Victory of Eagles

Rating All Ages Genre fantasy Author Naomi Novik Publisher Del Rey

The end of Empire of Ivory, Naomi Novik’s previous novel in her Temeraire series, felt like the calm before the storm. In fact, it turns out to be the calm before the calm before a typhoon. The fifth book in the series, Victory of Eagles, opens quietly, more interested in the social situations of 19th century Britain, but this time from Temeraire’s perspective. After the treason the Celestial dragon and his handler, William Laurence, committed at the end of Empire of Ivory, Temeraire has been sent to the breeding grounds and is on his best behavior as a condition of keeping Laurence alive. There he meets a hybrid dragon named Perscitia, who annoys Temeraire by being nearly his intellectual equal despite not being as well read. He also meets Requiescat, a huge Regal Copper who, being the largest dragon in the breeding grounds, naturally must trade caves with Temeraire after he sees how nicely Temeraire has cleaned his up. During the protracted debate about Requiescat’s claim, where we learn just how dulled and lethargic these dragons have become, news reaches Temeraire that the ship transporting Laurence back from France has been sunk. Laurence is dead.

Contrary to reports, Laurence survived the destruction of the transport, and makes his way to shore. He is collected by the British Aerial Corps and offered his parole, providing he can bring Temeraire’s impressive fighting skills to Britain’s defense. Of course, by the time Laurence reaches the breeding grounds, Temeraire has long since emptied them of the dragons and handlers, forming his own battalion and hunting down the French, using Perscitia’s intellect and Requiescat’s size to his considerable advantage. Soon news has reached the British commanders about the regiment bloodying the noses of the French, capturing Napoleon’s eagle standards as they go, and they send word offering a commission to its commander. Naturally, Temeraire is thrilled with this change in social status. The British commanders are equally dismayed to find they have awarded rank to a beast.

There isn’t much time to argue about rank and pay (though the dragons manage to make some anyway). Napoleon has invaded and is moving swiftly on London, using dragons to transport his infantry much faster than the British can move. The rest of the novel is filled with thrilling battles to hold, then retake, London. All the more exciting after the slower pace of Empire of Ivory, the last third of Victory of Eagles revels in the sweeping, acid-spitting, fire-breathing, Divine-wind-roaring dragon combat above the skies of London, as men fight below both on land and sea.

Novik does not lose sight of the politics surrounding the epic battles. Laurence, however, agonizes at the traitor to his country he knows he has become. Even Temeraire, though he does not come to share Laurence’s sensibilities, realizes that the consequences are not only in Laurence’s head. In the end, the two accept the consequences together. Iskierka, the fire-breathing feral dragon barely controlled by her handler, Granby, steals the show yet again, with a delightful combination of willful destruction and childish sensibilities. The dragons’ desire to be accepted into society and to be trusted to do their duty clashes constantly with their love of treasure and sense of ownership of everything, including handlers and crew as well as gold and rubies that they value. In the end, whether Temeraire and his fellow dragons prefer the grudging respect they earn from the British government or the promise of pay and pavilions is unclear, but they have clearly earned both.