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I finished "His Majesty's Dragon" earlier today (after having only spent a day and a half reading it), and I bloody well devoured it!
Well written, and a quite original idea made me just love it!
I've purchased book 2 "Throne of Jade" about ten minutes ago and can't wait to sink my teeth in.
Seriously, I've been looking for some new stuff for a few weeks and this one was on my to do list and I am SO glad I did.
Next up in my pile (after the rest of the Temeraire series) are "The Eye of Heaven" by David Keck and one I am really SALIVATING over reading "The Lies of Locke Lamora" by Scott Lynch (which I read the prologue for in the bookstore and loved bigtime!)
Naomi Novik's Temeraire series
#1
QuickTidal 
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Posted 11 July 2006 - 10:14 PM
"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
#2
Dr Trouble
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Posted 12 July 2006 - 02:06 AM
I had a dream last night that she died. Which is all the more weirder because I haven't read her books.
I will now though.
I will now though.
#3
Mane of Chaos
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Posted 12 July 2006 - 06:52 AM
I too enjoyed the book very much. It was very refreshing and original. I actually won it in a contest on harpercollinspublishers' site, so I didn't even have to pay for it.
#5
Werthead
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Posted 12 July 2006 - 07:10 PM
There does seem to be a growing consensus that the second book is not as good as the first. And the first, although enjoyable, was a bit lightweight and possibly disposable.
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#6
werewolfv2
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Posted 13 July 2006 - 03:39 AM
neither are fancy or deep. they both are very much fun reads though.... the main complaint about book 2 that Ive heard is that its "to much like O'Brian (exact quote)" in the sense allot takes place at sea.....
Book 2 wasnt as good as 1, but it was fairly close. Im on to book 3 shortly
(gotta read some O'Brian 1st....really..)
Book 2 wasnt as good as 1, but it was fairly close. Im on to book 3 shortly
(gotta read some O'Brian 1st....really..)
#7
QuickTidal
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Posted 13 July 2006 - 06:00 PM
I think it's kinda good actually that the second book takes place at sea alot (the main meat of it seems to anyway), as it adds a new dynamic, as we only saw Temeraire and Laurence at sea in the first really only at the beginning on the Reliant. So it gives us a bit of a different setting, and so far I am quite enjoying it. You can try to tell me that your heart didn't soar when they were being attacked by the french and the Fleur De Nuit in the pitch black moonless night and Temeraire was having trouble and all of the sudden Dulcia and Nitidus swoop in for the day saving.....but I wouldn't believe you, cause anyones heart would soar at that.
I will say this. I like the main human characters, but I am almost more endeared to the dragons!
I know it is lighthearted fare, and I believe that is the point, this is O'Brien-esque sea stuff, mixed with Napoleonic war, mixed with a Jane Austen-ish class system and the dialogue to boot.
It's a GREAT fun read.
I will say this. I like the main human characters, but I am almost more endeared to the dragons!
I know it is lighthearted fare, and I believe that is the point, this is O'Brien-esque sea stuff, mixed with Napoleonic war, mixed with a Jane Austen-ish class system and the dialogue to boot.
It's a GREAT fun read.
"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
#8
pat5150
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Posted 16 July 2006 - 02:19 AM
I really enjoyed all three books, and I'm looking forward to the fourth volume. Nothing grand, I agree, but extremelly fun and entertaining. To me, those books were like a breath of a fresh air blowing on the fantasy genre, and I think that's why they're turning out to be so popular.
Will we still be talking about them a decade from now? Hard to stay. But they are certainly making some noise at the moment.
Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
Will we still be talking about them a decade from now? Hard to stay. But they are certainly making some noise at the moment.
Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
#9 Guest_Jay Tomio_*
Posted 16 July 2006 - 12:59 PM
I thought the first book presented intriguing possibilites which the subsequent two books simply didn't build on. It just has no soul.
If a book loses all consequence the moment you finish reading it, I have to consider it a failure. An out of site, out of mind book just doesn't appeal to me (although some I'm told prefer it)
This is interesting because although I thought Keck's debut was horrendous it shows I look forward to continuing this series more than I do Novik's books (I talked about Keck's book elsewhere here). I thought The Lies of Locke Lamora was simply brilliant and supercedes both by a huge margin.
If a book loses all consequence the moment you finish reading it, I have to consider it a failure. An out of site, out of mind book just doesn't appeal to me (although some I'm told prefer it)
Quote
Next up in my pile (after the rest of the Temeraire series) are "The Eye of Heaven" by David Keck and one I am really SALIVATING over reading "The Lies of Locke Lamora" by Scott Lynch (which I read the prologue for in the bookstore and loved bigtime!)
This is interesting because although I thought Keck's debut was horrendous it shows I look forward to continuing this series more than I do Novik's books (I talked about Keck's book elsewhere here). I thought The Lies of Locke Lamora was simply brilliant and supercedes both by a huge margin.
#10
QuickTidal
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Posted 18 July 2006 - 09:11 PM
Okay, having now finished all three Temeraire books (out so far anyway), I can honestly say that the second does indeed drag a great deal, but other than that it was still pretty decent....but Black Powder War was much better, and left me wanting more at the end (bloody cliffhanger-esque 3rd book).....I didn't realize there wasd to be more, but nearning the end of it, I felt like I do at the tail end of an hour long tv series...and I thought, oh man, they can't wrap this up in ten minutes!
Anyways, great stuff!
Am 50 odd pages into "The Lies of Locke Lamora"now and I am LOVING it so far.
Anyways, great stuff!
Am 50 odd pages into "The Lies of Locke Lamora"now and I am LOVING it so far.
"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
#11
Deornoth
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Posted 01 August 2006 - 01:30 PM
I've only read the first two books but would have to agree with others...
Book 1: A fun read, really enjoyed it but only bought the second book because of the cliff hanger 'taster' thing at the back.
Book 2: So-so. It didn't just drag during the sea journey, it dragged the rest of the time as well! Not a bad book but definitely not as good as the first.
I will probably buy 'Black Powder War' just to see how it all ends though
Book 1: A fun read, really enjoyed it but only bought the second book because of the cliff hanger 'taster' thing at the back.
Book 2: So-so. It didn't just drag during the sea journey, it dragged the rest of the time as well! Not a bad book but definitely not as good as the first.
I will probably buy 'Black Powder War' just to see how it all ends though
#12
caladanbrood
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Posted 13 February 2007 - 09:13 PM
o...k... then.
So should I just post exactly the same thing in here, or are you going to lock this one too?
So should I just post exactly the same thing in here, or are you going to lock this one too?
O xein', angellein Lakedaimoniois hoti têde; keimetha tois keinon rhémasi peithomenoi.
#13
Morgoth
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Posted 13 February 2007 - 10:38 PM
Continue this cheekyness and I might:p
Sorry about that, I agree it was not necessary to force you over in this thread, but since we're already here ...
.. And I didn't like the series at all
Sorry about that, I agree it was not necessary to force you over in this thread, but since we're already here ...
.. And I didn't like the series at all
Take good care to keep relations civil
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To speak friendly, Even to the devil
It's decent in the first of gentlemen
To speak friendly, Even to the devil
#14
caladanbrood
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Posted 13 February 2007 - 10:43 PM
Any particular reason? I agree it's very light, but thats what made it enjoyable, personally - most of the stuff I've been reading lately has been a bit hard going. Any other critisisms?
O xein', angellein Lakedaimoniois hoti têde; keimetha tois keinon rhémasi peithomenoi.
#15
Morgoth
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Posted 13 February 2007 - 10:48 PM
,,,no?
heh, I don't know to be honest.. The book was a bit too simple.. a bit too predictable for my taste. I generaly need to surprised, and Novik didn't really manage that
heh, I don't know to be honest.. The book was a bit too simple.. a bit too predictable for my taste. I generaly need to surprised, and Novik didn't really manage that
Take good care to keep relations civil
It's decent in the first of gentlemen
To speak friendly, Even to the devil
It's decent in the first of gentlemen
To speak friendly, Even to the devil
#16
caladanbrood
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Posted 13 February 2007 - 10:53 PM
Yeah, fair enough.
Spoiler
but apart from that it was pretty easy to see what was coming.
O xein', angellein Lakedaimoniois hoti têde; keimetha tois keinon rhémasi peithomenoi.
#17
Tsundoku
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Posted 14 February 2007 - 10:14 AM
I enjoyed all 3. Light, but fun. Very easy to read. I don't need complexity with everything I read.
It's kind of like my taste in movies - sometimes you just feel the need to watch cineplex fodder, other times you want something that makes you think a lot.
Cheers,
La Sombra, still thinks the 4 scariest words in movies are "A Michael Bay film"
It's kind of like my taste in movies - sometimes you just feel the need to watch cineplex fodder, other times you want something that makes you think a lot.
Cheers,
La Sombra, still thinks the 4 scariest words in movies are "A Michael Bay film"
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#18
Cause
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Posted 14 February 2007 - 01:16 PM
I liked the first one. Have been unable to find the others in any bookstore. Its strange since I saw them when I picked up the first but now books two and three have disapeared from all the shelves.
One thing that bugged me though is dragons should not be able to fly and something needed to explain it. Especially as they carry tons of armour, men and bombs aswell. But the explanation given lighter than air gas pockets is madness. I would have preffered it remained unexplained than have it be so poorly thought out
One thing that bugged me though is dragons should not be able to fly and something needed to explain it. Especially as they carry tons of armour, men and bombs aswell. But the explanation given lighter than air gas pockets is madness. I would have preffered it remained unexplained than have it be so poorly thought out
#20
QuickTidal
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Posted 20 May 2007 - 01:53 PM
Cause;159330 said:
I liked the first one. Have been unable to find the others in any bookstore. Its strange since I saw them when I picked up the first but now books two and three have disapeared from all the shelves.
One thing that bugged me though is dragons should not be able to fly and something needed to explain it. Especially as they carry tons of armour, men and bombs aswell. But the explanation given lighter than air gas pockets is madness. I would have preffered it remained unexplained than have it be so poorly thought out
One thing that bugged me though is dragons should not be able to fly and something needed to explain it. Especially as they carry tons of armour, men and bombs aswell. But the explanation given lighter than air gas pockets is madness. I would have preffered it remained unexplained than have it be so poorly thought out
You're arguing semantics about a book in which dragons exist.
It's like when Roger Ebert said he didn't like the second Mummy film because he didn't think they could outrun the rising of the sun like they did....and I emailed him and asked why he was arguing for plausibility in a movie where they've raised a mummy from the dead...
"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon
