 |
| Image credit: eBay |
Captain Will Laurence, formerly of His Majesty’s Navy, has
adjusted to life in the British Aeiral Corps and now cannot imagine a life
without his draconic companion, the Celestial Temeraire. But trouble is afoot.
Prince Yongxing from China has been sent to demand the return of Temeraire to
his homeland and, in an effort to try and obtain peaceful relations with the eastern
Empire, Laurence and Temeraire are set to embark on a several month-long
journey to China, knowing that when they reach the exotic east they could be separated
forever.
In book one the bond between Laurence and Temeraire was
established, now we see it put under strain as the world gets bigger and Temeraire
begins to learn more about its various natures, cultures, and human behaviours.
For a series that is about a historic war with the added fantastical element of
dragons, the Temeraire series travels at a reasonably leisurely pace with
the majority of the drama manifesting itself in the form of emotional espionage,
blackmail, and manipulation, with some very cool battle sequences thrown in. In
Throne of Jade the central drama comes from Temeraire’s curious nature being
molded, sometimes malevolently, by the experience of seeing slave labour, the
difference in the treatment of dragons in the East and West, new cuisines, and being
back amongst his own family. While Temeraire’s horizons are being expanded,
Laurence’s are shrinking as he is torn between duty to his country and duty to
his closest friend, as well as a number of sinister attempts on his life.
Things take a slightly political turn, but not in a boring
way. As I mentioned before, most of the intrigue stems from ethical and
emotional dramas that occur in the enemy’s trying to sever the bond between
Laurence and Temeraire. Readers are then rewarded for their perseverance with
some truly great battle sequences that are rich in gory imagery and action.
Things get a little more violent and intense, but then there are some beautiful
scenes that describe the grandeur and gorgeousness of China that wash away the metallic
taste of bloodshed.
In terms of character development, we see the most change in
Temeraire. Still a relatively young dragon, his curious and naïve mind
that so bewitched us in the first book, is subjected to an overload of new senses
and experiences and there is something of the father-and-pre-pubescent offspring
in the dynamic of his and Laurence’s relationship. A time ripe for any attempts
to create tension between the two and draw them apart from each other. But the fiercely
loyal nature of Temeraire is also flexing here and it’s really lovely to see
what conclusions he draws from his experiences and how he plans to apply them
to life moving forward.
 |
| Image credit: NPR |
Admittedly I didn’t find Throne of Jade as engaging as the first book, but I chalk that up to the first having the added bonus of being the novelty of a new series, a story that my recently departed grandmother would have loved, and it acutely reminding me of Tamora Pierce books. Now the true pace and tone of the series has settled in and I am still absolutely here for it: a wartime saga dealing with the emotional trials of the trade rather than another epic fantasy filled with battles and spoils. Time to go online and get the next instalment…
Author: Naomi Novik, 2006
Published: First published in Great Britain by
HarperCollinsPublishers. Pictured edition published by HarperVoyager, London,
2007
Throne of Jade is the second book in Naomi Novik’s
Temeraire series. Its predecessor is Temeraire.
No comments:
Post a Comment