Temeraire - Naomi Novik

Summary:

Naomi Novik’s stunning series of novels follow the global adventures of Captain William Laurence and his fighting dragon Temeraire as they are thrown together to fight for Britain during the turbulent time of the Napoleonic Wars.

Captain Will Laurence has been at sea since he was just twelve years old; finding a warmer berth in Nelson's navy than any he enjoyed as the youngest, least important son of Lord Allendale. Rising on merit to captain his own vessel, Laurence has earned himself a beautiful fiancée, society's esteem and a golden future. But the war is not going well. It seems Britain can only wait as Napoleon plans to overrun her shores.

After a skirmish with a French ship, Laurence finds himself in charge of a rare cargo: a dragon egg bound for the Emperor himself. Dragons are much prized: properly trained, they can mount a fearsome attack from the skies. One of Laurence's men must take the beast in hand and join the aviators' cause, thus relinquishing all hope of a normal life.

But when the newly-hatched dragon ignores the young midshipman Laurence chose as its keeper and decides to imprint itself on the horrified captain instead, Laurence's world falls apart. Gone is his golden future: gone his social standing, and soon his beautiful fiancée, as he is consigned to be the constant companion and trainer of the fighting dragon Temeraire…

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I absolutely loved this book, and its sequel Throne of Jade and I am happily going to continue reading this series. It is a really exciting and original idea to have an alternate reality where the Napoleonic wars are fought with dragons and I was hooked from the start. The fantasy aspect weaves itself perfectly with the historical period to the point that it doesn't sound weird after a while that dragons fight alongside humans.

The friendship/love between Temeraire and Laurence is a deep bond of respect and admiration. The writing is beautiful and their feelings leap off the pages. You also kind of want a dragon for yourself, but maybe that's just me. It was utterly refreshing to have a main character very concerned with propriety and being a gentleman while having his life completely changed with the arrival of Temeraire. The interactions between the various social groups seen through Laurence's eyes and how the dynamics evolved throughout the book were fascinating to read. Obviously he's not a perfect character and his views are a little traditional but it's interesting to read about his struggle to adjust to his new life.

I also really loved how the dragons were not treated like mere beasts and had an ever evolving intelligence. They can talk and learn languages and choose their rider. Many other books on dragons have this aspect as well but the relationship between dragon and rider here is less exclusive and closed. There is a whole team taking care of a dragon and each person has a job taking care of the dragon and a duty during a battle. Additionally, even though the book stays close to the cultural aspects of the period for the most part, it also includes some different aspects in the organisation of this alternate society: women can serve in the military because some dragons only accept female riders. There is no princess to be saved in this book and Laurence's very conservative views about women have to evolve. 

There is a lot of action and I particularly enjoyed reading the military combat scenes involving dragons. Aerial combat with dragons is not a simple affair and the depth of detail over each dragon's ability and strengths are amazing. The battle scenes make sense historically which makes this book more of an alternative historical novel than a straightforward fantasy book.

The writing is very good. The story is told in the third person, mostly from Laurence's point of view. I found the descriptions of dragons, places and feelings practically flawless. Even the battle scenes involving dragons appear so realistic that it's as if you're on top of the dragon, holding on to a leather strap.

All in all, I thought it was a deeply original book with an interesting voice and could be a good fit for both fans of fantasy and/or historical fiction.

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The Dragon Whisperer - Lucinda Hare

Summary from Amazon:

Imagine you could talk to dragons...

Quenelda has always had a magical bond with dragons, and her greatest wish is to fly one and fight alongside her father in the war against the hobgoblins.

Root, on the other hand, wishes only to avoid the fearsome creatures, so the role of Quenelda’s esquire is the last thing he needs.

But an unexpected friendship is forged, and when Dragons Dome is besieged by a deadly plot, this unlikely duo must find a way to defeat the dark forces.

Epic battles, whispered legends and soaring magic combine in this breathtaking debut fantasy, with black and white illustrations by David Wyatt.

~~~ 

I'm not sure whether I'll be able to convey with words what I felt reading The Dragon Whisperer and Flight To Dragon Isle. The books were so irresistibly wonderful that I've read them back to back one after the other in a couple of days. I felt like I was ten again and that the universe was just a big adventure waiting to be discovered. This series is an absolutely fantastic story and it brilliantly fills the void left by the end of Harry Potter.

Quenelda is the daughter of the Earl Rufus DeWinter, Commander of the Stealth Dragon Service (SDS), the force composed of humans and dragons fighting in a place where hobglobins threatened the very existence of both species. Quenelda's mother is unknown and her step-brother is arrogant and proud. Unlike other ladies of the Court, Quenelda doesn't care much about etiquette or pretty dresses, she only has eyes for dragons. Quenelda meets Root, a young gnome, who is afraid of dragons but is brave, courageous and a fabulous compagnion who will stay by Quenelda's side. Theirs is a story of true friendship. They are different but are brought together by circumstances and a strong will. When a horrendous plan is put together to overthrow Quenelda's father and hurt the peace created by the SDS, Quenelda doesn't hesitate to act even though she is a girl and still a child.

I absolutely adored the dragons, their names (Two Gulps And You're Gone is the funniest dragon name!) and the way they interacted with Quenelda in particular. Lucinda Hare has created a fantastic world revolving around those fabulous creatures and you can see the passion she has for animals bursting through every page. I really wish this place existed so that I could live there!

It is a beautiful story but there is so much more to it. The story is about being different, about courage, loss, compassion and so many things which makes this series deep without trying to be serious (hence my comparison with Harry Potter). Quenelda and Root, being a girl and a gnome, fight all preconceived notions and prejudice from the entire society to get to what they want.
Quenelda has some spunk and will not let society and tradition dictate her life. Root is a sweetheart and gains confidence in himself by staying with Quenelda. With Quenelda's knowledge, we learn together with Root how to differentiate, love and take care of dragons. You cannot but love the sudden fascination he has for a dragon, Dancing With The Stars!
There is also a mystery surrounding Quenelda's mother and her strange talent with dragons and we keep wanting to know more!

This book is compelling, unputdownable and utterly irresistible. Children of all ages will love the personalities of the characters and the dragons. There are also adorable illustrations in the book so it is a great book for younger readers (and older readers) (much older). It is also a great book for either boys or girls.
They will relate to the characters' story and be shown that you might be small and laughed at by everyone but you still can save the day by pursuing what you feel is right. It is really a fantastic adventure with a lot of action and laughs!

And if you want to discover the first 45 pages of the book, click on the widget below:

 

And if you want to read Lucinda Hare talking about dragons, head over to her guest post here.

 

The Dragon Whisperer by Lucinda Hare | 2009 | Random House Children's Books | Sent to me by the publisher!

Flight To Dragon Isle Blog Tour - Why Dragons? by Lucinda Hare

Hi everyone!

You probably know by now how much I love dragons so I was really excited when I was given the chance to review The Dragonsdome Chronicles! I have read The Dragon Whisperer and Flight To Dragon Isle one after the other in a couple of days and I am dying to read the next book! 

I loved Quenelda as a main character and the evolution she goes through, I also love the dragons and all the world in this book. I think it's a fantastic adventure story for tweens but also for anyone who is a fan of fantasy and dragons in particular! 

But without further ado, let me leave you with the lovely Lucinda Hare who will be talking about why she chose to write about dragons!

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Why dragons?

Dragons!  Mythical, magical, scaled, horned and winged; we love them. They scare us silly, they pose riddles, they sit on mythological piles of gold and nowadays they are our friends, guides and companions.  They’re even cuddly and cute and have learning difficulties.  Dragons exert an enduring glamour to young readers and adults alike.  A tiny bit of our minds rationalise they might have once existed, after all there is hardly a culture on the planet that does not have them embedded in mythology and legend.   Dragons are dinosaurs with wings, and we know dinosaurs existed.  So with so many dragons around, why did I choose dragons in such a crowded marketplace?

Firstly, because these magical creatures live in the imagination of every child on the planet. All over the world legends and myths of dragons exist.  So, no matter where a reader lives, and no matter the animals they have as pets or working animals, or even if they have no pets at all, they can conjure an image of a dragon in their mind. This way no-one is left out of the story.

According to Root, who is Tangnost Bearhugger’s hapless apprentice, dragons, irrespective of breed are a horrifying assortment of teeth, talons, scales and tails.  They can eat you raw or toast you – well, only the carnivores, the battledragons, can toast you, but to Root that is beside the point.

Secondly because I thought I could bring an original idea to the table, a new take on an old favourite.   Dragons are thinking, talking creatures who have a pact with the peoples of the seven Sea Kingdoms to fight their age-long enemy, the amphibious voracious hobgoblins.   And although The Dragonsdome Chronicles are set in a medieval world, the Stealth Dragon Services (the SDS), the elite military fighting force of the Kingdoms are clearly based upon modern armed forces, specifically the Special Air Services.  Dragons take the place of Harrier jump jets, Apache Longbow helicopters and F-22 stealth raptors.  They have dragon pads instead of helicopter pads, they have helmets with integrated comms and heads-up visor displays.  They use modern terminology, strategy and tactics.

Thirdly dragons are not just in the book; they are central characters with wholly individual characters. There are three introduced in The Dragon Whisperer. There is Quenelda’s stocky Sabretooth battledragon, Two Gulps & You’re Gone; Root’s gentle, teasing Chasing The Stars, and the SDS Commander’s huge Imperial Black battledragon, Stormcracker Thundercloud III.  Two Gulps is a proud and boastful cave dragon, he has serious attitude and is temperamental. Chasing The Stars is a Windglen Widdershanks, a mild-mannered herbivore who has a wicked sense of humour and turns out to surprise everyone with her bravery, just like Root does. Stormcracker is the last of the noble dragons, with magic of his own that can make him disappear – hence the ‘Stealth Dragon Services’. Just like breeds of cats, dogs and horses, dragons come in all shapes, sizes and colours.

And finally, because all the dragons in The Dragonsdome Chronicles are inspired by our own large family of rescued animals. A lot of Two Gulps’ character is taken from our huge ginger cat, Rufus, who has serious attitude. I’m the only one who handles him, but when we come home late at night, even if it’s cold and wet, Rufus is there at the end of the path waiting for us. He has a huge cuddly lion which he treadles, so deep inside he’s just a big softie!

The enduring attraction of dragons is that they can fly and that we can fly on them.  Dragons take us to the skies where in reality mankind has only recently achieved that, and we have needed technology to do so.  There is not a creature in the world that can bear us skyward, but dragons can!  Flying dragons gives me great scope for showing how you might learn.  Some people ride horses, others motorbikes, everyone drives cars... but dragons?  Dragons belong to dreams and everyone can dream.  But then how would someone learn?  You can’t just get on a dragon and fly, any more than you could sit behind the wheel of a car and drive.  History can provide the best inspiration.  Once Roman cavalry fought without stirrups; that meant that you were often knocked from your saddle, and if you couldn’t remount you were dead.  So all legionaries had to practice on a wooden horse, a tradition that lives on in modern gymnastics.  So why not a wooden dragon?  With a little creativity to make it go up and down and side to side and spin around, you have a wooden dragon that mimics flying.  In this illustration the esquires are trying to make Root’s life a misery by giving him a saddle that doesn’t fit.

 But...and there is always a but, if you are like Root then you are afraid of heights and you get travel sick, and yes, there is much of me in Root.  I have never grown out of being travel sick.  I hate flying....all that emptiness below, and the slightest turbulence and my stomach rapidly follows suit.   Poor old Root....

The reality is that if we came across a dragon most of us would probably faint, and that is exactly what Root does!   He tries not to be scared.  Even when he is reassured that this girl is not a carnivore and loves her thistles and honey tablets, he finds those teeth and claws a bit too scary.  The fact that Chasing the Stars has a wicked sense of humour doesn’t help.

Of course there are also domestic dragons in the Dragon Whisperer. You meet them in the paddocks of Dragonsdome and at the Winter Jousts. But just because they are placid herbivores does not mean they don't have character. The Windglen Widdershanks gifted to Root has a wicked sense of humour and proves to be feisty and very brave - just like her master! I think Chasing the Stars is my favourite dragon so far.

And then again there is the nitty-gritty of flying.  Glamorous?  Exciting?  Well yes, but those of us who drive motorbikes know that unless you can afford the best kit, the leathers, boots, helmet and gloves, you still get cold and wet, and hanging on the back as pillion passenger when you’re travelling at warp factor nine is exhausting!  And that would be the reality of dragon flying.  But you would still want to give it a go, wouldn’t you?  Well, does the hapless Root?  This final illustration from The Dragon Whisperer gives you a clue, but go on, find out for yourself...because even for adults, dragons rekindle our childhood wonder for the world.   Dragons give us wings.

~~~

I agree! A part of me thinks dragons do exist and that I need to have one :D

Thank you Lucinda for this wonderful post on dragons and a bazillion thank you to RHCB for sending me copies of the books (reviews to come up soon!).

Flight to Dragon Isle is the second book in the Dragonsdome Chronicles published by Random House Children's Books (the first book is The Dragon Whisperer) which you can buy from any bookshop! Also, how beautiful are the covers? Seriously, I want a poster!!

Do not hesitate to visit Lucinda's website as it is full of gorgeous illustrations of the Chronicles made by the author herself!

The Two Pearls Of Wisdom / Eon - Alison Goodman

Adult cover

Young Adult cover

Summary from Amazon:

Under the harsh regime of an ambitious master, candidate Eon is training to become a Dragoneye – a powerful Lord able to master wind and water to protect the land. But Eon also harbours a desperate secret… Eon is, in fact, Eona, a young woman who has endured years of disguise as a boy for the chance to practice the Dragoneye’s Art. In a world where women are only hidden wives or servants, Eona’s dangerous deception is punishable by death. Still in disguise, Eona’s unprecedented talent thrusts her into the centre of a lethal struggle for the Imperial throne. Summoned by the Emperor to the opulent and treacherous Court, Eona must learn to trust her power and find the strength to face a vicious enemy who would seize her magic . . . and her life. Inspired by ancient Chinese lore and sharing the wonders of films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, this thrilling novel is set in a brilliantly envisioned world where both appearances and loyalties can prove so very deceptive…

~~~~ 

This book is like a punch in the gut. Beautifully written and brilliantly crafted, the book tells the tale of young crippled* Eon who hides his identity as a woman to be able to become a Dragoneye. Only men are allowed to be candidates but Eon (Eona) is the most brilliant of all. Not only can Eon feel the dragons and control his Hua the best (energy), but he is the only one who can see all of the dragons as if they were physical beings. 

The plot has the appearance of a coming-of-age adventure of a poor humble child who goes on to save an empire but has in fact strong political and social themes as well as a humanistic approach. Eona's fight and her obligation to transform as a boy in order to have a life is the fight of all women in this world. But the story doesn't only centre on man/woman struggles. The story shows the poverty in some regions of the Empire and the cases of slavery for some people as well as the fight of the less able-bodied (Eona has a crippled leg and her friend Chart has communication issues) to be recognised as proper human beings and not as inferior beings/animals/creatures of the devil.

Eon/Eona is a truly fascinating character. Eon is constantly struggling to bury Eona deeper each day and try to show the world that a cripple can do all these things. Eon's ambition has no end and he will do all it takes to get there. Eon also has a heart and he is generous with people, especially when they don't only see the crippled leg.

All the other characters are multi-layered and have their own private struggle to deal with. I really liked the diversity of characters and loved characters like Lady Della, Chart and Eon who would show that sometimes the outside isn't what is really on the inside. I've always thought that fantasy was a way to talk about reality in other words and I find the characters very realistic and bringing very contemporary themes.

The setting of the story is breathtaking. From the places to the traditions and the organisation of society, Alison Goodman creates a thoroughly and meticulously described painting of Eon's world. The Chinese and Japanese influences are visible but they are masterfully woven with an original fantasy world. The Two Pearls Of Wisdom is one of the most interesting effort to set a fantasy world in an Oriental-inspired world. The cultural aspect is very rich and the whole Empire, with its set of tradition and beliefs is simply flawless. The dragons and the Hua are truly fascinating and the book is a fantastic addition to the genre (as of 2009 of course :) ).




I am literally in love with this book and can't wait to dive into the second book, The Necklace Of The Gods. If you are a fan of fantasy, the originality of the story and the incredible writing and plot will amaze you. Non-fantasy fans may like the writing, the characters and the strong ideas beneath the story. Go read it!

* The word "cripple" has a pejorative sense but is widely used in the book.

The Two Pearls Of Wisdom / Eon | Alison Goodman | 2009 | Bought and read on my kindle

Dragondrums - Anne McCaffrey

I am reviewing Dragondrums as part of the Anne McCaffrey Reading Challenge which I am hosting here!

If you would like more information on the Challenge, check out my post here.

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Each Pern novel can be read as a stand alone, but Dragondrums is the third book in the Harper Hall trilogy so if you want to read the books in the order, head over here and check out my review of the first book of the trilogy, Dragonsong. And head over here instead to read my review of Dragonsinger, the second book in the trilogy.

The story starts at the end of Dragonsinger where Menolly is made a Journeyman. Piemur prepares himself for a big event where he will be the lead singer until his voice breaks and he realises that his one and only ability which made him special has now disappeared.

But Piemur is very far from having just this one ability and Master Robinton knows how precious Piemur is. That is why Piemur is seemingly hired as a drums apprentice when in fact he is asked to becoming the Master Harper's ears and eyes wherever he goes.

I was at first quite disappointed to see that I wouldn't be in Menolly's head anymore. I really loved Piemur but I was so used to see things through Menolly's eyes that I thought I wouldn't be able to like the book. But then Piemur started being Piemur and I couldn't remember why I could have been worried in the first place.

Piemur has always been very cunning and at times manipulative to get what he wants and seeing his reasoning behind his cunning schemes was fantastic. He is a sweetheart and you can't stop laughing at his wild schemes! I think he is one of my favourite characters ever!

It is so heart-breaking when his voice transforms, I could really feel for him, especially with the weight of everyone else's reaction, but thankfully - and quite frankly, in a typical Piemur fashion - he springs out of it and finds something else to do. He has such a great spirit that he sees the positive aspect of things.

I really don't want to spoil the story by telling you what sorts of mischief he conjures up in this book, but I can promise that you won't be disappointed. I thought that my favourite books would be the first ones because they are told by Menolly and because they focus on those gorgeous little things named fire lizards but Dragondrums is such a special story of someone trying to find himself. It is such a wonderful story that I cried at the end because it made me so happy. (I am not even kidding and I understand I am losing all my street cred by confessing this.)

I know these books were published years ago and no one particularly cares to discover Anne McCaffrey's books today when they can read modern stories and such but those stories really hold something others don't and I really can't wait to read all of Anne Mccaffrey's other books (thank God there are so many!). So you need to read those books too! 

This trilogy is one of the best fantasy novels I have ever read. It transports me to a beautifully vivid world and makes me travel alongside amazing characters. Plus now I know that I want a fire lizard as a pet so that's that.

Dragonsinger - Anne McCaffrey

I am reviewing Dragonsinger as part of the Anne McCaffrey Reading Challenge which I am hosting here.

If you would like more information on the Challenge, check out my post here.

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Each Pern novel can be read as a stand alone, but Dragonsinger is the second book in the Harper Hall trilogy so if you want to read the books in the order, head over here and check out my review of the first book of the trilogy, Dragonsong.

 

Dragonsinger starts where Dragonsong ends with Menolly finally accepted in Harper Hall, the school for harpers, with her nine fire lizards. After spending a lifetime in the remote Sea Hold with her family, she has, in a couple of weeks, Impressed nine fire lizards, met the incredible Lessa, seen a dragon hatching and rode on one.  

 

When she starts her classes, Menolly has a hard time adjusting to people being nice to her and to people acknowledging her talent. She has alose issues finding friends among the girls because she is the only girl Apprentice (the other girls are just students and mainly think about which son of lord they would want to marry and pretty dresses). This book shows more and more of Menolly's personality and how she only lives for her music (and her fire lizards!) and how she has issues relating to other people and especially girls. Dragonsinger follows the main theme present in Dragonsong about gender inequality.
 

It's also the first time that Menolly meets strong near-parental figures in Masterharper Robinton and Silvina. They both are patient with her and don't try to restrain her from who she is and what she likes. Obviously, since Menolly has been used to a more strict education, she appears as a very sweet and modest girl, constantly afraid of doing the wrong thing.

I really loved the character of Piemur! He is a very cheeky young boy who befriends Menolly from the beginning and helps her get on with the life in Harper Hall. If there is anything silently whispered in the Hall, you'll be sure that Piemur has heard about it and already started spreading it. He also knows how to bargain and knows how to get what he wants which contrasts with his very young age and size.

 

Menolly meets several teachers who will refine her talent, and their classes seen through Menolly's eyes are fascinating to read. I really think that people who enjoy music should read this book just as much as people who love dragons and fantasy. We really get into the fire lizards singing along to Menolly and I can't imagine how impressive and beautiful it must be.

There are several new characters appearing in this book and I really loved their different personalities and the relations they have to each other.

With Anne McCaffrey, you start reading a book and you end up walking in Pern with your very own Impressed fire lizard on the shoulder and a (yet undiscovered) ability to sing. I love the power of her imagination, the quality of her writing and the importance of the themes she develops behind her stories.

Thanks to Transworld for the copy of the book!

Dragonsong - Anne McCaffrey

I am reviewing Dragonsong as part of the Anne McCaffrey Reading Challenge which I am hosting here.

If you would like more information on the Challenge, check out my post here.

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I cannot even begin to tell you how much I loved reading the Harper Hall trilogy. It has been a pure moment of wonder and pleasure and I am definitely an addict by now (had just finished reading Dragonsong in a sitting that I started Dragonsinger!).

Dragonsong starts with a very descriptive foreword explaining the creation of Pern, the dragons and the existence of Threads (deadly things falling from the Red Star) but as soon as the book starts, Anne McCaffrey's brilliant story-telling gets you hooked to the page.

We follow Menolly living in a remote Sea Hold ruled by her father. Menolly has a very strong passion for music and she has been helping the Hold's Harper Petiron during the last years of his life to teach the children the ballads and instruments. Harpers are very important on Pern, not only do they teach children about the story of the planet, but they also spread news and entertain people in the various places of Pern. Menolly has such a strong passion for music that she regularly invents new tunes and songs. Unfortunately for her, being a Harper is reserved to men only and Menolly's strict father forbids her to play and especially to invent new tunes.

She soon finds life in the Hold unbearable as she gets beaten by her father if he hears her play a tune of her own invention. One day where she finds herself outside of the Hold during Threads, she finds refuge in a cave on the beach where she befriends some fire lizards (very small animals looking like dragons) who don't seem to mind her music as much as people in the Hold. 

Menolly is an amazing character to follow, and I thought her fight to live her music was fascinating to read. One of the biggest themes in the book is the fact that women can't be harpers and how they are only allowed to do a few things. The Hold being very small and remote, the mentalities are very set and Menolly's love for music clashes with the very strict way of living. She is prepared to do all it takes to live her passion. The trilogy is an amazing example of woman empowerement.

The music, in this book and in the others of the Harper Hall trilogy, is the second main character of this book. I found that Menolly's talent and her need to play music is brilliantly portrayed and all along the novel I found myself wanting to hum those tunes alongside her. We'll see more in the second book of the trilogy, Dragonsinger, the importance of harpers in Pern.

The fantasy world is so brilliantly built and vividly described that I could picture each scenes in my head. I really love dragons and most particularly the small fire lizards (I want one!). The relation Menolly has with them is simply adorable!

Menolly lives in a Sea Hold where the community survives on fishing and the description of the every day life in the Hold is very detailed and you can nearly feel the salty wind on your face while reading Anne McCaffrey's words. The hardship of living in such a remote setting explains the personalities and organisation of the people living there and how they contrast with Menolly's.

 

Anne McCaffrey is one of the best fantasy writers of all time and the Harper Hall trilogy, starting with Dragonsong, is a beautiful story of the fight of a musically-gifted girl to play and sing even if it means leaving her family and home. If you are a fan of fantasy, dragons and/or music, this book is definitely for you. Even though the book has been published for the first time in the 1970s, the story hasn't aged one year and readers from all ages will love to discover Menolly and her fire lizards' story.

Thanks to Transworld for providing me a copy of this wonderful book!