Tongues of Serpents

Temeraire, Book 6

By: Naomi Novik

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

A dazzling blend of military history, high-flying fantasy, and edge-of-your-seat adventure, Naomi Novik’s Temeraire novels, set in an alternate Napoleonic era in which intelligent dragons have been harnessed as weapons of war, are more than just perennial bestsellers—they are a worldwide phenomenon. Now, in Tongues of Serpents, Naomi Novik is back, along with the dragon Temeraire and his rider and friend, Capt. Will Laurence.

Convicted of treason despite their heroic defense against Napoleon’s invasion of England, Temeraire and Laurence—stripped of rank and standing—have been transported to the prison colony at New South Wales in distant Australia, where, it is hoped, they cannot further corrupt the British Aerial Corps with their dangerous notions of liberty for dragons. Temeraire and Laurence carry with them three dragon eggs intended to help establish a covert in the colony and destined to be handed over to such second-rate, undesirable officers as have been willing to accept so remote an assignment—including one former acquaintance, Captain Rankin, whose cruelty once cost a dragon its life.

Nor is this the greatest difficulty that confronts the exiled dragon and rider: Instead of leaving behind all the political entanglements and corruptions of the war, Laurence and Temeraire have instead sailed into a hornet’s nest of fresh complications. For the colony at New South Wales has been thrown into turmoil after the overthrow of the military governor, one William Bligh—better known as Captain Bligh, late of HMS Bounty. Bligh wastes no time in attempting to enlist Temeraire and Laurence to restore him to office, while the upstart masters of the colony are equally determined that the new arrivals should not upset a balance of power precariously tipped in their favor.

Dragon tales: don't miss the rest of the Temeraire series.

©2010 Temeraire, LLC (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

"The characters are as riveting as ever, the setting is new but convincing, and the plot, with its first-class balancing of Laurence's and Temeraire's internal and external struggles, shows Novik's continued excellence as a novelist." ( Booklist)

Outstanding

This series is one of the best II have ever Read. I am in the process of listening to the entire series even though I have read each book already. I find the performance by Simon Vance to also be amount the best. Very well done everyone.

Didn't drop the excitement for me

I know many people have felt this book was a disappointment compared to the rest of the series and that it didn't go anywhere. While I would be dissatisfied with the book if this was to be the end of the series, it is not and I believe leads to numerous possibilities in the last few books yet to be released (and some not yet written). The addition of several new dragons and foreign lands was enough to keep me engaged and I am terribly sad to know that I will have to wait at least a year before the next book is published and released. BOO! "I want more Temeraire daddy and I want it now!"

If you liked the series up till now, give this book a try and once again, Simon Vance rises to favorite reader status in my book.

Good, but where is it going...

I am conflicted on this review. I liked the book, it was good, but it seemed to have no point. This is not necessarily a bad thing. I like the characters, the setting, and I am content to listen to an "Adventure in the Life of Temeraire" story. That being said, I felt like the previous books were going somewhere, and this one seems to have no ultimate vector. If this is what the author intends, I can live with it, but I noticed a difference in the story. I will see what happens with the next few books, which I still intend on reading/listening.

Another Winner!

LOVE Simon Vance! Able to flesh out all of the characters with just his voice- he has a real gift. More, more, More!!!n

Breadth and depth.

A good story on its own and as an addition to the series.
I liked the widening arc of the story and the focus on the characters, both human and dragon. It is interesting the choices they make when there are no perfect answers. Lawrence is further and further from England and so too further from clearly established lines of precedent. We continue to watch the characters as they progress through moral quandaries and physical challenges.
Good for all ages.

Wonderful reading

I love listening to the books. Mr Vance does a wonderful job, although he does forget which character he's reading for on occasion but it does not last long. I also think the female parts should be read by a female but Mr Vance does a wonderful job of these parts as well. As for the books themselves so far they're absolutely wonderful!

still good

This book wasn't quite as good as some of the others, but it was still very entertaining. the addition of more mythological creatures from Australia was very neat.

Serpents

If you could sum up Tongues of Serpents in three words, what would they be?

very imagnitive, adventurous

Which scene was your favorite?

when the dragons found the pavillion with the nearly newly hatched dragon from the stolen egg.

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

yes, was very disturbed by the reaction of some of the british navel officers when things were not going their way.

Any additional comments?

It is an extremely interesting series. I keep rooting for Lawrence and Tameria and hoping in the end they will be aquitted of all the charges that are against them.

Temeraire

I love the Temeraire series and the performance of narrator Simon Vance. I look forward to more from Naomi Novik.

Still going strong

The series continues this cleverly imagined world of dragons in Napoleonic times. An easy listen.