Series Review: Temeraire Series

Naomi Novik's 9-book series following the black dragon Temeraire and her British captain, William Laurence around the world fighting the Napoleonic Wars was a wonderful treat.

There is great chemistry between the characters especially Temeraire and Laurence.

The battle scenes are done extremely well with Novik tying all of the major Napoleonic battles in Europe in with the dragons but without detracting from the nature, hardship and outcomes of the battles.

The novels take the readers around the world at a time when most Western history books focus on Europe. Novik takes the reader from Australia to South America to Asia to Africa following regime changes and uprisings.

Novik also skillfully addresses social and moral issues from race to slavery to class to a highly intelligent species that had no rights under the law of man.

If you are looking for a series to take you away this summer, I highly recommend this one.

His Majesty's Dragon (2006) Book 1

Throne of Jade (2006)

Black Powder War (2006)

Empire of Ivory (2007)

Victory of Eagles (2008)

Tongues of Serpents (2010)

Crucible of Gold (2012)

Blood of Tyrants (2013)

League of Dragons (2016)

Book Review: The Hunger Games

I have to thank my fourth-grade son for prompting me to read one of the most engaging books I’ve read in a long time. He wanted the book because a couple of his friends really liked it. He took the book to Grandma’s house one day and didn’t bring it home. I asked why and he said his aunt was reading it and wouldn’t give it back until she was done. What kind of book would excite a bunch of fourth grade boys and my son’s middle age aunt? Intrigued, I read the first page at 10 p.m. Monday night while fighting a cold. I set it down at 4 a.m. Tuesday morning, physically a mess, but mentally jazzed.

Every time I thought I could go to sleep, there was another twist or added level of depth that drew me deeper into Collins’ novel causing me to break numerous promises of just one more chapter. I’ve read lots of books with believable characters, full of suspense, and great pacing, but it was Collins' well-placed twists and ah-ha moments that kept me going and had me say at least three times, that’s awesome.

Criticism? There were a couple of back stories that seemed inconsequential that I skimmed over and there was one scene I’m sure Collin’s had written, but didn’t make the final draft that I would’ve liked to have read.

The Hunger Games is a fast-paced, suspense-filled novel that I could not put down and highly recommend.

Book Review: WorldWar: In The Balance

This is the first book in a four part series by Harry Turtledove. I bought this book for three reasons. First, Harry Turtledove is a well-known author and I have never read any of his books. Second, the premise sounded very interesting: what would have happened if aliens had attacked Earth when the super powers of WWII were at their strongest-1943. Finally, I enjoy books set during World War II.

While I enjoyed the well-written battle scenes and stories and perspectives of three of the protagonists, the German lieutenant, the female Russian pilot and grizzled old American World War I veteran, I'm not going to buy another book in the series.

The stories and perspectives of six other protagonist had me skimming long sections of the novel. So much of the book dealt with the Jewish experience during World War II, it competed with the main story of aliens attacking earth. I didn't expect to get this kind of history lesson from a book about aliens attacking earth.

In conclusion, I can see why Turtledove is a well-known author: his action scenes are solid, his characters are well-developed and the premises of his novels are very interesting.

Unfortunately, there were too many characters in this novel that failed to keep my interest.