Customer Reviews

Throne of Jade (Temeraire)

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(17)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.