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 Risen

I enjoyed David Anthony Durham's telling of Spartacus' story from the perspective of multiple auxiliary characters from different tribes, Romans and slaves.

The Risen helped me understand the impressiveness of Spartacus' rebellion. Not only did he keep a winning army together for years in a hospitable land, it was an army of unprofessional solders where larger majorities couldn't communicate with each other as they couldn't speak each other's language.

I also liked that the novel started on the night of the breakout rather than on Spartacus' life prior to his capture and time as a gladiator. It really got the novel off to a fast start.

Steven Crossley gave a superb reading, breathing life into Durham's multitude of characters.

While there were many fully described battle scenes, I was a little disappointed that some battles were only talked about after they had happened.

Overall, I really enjoyed The Risen.

Link to The Risen

Book Review: The Golem and the Jinni

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker is a fascinating story of Syrian and Jewish myths and cultures at the turn of the 20th century.

I admired Wecker's ability to draw a connection between the Jinni and Golem's cuffs and how humans are cuffed by religion, culture and money.

I enjoyed her descriptions of the world her characters inhabited and how the Golem and Jinni viewed our strange human behaviors providing moments of levity and self-reflection.

Narrator George Guidall's steady pace and accent provided an air of authenticity to the audiobook.

I would highly recommend this novel.

Amazon link to The Golem and the Jinni