Crucible of Gold (Temeraire (Unnumbered Hardcover)) [Kindle Edition]

Naomi Novik (Author)

Book Description

“An absorbing adventure.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
 
Former Aerial Corps captain Will Laurence and his faithful dragon, Temeraire, have been put out to pasture in Australia—and it seems their part in the war has ended just when they are needed most. The French have invaded Spain, forged an alliance with Africa’s powerful Tswana empire, and brought revolution to Brazil. With Britain’s last desperate hope of defeating Napoleon in peril, the government that sidelined Laurence swiftly offers to reinstate him, convinced that he’s the best man to enter the fray and negotiate peace. So the pair embark for Brazil, only to meet with a string of unmitigated disasters that forces them to make an unexpected landing in the hostile territory of the Incan empire. With the success of the mission balanced on a razor’s edge, an old enemy appears and threatens to tip the scales toward ruin. Yet even in the midst of disaster, opportunity may lurk—for one bold enough to grasp it.
 
“Captivating . . . compelling reading . . . [an] action-packed narrative [with] lively, uniquely drawn characters and intriguing takes on history.”—Tor.com

Includes a preview of the next book in the Temeraire series, Blood of Tyrants.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Naomi Novik and her novels of Temeraire
 
“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
 
“These are beautifully written novels: not only fresh, original, and fast-paced, but full of wonderful characters with real heart.”—Peter Jackson
 
“A gripping adventure full of rich detail and the impossible wonder of gilded fantasy.”—Entertainment Weekly
 
“A new writer is soaring on the wings of a dragon.”—The New York Times
 
“[This is] a glorious series whose future status as a genre classic is now assured.”—SF Reviews

About the Author

Naomi Novik is the acclaimed author of His Majesty’s Dragon, Throne of Jade, Black Powder War, Empire of Ivory, Victory of Eagles, and Tongues of Serpents, the first six volumes of the Temeraire series, recently optioned by Peter Jackson, the Academy Award–winning director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. In 2007, Novik received the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer at the World Science Fiction Convention. A history buff with a particular interest in the Napoleonic era, Novik studied English literature at Brown University, then did graduate work in computer science at Columbia University before leaving to participate in the design and development of the computer game Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide. She is also the author of the graphic novel Will Supervillains Be on the Final? Novik lives in New York City with her family and six computers.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 1471 KB
• Print Length: 386 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0345522877
• Publisher: Del Rey (March 6, 2012)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0055PGWAW
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,717 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #93 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy > Historical

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 40 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars For Fans of the Temeraire series only (Spoiler-Free Review) February 16, 2012

By Eric L. Fletcher VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

If you are new to the Temeraire series stop: go purchase In His Majesty's Service which is the first three books in the series in a collection for you. Those are the best of the series by far, and worth every penny.

This is the kind of series which you cannot jump into at the end and really enjoy- there are so many references to prior books that this one will make little sense at times for those new to the series.

That said, for fans of the series, I imagine your questions are: is it as good as the first three books? Or as bad as the last two? The answer is neither. While not a return to the stellar first three, it is much improved over the last two which had many fans worried for the future of the franchise. Especially after the lowest average reviewed book of the series being the last one, Novik had a lot on the line. Another book like Tongues of Serpents: A Novel of Temeraire (Temeraire Series) would probably kill the series for most fans.

Fortunately, Novic scored with a solid return to form. In many ways this reminds me of Empire of Ivory (Temeraire, Book 4) which is a good thing. More action, more plot development and a bunch of well executed twists and turns- I would strongly suggest avoiding spoilers at all costs, as your enjoyment is likely to enhanced by your virtue. And at the end, the plot is set up well for the next book and I for one am now looking forward to it. Recommended for fans of the series. Everyone else, go buy the first three books. Now! Trust me!

20 of 25 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars I won't be reading any more of these books March 7, 2012

By LizB

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Unfortunately authors will stay with a series too long, and that's what's happened to the Temeraire series. The first three books were great; the next two books were pretty good; the next to last book was mediocre. This one is dreadful. Novik has run out of inspiration here. Most of the people and dragons have turned flat, whiny, and/or negative. You don't want to be with these characters. Even Temeraire seems less interesting.

The plot rambles on across continents, with some exciting moments but plenty of tedium, too, especially in the second half. Throughout the book the dragons seem to be very concerned about what they're eating. (I'm not kidding.) This tells you something about the quality of the story. Is there a point to all this that engages our imagination and emotions? I don't think so.

I won't be reading any more books in this series. As far as I'm concerned, it's done. The ending to this book is contrived and inconclusive. Readers are supposed to hang on and buy the next book. No, thanks.

29 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Fantastic Tale of Temeraire Courtesy of Naomi Novik January 28, 2012

By John Kwok HALL OF FAMEVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Demonstrating again that she has become one of the best prose stylists in fantasy fiction, Naomi Novik's "Crucible of Gold" is one of the most compelling chapters in her fantasy and alternate history "Temeraire" series. Prior comparisons with Patrick O'Brian are definitely most apt here, in her mesmerizing accounts of Pacific tropical isles and South American rain forests, that rank easily alongside those depicted in O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series. Equally commendable is her extensive description of Incan society and culture, which figure prominently in "Crucible of Gold", the 7th novel in the critically acclaimed, quite popular, "Temeraire" series. Though I admire the late Anne McCaffrey's work, including the "Dragonriders of Pern" series, that fine oeuvre is being surpassed by Naomi Novik's, since she has displayed consistently, a higher literary standard in each of her "Temeraire" novels. Without question, Novik is a writer worthy of comparison not only with McCaffrey, but also, with the likes of Neil Gaiman and Michael Swanwick; her latest novel brilliantly reaffirms that.

Restored unexpectedly to his former rank and seniority in His Britannic Majesty's Aerial Corps, Captain Laurence, Temeraire and their friends - both human and dragon - are compelled to take a hazardous sea voyage to South America, once more escorting diplomat Arthur Hammond, hoping to aid the exiled Portugese royal family in Rio De Janeiro, besieged by both the French and the Southern African Tswana dragonriders (The native people described in "Empire of Ivory", the fourth "Temeraire" novel.).... Enduring shipwreck, capture by the French, and attacks by savage beasts and enemy military dragons, Laurence and Temeraire find themselves engaged in yet another epic struggle against the French, who are seeking to add South America as yet another large chunk of their vast worldwide empire. Laurence, Hammond and Temeraire will be compelled to have a battle of wits with a vainglorious emperor of the Old World and a mysterious empress of the New, setting the stage for an unexpected return to another great empire, seeking an ally willing to join Great Britain's solitary struggle against the Napoleonic French Empire. Read more ›

21 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best one yet? January 28, 2012

By Vickie T. VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I always hesitate to make pronouncements like "best one yet" about the latest book in a series, especially if it has been a while since I have read the early books. However, even if I'm not absolutely certain that this is the best one yet, I can confidently claim that this is the best of the more recent books. I have been just a tiny bit (holding up thumb and forefinger just barely apart) disappointed in some of the more recent books, but after reading Crucible of Gold, I'm back on the bandwagon. I loved this book.

Crucible of Gold is much more about exploration than about fighting, although the ongoing war with Napoleon certainly frames the story and is ever present. On the larger scale of exploration, our heroes meet and learn about the Incan dragons and their culture. On the smaller scale, the characters, both human and dragon, learn more about themselves and each other.

This book zips along at a quick pace and is full of twists and turns that take both the reader and the characters by surprise. I had a hard time putting it down and finished in 3 nights - turning the TV off and heading to bed early the last two evenings to read.

If you are a fan of this series, then of course you should read this book, even if you haven't been wild about the past few books. If you are new to the series, you can probably enjoy this one without reading the others, but really, why would you want to start here? Go back and start at the beginning. You won't regret it.

More About the Author

I'm a New Yorker who writes about Napoleonic-era England, China, Istanbul, and, oh yes, dragons. My official website is at www.temeraire.org, and my livejournal there is the best way to reach me -- I am sporadic about updating and responding to comments because everything else slides when I am on a roll with writing, but I read everything posted there and always love to hear any and all comments from readers.