Victory of Eagles (Temeraire Series #5)

The fifth tale in this alternate historical fantasy is a superb entry

The war rages on between England and France, but Napoleon¿s forces have landed on English soil. At the same Will Laurence knows he did the right moral thing when he betrayed his country but also feels anguish for doing so (see EMPIRE OF IVORY) as he realizes Napoleon is bringing the atrocities of war to his people thanks in part to his seditious act. Already convicted of treason, he believes he deserves to die even if he still feels he acted ethically as slavery is an abomination.---------------- Meanwhile his dragon Temeraire is bored and grieving as he assumes Will is dead and cannot stand the haggling hags who he shares the Pen Y Fan breeding pen with in Wales as a guest of the state. However, having enough with their jealousies and constant bickering, Temeraire quickly turns them into a dragon force led by him.---------------- When the ship bringing prisoner Laurence to England for his execution goes down in the Channel, he survives. He is given a stay if he reunites with Temeraire to bring the Divine Wind against Bonaparte, who controls London.------------------ The fifth tale in this alternate historical fantasy is a superb entry even as Will and Temeraire stay home unlike the world traveling of the previous novels (see THRONE OF JADE, HIS MAJESTY'S DRAGON, and BLACK POWDER WAR). The story line is fast-paced from the onset while once gain insuring dragons at war seem genuine. However it is Laurence¿s conflicting anguish between knowing he did right vs. betraying his country and Temeraire¿s doubts as to how to help him move past his angst make this a strong military fantasy. Fans of the Naomi Novik saga will appreciate this excellent entry even if Temeraire¿s miraculous conversion of the cackling dragons into a precise aerial military unit in Guinness Book of Records time seems implausible as the heroes debate my country right or wrong.------------ Harriet Klausner

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Satisfying Read

I love the Temeraire books by Naomi Novik, which began with His Majesty's Dragon. In some ways this book is a departure from the last few books, which were something of a travelogue. The second book took us to China, the third to Turkey and Germany, the fourth to Africa. Now Laurence and Temeraire are back in Britain, and a lot of threads in the previous books begin to be tied up and pay off. Throughout the first books liberty and responsibility had been related themes. A lot of what sets this dragon series apart is that they're not beasts, or simply pets--but fully sentient persons with different characters, intellects and taking us around the world we had seen different dragon/human relations. Now they're back, and Laurence and Temeraire's personal liberty is at stake as well as that of the dragons. For once a lot of the book is from Temeraire's own point of view, and that's a lot of its appeal--amusing, fresh and entirely his own. But I also like that a lot of consequences come home in this book instead of just being tidied up.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Fifth book in a great series

I highly reccomend all of the books in the Temeraire series- they are so addicting! I bought the first one on general positive reviews (Napoleonic Wars! With dragons!) and the moment I finished it I ordered the next four and read all of those in breathless succession. I have not regretted this for an instant, even in the slower or more frustrating parts, and I am now restlessly anticipating the sixth book. All lovers of history, fantasy, war stories, or just plain interesting reading need to read these books. Get all five and pre-order the sixth, you will not be sorry.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A satisfying read

Poor Will Lawrence and Temeraire are considered treasonous for sharing the cure for the dragon plague with the French, during the Napoleonic Wars. They are thinking of the dragons, not of nations and war, and so are caught between conflicting duties. But Temeraire is desperately needed by Wellington, and with the usual flurry of crises, the dragon and Lawrence end up fighting in battles and ferrying important news despite their disgrace. Napoleon invades England, and what follows seems inspired by the French in WWII--some collaborate, some resist. But there is always hope for England, though we have to wait for the next book to find out how Napoleon gets chased back to France.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

True to the series

I like rooting for the underdog!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good Series

An interesting take on an old subject.
The writing style is good.

I enjoyed the series.
Overall, I rate the series a B- (just slightly above average).

I wanted to see more character development. The characters went through intense changes but there was little evidence, in my opinion of personality development.
The writing style was a bit conventional which, to me, rang hallow against the interesting, creative story millieu.

As an old school SF and Fantasy reader, my B- probably means more than just your average joe since I have read the great ones.

With effort this would make a good television series or series of movies.
IF done right. Please don't "Eragon' this series...

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

I loved the first 4 books of the series, but this was a let-down especially given that this was the first hardcover. I liked it, but did not love it. It feels like there's a different editor or something off about this one, it doesn't have the sweeping majesty of the previous books. The next chapter in this series will definitely be a paperback for me.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Still Fresh

This is book 5 of the series and it is still fresh. The only bad thing I can say about this book is that it is the end of the series so far and I have to wait for Ms. Novik to finish the next book in the series, as I hope there will be. If you had asked me before I started book one if I would be interested in a book about dragons used in warfare I would have flatly said "No". Ask me now how I like the Temeraire series and I will say, "I love it!".

Another solid work

Eventful. Enjoyable. Entertaining. Great piece of historical fantasy. Solid member in the series.

why it got 4 instead of 5

I didn't like the fact that Laurence was an outcast, so it got only 4 stars.

Temeraire series a blast to read!

And I do mean it's a blast. Temeraire may be full of hot air, but that doesn't mean he doesn't know how to put it to good use. But, this installment of the series is more about consequence. And I believe that it is thus far the most compelling of the Temeraire books.

WARNING: If you haven't read the previous books, I suggest starting with His Majesty's Dragon.

Great Addition To This Wonderful Historical Fantasy Series

I adore this series and this book was no exception. I was riveted by Temeraire's banishment and Lawrence's imprisonment, and the actions they took to remedy the situation. I heartily recommend this book; it's an enthralling page turner.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.