I also reviewed the first book in this series, His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik, here. This is book two out of at least four; book 4 came out recently, and apparently there is no end in sight for the series. While I love Novik’s world, I’m a little leery of unending series. However, book 2 was quite readable, if not as spectacular as book 1.

During the first book, we meet Captain Will Laurence and his dragon, Temeraire. In England, all the dragons are drafted for military service, but we never get the impression that this is not a good idea. All the dragons seem to be eminently suited for military duty, whether it be spitting acid or just running courier duty. Temeraire, however, is not a dragon native to England; he is Chinese and of a highly rare type – the kind generally bonded to members of the imperial family. The fact that Temeraire is bonded to a military man from England is a disgrace and is considered quite below him.

The majority of this book takes place on the dragon transport to China; the Chinese have insisted at least on seeing Temeraire and Capt. Laurence before they declare war on England. One of the Imperial Princes (not the heir) had been sent to England to get Temeraire back, but Temeraire refused, being quite fond of his job and his captain. The trip is boring for Temeraire and not much more interesting for Laurence. It’s only somewhat interesting for the reader, although there is a lot of diplomacy and political intrigue going on. Once they reach China, things are more active. We meet Temeraire’s mother, of all people. The Chinese imperial family and their dragons spend a lot of time attempting to convince Temeraire that he needs to stay in China. The country does have some benefits – dragons aren’t bonded to a person until they are over a year old, and they are all taught how to read and write. (If you think about it, writing’s a little easier for a dragon in pictographs made up of slashes.) Of course, dragons also have to work for their keep there, in the sense that they use money and if they don’t make enough of it, they don’t get to eat.

While a large part of the book is a commentary on slavery (are dragons slaves? do humans have the right to decide a dragon’s life for him? are dragons allowed to do anything other than be in the military?), there actually is a plot (by which I mean both ’series of events’ and ‘a secret plan or scheme’). Temeraire’s growth as a dragon and a character is quite interesting to read, even though for the first couple hundred pages, this is virtually all that happens. The diplomacy efforts are also interesting, but not quite enough to sustain this book. The first book was exemplary in that it was an interesting concept, great world-building, good characters, decent pacing, and a ripping good story. The second book is an interesting concept, great world-building, good characters, not-so-good pacing, and an uneven story. It was still enjoyable, definitely, but it didn’t grab me by the throat and insist that I read it all in one sitting like the first book.

I’d recommend this book if you’d read the first one (and not otherwise), but don’t expect it to be quite as rollicking. It’s more philosophy than action. I give it 3.5/5 stars.