His Majesty's Dragon

Temeraire, Book 1

By: Naomi Novik

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors rise to Britain's defense by taking to the skies - not aboard aircraft but atop the mighty backs of fighting dragons.

When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes its precious cargo - an unhatched dragon egg - fate sweeps Captain Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature.

Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France's own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte's boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into a baptism of fire.

Don't miss the rest of the Temeraire series: Book 2: Throne of Jade and Book 3: Black Powder War.

©2006 Naomi Novik (P)2007 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

2007, New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age

amazing

this young woman has peaked both my historical and fantasy sides. this has to be one of the best books I have read or listened to in many months
Congrats please bring us more

Jane Austen rides a dragon.

My favorite book this last quarter is His Majesty's Dragon, by Naomi Novik,
hands down. I am not a regency era expert (see my comparison of Jane Austen
and J. R. R. Tolkien), but the banter between characters, the careful phrasing, the pacing, and the social intrigue all felt very much like an
Austen novel. Then add intelligent dragons and the Napoleonic wars. As with Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan and the general steampunk genre, I was dubious about this book. At first glance, mixing dragons and Jane seems like a stretch.

Or perhaps a pulled muscle.

But Novik's style reduces the sensationalism without killing the magic. The characters have some depth, the dialogue is tasteful, and the action scenes are laden with layered meaning. The story sails by in a blink, and I didn't
bat an eye when my kids asked to listen in. Only the ending felt rushed, as if the regency muse stepped out for a tea break while Novik was penning the last few pages.

Good story, makes you want a dragon

Good story, with a new take on dragons and their companions. Will definately listen to the next book.

book 1 Temeraire

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes to those who like the fantasy of dragons. The story keeps the imagination going.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Captain Lawrence. He is portaid as a gentleman. A man that would defend the honor of another life.

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

Yes, very much so. He makes a person believe the characters are alive.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me want to continue to find out what happnes next in the story.

Surprisingly enjoyable

Although I am not overly fond of the time era or naval/arial combat, it is made up by how wonderful the bond between Temeraire and Laurence is.

Temeraire is as forward and blunt as I could hope any dragon would be. He speaks his mind and is clear about it if he does not like or understand something.

The narrator is pleasant to listen to, although some of the female voices do throw me off a bit. I feel they are too thin or tinny at times, although passable at others.

I am eager to listen to the other books in the series.

Wonderfully entertaining

Would you consider the audio edition of His Majesty's Dragon to be better than the print version?

The print version is better than the audio version but the audio is still an enjoyable listen. The story is terrific and I enjoyed all the characters. Some reviewers find them, Laurence in particular, to be one dimensional. I can't disagree but I don't really find that a flaw in a book of this type.

How could the performance have been better?

Unfortunately the performance of this book is not good. The story itself is wonderful and Simon Vance does a great job with the human characters but the voice he uses for Temeraire is dreadful. In the book the dragon is youthful, intelligent, lively and outgoing. Vance reads him in a flat, monotonous voice with no character. The situation is not helped by the weird accent he adopts for the dragon.

Any additional comments?

I am not sure I will continue with the audio versions of these books as I find the voice for Temeraire to be so awful as to be distracting but that is the only flaw I have, so if you are not bothered by it then by all means purchase them all. The stories are great and with the exception of the dragon voice so is the performance.

A page turner.

Would you listen to His Majesty's Dragon again? Why?

Every character and setting comes alive. Every plot turn suprises you and every dragon battle is intense. I am trying not to spoil anything. Just read it.

What did you like best about this story?

Its the most engrossing book and book series I have read since I was a child.

Which scene was your favorite?

Its like the pringles of books. You just can't pick one.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes but I won't spoil it.

Any additional comments?

Read this book and series.

great pacing, a fun take on captain aubrey

Disclaimer: huge Aubrey/Maturin fan.
The Yellow Admiral sat on my desk half read for several years as I couldn't face the fact that the series was drawing to a close.
Brilliant merger of dragons and frigates.

Thanks for rekindling the spark.

Relax and Enjoy

This is a tale of war and its socially elite sailor/aviator warriors, told with a genteel female narrative voice. An encomium to archaic gentlemanly behavior, happy obedience and anthropocentric but joyful enslavement of sentient beings. The dragons’ in vivo language learning and cognitive development defies credulity (hence fantasy). Has the feel of a dragon story by Paolini, Wrede & McCaffrey, of steampunk by Westerfeld (Leviathan) & Oppel (Airborne), and of the human-beast psychology in Funke (Dragon Rider), Collins (Gregor the Overlander), & Cowell (How-to …). A feel-good story about life as it ought to be, filled with cardboard characters and with apologies to anyone not British, especially the French. Hoping the next 8 books are better.

Can't stop listening!

I have come back to this Inteligent, exceptionally well written and narrated series a few times now and each time it thrills, captivates and makes me long for it to be true and Temerere and Lawrence dear friends.