Crucible of Gold

Starred review from January 2, 2012
In a delightful return to form, British aviator William Laurence and his dragon companion, Temeraire, are recalled from Australian exile (described in 2010’s Tongues of Serpents) for their seventh adventure. In the Incan Empire, European plagues have devastated the human population, and dragons have taken charge. As the Inca empress considers a personal and political alliance with Napoleon, British dragon Iskierka promotes her captain, Granby, as a marital alternative—very much against his will. Meanwhile, the African Tswana tribe have begun raiding Brazil to rescue black slaves with French help, putting British abolitionist Laurence in an uncomfortable position. While delivering an absorbing adventure complete with shipwreck, mutiny, field surgery, and a difficult journey across a strange new land, Novik weaves in complex moral questions about the blurry line between freedom and possession on personal and societal scales. This is a must-read for series fans and an intriguing fantasy story in its own right. Agent: Cynthia Manson, the Cynthia Manson Literary Agency.

March 15, 2012
After a brief hiatus (Tounges of Serpents, 2010, etc.), Novik continues the globetrotting, alternate-Napoleonic-era adventures of Captain William Laurence and his Chinese Celestial dragon Temeraire. Previously, Laurence was convicted of treason and transported for preventing the British from infecting the enemy French dragons with a fatal disease. As this volume opens, ambassador Arthur Hammond ends Laurence's Australian exile, restoring his commission and appointing him to negotiate with a force of African dragons sent by Napoleon to Brazil. Along the way, Laurence and his companions endure shipwreck, capture, stranding on an island and a desperate journey through the Incan Empire (the local dragons prevented the conquistadors from succeeding in this universe, although the smallpox they left behind has proved fairly devastating). While there is some intriguing but sadly limited time spent examining the differing political, societal and spiritual roles played by dragons in various cultures, most of the plot is devoted to nonstop action. Underneath it all, however, Novik is ambitiously exploring what it is to be a moral man in a world where such a quality is considered inconvenient at best; a man who, despite the powerful leverage provided by his dragon, may never be able to fully triumph over rampant corruption and petty opportunism. In some ways, a repeat of what's gone before, but despite that, thoughtful, good fun.

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March 15, 2012

Loyal fans of Novik's sprawling Napoleonic alternate history epic (Her Majesty's Dragon; Throne of Jade) featuring the dragon Temeraire and his rider Captain Will Laurence will be relieved to see signs that the story is drawing toward its conclusion. Laurence's rank in the air corps is restored in a bid to lure him out of retirement to negotiate with the Tswana, who have allied with the French to get their enslaved brethren back. The Inca become involved, and then things really get complicated. Temeraire's dragon companions from Her Majesty's Dragon return, and their final surprise destination indicates that still more old companions will be drawn into the eventual resolution. VERDICT This solid installment will not disappoint existing fans and fantasy readers who enjoy Patrick O'Brian's Age of Sail novels, but it will baffle new readers unfamiliar with the series's story line.--Meredith Schwartz, Library Journal

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2012
At the end of Tongues of Serpents (2010), Temeraire fans were left wondering if they would ever be able to return to the war with Napoleon. When Hammond, their old friend and ambassador to China, arrives with an urgent message that Napoleon is attempting to open a new front in South America, Temeraire, Captain Laurence, and the few remaining crew members set off; the lure of being reinstated pleases Temeraire, but Laurence goes only out of duty to crown and country. Napoleon, it turns out, has enlisted the Africans from Empire of Ivory (2007), who have not only retaken colonial outposts in Africa but are now in Brazil on a no-holds-barred quest to find their lost family members. With the sailors on the dragonship transport nearly all impressed former criminals with little training or discipline, Temeraire wonders if they have any hope of reaching their destination in South America in time. Readers who persevere past the slow start will be satisfied, and an exciting, cliff-hanger finale will leave them clamoring for the next installment.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)