Black Powder War (Temeraire, Book 3)
by Naomi Novik
List Price:
Our Price: $2.49
You Save: $5.50 (69%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Naomi NovikEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-05-30
ISBN: 0345481305
Number of pages: 400
Publisher: Del Rey
Book Reviews of Black Powder War (Temeraire, Book 3)
Book Review: Plunge into plenty of warfare and treachery
Summary: 4 Stars
For a long time now, I've been pretty disappointed in what passes for fantasy, that genre of fiction that deals with worlds more imaginative than scientific. I had devoured my fill over the decades, and now, well, everything was starting to read the same. But this summer I found out about Naomi Novik's ongoing series about dragons in an alternate Earth of the Napoleonic Wars.
Three books later, I'm still pretty happy.
Black Powder War picks up right where the previous novel, Throne of Jade left off. A Celestial dragon, Temeraire and his companion, Will Laurence, are still in China, dealing with the changes that Yongxing's conspiracy has wrought, in a brief prolouge, and then they are returning to England and the war in Europe. But a devastating fire on their transport strands them in Macao, and worse still, a message from the Admiralty to go to the Turks in Istanbul to carry three precious dragon eggs to England -- if they can dodge Napoleon's armies in Europe. But without a ship, how are they going to navigate the lands across Asia?
And conveniently too, a guide is available at the moment. Tharkay, half-Asian, half-European, is willing to take on the job, for a price of course. And he doesn't bother to hide his contempt for the English, or indeed, any Europeans either. With Tharkay, and his eagle in hand, Laurence and Temeraire set off across China and the Asian deserts to the subtle, rather byzantine politics of Istanbul, encountering bandits of both the human and dragon variety, and death from both hunger and lack of water.
But when they reach Istanbul, and the Turks, it's going to be a hard lesson in politics and the eastern way of thinking. For it seems that someone has lied to them, in a very devastating way... and there's still Napoleon and his Grande Armee marching to the east and the Russians.
I don't want to go much more into the story, as there is a lot that is covered, and I don't want to give away much more of the plot. I will say that there's hardly a dull moment in this story and the reader doesn't have much time to catch their breath between the varied adventures that Laurence and Temeraire and their crew go through. Along with the martial battles on the air and the ground, quite a bit of skullduggery and sneaking about at night, there are the intrapersonal conflicts as well, especially between Laurence and Tharkay.
There is also Temeraire's determination to change the treatment of dragons in England, where they are treated little better than semi-intelligent creatures, and what he saw in China. And while Laurence can't agree more, he's also far more canny in just how English society works, and fears for that the dragon is setting himself up for disappointment.
Too, the reader is in for a real treat with the antics of the feral pack of dragons led by Arkhady, and the unique twist that is given for the culture of dragons -- this was something that I found to be a very pleasant surprise and a masterful touch in world creation. Finally, there is a new character introduced towards the end, Iskierka, whom I suspect is going to make quite a mark in later novels in the series.
One of the reasons that drew me to the series in the first place was Novik's use of history and historical characters. In Black Powder War, she proves that she knows how to use these twists, and her depictions of warfare are especially chilling at times. Her writing style is certainly improving, and it shows. Her characters are finding their own voices, and proving that they are intricate, complex people.
As a touch of whimsy, she has at the end of the book a letter written by a gentleman to the Royal Society that seeks to prove that dragons are far too inept to understand mathematics. There is also an excerpt from the next novel, Empire of Ivory, which if proves to be true (the author warns the reader that the book is still in the writing stages and could change), promises to be particularly devastating.
These novels do need to be read in order, as the author does not provide either a synopsis or any backtracking in her story to fill in the blanks. They are also rather important blanks, so try not to skip anything.
All in all, I'm hooked on this series, and I am looking forward to the next volume, due in late September. So much so that I've preordered my copy...
Summary of Black Powder War (Temeraire, Book 3)
?A splendid series.??Anne McCaffrey
?Naomi Novik has done for the Napoleonic Wars what Anne McCaffrey did for science fiction: constructed an alternate reality in which dragons are real in a saga that is impressively original, fully developed, and peopled with characters you care about.?
?David Weber, author of the Honor Harrington series
After their fateful adventure in China, Capt. Will Laurence of His Majesty?s Aerial Corps and his extraordinary dragon, Temeraire, are waylaid by a mysterious envoy bearing urgent new orders from Britain. Three valuable dragon eggs have been purchased from the Ottoman Empire, and Laurence and Temeraire must detour to Istanbul to escort the precious cargo back to England. Time is of the essence if the eggs are to be borne home before hatching.
Yet disaster threatens the mission at every turn?thanks to the diabolical machinations of the Chinese dragon Lien, who blames Temeraire for her master?s death and vows to ally herself with Napoleon and take vengeance. Then, faced with shattering betrayal in an unexpected place, Laurence, Temeraire, and their squad must launch a daring offensive. But what chance do they have against the massed forces of Bonaparte?s implacable army?
Literature & Fiction Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Literature & Fiction Books
Little Womenby Louisa May Alcott
Scribner; Published: 1986-06-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
The Killing Groundby JACK HIGGINS
HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS LTD; Published: 2007; Hardcover; Book
Saving Fish from Drowningby Amy Tan
4th Estate; Published: 2005; Paperback; Book
Life Expectancyby Dean Koontz
Harpercollins Pb; Published: 2005-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.00
Constant Princessby Philippa Gregory
Touchstone/Simon & Schuster; Published: 2005; Hardcover; Book
Wolf of the Plains (Conqueror, Book 1)by Conn Iggulden
Harper; Published: 2007; Paperback; Book
Saharaby Clive Cussler
Harper Collins Pb; Published: 2005-03-21; Paperback; Book
Perelandra (Cosmic Trilogy)by C. S. Lewis
Voyager; Published: 2005-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.67
Price in other shops:
The Lord Of The Rings: Part 2 The Two Towersby J. R. R. Tolkien
Harper Collins Publishers; Published: 2001; Paperback; Book
Red Marsby Kim Stanley Robinson
Trafalgar Square; Published: 2001-06; Paperback; Book
Similar Books and other products
Tongues of Serpents: A Novel of Temeraireby Naomi Novik
Del Rey; Published: 2010-07-13; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.98
Price in other shops:
In His Majesty's Serviceby Naomi Novik
Del Rey; Published: 2009-10-27; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
Victory of Eagles (Temeraire, Book 5)by Naomi Novik
Del Rey; Published: 2008-07-08; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $2.43
Price in other shops:
Crucible of Goldby Naomi Novik
Del Rey; Published: 2012-03-06; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.41
Price in other shops:
Throne of Jade (Temeraire, Book 2) Publisher: Del Reyby Naomi Novik
Published: 2007; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.03
His Majesty's Dragon (Temeraire, Book 1)by Naomi Novik
Del Rey; Published: 2006-03-28; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.87
Price in other shops:
Throne of Jade (Temeraire, Book 2)by Naomi Novik
Del Rey; Published: 2006-04-25; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.71
Price in other shops:
Victory of Eagles (Temeraire)by Naomi Novik
Del Rey; Published: 2009-05-19; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.08
Price in other shops:
Empire of Ivory (Temeraire, Book 4)by Naomi Novik
Del Rey; Published: 2007-09-25; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.23
Price in other shops:
Tongues of Serpents: A Novel of Temeraire (Temeraire Series)by Naomi Novik
Del Rey; Published: 2011-06-07; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.27
Price in other shops: