What do you think?
Rate this book
Temeraire #7
Crucible of Gold
Naomi Novik’s beloved series returns, with Captain Will Laurence and his fighting dragon Temeraire once again taking to the air against the broadsides of Napoleon’s forces and the friendly—and sometimes not-so-friendly—fire of British soldiers and politicians who continue to suspect them of divided loyalties, if not outright treason.
For Laurence and Temeraire, put out to pasture in Australia, it seems their part in the war has come to an end just when they are needed most. But perhaps they are no longer alone in this opinion. Newly allied with the powerful African empire of the Tswana, the French have occupied Spain and brought revolution and bloodshed to Brazil, threatening Britain’s last desperate hope to defeat Napoleon.
And now the government that sidelined them has decided they have the best chance at negotiating a peace with the angry Tswana, who have besieged the Portuguese royal family in Rio—and thus offer to reinstate Laurence to his former rank and seniority as a captain in the Aerial Corps. Temeraire is delighted by this sudden reversal of fortune, but Laurence is by no means sanguine, knowing from experience that personal honor and duty to one’s country do not always run on parallel tracks.
Nonetheless, the pair embark for Brazil, only to meet with a string of unmitigated disasters that force them to make an unexpected landing in the hostile territory of the Incan empire, where they face new unanticipated dangers.
Now with the success of the mission balanced on a razor’s edge, and failure looking more likely by the minute, the unexpected arrival of an old enemy will tip the scales toward ruin. Yet even in the midst of disaster, opportunity may lurk—for one bold enough to grasp it.
For Laurence and Temeraire, put out to pasture in Australia, it seems their part in the war has come to an end just when they are needed most. But perhaps they are no longer alone in this opinion. Newly allied with the powerful African empire of the Tswana, the French have occupied Spain and brought revolution and bloodshed to Brazil, threatening Britain’s last desperate hope to defeat Napoleon.
And now the government that sidelined them has decided they have the best chance at negotiating a peace with the angry Tswana, who have besieged the Portuguese royal family in Rio—and thus offer to reinstate Laurence to his former rank and seniority as a captain in the Aerial Corps. Temeraire is delighted by this sudden reversal of fortune, but Laurence is by no means sanguine, knowing from experience that personal honor and duty to one’s country do not always run on parallel tracks.
Nonetheless, the pair embark for Brazil, only to meet with a string of unmitigated disasters that force them to make an unexpected landing in the hostile territory of the Incan empire, where they face new unanticipated dangers.
Now with the success of the mission balanced on a razor’s edge, and failure looking more likely by the minute, the unexpected arrival of an old enemy will tip the scales toward ruin. Yet even in the midst of disaster, opportunity may lurk—for one bold enough to grasp it.
325 pages, Hardcover
First published March 6, 2012
About the author
Naomi Novik
64 books33.1k followersAn avid reader of fantasy literature since age six, when she first made her way through The Lord of the Rings, Naomi Novik is also a history buff with a particular interest in the Napoleonic era and a fondness for the work of Patrick O’Brian and Jane Austen. She studied English literature at Brown University, and did graduate work in computer science at Columbia University before leaving to participate in the design and development of the computer game Neverwinter Nights: Shadow of Undrentide. Over the course of a brief winter sojourn spent working on the game in Edmonton, Canada (accompanied by a truly alarming coat that now lives brooding in the depths of her closet), she realized she preferred writing to programming, and on returning to New York, decided to try her hand at novels.
Naomi lives in New York City with her husband and six computers. Her website is at naominovik.com
Naomi lives in New York City with her husband and six computers. Her website is at naominovik.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,103 reviews
March 17, 2012
3.5 stars; better than the last book, if not as satisfying as the earlier ones. It’s too short, for one thing. It’s still a travelogue, but there is more excitement this time - disasters and battles and hardships - as Laurence and Temeraire continue their world tour in South America. Novik’s eagerness to depict the way people and dragons interact in different societies seems to drive the plot more than the circumstances of the war.
Her writing is still very entertaining, though. The characterizations, both of humans and dragons, are nice and I enjoy the witty, convoluted Regency dialogue.
Novik assumes you’ve read the earlier books and spends almost no time recapping - which I appreciate, considering that the book is so short, but I had to hit the Temeraire Wiki to remind myself about some of the secondary characters.
An idle thought: Novik writes at length about the effort required to keep enormous dragons fed, but she writes not one word about any difficulties dealing with enormous piles of dragon shit. I suppose I should be grateful.
Her writing is still very entertaining, though. The characterizations, both of humans and dragons, are nice and I enjoy the witty, convoluted Regency dialogue.
Novik assumes you’ve read the earlier books and spends almost no time recapping - which I appreciate, considering that the book is so short, but I had to hit the Temeraire Wiki to remind myself about some of the secondary characters.
An idle thought: Novik writes at length about the effort required to keep enormous dragons fed, but she writes not one word about any difficulties dealing with enormous piles of dragon shit. I suppose I should be grateful.
March 11, 2018
A lot better than the last few books in this series.
With an original twist, Mrs. Naomi describes a world where dragons practically "own" humans and gives you a unique insight into dragons' mentality and customs.
I admit it! I was left open-mouthed at times and completely baffeld at others. But went through it all with a smile on my lips.
The dragons are sweet and endearing and so childlike in their behaviour that you cannot help but smile at their antics. Imagine a 10 ton heavy fire breathing hotheaded kid who wants to have her own way because she just thinks it's right or an even bigger one who's so possessive that he won't even allow his companion to move from his side for fear he may loose him.
And imagine you'd have to deal with them...
If you want to know how it may all go down, read this book and you'll see! :)
With an original twist, Mrs. Naomi describes a world where dragons practically "own" humans and gives you a unique insight into dragons' mentality and customs.
I admit it! I was left open-mouthed at times and completely baffeld at others. But went through it all with a smile on my lips.
The dragons are sweet and endearing and so childlike in their behaviour that you cannot help but smile at their antics. Imagine a 10 ton heavy fire breathing hotheaded kid who wants to have her own way because she just thinks it's right or an even bigger one who's so possessive that he won't even allow his companion to move from his side for fear he may loose him.
And imagine you'd have to deal with them...
If you want to know how it may all go down, read this book and you'll see! :)
March 12, 2018
There’s nothing to add here but for one thing:
It’s better than the previous book! It’s not that much better, but it is somewhat better.
And I think I know why it’s better. Temeraire is BACK!
Besides this obvious improvement, the series has stagnated for me. There has been no great developments or changes regarding story or character. The concept, which had started with such wonder and magic has now become stale and rooted in reality.
This series is not magical enough for me anymore. And that saddens me greatly.
It’s better than the previous book! It’s not that much better, but it is somewhat better.
And I think I know why it’s better. Temeraire is BACK!
Besides this obvious improvement, the series has stagnated for me. There has been no great developments or changes regarding story or character. The concept, which had started with such wonder and magic has now become stale and rooted in reality.
This series is not magical enough for me anymore. And that saddens me greatly.
April 13, 2012
Ok, this book, this series.
Yes, the premise (the Napoleanic era + Dragons)is shamefully ridiculous. No need to doubt your judgement there.
But the execution? Oh Sweet Merciful Lord, soooo good. It's light, it's fluffy, and it's flawless. The best treat is the characterizations of the main characters of the the Dragon and his Captain, but you go far enough into it and there's even some substance - meditations on how the war to fight Napoleon (good)balances against the preservation of the worst aspects of the British Empire (bad) or, even deeper, how the presence of an intelligent (but very differently intelligent) companion species could influence the development of human culture on levels both discrete and extraordinary.
The post-plagues Incan empire with its dragon dominated economy is a distinct jewel of this book. Right down to very distinctly alien manifestations of demand, justice and consent and how they interact with more baseline human drives you have a fictional society in the best traditions of the genre. The economic issues for the society she presents, for example, are just marvelous not simply because of what she makes to evoke the society but in terms of what it illustrates in our psychology by imagining a very different idea of demand being used as the primary drive behind the marketplace.
Yes, the premise (the Napoleanic era + Dragons)is shamefully ridiculous. No need to doubt your judgement there.
But the execution? Oh Sweet Merciful Lord, soooo good. It's light, it's fluffy, and it's flawless. The best treat is the characterizations of the main characters of the the Dragon and his Captain, but you go far enough into it and there's even some substance - meditations on how the war to fight Napoleon (good)balances against the preservation of the worst aspects of the British Empire (bad) or, even deeper, how the presence of an intelligent (but very differently intelligent) companion species could influence the development of human culture on levels both discrete and extraordinary.
The post-plagues Incan empire with its dragon dominated economy is a distinct jewel of this book. Right down to very distinctly alien manifestations of demand, justice and consent and how they interact with more baseline human drives you have a fictional society in the best traditions of the genre. The economic issues for the society she presents, for example, are just marvelous not simply because of what she makes to evoke the society but in terms of what it illustrates in our psychology by imagining a very different idea of demand being used as the primary drive behind the marketplace.
May 4, 2012
A good summer read, easy and fast. I know I'm reading it at the beginning of May, but we're already enduring a heatwave, so I wasn't in the mood for anything more demanding.
I've been a moderate fan of Temeraire adventures since His Majesty's Dragon , and I'm glad to find some improvement after the less satisfactory Tongues of Serpents . I still get the travelogue vibe that ignores the central Napoleonic Wars theme in favor of exploring exotic locations, but with Crucible of Gold there are actually quite a few lively action scenes: hurricanes in the southern Pacific, getting stranded on Robinson Crusoe island off the Chilean coast, being chased by Inca dragons through the Andes and, finally, a direct confrontation with a French military squadron.
Temeraire gets reunited with Iskierka and with a number of other characters from previous books, both human and winged. Some of the humor from the start of the epic is also making a comeback after the gloomier episode in the Australian Outback.
But, I feel this wandering around the globe thousand of miles away from the central theatre of operations is a bit self-indulgent (I'm trying to avoid using the cash cow analogy) and is adding to the already high number of volumes of this series. At the end of Crucible of Gold there is still no evidence the author is tightening the plot and approaching any kind of closure. This series may be heading for a 20 book target and I don't know if I have the patience to stick with it so long.
I've been a moderate fan of Temeraire adventures since His Majesty's Dragon , and I'm glad to find some improvement after the less satisfactory Tongues of Serpents . I still get the travelogue vibe that ignores the central Napoleonic Wars theme in favor of exploring exotic locations, but with Crucible of Gold there are actually quite a few lively action scenes: hurricanes in the southern Pacific, getting stranded on Robinson Crusoe island off the Chilean coast, being chased by Inca dragons through the Andes and, finally, a direct confrontation with a French military squadron.
Temeraire gets reunited with Iskierka and with a number of other characters from previous books, both human and winged. Some of the humor from the start of the epic is also making a comeback after the gloomier episode in the Australian Outback.
But, I feel this wandering around the globe thousand of miles away from the central theatre of operations is a bit self-indulgent (I'm trying to avoid using the cash cow analogy) and is adding to the already high number of volumes of this series. At the end of Crucible of Gold there is still no evidence the author is tightening the plot and approaching any kind of closure. This series may be heading for a 20 book target and I don't know if I have the patience to stick with it so long.
March 10, 2018
One of the best instalments of this series yet.
Review to come...
Review to come...
August 16, 2022
3.5 stars for Crucible of Gold in this consistently entertaining series. I was pleased to see that, in these last two books, the cows and sheep were given a break from being devoured by our dragon 🐉 heroes. Instead, it’s been the turn of the kangaroos 🦘 and,in this edition, the poor old llamas 🦙!! Sorry vegetarians!
October 20, 2017
As always the best parts of the Temeraire series are the chapters that are Temeraire's POV. The dragons are so much better developed as characters than the humans. I always find Laurence's POV to be much less interesting. Crucible of Gold was definitely an improvement over the last book which was so boring, but this one also dragged in some places. It's another book where not much at all happens plot wise. The whole trip to Brazil was pretty pointless. Headed to the finish line on this series - 2 to go....
January 16, 2023
3.5? I really liked the parts of this one but it didn't really feel like a cohesive whole or that we got a lot to move forward with from each part. But I did love the South American dragons.
The book is separated into three parts as are the rest of the series. But this one had the parts feeling like almost completely different novels entirely rather than interconnected stories with a shipwreck and abandoned island, learning of the Incans and then finally the end goal of helping the colony of Brazil which felt minor compared to the other stories.
I'm still loving the thoughts and ideas Novik has weaved through the story of how different societies would deal with dragons. Native tribes in North and South America managed to maintain their land and influence due to the presence and use of dragons. It's interesting to see the difference. However, dragons didn't save them from pandemics and diseases still wiped out many of the population. Which made humans so important to their native dragons that they keep them as well protected groups.
I continue to love many of the side characters and enjoy seeing where they turn up.
The book is separated into three parts as are the rest of the series. But this one had the parts feeling like almost completely different novels entirely rather than interconnected stories with a shipwreck and abandoned island, learning of the Incans and then finally the end goal of helping the colony of Brazil which felt minor compared to the other stories.
I'm still loving the thoughts and ideas Novik has weaved through the story of how different societies would deal with dragons. Native tribes in North and South America managed to maintain their land and influence due to the presence and use of dragons. It's interesting to see the difference. However, dragons didn't save them from pandemics and diseases still wiped out many of the population. Which made humans so important to their native dragons that they keep them as well protected groups.
I continue to love many of the side characters and enjoy seeing where they turn up.
May 30, 2013
After repeatedly doing what they thought was moral, rather than following their orders, Laurence and Temeraire had finally broken free of the British Empire and began living a peaceful life in Australia. But alas, Laurence's dutiful nature cannot be overcome forever, and he and his draconic bff are convinced to rejoin the Aerial Service. They ship off to South America, in hopes of gaining new allies or at least, not losing their current ones.
At this point I kinda don't know why I shouldn't be rooting for Napoleon? I mean, I've always read the Napoleonic Wars from the viewpoint of the British, so I'm predisposed to hope Napoleon loses, purely so the protagonists can win. And in real history, he ordered various atrocities--poisoning the ill to keep from holding up the baggage train, that sort of thing. But in Novik's alternate history, it is the British who use germ warfare, defend their allies' practices of slavery, and refuse to treat women, dragons, or non-white people well. Napoleon, meanwhile, seems perfectly willing to treat women, non-white people, and dragons as equal to white men. He makes treaties with African nations to help them get their enslaved fellows back. He sees no problem relying upon the brains of his female dragon, or marrying an Incan woman. I'm sure it's all part of one of his self-serving schemes, but--his allies are perfectly aware that he's using him, and they're using him back. Would it really be that bad if this alternate Napoleon won?
At this point I kinda don't know why I shouldn't be rooting for Napoleon? I mean, I've always read the Napoleonic Wars from the viewpoint of the British, so I'm predisposed to hope Napoleon loses, purely so the protagonists can win. And in real history, he ordered various atrocities--poisoning the ill to keep from holding up the baggage train, that sort of thing. But in Novik's alternate history, it is the British who use germ warfare, defend their allies' practices of slavery, and refuse to treat women, dragons, or non-white people well. Napoleon, meanwhile, seems perfectly willing to treat women, non-white people, and dragons as equal to white men. He makes treaties with African nations to help them get their enslaved fellows back. He sees no problem relying upon the brains of his female dragon, or marrying an Incan woman. I'm sure it's all part of one of his self-serving schemes, but--his allies are perfectly aware that he's using him, and they're using him back. Would it really be that bad if this alternate Napoleon won?
April 28, 2023
This is one of my least favourites in this series, but the series has varied for me. In this one Will and Temeraire, et al, are off to South America to help make peace. In addition to adventure, battle and peril we meet new sorts of dragons. Plenty of things go on, but the end of the book leaves us up in the air about a few things, but of course there are two more books to go. While I'm not particularly keen on the blurb's description of the next book, the last one in the series has a notably higher rating than books 7 & 8 so perhaps I'll stick things out.
This isn't much of a review, but I have a pile to review and I finished this at least 11 days ago.
This isn't much of a review, but I have a pile to review and I finished this at least 11 days ago.
January 14, 2020
Another excellent installment in this wondrous series. Novik's alterations of history are very well thought out, and Simon Vance's narration is, of course, stellar.
February 9, 2022
New favorite Temeraire sequel? New favorite Temeraire sequel.
This book had everything: adventures in a new location, a novel culture with its own unique relationships between humans and dragons, two levels of international intrigue, and best of all, Laurence finally deciding to put his foot down and stand for his own principles, without the defense of 'duty' or 'the good of the nation', just the courage of his personal convictions.
Pusantinsuyo, the Incan Empire, was a delight to explore. While it's not quite the dragon-ocracy I was kind of hoping for, I loved the idea of this society in which humans and dragons live together and collaborate, and dragons basically 'hoard' people instead of treasure. There are points raised, and fairly made, about whether or not this constitutes slavery, as the dragons are perfectly willing to give goods as recompense if they take someone's people - but then again:
He's not wrong, though! Which just makes the entire question more interesting. Personally, as someone who would happily join a dragon-assisted farming community if given the chance, I can't quite see it as a subjugated state, though it's definitely not a perfect social structure.
The climax of the book happens beyond Incan lands, and while I don't want to give spoilers (though I'm sure the statute of limitations has passed, still) it involves a team-up with a former ally to push for an end to slavery and was, all around, deeply satisfying.
The one thing that I didn't like is that the book ends with the promise of an overland journey up to the Bering Strait, but I know full well that Laurence starts Blood of Tyrants without his memory, which means I don't get to see it. That's just rude, because I am so terribly curious about North America's political and cultural system in this world... maybe flashbacks or Temeraire perspective will give me something to go on.
This book had everything: adventures in a new location, a novel culture with its own unique relationships between humans and dragons, two levels of international intrigue, and best of all, Laurence finally deciding to put his foot down and stand for his own principles, without the defense of 'duty' or 'the good of the nation', just the courage of his personal convictions.
Pusantinsuyo, the Incan Empire, was a delight to explore. While it's not quite the dragon-ocracy I was kind of hoping for, I loved the idea of this society in which humans and dragons live together and collaborate, and dragons basically 'hoard' people instead of treasure. There are points raised, and fairly made, about whether or not this constitutes slavery, as the dragons are perfectly willing to give goods as recompense if they take someone's people - but then again:
"You might think of it as a dowry," Granby suggested, with a suspicious twitching around his mouth.
He's not wrong, though! Which just makes the entire question more interesting. Personally, as someone who would happily join a dragon-assisted farming community if given the chance, I can't quite see it as a subjugated state, though it's definitely not a perfect social structure.
The climax of the book happens beyond Incan lands, and while I don't want to give spoilers (though I'm sure the statute of limitations has passed, still) it involves a team-up with a former ally to push for an end to slavery and was, all around, deeply satisfying.
The one thing that I didn't like is that the book ends with the promise of an overland journey up to the Bering Strait, but I know full well that Laurence starts Blood of Tyrants without his memory, which means I don't get to see it. That's just rude, because I am so terribly curious about North America's political and cultural system in this world... maybe flashbacks or Temeraire perspective will give me something to go on.
April 3, 2012
This is the first dragon book of hers that I gave less than 5 or 4 stars to. I don't think it's a stand-alone book. Heck, I've read them all and I was still confused by who did what when. It's a tough call about how much backstory to toss into each book in a series and I think she under-did it.
Temeraire seems to have lost some of his intelligence and love of learning--and he's caught in the whole competition with other dragons to the point of dullness. He'd matured so much through the first couple of books and now he's apparently done.
Plus Laurence's responses are barely visible. I know these are stories of battles, intrigue etc, but there was always enough emotion to keep me caring about the characters. Laurence finds out that one of his best friends is an invert (a great name for it--new to me) and he doesn't even flinch or consider the matter? Sure it's been a long time since he blushed at the sight of Catherine in trousers, but the whole contrast of his upbringing to this strange new world was a lot of fun. That couldn't keep up (the world isn't new any longer) and he just seems weary.
I suppose if you enjoy books like Lord of the Rings, this lack of deep POV won't bug you.
The plot was clever enough, though it didn't have a story arc and no one was entirely different at the end as they were at the beginning. Gong Su is the only one who's significantly changed and he hasn't really changed, just our perception of him. (Although I suppose Riley counts as "significantly changed" too.)
Will I still buy the books? Yup, and I'll be looking forward to the next as well.
Temeraire seems to have lost some of his intelligence and love of learning--and he's caught in the whole competition with other dragons to the point of dullness. He'd matured so much through the first couple of books and now he's apparently done.
Plus Laurence's responses are barely visible. I know these are stories of battles, intrigue etc, but there was always enough emotion to keep me caring about the characters. Laurence finds out that one of his best friends is an invert (a great name for it--new to me) and he doesn't even flinch or consider the matter? Sure it's been a long time since he blushed at the sight of Catherine in trousers, but the whole contrast of his upbringing to this strange new world was a lot of fun. That couldn't keep up (the world isn't new any longer) and he just seems weary.
I suppose if you enjoy books like Lord of the Rings, this lack of deep POV won't bug you.
The plot was clever enough, though it didn't have a story arc and no one was entirely different at the end as they were at the beginning. Gong Su is the only one who's significantly changed and he hasn't really changed, just our perception of him. (Although I suppose Riley counts as "significantly changed" too.)
Will I still buy the books? Yup, and I'll be looking forward to the next as well.
December 30, 2018
This volume has one cardinal drawback – Tharkay is far away. Other than that, it was again one of my favourite volumes, which I see is not a very popular opinion? I enjoyed the travel theme and again, the worldbuilding Novik expands right before the reader’s eyes – I love it to pieces. I am not a huge fan of the whole creation of a world in a novel, in the sense that it either works for me or now, books that are built mainly on the exciting universe usually fail to amaze me. Here it’s not in the centre of action but I enjoy how the author expands her universe. In the first part of the series it’s mostly “oh, it’s our world just with dragons in it,” then gradually we see how different it is because of course the history had to be changed here and there because of the dragons’ presence. And usually in a delicious way. Really, I paid a lot of attention to these pieces on the world creation, which is not typical for me and I believe it only shows how well it is done.
Then we get more of secondary characters that I always have not enough of. Emily! Granby! Demane! The interactions are precious, the adventure is there, the characters’ growth is right as it should be… Taking into consideration that it is what, seventh volume in the series? It is amazing how great it still is.
Then we get more of secondary characters that I always have not enough of. Emily! Granby! Demane! The interactions are precious, the adventure is there, the characters’ growth is right as it should be… Taking into consideration that it is what, seventh volume in the series? It is amazing how great it still is.
June 19, 2017
Another fun installment in the series. By now you should realize that the books follow the same formula. Travel to a new continent, meet some bad guys & good guys. Move on to another place.
March 22, 2022
I really appreciate Novik's willingness to drag Laurence and Temeraire around and around the world - this time the British Ambassador Hammond shows up and takes them to South America and the Incan Empire and the colony of Brazil on a diplomatic mission.
Once again we get a new way for dragons and humans to live together (and the Incan dragons have feathers!), and Laurence is still working out exactly how much he wants to follow his conscience vs. government orders. Plus, adventures in the mountains, jungle and on the sea.
I'm still enjoying these a lot - it's very cool to imagine how borders might have been redrawn and cultures might have evolved if more nations had the (only sometimes literal) firepower of dragons.
Once again we get a new way for dragons and humans to live together (and the Incan dragons have feathers!), and Laurence is still working out exactly how much he wants to follow his conscience vs. government orders. Plus, adventures in the mountains, jungle and on the sea.
I'm still enjoying these a lot - it's very cool to imagine how borders might have been redrawn and cultures might have evolved if more nations had the (only sometimes literal) firepower of dragons.
April 13, 2012
I have been more than patient, I waited for Temeraire and Lawrence to get back to the fight against Napoleon through three books and now this one drags the story to Incan South America (might as well have been back to Africa, the storyline is so similar). Uh uh, I'm done now (sorry if I sound ticked off, it's just that I adored this series, I even bought the first three books in audio version as well as paper).
But each book after has gotten more and more preachy, dragg-y and one off, it's like the Scrappy Doo of dragon books and I will not read it anymore, not even for free.
If I had to sum up this book it would be like this (Scooby Doo analogy to follow);
The scooby Gang (Laurence, Granby, Iskierska, etc.) take the mystery machine (HMS Allegience)to Brazil. On the way they are waylaid and caught up in a dangerous and mysterious situation, they find out some bad guys turn out not to be totally bad. No ghosts, but pretty similar all the same.
Velma, played by Laurence, figures out what's going on, but it's Scooby that saves the day, but not before Scrappy (the world's most annoying cartoon puppy) played by Iskierska almost ruins everything.
Story ends with Temeraire gulping down a huge amount of food.
Sigh, I just wish the story would wrap up with taking Napoleon down. Plus, there's already an inbuilt sequel to the story, Napoleon escapes the island of Elba where he was exiled and returns to France and his usual shenanigans. I see this as two books, the first ending with his defeat and exile to Elba, the second book, the peace is shattered with Napoleon's escape and ending with his second and last defeat at Waterloo, maybe Temeraire and Laurence could escort him to St. Helena, his last place of exile.
But each book after has gotten more and more preachy, dragg-y and one off, it's like the Scrappy Doo of dragon books and I will not read it anymore, not even for free.
If I had to sum up this book it would be like this (Scooby Doo analogy to follow);
The scooby Gang (Laurence, Granby, Iskierska, etc.) take the mystery machine (HMS Allegience)to Brazil. On the way they are waylaid and caught up in a dangerous and mysterious situation, they find out some bad guys turn out not to be totally bad. No ghosts, but pretty similar all the same.
Velma, played by Laurence, figures out what's going on, but it's Scooby that saves the day, but not before Scrappy (the world's most annoying cartoon puppy) played by Iskierska almost ruins everything.
Story ends with Temeraire gulping down a huge amount of food.
Sigh, I just wish the story would wrap up with taking Napoleon down. Plus, there's already an inbuilt sequel to the story, Napoleon escapes the island of Elba where he was exiled and returns to France and his usual shenanigans. I see this as two books, the first ending with his defeat and exile to Elba, the second book, the peace is shattered with Napoleon's escape and ending with his second and last defeat at Waterloo, maybe Temeraire and Laurence could escort him to St. Helena, his last place of exile.
May 20, 2019
Daję 4 gwiazdki (choć są to zaokrąglone gwiazdki) za samo to, że wreszcie wyjechali z tej nieszczęsnej Australii, a Ameryka Południowa jest o wiele ciekawsza (dzięki ci niebiosa). Jeśli chodzi o historie z cyklu poznajemy nowe krainy/nowe smoki/nowe kultury, to jest to chyba jedna z najlepszych dotychczasowych opcji. Bardzo dużo mi tu działało. Nigdy nie przestanę wzdychać wewnętrznie do tego AU do tej serii, w którym jest mniej podróży po kontynentach, a więcej trochę robienia rewolucji w Wielkiej Brytanii (tudzież obalania kolonializmu w ogóle, nie jestem wybredna), ale jak już musimy skakać po świecie, to lepiej tak niż tak, jak w poprzednim tomie.
Trochę straciłam zainteresowanie "finałem" wojen napoleońskich - ich konkluzja nie jest właściwie powiązana jakoś mocno z bohaterami, których losy mnie interesują, więc odkąd opuściliśmy Anglię dwa tomy temu, mam wrażenie, że trochę narracyjnie "idziemy, aby iść", ale nadal zbyt mocno lubię niektóre postaci, żeby przestać im towarzyszyć, więc ahoj i w ogóle.
/P.S. z drobiazgów, które mi średnio leżą w tych książkach, ale zazwyczaj ignoruję - przez to, że tu są zawsze jakieś tłumy nieopisanych postaci, to spomiędzy fabuły wyłazi tak dziwny ton typu "szlachetna jednostka arystokratyczna" vs "masy", i z racji tego, że od dwóch tomów te masy w ogóle są średnie (pijani więźniowie), to jest to jeszcze bardziej widoczne i ...mech?
Trochę straciłam zainteresowanie "finałem" wojen napoleońskich - ich konkluzja nie jest właściwie powiązana jakoś mocno z bohaterami, których losy mnie interesują, więc odkąd opuściliśmy Anglię dwa tomy temu, mam wrażenie, że trochę narracyjnie "idziemy, aby iść", ale nadal zbyt mocno lubię niektóre postaci, żeby przestać im towarzyszyć, więc ahoj i w ogóle.
/P.S. z drobiazgów, które mi średnio leżą w tych książkach, ale zazwyczaj ignoruję - przez to, że tu są zawsze jakieś tłumy nieopisanych postaci, to spomiędzy fabuły wyłazi tak dziwny ton typu "szlachetna jednostka arystokratyczna" vs "masy", i z racji tego, że od dwóch tomów te masy w ogóle są średnie (pijani więźniowie), to jest to jeszcze bardziej widoczne i ...mech?
September 7, 2018
Cashiered out of the King's Aviation Corps for conduct unbecoming an officer, William Laurence and his dragon, Temeraire, are living in Australia when Laurence is reinstated to his rank and sent to Brazil to try and prevent an alliance between the Incas and the French as well as protect the Portuguese royal family from the depredations of the Tswana, an African tribe. The ship on which they are traveling sinks and then they are captured by the French, who strand them on an atoll in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. But, never underestimate the abilities of dragons. Temeraire, Iskierka and Kulingile are able to discover landfall and the dragons' crews are finally able to get to South America. Lots of adventures ensue before Laurence and Temeraire are able to try and figure out how to return t0 Australia. This series is so entertaining. The personalities of each dragon is as unique as every human's. The relationship between Laurence and Temeraire is so loving. I want a dragon.
August 1, 2024
I really enjoyed Crucible of Gold and thought it was a great addition to the Temeraire series! I’m so glad Laurence is finally a captain again, although I also enjoyed his time away from all the fighting. The setting of South America made for a really interesting adventure and I absolutely loved the dragons there! Granby being gay was a nice surprise. I knew there was a reason I liked him so much! And his dragon, Iskierka! She is so funny and feisty. This story continues to be captivating and action-packed!
February 3, 2018
Not great, but better than book 6, so I guess I'll get 8 in case we're on an upward slope.
Hopefully they'll ditch some of the personnel because there were way too many characters with not enough to do in this one. Including some who haven't been around since book 3, whom I'd forgotten all about.
Hopefully they'll ditch some of the personnel because there were way too many characters with not enough to do in this one. Including some who haven't been around since book 3, whom I'd forgotten all about.
September 27, 2018
I really like the way this series wraps the real events of the Napoleonic wars into the story line. Very well written plot and great characters with just the right amount of humor and action mixed throughout. Extremely good series for a new fantasy reader or an older one that wants a new treat. Very recommended
September 26, 2023
Life is hideously depressing and these books are all that sustain me. Five stars for Granby tbh and all the shenanigans of trying to marry him off and the look at other dragon cultures and also the British formation reuniting in the end. I would give anything for Granby/Laurence.
August 17, 2024
“me and my friends would have killed e.t. with hammers” but it’s iskierka
October 8, 2013
Laurence and Temeraire are pulled out of their self-imposed exile in Australia for a new mission, to try and stop the Tswana (the African empire first encountered a few books ago) from permanently allying themselves with Napoleon. To that end, Laurence is reinstated as a Captain in the Aerial Corps and the Allegiance is sent back to retrieve them. Needless to say, things go badly awry with this plan...
It is no spoiler to note that the ship is wrecked long before they reach their goal, as it appears both on the cover art and on the interior map. I was sad to lose both it and Captain Riley, as they have both been a part of this series almost since the beginning. The dragons and the few survivors fly towards the coast of South America, but are saved rather too providently by a French Dragon transporter. Prisoners, they find themselves marooned on a bleak island but manage to escape and make their way to the mysterious Incan Empire.
This is one aspect where the author excels. She takes an existing historical society and throws dragons into the mix, then shows us how such a society might have developed. The Incas were able to beat off the Conquistadors in this case thanks to their dragons, though the population is still suffering the depredations of imported European diseases such as Smallpox which has devastated their human population.
Laurence finds himself in charge of a delegation that tries to make peace with the Incan Empress by marrying one of their own to her (though it is really Granby's fire breathing dragon that is actually wanted). Just when you think they have succeeded .
Forced to flee for their lives, the British contingent go down the Amazon and into Portuguese territory. Here is where the story really gets messy and falls apart a bit, as the Tswana have attacked the Portuguese in an effort to free millions of their people taken up in slavery over generations. They have brought a powerful contingent of dragons with them, and Laurence finds himself almost committing treason again as his natural instincts incline him towards the Tswana rather than the Portuguese, who are allied to Britain. A decision is taken out of his hands with the arrival of Temeraire's squadron, and it is a real pleasure to see the group back together again. There is always a lot of fun with the interactions between the dragons such as Lily and Maximus (who is shocked to meet a dragon that is as big as he is). There is a final thrilling sea battle with some French dragon transports, and the stage is set for a possible return home. Then, a final spanner is thrown into the works, and the destination and goal is now for China, and a possible alliance with them.
This was a fun read and more than made up for the depressing last book. It may be a while before I can get my hands on the next book though, as neither this book nor book 9 is available in the UK yet. I was lucky to get hold of an American edition of this book from my library.
It is no spoiler to note that the ship is wrecked long before they reach their goal, as it appears both on the cover art and on the interior map. I was sad to lose both it and Captain Riley, as they have both been a part of this series almost since the beginning. The dragons and the few survivors fly towards the coast of South America, but are saved rather too providently by a French Dragon transporter. Prisoners, they find themselves marooned on a bleak island but manage to escape and make their way to the mysterious Incan Empire.
This is one aspect where the author excels. She takes an existing historical society and throws dragons into the mix, then shows us how such a society might have developed. The Incas were able to beat off the Conquistadors in this case thanks to their dragons, though the population is still suffering the depredations of imported European diseases such as Smallpox which has devastated their human population.
Laurence finds himself in charge of a delegation that tries to make peace with the Incan Empress by marrying one of their own to her (though it is really Granby's fire breathing dragon that is actually wanted). Just when you think they have succeeded .
Forced to flee for their lives, the British contingent go down the Amazon and into Portuguese territory. Here is where the story really gets messy and falls apart a bit, as the Tswana have attacked the Portuguese in an effort to free millions of their people taken up in slavery over generations. They have brought a powerful contingent of dragons with them, and Laurence finds himself almost committing treason again as his natural instincts incline him towards the Tswana rather than the Portuguese, who are allied to Britain. A decision is taken out of his hands with the arrival of Temeraire's squadron, and it is a real pleasure to see the group back together again. There is always a lot of fun with the interactions between the dragons such as Lily and Maximus (who is shocked to meet a dragon that is as big as he is). There is a final thrilling sea battle with some French dragon transports, and the stage is set for a possible return home. Then, a final spanner is thrown into the works, and the destination and goal is now for China, and a possible alliance with them.
This was a fun read and more than made up for the depressing last book. It may be a while before I can get my hands on the next book though, as neither this book nor book 9 is available in the UK yet. I was lucky to get hold of an American edition of this book from my library.
July 27, 2017
I really wanted to give 4 stars to this one, because I liked it a lot. And come on, Granby happened to be canonically gay. It almost never happens to me.
But I can't, because of Granby's hand amputation.
I have to explain that amputation is my greatest phobia. That's a big reason why I don't watch movies/read books about it, it makes me literally sick. And recently I've read at least three books in which amputation had no sense plot-wise. it just happened because the author felt like cutting somebody's hand off for a little drama.
Let's see:
Does this amputation, in any way, stops him from being an aviator? No.
Does this amputation, in any way, is discussed or noticed by other characters beside the narrator? No. (srsly, nobody SAYS A WORD)
Does this amputation, in any way, changes his relationship with his lover? No.
Does this amputation, in any way, changes the course of the plot in the book? No.
Does this amputation, in any way, changes his relationship with his dragon? No. Because the discussion about boundaries that he has with Iskierka could and should have happened sooner. Trying to get him married with a woman despite of the knowledge that he's gay was a way bigger reason for it than... Iskierka buying him a pretty hook.
Does this amputation changes anything in the book beside the two pages on which it's happening? No.
His arm could be easily just rebroken again and everything would be the same.
It happens only for the sake of drama and I am sick of amputation being used as a drama factor. If you do it, then write about the consequences it has for the character. But the amputation is forgotten (and I am writing it while reading the next book), and the recovery takes like three pages.
And, yeah, of course I am glad for it, because I could actually finish the book thanks to that. If there were details, I would never finish it, or the series (so yeah, my phobia is glad actually).
So there's an advice. Just don't do that shit, if you aren't planing to do ANYTHING about it. If it was a movie and we could see he's disabled all the time, it would make sense. But in a book you need to actually say things. With words. Don't make a character disabled if you won't mention it ever again. That's no representation. That's unnecessary drama. At least mention how badass he is, aviatoring shit without a hand. In air. On a motherfucking dragon whose skin is WET all the time because of steam.
Skye out.
But I can't, because of Granby's hand amputation.
I have to explain that amputation is my greatest phobia. That's a big reason why I don't watch movies/read books about it, it makes me literally sick. And recently I've read at least three books in which amputation had no sense plot-wise. it just happened because the author felt like cutting somebody's hand off for a little drama.
Let's see:
Does this amputation, in any way, stops him from being an aviator? No.
Does this amputation, in any way, is discussed or noticed by other characters beside the narrator? No. (srsly, nobody SAYS A WORD)
Does this amputation, in any way, changes his relationship with his lover? No.
Does this amputation, in any way, changes the course of the plot in the book? No.
Does this amputation, in any way, changes his relationship with his dragon? No. Because the discussion about boundaries that he has with Iskierka could and should have happened sooner. Trying to get him married with a woman despite of the knowledge that he's gay was a way bigger reason for it than... Iskierka buying him a pretty hook.
Does this amputation changes anything in the book beside the two pages on which it's happening? No.
His arm could be easily just rebroken again and everything would be the same.
It happens only for the sake of drama and I am sick of amputation being used as a drama factor. If you do it, then write about the consequences it has for the character. But the amputation is forgotten (and I am writing it while reading the next book), and the recovery takes like three pages.
And, yeah, of course I am glad for it, because I could actually finish the book thanks to that. If there were details, I would never finish it, or the series (so yeah, my phobia is glad actually).
So there's an advice. Just don't do that shit, if you aren't planing to do ANYTHING about it. If it was a movie and we could see he's disabled all the time, it would make sense. But in a book you need to actually say things. With words. Don't make a character disabled if you won't mention it ever again. That's no representation. That's unnecessary drama. At least mention how badass he is, aviatoring shit without a hand. In air. On a motherfucking dragon whose skin is WET all the time because of steam.
Skye out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2016
Slightly disappointed by this volume. The Incan dragons and dragon-and-human culture were cool and different enough (and the return of Tswana characters provided some decent continuity) but the overall pacing felt slightly off and the characters didn't feel like they were given their due.
And now I'm stuck wondering if it's better strategy to read volume 8 and wait for 9 or read 8 in a week or two weeks' time, or wait for 9 and read the two volumes together.
Decisions, decisions.
And now I'm stuck wondering if it's better strategy to read volume 8 and wait for 9 or read 8 in a week or two weeks' time, or wait for 9 and read the two volumes together.
Decisions, decisions.
March 12, 2012
Like Tongues of Serpents, Crucible of Gold is much shorter than the other Temeraire books. When I first read Tongues of Serpents in 2010, I wondered if it was the first half of a novel that was too long to publish in one volume, but now it's clear that they're both independent but short novels.
Part of the four-star rating is the very-probably-wrong feeling I have that this book, like the previous one, is too short, but it's really that it feels as if Temeraire and Lawrence have been sidelined...which, of course, they have. The exploration of the alternate-history Incan Empire is still very interesting, particularly the idea that the Incan dragons are essentially owners of the humans. I also like that Iskierka, whose wild nature has been a danger to everyone around her from the beginning, finally goes to such extremes that Granby gives her the metaphorical spanking she really needs. Less pleasant is that
The ending of the novel makes it clear that Lawrence and Temeraire's exile is at an end, and I look forward to their rejoining the war in the next book.
Part of the four-star rating is the very-probably-wrong feeling I have that this book, like the previous one, is too short, but it's really that it feels as if Temeraire and Lawrence have been sidelined...which, of course, they have. The exploration of the alternate-history Incan Empire is still very interesting, particularly the idea that the Incan dragons are essentially owners of the humans. I also like that Iskierka, whose wild nature has been a danger to everyone around her from the beginning, finally goes to such extremes that Granby gives her the metaphorical spanking she really needs. Less pleasant is that
The ending of the novel makes it clear that Lawrence and Temeraire's exile is at an end, and I look forward to their rejoining the war in the next book.
March 20, 2012
This series had me at 'Napoleonic Wars' and 'dragons', but while the first few books had a sense of mystery and magic (i.e. the identity of the dragon, the conflict with Napoleon, how the war in the air worked) the series started to get bogged down in a Carmen Sandiego esque need to visit exotic world locales and became less about the war or the dragon. For me, the books peaked at Napoleon's invasion of England, and started to get boring right around when the heroes are sent to Australia.
This book is (sort of) a return to form. There's probably too much filler in the Pacific, but Napoleon reappears and the conflict with the Inca is better plotted and more interesting/intriguing than Temeraire's most recent adventures, if still suffering from the need to go global. Temeraire is at its best when in Europe and focused on the war, and suffers during these outlandish side trips, though this one is more tolerable than the last two. But something's not right when Austerlitz and Jena get maybe a paragraph and there's chapters dedicated to African slave traders or setting up an Australian penal colony.
This book is (sort of) a return to form. There's probably too much filler in the Pacific, but Napoleon reappears and the conflict with the Inca is better plotted and more interesting/intriguing than Temeraire's most recent adventures, if still suffering from the need to go global. Temeraire is at its best when in Europe and focused on the war, and suffers during these outlandish side trips, though this one is more tolerable than the last two. But something's not right when Austerlitz and Jena get maybe a paragraph and there's chapters dedicated to African slave traders or setting up an Australian penal colony.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,103 reviews