Throne of Jade

In the first book in this series, a combination of historical fiction and fantasy, Captain Will Laurence captures a dragon egg that was a gift to Napoleon. The egg eventually produces Temeraire, a dragon hatchling, who becomes Laurence's friend and partner in war. But when the Chinese learn that the dragon is being used as a weapon, they demand his return. Laurence is torn when he is given the command to trick the dragon into going back to China. Simon Vance demonstrates his skill with narrative passages. He draws out the relationships between the characters, especially the affection between Laurence and the dragon. J.E.M. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine