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missroseroseI've been a fan of this series from the start, even if I did think the third book (Black Powder War) dipped a little in terms of quality. The others have all been excellent, however, serving up some surprisingly-well-thought-out alternative-military-history with a good dose of character development seasoned with a soupcon of social conscience.
This one, however, manages to excel even past the series' already high expectations. Laurence, having in the last book followed the dictates of his conscience and his stiff neck both even unto arguable treason, spends much of this book in limbo both legal and moral: questioning his actions, his social role, his sense of responsibility, and even his identity. For all that his decision appeared clear-cut in the moment, in retrospect Laurence begins to see that things might have been a little murkier. Was there not a more discreet means of accomplishing the same goal? Given the backlash against not just him, but his family and crew and all who associated with him, was his painfully public one-man-against-the-government action justified? In light of new knowledge of the state of England's affairs, would he still have done the Right Thing? It is to Novik's credit that she manages to maintain the Right Thing's status as an absolute while still exploring circumstances that lend the situation rather more complexity than Laurence (and we, as his audience) saw in the moment.
Temeraire, meanwhile, finally sees (and seizes) the opportunity for some progress on his cause of advancing dragons' rights and personhood. While he spends a lot less time in existential angst than Laurence, he still does a goodly amount of growing-up, both in the sense of taking on responsibility and in learning from his mistakes. I was also pleased to see Tharkay, who started as an irritatingly vague "mysterious outsider" character, come into further development as a foil for Laurence, as someone who exists outside society and therefore enjoys none of its indulgences, but who is also free of any particular social responsibility that he does not care to explicitly shoulder - a position Laurence for once sees as somewhat enviable.
This all sounds like some rather ambitious thematic material for a series that is, at its essence, Patrick O'Brien With Dragons, but it's adroitly handled, and lends depth and atmosphere to what might otherwise become a same-y sort of military fantasy story. Fear not, however - the delightful inter-character banter and impressive battle sequences that have characterized the series are still very present, and the whole makes for a fine distraction even for those uninterested in ruminating over the story's chewier themes. A
This one, however, manages to excel even past the series' already high expectations. Laurence, having in the last book followed the dictates of his conscience and his stiff neck both even unto arguable treason, spends much of this book in limbo both legal and moral: questioning his actions, his social role, his sense of responsibility, and even his identity. For all that his decision appeared clear-cut in the moment, in retrospect Laurence begins to see that things might have been a little murkier. Was there not a more discreet means of accomplishing the same goal? Given the backlash against not just him, but his family and crew and all who associated with him, was his painfully public one-man-against-the-government action justified? In light of new knowledge of the state of England's affairs, would he still have done the Right Thing? It is to Novik's credit that she manages to maintain the Right Thing's status as an absolute while still exploring circumstances that lend the situation rather more complexity than Laurence (and we, as his audience) saw in the moment.
Temeraire, meanwhile, finally sees (and seizes) the opportunity for some progress on his cause of advancing dragons' rights and personhood. While he spends a lot less time in existential angst than Laurence, he still does a goodly amount of growing-up, both in the sense of taking on responsibility and in learning from his mistakes. I was also pleased to see Tharkay, who started as an irritatingly vague "mysterious outsider" character, come into further development as a foil for Laurence, as someone who exists outside society and therefore enjoys none of its indulgences, but who is also free of any particular social responsibility that he does not care to explicitly shoulder - a position Laurence for once sees as somewhat enviable.
This all sounds like some rather ambitious thematic material for a series that is, at its essence, Patrick O'Brien With Dragons, but it's adroitly handled, and lends depth and atmosphere to what might otherwise become a same-y sort of military fantasy story. Fear not, however - the delightful inter-character banter and impressive battle sequences that have characterized the series are still very present, and the whole makes for a fine distraction even for those uninterested in ruminating over the story's chewier themes. A
