5.12.2012
Crucible of Gold
Series: Temeraire book 7
Overall Grade: A
Yes, it has been months since this book came out. Yes, I will use the excuse that I have been busy with classes and "savoring" this book that I only finished it just. Moving along...
'Crucible of Gold' was worth the two year wait. Novik again introduces us to a new continent of dragons - South America - which have their own version of how dragons are incorporated into their culture and society, just like we saw in China & Africa in previous books. This gives Temeraire more IDEAS, which I am sure will come back to bite Laurence in later chapters.
The plot begins with Hammond (who was he? oh yeah - that British diplomat guy from when they were in China) catches a dragon flight down from China to Australia (see 'Tongues of Serpents' if this is something unfamiliar) where he deposits himself upon Laurence and Temeraire saying that they will be reinstated to the Dragon Corps and Laurence gets his rank back, if only they go over and help the situation in South America, where the French are sending Tswana (African) dragons over to terrorize the Portugeuse empire in Brazil. Knowing reinstate sounds too good to be true, Laurence & Temeraire set off anyway, picking out a questionable crew from the Sydney before sailing off on the 'Allegiance' with Iskierka, Kulingile, their respective captains and crew.
You can imagine things are going to go well because the route of the Allegiance stops part way across the map at the beginning of the book. Then there's lots of flying, foreign dragons, being stranded on an island, meeting the Inca & their dragons (or should I say, the Inca dragons & their people?), more travel, and a bid to stop the Incan empress from marrying Napoleon. And if you like Granby whumpage? Oh man, stick around! There is plenty physical pain and emotional turmoil to be had for this captain.
By the end it looks like Laurence and Temeraire will be headed back to China, possibly overland?! Are we finally going to see the pair set foot in North America/the United States? Has the Louisiana Purchase even happened in this alternate history? When will the next book come out??
Labels: genre: fantasy, genre: fiction, genre: historical, media: book, series: Temeraire
