Tongues of Serpents

The Temeraire series answers the age-old question, "How would the Napoleonic Wars change if dragons existed?"

In the first book, [b:His Majesty's Dragon|28876|His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, #1)|Naomi Novik|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1167957693s/28876.jpg|726205], the answer is that not much would change--all the European nations have dragons, and they treat them like a cross between pets and battleships. The only real change is that communication is slightly faster and some additional battles are fought in the air. The main character, Laurence, is a British naval captain who befriends the dragon Temeraire; the first book is their introduction to aerial warfare. It's a wonderful story. But Novik complicates the narrative in a very satisfying way with the next book, [b:Throne of Jade|14069|Throne of Jade (Temeraire, #2)|Naomi Novik|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166575829s/14069.jpg|2213322], which widens the world to include China. Further books take Laurence and Temeraire through Africa and finally, to Australia, all the while fighting Napoleon's forces and allies every inch of the way. The series slowly reveals itself to be a colonialist narrative told from a very post-colonialist pov. We are presented with classic European views and politics--the slave trade, use of opium for trade purposes, Manifest Destiny, etc--but the existence of dragons changes the result. When European traders take people as slaves from Africa, the African dragons and their warriors fight back, exceedingly effectively. The spread of European settlers in the Americas is very different, because the native Americans have plenty of defenses of their own. It's fascinating!

But the series is not just a game of "what if"--it's a deeply satisfying character study of the uncomfortably honorable Laurence, the brilliant-but-jejune Temeraire, and the diverse cast of side characters. Although there are a few battles in [b:Tongues of Serpents|7038489|Tongues of Serpents A Novel of Temeraire (Temeraire, #6)|Naomi Novik|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1262669469s/7038489.jpg|7287326], the majority of the plot is simply Temeraire and Laurence treking across Australia.

Laurence has always been a character driven by honor and duty--his sense of responsibility toward England weighed heavily and constantly upon his shoulders. But after [b:Victory of Eagles|891593|Victory of Eagles (Temeraire, #5)|Naomi Novik|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61eYT1zu1UL._SL75_.jpg|3102331], he has lost his taste for war, even against England's enemies. Although many called him a traitor for his mercy, he maintained his patriotism. But in this book, he must question his own loyalty to his embattled nation.

Although I think this series is easily the most mature look at the Napoleonic wars OR dragons that I've ever read, there's a great deal of humor and adventure in it, as well. The dragons each have fabulous personalities that clash horribly (they read a lot like scaly, half-ton cats). And there's nothing to get the blood up like fighting sea-serpents! ( )

i got a lil bored of them wandering around Australasia lost and stuff so i skipped ahead to the good parts and the end and am now going back to read the details now that i know how everything is going to play out i have patience for the boring search in the Australian wilderness. it was really a 2 1/2 star not a full 3. ( )

i got a lil bored of them wandering around Australasia lost and stuff so i skipped ahead to the good parts and the end and am now going back to read the details now that i know how everything is going to play out i have patience for the boring search in the Australian wilderness. it was really a 2 1/2 star not a full 3. ( )

i got a lil bored of them wandering around Australasia lost and stuff so i skipped ahead to the good parts and the end and am now going back to read the details now that i know how everything is going to play out i have patience for the boring search in the Australian wilderness. it was really a 2 1/2 star not a full 3. ( )

i got a lil bored of them wandering around Australasia lost and stuff so i skipped ahead to the good parts and the end and am now going back to read the details now that i know how everything is going to play out i have patience for the boring search in the Australian wilderness. it was really a 2 1/2 star not a full 3. ( )