Victory of Eagles

Starred review from May 19, 2008
In the thrilling fifth installment (the first in hardcover, following 2007's Empire of Ivory
) of the bestselling Temeraire series, Novik returns to familiar themes of love, duty and liberty against the backdrop of the Napoleonic wars. When Napoleon's forces attack England, Temeraire, believing Laurence dead, decides to lead other uncaptained dragons to battle. When the two reunite, Temeraire uses his commander status to gain a voice in war counsels, demanding freedom and pay for dragons. Though the battles are impressive and the politics unsubtle but intriguing, the pièce de résistance is the quiet moment when Laurence faces the mad king he betrayed. This accessible vision of an English Regency with an air force raises the stakes without straining credibility. Followers of Temeraire's travels will be richly rewarded by the satisfying conclusion of his return to home ground, but may wonder where Novik can go from here.

June 15, 2008
Napoléon has landed! England is under siege, and it's up to the dragon Temeraire and his captain, Laurence, to stop the invading army. Unfortunately, Laurence has been convicted of treason, and Temeraire banished to the far-off Welsh breeding grounds, after their daring mission to deliver a cure for the dragon plague to the French. In this fifth volume of the Temeraire series (after "His Majesty's Dragon, Throne of Jade, Black Powder War", and "Empire of Ivory") and the first to be published in hardcover, we return to England after the exotic locales of the last two books, and the action takes place more on land than at sea. Fans of military historicals like Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe novels will likely enjoy the detailed points of military strategy and supply-line wrangling (it takes a lot of cows to feed an army of dragons), but fantasy readers will still find their sense of wonder. Novik's latest doesn't have quite the sparkle of "Empire of Ivory", but series fans will certainly be eager to find out what happens after the previous book's vertiginous cliff-hanger of an ending. Recommended for all public libraries.Jenne Bergstrom, San Diego Cty. Lib.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2008
Condemned at the end of Empire of Ivory (2007) for treason for sharing the dragon-plague cure with the French, Captain Laurence is overwhelmed with guilt because the dragons he saved are about to invade England. His dragon, Temeraire, has been exiled to the breeding grounds. Napoleon flies his army across the channel with dragons led by Temeraires old enemy, Lien, but in the nick of time, Temeraire organizes his fellow inmates into a militia. Novik weaves the threads of several battles into the bleak background of the invasion as Temeraire fights to save Laurence and, for Laurences sake, England. He also fights for the rights of dragons (his arguments with General Wellesley make especially wonderful reading). Laurence battles his despair and guilt, and every officer of any intelligence must fight the British command structure. The fifth Temeraire yarn measures up to its predecessors in excellent plotting, engrossing characters, and sheer page-turning excitement. Faithful fans, old and new, will gobble it up, and a sixth Temeraire story is in the works.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)

September 29, 2008
Naomi Novik continues her alternate history of the Napoleonic wars in this fifth adventure featuring British Capt. William Laurence and his faithful celestial dragon, Temeraire. Picking up after Empire of Ivory
, a disgraced Laurence has been convicted of treason, sentenced to a prison ship and is only one step away from the hangman's noose. Temeraire is relegated to a breeding area in Wales along with other dragons viewed as past their prime. When Bonaparte invades England, Laurence and Temeraire are soon free to fly and fight for king and country. Vance fully inhabits Novik's vividly realized fantasy world. His battle scenes are exciting as he describes all the intricate fighting tactics without sacrificing the thrills. With keen vocal characterizations, he portrays a wide variety of individuals, both human and nonhuman, with the dialogue between Temeraire and some snobbish, older dragons singularly entertaining. A Del Rey hardcover (Reviews, May 19).