REVIEW: League of Dragons by Naomi Novik
B+ Reviews / Book Reviews / Recommended Readsalternate-reality / dragons / Historical Fantasy / Napoleonic wars / war / War / Military19 Comments
Napoleon’s invasion of Russia has been roundly thwarted. But even as Capt. William Laurence and the dragon Temeraire pursue the retreating enemy through an unforgiving winter, Napoleon is raising a new force, and he’ll soon have enough men and dragons to resume the offensive. While the emperor regroups, the allies have an opportunity to strike first and defeat him once and for all—if internal struggles and petty squabbles don’t tear them apart.
Aware of his weakened position, Napoleon has promised the dragons of every country—and the ferals, loyal only to themselves—vast new rights and powers if they fight under his banner. It is an offer eagerly embraced from Asia to Africa—and even by England, whose dragons have long rankled at their disrespectful treatment.
But Laurence and his faithful dragon soon discover that the wily Napoleon has one more gambit at the ready—one that that may win him the war, and the world.
Dear Ms. Novik,
I’ve been waiting – along with countless others – for this book, the last in the Temeraire series. When I got notification that I’d been approved for the netgalley arc, I did a happy dance. Yet at the same time, I was worried. Would I like it? Would it do justice to the series and characters? What if the finale to these (mostly) beloved books let me down? With fingers crossed, I plunged in.
The action begins during Napoleon’s retreat from Moscow during the brutal Russian winter. It’s a desperate flight, through hideous conditions as the Allies try to capture Napoleon before he can escape back to France, regroup and continue his dreams of European conquest. Needless to say, they fail and know they’re doomed to watch friends die and countries be destroyed. They also begin to realize that Napoleon’s grand plan might see them fighting the dragon populations of their own countries.
Having circled the globe and now approaching England from the East, a quick recap reminds us of what estranged Laurence from his family and caused him and Temeraire to be sent away. During a brief respite, Laurence and Temeraire are entangled in politics as they try to gain better conditions for the Russian dragons and attempt to learn the whereabouts of long ago captured Prussian dragons. Laurence and Hammond – still the weasely politician – are worried about gathering new allies and retaining the ones they have against Napoleon’s inevitable renewal of hostilities and furthering of his ambition.
Temeraire’s efforts bring the Allies an unexpected windfall but that comes with word that his implacable enemy – the death colored Celestial Lien – is seeking revenge on Temeraire which sends him and Laurence out in the face of overwhelming danger: from Russia to Prussia to France to England and back to the Continent for the finale. The action see-saws from bloody battles to the surreal black comedy of a duel which highlights Laurence’s unshakable sense of honor – which over the years we’ve seen get him into and out of trouble even as it has influenced Temeraire’s own behavior.
Iskierka can always be counted on to see the other side of the coin – she’s definitely a “glass half full” dragon and hell bent on getting that other half. When Temeraire is sulking in the depths of his gloom, she’s supremely confident, much to his annoyance. The interplay between these two is always funny. Napoleon is historically accurate but in this alternate reality of dragons, his visionary military genius turns to how best to use dragons not only in combat but also in trade. His visions are tempting to them and Temeraire has to use all his persuasion and debating skills to try and paint a true picture of what life under the Emperor’s Europe would actually mean for dragons. One of the nice bits of the book is seeing Temeraire’s leadership skills keep growing.
It’s also great to see past characters reappear, past events take on importance in this story, past alliances be revisited and Laurence’s honorable actions of the past be rewarded. Perscitia – now elected to Parliament – energetically debates with Temeraire again. The Tswanna who have little cause to trust European powers could tip the balance of the war. Laurence and Temeraire are still mistrusted and even despised by many in the Aerial Corps and who knows whom the feral dragons will cast their lot with. Then there’s a new character who is the despair of Whitehall and her parents with her modern views on eliminating all warfare. Laurence must use all his ingenuity to thwart the recalcitrant captains foisted on him by his own still pissed off Admiralty and he does so with the help of Rothchilds bank, the funds and shipping shares – really.
The end of the war and coming of peace are neatly done with all the blood, suffering and politicking of the real events. The alternate reality of the book is preserved with the Incan and Tswanna characters. I was slightly disappointed in one character who took less part and then departed in a fizzled out manner. There were also some potentially dramatic sections and scenes which had been set up only to have already taken place as the next chapter begins. Still there is peace at last, no major characters die, elements from the whole series are brought together, the dragons have made real gains in their fight for their rights and a potentially worth while future seems to be opening up for Temeraire. All in all, it’s a fitting and well done wrap up to a beloved series. B+
~Jayne
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Temeraire! \0/
Tor.com’s been doing a lovely reread of the entire series, and they’ve got a review post up for this book today as well. I’ve been happily plowing through the last couple of books, trying to get caught up. Just finished Crucible of Gold, and I’ll be starting Blood of Tyrants today, so I can plow straight into League of Dragons.
Does anyone know what Naomi Novik is writing next? Uprooted was a standalone, wasn’t it?
@Angela Korra’ti (Angela Highland): That’s a very nice review up at Tor and I had to laugh when she mentioned so many people stopping after “Tongues of Serpents.”
@Jayne: Ha yeah, that includes me! I’m pretty sure that ToS is why I took so long to get to Crucible of Gold.
Oh, promising! I was a bit lukewarm about this final book, after not really enjoying the more recent ones – good to know you think it’s a good wrap-up.
@Janine: Yes, I recall her saying UPROOTED was a standalone. No idea what she’s working on now though.
@Angela Korra’ti (Angela Highland): Yeah, it was absolutely “grit my teeth and get through it” for most of the book.
@Jayne: Seriously! One great big long string of “yes yes yes we all know they aren’t staying in Australia so can we get back to FIGHTING NAPOLEON NOW PLZ?” XD
Crucible of Gold, which I just finally finished last night, was very satisfying though. And I’ve just started Blood of Tyrants and am full of the AUGH for the opening chapters.
@Li: I do think Novik did a great job revisiting past characters and events without bogging this story down. It’s kind of fun to say, “Oh yeah, I remember that, or her, or when this happened.” It brings those past books to mind but not in a “buy it bait” kind of way.
Sold . I am two or three books behind and was not that eager to get to them honestly but want to read the finale anyway. Thanks Jayne.
I stopped at Tongue of Serpents – I read so many negative reviews and I didn’t love the previous book, so I didn’t even bother reading it.
That said, I didn’t read this review because the grade makes me think I might want to actually read it and I don’t want spoilers. I’m very tempted to just read the tor.com recap of ToS and skip to the next book.
I have been so anxious for this book to arrive. I have confession to make: as soon as it downloaded at 12:24 this morning I went straight to the ending to make sure everything turned out OK. (Yes, I’m one of those people.) Squeee. Now that my heart is at ease, I’m going to save it for this weekend. I’ve listened to all of the books on audio, so I’ll be spending the weekend with Temeraire, Simon Vance (narrator), and Hector the Cat. Nobody had better call or text for the duration!
I have to confess that this is a series that I had trouble getting into at first despite the fact that it ticks a lot of the right boxes for me. And I continued with trepidation knowing that there were books later in the series that a lot of other readers had problems with. But switching to audiobooks made all the difference to me and I even enjoyed TOS! I highly recommend this format to others.
I’ve loved this series and I’m sad to be saying goodbye to Temeraire and company, but it’s a happy sad.
@Susan: I didn’t peek at first but about a third of the way into the book, I confess that I did too. Reassured that no one dies – heck, even Lien survives – I could relax. ;)
I am one of those people too Susan :-). Was in Barnes and Nobles yesterday , could not buy hardcover but definitely checked out the ending :-).
@cleo: Truth? I think you can skip/read the recap of ToS and do fine with the rest of the series. About the only thing to get from it is the fact that if an island is far enough from any mainland, dragons can’t fly to or from it. And the only reason that’s important in the last book is due to Lien and Napoleon’s exile at the end. (And I don’t really consider this a spoiler since that’s what really happened to Napoleon in real life)
I skimmed yesterday to make sure that nobody I care for died. I know this is officially the final book but I hope Novik visits these characters eventually again. I love precious Temeraire and uptight and honorable to a fault Laurence and this whole series, even the much disliked Tongue Of Serpents. I know somebody who is a Tharkay/Laurence shipper and she is mighty pleased now.
These books are very emotional but they are also very funny. I have disliked very few characters in these books and Napoleon was the adversary but not the villain, which I thought was done right by Novik.
@Jayne – thanks!
@marion: I have no idea what Novik is writing next or if she’ll ever return to this world but, this book does end with some intriguing possibilities that could be explored further, methinks. Or maybe she was just bringing the series to a close with some open-ended possibilities for our heroes while not trying every thread into a stranglehold knot. Allowing readers to use their imaginations, as it were. Who knows …
@Jayne: Given that Novik comes out of a fanfic background, it would not surprise me in the slightest if she’s left in some plothooks for fanficcers to play with now that the series is done. ^_^
@Jayne: Yes, I want to see Temeraire in Parliament. I thought the ending was good and mostly satisfying – but too short. I wanted to see more of these characters at peace.