Tongues of Serpents

Tongues of Serpents is the sixth novel in Naomi Novik's Temeraire series, which reimagines the Napoleonic Wars in a world where dragons exist as military forces. The story takes place in colonial Australia, where former Navy captain William Laurence and his dragon Temeraire have been exiled for past actions against the Crown. The narrative centers on the establishment of Australia's first dragon corps, with three precious dragon eggs at stake. Political tensions rise between deposed governor William Bligh and his rivals, while Laurence and Temeraire navigate their new circumstances in the harsh Australian frontier. Multiple parties vie for control of the emerging aerial forces in New South Wales, including the ambitious Captain Rankin and various colonial factions. The story follows their journey through Australia's untamed interior, where both natural and human threats await. The novel explores themes of loyalty, redemption, and the complex relationship between civilization and wilderness in a colonial setting. This chapter of the Temeraire series examines how power structures adapt when transported to new territories.

Readers rate this as the weakest book in the Temeraire series. Many found the plot meandering and slow, with too much time spent traveling across the Australian outback without meaningful story progression. Liked: - Historical accuracy and details about colonial Australia - Introduction of new dragon breeds native to Australia - Continued strong relationship between Laurence and Temeraire Disliked: - Lack of action compared to previous books - Long stretches where "nothing happens" - Less character development - Minimal advancement of the overall series plot - Too much focus on logistics and travel Multiple readers noted the book feels like a "filler" installment. One reader commented: "It reads like a travelogue rather than an adventure novel." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.71/5 (19,000+ ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (300+ reviews) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (600+ ratings) Most common recommendation: "Skip to book 7 if you're invested in the series."

His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik First book in the Temeraire series introduces the concept of military dragons in the Napoleonic era, establishing the foundation for readers who want to start from the beginning.

Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton A Victorian novel with dragons replacing the aristocracy, featuring inheritance disputes and social rules in a dragon society.

The Thousand Names by Django Wexler Military fantasy set in a colonial environment with complex political intrigue and detailed military operations.

The Throne of Jade by Peter Newcomb Dragons serve as diplomatic and military assets in an alternate history where European and Asian powers compete for dominance.

The Dragon Brigade by Margaret Weis, Robert Krammes Combines military action with dragons in a setting where aerial warfare and political machinations determine the fate of nations.

🔹 The Rum Rebellion mentioned in the book was a real historical event in 1808, marking Australia's only successful military coup when the New South Wales Corps deposed Governor William Bligh. 🔹 Author Naomi Novik worked as a computer programmer designing video games before becoming a full-time writer, including developing the game "Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide." 🔹 The book's setting in New South Wales coincides with the period when the region was primarily used as a British penal colony, with over 162,000 convicts transported there between 1788 and 1868. 🔹 The Temeraire series was originally inspired by the Aubrey-Maturin naval warfare novels by Patrick O'Brian, with Novik adding dragons to create her unique alternate history. 🔹 The portrayal of dragons in the series draws from diverse cultural mythologies, with the celestial dragon Temeraire specifically influenced by Chinese dragon lore, where dragons are seen as wise and noble beings rather than monsters.