themes of love, duty and liberty against the backdrop of the Napoleonic wars. When Napoleon's forces attack England, Temeraire, believing Laurence dead, decides to lead other uncaptained dragons to battle. When the two reunite, Temeraire uses his commander status to gain a voice in war counsels, demanding freedom and pay for dragons. Though the battles are impressive and the politics unsubtle but intriguing, the piece de resistance is the quiet moment when Laurence faces the mad king he betrayed. This accessible vision of an English Regency with an air force raises the stakes without straining credibility. Followers of Temeraire's travels will be richly rewarded by the satisfying conclusion of his return to home ground, but may wonder where Novik can go from here. (July) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

PRAISE FOR NAOMI NOVIK
"A new writer is soaring on the wings of a dragon."
-The New York Times
"These are beautifully written novels: not only fresh, original, and fast-paced, but full of wonderful characters with real heart."
-Peter Jackson
His Majesty's Dragon
"Enthralling reading-it's like Jane Austen playing Dungeons & Dragons with Eragon's Christopher Paolini."
-Time
"A gripping adventure full of rich detail and the impossible wonder of gilded fantasy."
-Entertainment Weekly
"A thrilling fantasy . . . All hail Naomi Novik."
-The Washington Post Book World
BACK PANEL (cont'd)VICTORY OF EAGLESSUMMER 2008 (HC)

Empire of Ivory
"Novik's influences run the gamut from Jane Austen to Patrick O'Brian, with a side trip through Anne McCaffrey. Her books are completely involving and probably addictive, their central conceit explored in clever detail with a great deal of wit and historical insight."
-San Francisco Chronicle
"So realistic that it drowns disbelief . . . first-class in every respect."
-Booklist (starred review)

"From the Hardcover edition."