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merelmerijn1990's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
nic3's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I found this book the hardest to get into and stay reading. The formula feels a bit more staid than previous, but still reasonably enjoyable
timinbc's review against another edition
2.0
Who wrote this really? Surely not the author who did the previous ones. This volume is BO-RING.
Another set of cardboard bad guys blustering away, never missing a chance to be rude or dismissive or brutal or whatever. One new character (MacArthur) with a bit of depth and unpredictability.
Another cardboard dragon character (Caesar) who is clearly just another bad guy human who happens to have wings. Feh. Iskielka is the same only more annoying, but Temeraire is a shadow of his former self. He seems unmotivated and not very capable or intelligent. One could say the same of the author in this volume.
A new dragon arrives, all wimpy and misshapen. The lack of suspense is amazing as we watch it Survive Against All Odds. The cloddishly unsubtle hints that this dragon is going to be Really Something were almost embarrassing - and then SHE DOESN'T TELL US IN THE END! We're going to have to read the next book or two to find out if this guy even matters. BAH!
Near the end, Novik drops in some pieces that have to be on the table for the next volume. They just show up how much of a placeholder this book is. But they do reawaken faint hope that the author hasn't written herself into a corner with no way out.
Another set of cardboard bad guys blustering away, never missing a chance to be rude or dismissive or brutal or whatever. One new character (MacArthur) with a bit of depth and unpredictability.
Another cardboard dragon character (Caesar) who is clearly just another bad guy human who happens to have wings. Feh. Iskielka is the same only more annoying, but Temeraire is a shadow of his former self. He seems unmotivated and not very capable or intelligent. One could say the same of the author in this volume.
A new dragon arrives, all wimpy and misshapen. The lack of suspense is amazing as we watch it Survive Against All Odds. The cloddishly unsubtle hints that this dragon is going to be Really Something were almost embarrassing - and then SHE DOESN'T TELL US IN THE END! We're going to have to read the next book or two to find out if this guy even matters. BAH!
Near the end, Novik drops in some pieces that have to be on the table for the next volume. They just show up how much of a placeholder this book is. But they do reawaken faint hope that the author hasn't written herself into a corner with no way out.
tregina's review against another edition
3.0
I had to let this one marinate a bit before I was sure how I felt about it, but despite some slow pacing in parts, and a few things I would have liked to have seen explored a little more thoroughly (like the aboriginal cultures, and several of the characters), I'm generally happy with it. I mean, it was basically a road trip story. Even more than previous books have been road trip stories. And road trips, along with sea serpents, are pretty awesome.
elesme99's review against another edition
2.0
Série Temeraire patří k mým nejoblíbenějším dračím knihám. Hrozně mě štvalo, že u nás je přeložených a vydaných jen pět dílů, takže jsem se nemohla dozvědět, co se stalo dál. Nevím, jestli to způsobily nějaké problémy místního nakladatelství nebo výrazně horší hodnocení tohoto dílu v zahraničí, nicméně, "nedokončená" série je podle mě jedna z nejhorších věcí, která může čtenáře potkat. Teď, po mnoha letech, jsem se konečně dostala k přečtení Tongues of Serpents v originále.
Zdá se, že většina lidí vytýká knize nedostatek děje, zápletek a napětí. Je pravda, že větší část příběhu působí jako cestopis ještě neosídleným vnitrozemím Austrálie nějakého paralelního vesmíru s draky a písečnými příšerami, ale to mi ani tolik nevadilo. Válečné intriky a politické spory jsem si sice užívala víc, ale ani u tohoto dílu jsem se vyloženě nenudila.
To, co mi na knize vadilo, byl způsob, jakým je zde zacházeno se vztahy a interakcemi postav. Přišlo mi, jako bych se na všechno dívala z letadla. Vůbec nevím, co si o většině situací jednotlivé postavy myslí a co prožívají. Myslím, že tam obecně bylo mnohem méně scén, kde spolu postavy vůbec nějak interagovali. Posádky spolu sami strávili neuvěřitelné množství času v úplné pustině, ale vztahy mezi nimi všemi se v podstatě nikam nepohnou. Konflikty, které bych očekávala, že vyvstanou, prostě vždy tak nějak vyšumí a nic z nich nakonec nevzejde.
Celkově díl působil velmi výplňově. Pokud děje je poskrovnu a postavy působí vůči čtenáři cize a odtažitě, co potom zbývá, že?
Jediné, co příběh zachraňuje stále jsou jako vždy draci. Těch si užijeme dost a dost. Temerairova neprůstřelná logika mě opět dokázala pobavit.
Opět se dozvídáme, i když tentokrát velmi poskrovnu, víc o tom, jak funguje tato fantastické verzi našeho světa, kterou obývají draci.
Doufala bych, že v dalších dílech se opět více zaměříme na jednotlivé postavy, ale z ostatních recenzí to chápu tak, že série má spíše zhoršující se tendenci. Zatím mě to ale neodradilo od úmyslu v sérii pokračovat a zjistit, co bude se všemi dál.
Zdá se, že většina lidí vytýká knize nedostatek děje, zápletek a napětí. Je pravda, že větší část příběhu působí jako cestopis ještě neosídleným vnitrozemím Austrálie nějakého paralelního vesmíru s draky a písečnými příšerami, ale to mi ani tolik nevadilo. Válečné intriky a politické spory jsem si sice užívala víc, ale ani u tohoto dílu jsem se vyloženě nenudila.
To, co mi na knize vadilo, byl způsob, jakým je zde zacházeno se vztahy a interakcemi postav. Přišlo mi, jako bych se na všechno dívala z letadla. Vůbec nevím, co si o většině situací jednotlivé postavy myslí a co prožívají. Myslím, že tam obecně bylo mnohem méně scén, kde spolu postavy vůbec nějak interagovali. Posádky spolu sami strávili neuvěřitelné množství času v úplné pustině, ale vztahy mezi nimi všemi se v podstatě nikam nepohnou. Konflikty, které bych očekávala, že vyvstanou, prostě vždy tak nějak vyšumí a nic z nich nakonec nevzejde.
Spoiler
Čekala bych, že znovuobjevivší se kapitán Rankin způsobí mnohem víc problémů, nebo alespoň mnohem větší napětí ve skupině.Celkově díl působil velmi výplňově. Pokud děje je poskrovnu a postavy působí vůči čtenáři cize a odtažitě, co potom zbývá, že?
Jediné, co příběh zachraňuje stále jsou jako vždy draci. Těch si užijeme dost a dost. Temerairova neprůstřelná logika mě opět dokázala pobavit.
Opět se dozvídáme, i když tentokrát velmi poskrovnu, víc o tom, jak funguje tato fantastické verzi našeho světa, kterou obývají draci.
Spoiler
Opravdu se mi líbil nápad s mořskými hady a jejich využití pro dopravu nákladu.Doufala bych, že v dalších dílech se opět více zaměříme na jednotlivé postavy, ale z ostatních recenzí to chápu tak, že série má spíše zhoršující se tendenci. Zatím mě to ale neodradilo od úmyslu v sérii pokračovat a zjistit, co bude se všemi dál.
bagelbug's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
melissah's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kathydavie's review against another edition
4.0
Sixth in the Temeraire historical military science fiction series and revolving around a Celestial black dragon and his captain, Will Laurence, with this story taking place in the Outback of Australia with three very different baby dragons.
My Take
The primary theme is the selfishness of government, whether it's the institution or/and individual politicians. They'll all use and abuse their citizens. They don't care about the other side or whether they're being fair. Nor do they care about the realities on the ground or how their demands will impact the people or soldiers who are actually there.
Either way, both Temeraire and Laurence have opportunities to convey their particular thoughts, feelings, and opinions, etc., which indicates that Tongues of Serpents uses a third-person subjective point-of-view.
And they perceive that Australia is a total mess. The initial concept of the transported felons serving their time and then making a new life was good, but it was soon corrupted to benefit the soldiers and their friends, with some of the "colonials" concerned and others accepting it as typical of "these sorts". Yes, it's part of the governmental system of abuse. They got what they wanted. Who cares about the end result?
Rankin isn't much better, mess-wise. He's so "privileged" and "obviously knows all about bringing dragons about" and is totally at odds with Temeraire. Yay! It'll piss you off when you read of the deformed egg's hatching, and you'll cheer for Demane when he takes it on. Until Kulingile matures…then you'll wanna kill someone! All this hypocrisy is enough to make you sick.
As for the politics. Oh, lord. Well, nothing has changed between then and now, anyway. The land politics are bad enough, but as Temeraire notes, why do the British insist on having everything, especially when it's half a world away? I'm also on Temeraire's side when he notes that the British sent him away, wanting nothing to do with him whereas the Chinese were very welcoming and generous. Ahem.
LOL. You can't help but appreciate the cleverness of the Chinese way of war. Quite tidy…for them. Not at all for the British.
A secondary issue…I'm not sure if it's a theme or not…is how decisions made at one time can have repercussions down the road, which at the time seemed like such a good idea, for example, that Prince Yongxing was dead. Now…not so much.
Temeraire's understanding of Laurence's depression deepens as he understands in even greater depth how their decision to share the cure changed Laurence's life. It certainly ties in with Laurence's decision at the end! And I can't wait to see what happens in Crucible of Gold.
The Story
Convicted of treason despite their heroic defense against Napoleon’s invasion of England, Temeraire and Capt. Will Laurence have been transported to a prison colony in distant Australia — and into a hornet's nest of fresh complications.
The colony is in turmoil after the overthrow of military governor William Bligh — a.k.a., Captain Bligh, late of HMS Bounty. And when Bligh tries to enlist them in his bid to regain office, Temeraire and his captain are caught in the middle of a political power struggle. Their only chance to escape the fray is accepting a mission to blaze a route through the forbidding Blue Mountains and into the interior of Australia.
But the theft of a precious dragon egg turns their expedition into a desperate recovery operation — leading to a shocking discovery and a dangerous new complication in the global war between Britain and Napoleon.
The Characters
Temeraire is a black Celestial dragon with a divine wind capable of destroying most anything. He's quite the learned dragon with a love for philosophy and math and a tremendous loyalty to Captain Will Laurence. Temeraire's crew includes Emily Roland; Lieutenant Forthing is an idiot, but the best of the lot; and, Dorset is a dragon surgeon.
Captain John Granby is partnered with Iskierka, a very selfish young dragon who does adore her captain. (Bezaid and Sherazde were her parents.) The bookish Sipho and the independent and angry Demane are African boys Laurence brought back in Empire of Ivory, 4, and are part of Iskierka's crew.
(In 1819, Sipho Tsuluka Dlamini published An Inland Journey in Terra Australis in the Year 1809 as a result of their travels.)
Tharkay is half-British and half-Nepalese, not accepted by either side, and whom we first met in Black Powder War, 3; he has been in and out of the stories ever since.
Captain Rankin is back for another try at a dragon, Wringe and Arkady's egg in particular — neither Temeraire nor Laurence are happy about this after the way Rankin treated poor Levitas. Caesar turns out to be even worse in temperament than Iskierka. Whining, bitching, bragging, complaining… Paul Widener is Caesar's signal-ensign. Third Lieutenant Derrow. Lieutenants Fellowes, Blincoln is an idiot, Drewmore, and Forthing intend to try for the deformed egg (a cross between a Chequered Nettle and a Parnassian) who will become Kulingile. Later, Widdlow and Flowers will be whining on about Kulingile.
Captain Tom Riley commands the HMS Allegiance which brought Temeraire and Laurence, et al., to Australia. Riley is married and has a baby with Captain Catherine Harcourt who is partnered with Lily. Under order of Commodore Rowley, the HMS Nereide, captained by Nesbit Willoughby who's just as bad as her last captain, and Captain Tomkinson who commands the Otter are to take the port.
Captain William Bligh, late of HMS Bounty, is the now-deposed governor of Australia. Seems he's playing the same tricks on Australia as he did on his crew. Macquarie will eventually show up to replace Bligh. John MacArthur is the leader of the rebels and has become the Colonial Secretary. Elizabeth is his wife.
The Rum Corps is…
…the not-so-polite name for the New South Wales Corps, the Australian military force. Major Johnston is in command. Lieutenant Agreuth has quite the gutter mouth.
The crew taken into the Outback
Jonas Green has some bulk and was the only one not drunk. Robert Maynard has a little skill at masonry. Jack Kelly/Telly claims some skill with a pick and had trained as a carpenter. O'Dea is an older convict, an Irish lawyer taken up during the troubles in '98. Richard Shipley is a younger convict. Hob Wessex, Blackwell, Jemson, and Carter are more of the crew.
The Larrakia are…
…Tharunka's (the third baby dragon, a Yellow Reaper) destination after being kidnapped. After her journey, she can now speak most of the languages in Australia besides English and Chinese. Jia Zhen is the chief of the Chinese trading outpost. Lamoorar is a young man interested in Roland, which ticks Demane off no end. Lung Shen Li and Lung Shen Gai are two of four newly bred dragons who can fly GREAT distances. Galandoo is a native.
Some of the smugglers include Mr. Jacob Chukwah of New York, Señor Robaldo of Lisbon shares some commonalties with Laurence, David Wright has information on what the Africans are doing, and Jing Du is the name of one merchant house.
Bunyips are nasty creatures, very sly…and sentient. The sea serpents, underwater dragons, are quite useful allies. Shipping. Destroying ships. Ayers Rock, Uluru, makes a good meeting point in the Outback.
Back in England
Jane Roland has been elevated to a peerage and quite shocked at how intelligent the ladies are. She rides Excidium. Perscitia is pleased to write that they've finished the pavilion and begun a second. Requiescat is eating like a glutton. Majestatis suggested hiring out for carting work, as the government is getting stinky about the promises they made the unharnessed dragons. Gladius and Cantarella have fallen out. Queritoris is still complaining.
Back in Istanbul
Avram Maden is a merchant whom we met in Black Powder War, 3; he and some associates are interested in outfitting privateers. His daughter, Sara, has had her first child.
Back in France
Lung Tien Lien is the white Celestial who fled China in Throne of Jade, 2, and now advises Napoleon.
Back in China
Arthur Hammond is the British envoy to China we first encountered in Throne of Jade, 2.
The Africans…
…the Tswana, have allied with Napoleon and have fixated on plantations and slaves in Brazil.
The Cover and Title
The background of the cover is the barren waves of white sand of the Outback. In the center is an entwining of two dragons, one gold and one black, around a pocket watch in the center of which is a ship in full sail on a frothing sea. The author's name (at the top) and the title (at the bottom) are in red with the series information in black to the right of the dragons' tails.
The title refers to those terrifying Tongues of Serpents.
My Take
The primary theme is the selfishness of government, whether it's the institution or/and individual politicians. They'll all use and abuse their citizens. They don't care about the other side or whether they're being fair. Nor do they care about the realities on the ground or how their demands will impact the people or soldiers who are actually there.
Either way, both Temeraire and Laurence have opportunities to convey their particular thoughts, feelings, and opinions, etc., which indicates that Tongues of Serpents uses a third-person subjective point-of-view.
And they perceive that Australia is a total mess. The initial concept of the transported felons serving their time and then making a new life was good, but it was soon corrupted to benefit the soldiers and their friends, with some of the "colonials" concerned and others accepting it as typical of "these sorts". Yes, it's part of the governmental system of abuse. They got what they wanted. Who cares about the end result?
Rankin isn't much better, mess-wise. He's so "privileged" and "obviously knows all about bringing dragons about" and is totally at odds with Temeraire. Yay! It'll piss you off when you read of the deformed egg's hatching, and you'll cheer for Demane when he takes it on. Until Kulingile matures…then you'll wanna kill someone! All this hypocrisy is enough to make you sick.
As for the politics. Oh, lord. Well, nothing has changed between then and now, anyway. The land politics are bad enough, but as Temeraire notes, why do the British insist on having everything, especially when it's half a world away? I'm also on Temeraire's side when he notes that the British sent him away, wanting nothing to do with him whereas the Chinese were very welcoming and generous. Ahem.
LOL. You can't help but appreciate the cleverness of the Chinese way of war. Quite tidy…for them. Not at all for the British.
A secondary issue…I'm not sure if it's a theme or not…is how decisions made at one time can have repercussions down the road, which at the time seemed like such a good idea, for example, that Prince Yongxing was dead. Now…not so much.
Temeraire's understanding of Laurence's depression deepens as he understands in even greater depth how their decision to share the cure changed Laurence's life. It certainly ties in with Laurence's decision at the end! And I can't wait to see what happens in Crucible of Gold.
The Story
Convicted of treason despite their heroic defense against Napoleon’s invasion of England, Temeraire and Capt. Will Laurence have been transported to a prison colony in distant Australia — and into a hornet's nest of fresh complications.
The colony is in turmoil after the overthrow of military governor William Bligh — a.k.a., Captain Bligh, late of HMS Bounty. And when Bligh tries to enlist them in his bid to regain office, Temeraire and his captain are caught in the middle of a political power struggle. Their only chance to escape the fray is accepting a mission to blaze a route through the forbidding Blue Mountains and into the interior of Australia.
But the theft of a precious dragon egg turns their expedition into a desperate recovery operation — leading to a shocking discovery and a dangerous new complication in the global war between Britain and Napoleon.
The Characters
Temeraire is a black Celestial dragon with a divine wind capable of destroying most anything. He's quite the learned dragon with a love for philosophy and math and a tremendous loyalty to Captain Will Laurence. Temeraire's crew includes Emily Roland; Lieutenant Forthing is an idiot, but the best of the lot; and, Dorset is a dragon surgeon.
Captain John Granby is partnered with Iskierka, a very selfish young dragon who does adore her captain. (Bezaid and Sherazde were her parents.) The bookish Sipho and the independent and angry Demane are African boys Laurence brought back in Empire of Ivory, 4, and are part of Iskierka's crew.
(In 1819, Sipho Tsuluka Dlamini published An Inland Journey in Terra Australis in the Year 1809 as a result of their travels.)
Tharkay is half-British and half-Nepalese, not accepted by either side, and whom we first met in Black Powder War, 3; he has been in and out of the stories ever since.
Captain Rankin is back for another try at a dragon, Wringe and Arkady's egg in particular — neither Temeraire nor Laurence are happy about this after the way Rankin treated poor Levitas. Caesar turns out to be even worse in temperament than Iskierka. Whining, bitching, bragging, complaining… Paul Widener is Caesar's signal-ensign. Third Lieutenant Derrow. Lieutenants Fellowes, Blincoln is an idiot, Drewmore, and Forthing intend to try for the deformed egg (a cross between a Chequered Nettle and a Parnassian) who will become Kulingile. Later, Widdlow and Flowers will be whining on about Kulingile.
Captain Tom Riley commands the HMS Allegiance which brought Temeraire and Laurence, et al., to Australia. Riley is married and has a baby with Captain Catherine Harcourt who is partnered with Lily. Under order of Commodore Rowley, the HMS Nereide, captained by Nesbit Willoughby who's just as bad as her last captain, and Captain Tomkinson who commands the Otter are to take the port.
Captain William Bligh, late of HMS Bounty, is the now-deposed governor of Australia. Seems he's playing the same tricks on Australia as he did on his crew. Macquarie will eventually show up to replace Bligh. John MacArthur is the leader of the rebels and has become the Colonial Secretary. Elizabeth is his wife.
The Rum Corps is…
…the not-so-polite name for the New South Wales Corps, the Australian military force. Major Johnston is in command. Lieutenant Agreuth has quite the gutter mouth.
The crew taken into the Outback
Jonas Green has some bulk and was the only one not drunk. Robert Maynard has a little skill at masonry. Jack Kelly/Telly claims some skill with a pick and had trained as a carpenter. O'Dea is an older convict, an Irish lawyer taken up during the troubles in '98. Richard Shipley is a younger convict. Hob Wessex, Blackwell, Jemson, and Carter are more of the crew.
The Larrakia are…
…Tharunka's (the third baby dragon, a Yellow Reaper) destination after being kidnapped. After her journey, she can now speak most of the languages in Australia besides English and Chinese. Jia Zhen is the chief of the Chinese trading outpost. Lamoorar is a young man interested in Roland, which ticks Demane off no end. Lung Shen Li and Lung Shen Gai are two of four newly bred dragons who can fly GREAT distances. Galandoo is a native.
Some of the smugglers include Mr. Jacob Chukwah of New York, Señor Robaldo of Lisbon shares some commonalties with Laurence, David Wright has information on what the Africans are doing, and Jing Du is the name of one merchant house.
Bunyips are nasty creatures, very sly…and sentient. The sea serpents, underwater dragons, are quite useful allies. Shipping. Destroying ships. Ayers Rock, Uluru, makes a good meeting point in the Outback.
Back in England
Jane Roland has been elevated to a peerage and quite shocked at how intelligent the ladies are. She rides Excidium. Perscitia is pleased to write that they've finished the pavilion and begun a second. Requiescat is eating like a glutton. Majestatis suggested hiring out for carting work, as the government is getting stinky about the promises they made the unharnessed dragons. Gladius and Cantarella have fallen out. Queritoris is still complaining.
Back in Istanbul
Avram Maden is a merchant whom we met in Black Powder War, 3; he and some associates are interested in outfitting privateers. His daughter, Sara, has had her first child.
Back in France
Lung Tien Lien is the white Celestial who fled China in Throne of Jade, 2, and now advises Napoleon.
Back in China
Arthur Hammond is the British envoy to China we first encountered in Throne of Jade, 2.
The Africans…
…the Tswana, have allied with Napoleon and have fixated on plantations and slaves in Brazil.
The Cover and Title
The background of the cover is the barren waves of white sand of the Outback. In the center is an entwining of two dragons, one gold and one black, around a pocket watch in the center of which is a ship in full sail on a frothing sea. The author's name (at the top) and the title (at the bottom) are in red with the series information in black to the right of the dragons' tails.
The title refers to those terrifying Tongues of Serpents.
bamamelereads's review against another edition
adventurous
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
3.25
But this is by far my least favorite book so far. The pace drags, and it’s really hard to care about the plot in Australia. Basically most of the book is traveling.
Glad this one is done and I hope the rest improves and goes back to what had been so enjoyable.
Glad this one is done and I hope the rest improves and goes back to what had been so enjoyable.
fitzofinspiration's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75