Victory of Eagles

By Naomi Novik
Read: July 2008
Rating: Intense

I got an email alert announcing the release of this book, and was able to attend Naomi Novik’s very first book signing EVARR. She was excited, we were excited, and the space at the Greenwich Village B&N was standing room only. How cool was that?!

She read an as-yet-unpublished short story about the origins of dragon ‘taming’, which was just as funny and fabulous as everything else. She nailed Marc Antony, man. Nailed him. It was gorgeous. She was lovely. Her husband is obviously adorable–they are two happy, in-love nerds. And I love them, too.

Even better, my mom mentioned to her that we are South African and SHE DREW IN OUR BOOK! Yes, our copy of Victory of Eagles has an adorable stick drawing of “Laurence and Temeraire at the Cape.” It is lourve!

And the book? Did not disappoint.

NOTE: This is marked as ‘piratical adventures’ not because there are real pirates… but because there are adventures of a piratical nature. If you like normal pirates, you will like Iskierka. Go start at the beginning of the series.

Picking up on the heels of Empire of Ivory, we find Laurence held prisoner aboard an English ship blockading the Channel while Temeraire sits in utter boredom in the breeding grounds. Their (treasonous) good deeds have wrecked their lives as they knew them–Laurence’s good name, their crew, everything scattered to the four winds.

In this book, Laurence’s sense of duty before all else comes to a head. His crisis of conscience is forced–the government would see him hanged if they thought Temeraire wouldn’t destroy them all with the divine wind. And Laurence feels that he deserves his punishment; he knew he would when he left for France. It may strike some as self-pity, but I see it more as a sort of ruthless self-flagelation.

Temeraire is not aware of the full impact all this has had. He’s been isolated on the breeding grounds, where everyone seems content to loll about doing nothing. The only thing keeping him well-behaved is the hope that this will keep Laurence alive and well. But the poor boy is so BORED!

But other dragons are not all dumb. In fact, some of them are marvelously clever. And they’re not all happy with their lot, there. In fact, why should they stick around on the breeding grounds when the French are invading?

We all knew it was coming. Temeraire takes command!

All the lovely bickering of the Lords over what to do about this are a bit dampened by the seriousness of what to do with Laurence. They need the two of them to face Bonaparte…

The French have invaded England. Landed. Gotten a strong foothold.

HOLY FUCKMONKEYS, since when does anyone get to invade England successfully?!

My Father: The Welsh did.
Me: The Welsh don’t count, they share the island.

The book’s prime thrust is Napoleon’s occupation of England, and their attempts to throw him off. It is rousing and fantastic and really gut-clenching. And by the end of it, you feel something has really be accomplished, and so I’m ok to wait for the next book.

Which is coming out WHEN, Naomi? Hm, hm?!