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Devoted listeners of Lady Trent's earlier memoirs, A Natural History of Dragons and The Tropic of Serpents, may believe themselves already acquainted with the particulars of her historic voyage aboard the Royal Survey Ship Basilisk, but the true story of that illuminating, harrowing, and scandalous journey has never been revealed-until now. Six years after her perilous exploits in Eriga, Isabella embarks on her most ambitious expedition yet: a two-year trip around the world to study all show more manner of dragons in every place they might be found. From feathered serpents sunning themselves in the ruins of a fallen civilization to the mighty sea serpents of the tropics, these creatures are a source of both endless fascination and frequent peril. Accompanying her is not only her young son, Jake, but a chivalrous foreign archaeologist whose interests converge with Isabella's in ways both professional and personal. Science is, of course, the primary objective of the voyage, but Isabella's life is rarely so simple. She must cope with storms, shipwrecks, intrigue, and warfare, even as she makes a discovery that offers a revolutionary new insight into the ancient history of dragons. show lessTags
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Six years after their trip to Eriga in The Tropic of Serpents, Isabella Camherst and her colleague Tom Wilker set out on their next expedition -- a two-year voyage to study sea serpents and other draconic creatures.
I liked this one so much, beginning with Isabella’s decision to bring her nine year old son along. I understand why it wasn’t practical to take a then-toddler on her trip to Eriga, and also how Isabella’s upbringing encouraged her to underestimate the value of a child’s bond with their parent(s), but that decision to leave him behind had bothered me.
So I was pleased that Jake was included this time round, and not just because it alleviated my concerns for his emotional wellbeing. It’s interesting to see Isabella show more navigate that personal relationship (and having to take into account how Jake is affected by various circumstances), and satisfying to see her find a positive way to combine motherhood with pursuing her study of dragons. I also liked seeing Jake take to shipboard life so enthusiastically
It didn’t occur to me as I was reading it but having read Voyage of the Dawn Treader when I was young and impressionable undoubtedly predisposed me to finding this sort of adventure appealing. Despite the apparent discomforts and dangers of ocean travel, I really enjoyed the visual experience this story conjured up! Especially after they arrive at the island of Keonga.
I finished this book and immediately embarked on the next one!
I liked this one so much, beginning with Isabella’s decision to bring her nine year old son along. I understand why it wasn’t practical to take a then-toddler on her trip to Eriga, and also how Isabella’s upbringing encouraged her to underestimate the value of a child’s bond with their parent(s), but that decision to leave him behind had bothered me.
So I was pleased that Jake was included this time round, and not just because it alleviated my concerns for his emotional wellbeing. It’s interesting to see Isabella show more navigate that personal relationship (and having to take into account how Jake is affected by various circumstances), and satisfying to see her find a positive way to combine motherhood with pursuing her study of dragons. I also liked seeing Jake take to shipboard life so enthusiastically
It didn’t occur to me as I was reading it but having read Voyage of the Dawn Treader when I was young and impressionable undoubtedly predisposed me to finding this sort of adventure appealing. Despite the apparent discomforts and dangers of ocean travel, I really enjoyed the visual experience this story conjured up! Especially after they arrive at the island of Keonga.
I finished this book and immediately embarked on the next one!
show less
“If you mean, do I believe that I am the reincarnation of an inhuman dragon-creature from a Puian myth -- then no, of course not. But taking the term in its simpler sense… then yes, perhaps I am dragon-spirited.”
Suhail’s eyebrows went up, and I elaborated. “I have been mad for dragons ever since I was a child, and this, they say, is a sign that marks one as ke’anaka’i. Such people also transgress against the norms of society, particularly those which constrain behaviour on the basis of sex; this, too, describes me quite well. And --” I hesitated. “This will sound peculiar, I know. But this love I have for dragons, my compulsion to understand them… I have thought of it before as if there were a dragon within me. A part of my spirit. I do not believe it is true in any mystical sense, of course; I am as human as you are. But in the metaphorical sense, yes. ‘Dragon-spirited’ is as good a term for me as any.”
I'm good and hooked! The slightly arch style of Isabel Camherst's memoir took a bit of getting used to, but I'm now I'm an avid and awed admirer of hers, just as if I were a Scirling native reading about her fabulous exploits. There is a steampunkish element to this series, as it is a very Victorian era time, but really it is about the dragons that live in this uni. Entirely plausible dragons, I might add. She has permission to write up what really happened on her voyage around the world studying dragons as enough time has passed so that the truth won't hurt diplomatic relations. Isabel loves dragons, but she is racing to save them. Dragonbone, when preserved, is the hardest and strongest and lightest material in existence and she is show more hoping if she can study it enough she can save dragons from being exterminated for use of the bone. She lives in a society where women have few rights, are not regarded as "serious" in any significant way, and are expected to behave with propriety. Isabel doesn't fit, her drive is too strong. These are a lot of fun, very consistent world-building and great character development.! **** show less
Very enjoyable continuation of the series -- I delight in watching this fictional history play out as avidly as any realistic one, and I care deeply about the characters. Lady Trent is so pragmatic, dogged, scientific to her fingernails and yet whimsical that I can't help but love her; not least for her lack of moralistic judgements.
They journey now by boat, tracking sea serpents and ancient cultures across an island nation. Absolutely captivating.
They journey now by boat, tracking sea serpents and ancient cultures across an island nation. Absolutely captivating.
If it weren’t for the fact that Voyage of the Basilisk is the third volume in the Lady Trent series, I’d have to say there’s nothing else out there like it. Instead, I suppose I’ll say there are only two books out there like Voyage of the Basilisk, and both of them are, not coincidentally, also by Marie Brennan.
Lady Trent is a remarkable woman. Living in an alternate universe at a time that seems analogous to the Victorian era, she travels her world as a field biologist, observing the rarest, most imposing creatures: dragons and their relatives in many forms. Some of them are land dwelling, others aquatic—there’s even an ocean-going giant fire turtle. While she has some of the sensibilities of her time, she never allows show more these to get in the way of her scientific pursuits. She dons trousers on expeditions, takes to the sea for years with her young son in tow, and even—gasp!—goes on expedition with groups of male scientists.
Lady Trent is a woman ahead of her time, whatever that time actually is. To give readers a taste of the sort of woman she is, here’s her depiction of the plight of governesses in her era:
I imagine many of my readers are aware of the awkward position in which governesses often find themselves—or rather, the awkward position into which their male employers often put them, for it does no one any service to pretend this happens by some natural and inexorable process, devoid of connection with anyone’s behavior.
Lady Trent approaches science with the same precision she uses in her observations of the mores of her time. She takes field notes, studies carcases, translates ancient glyphs, untangles evolutionary trees. She talks (or writes) of ovipositors, vestigal limbs, artificial synthesis of dragon bones.
If you know a young woman who’s dreaming of a career in the sciences and who enjoys books where women do more (much, much more!) than primp, pout, and stand about waiting to be rescued by men, she needs to meet Lady Trent. The balance of the rational and the fantastic in her travels is positively addictive. show less
Lady Trent is a remarkable woman. Living in an alternate universe at a time that seems analogous to the Victorian era, she travels her world as a field biologist, observing the rarest, most imposing creatures: dragons and their relatives in many forms. Some of them are land dwelling, others aquatic—there’s even an ocean-going giant fire turtle. While she has some of the sensibilities of her time, she never allows show more these to get in the way of her scientific pursuits. She dons trousers on expeditions, takes to the sea for years with her young son in tow, and even—gasp!—goes on expedition with groups of male scientists.
Lady Trent is a woman ahead of her time, whatever that time actually is. To give readers a taste of the sort of woman she is, here’s her depiction of the plight of governesses in her era:
I imagine many of my readers are aware of the awkward position in which governesses often find themselves—or rather, the awkward position into which their male employers often put them, for it does no one any service to pretend this happens by some natural and inexorable process, devoid of connection with anyone’s behavior.
Lady Trent approaches science with the same precision she uses in her observations of the mores of her time. She takes field notes, studies carcases, translates ancient glyphs, untangles evolutionary trees. She talks (or writes) of ovipositors, vestigal limbs, artificial synthesis of dragon bones.
If you know a young woman who’s dreaming of a career in the sciences and who enjoys books where women do more (much, much more!) than primp, pout, and stand about waiting to be rescued by men, she needs to meet Lady Trent. The balance of the rational and the fantastic in her travels is positively addictive. show less
Description: The thrilling adventure of Lady Trent continues in Marie Brennan's Voyage of the Basilisk . . .
Devoted readers of Lady Trent's earlier memoirs, [A Natural History of Dragons] and [The Tropic of Serpents], may believe themselves already acquainted with the particulars of her historic voyage aboard the Royal Survey Ship Basilisk, but the true story of that illuminating, harrowing, and scandalous journey has never been revealed―until now.
Six years after her perilous exploits in Eriga, Isabella embarks on her most ambitious expedition yet: a two-year trip around the world to study all manner of dragons in every place they might be found. From feathered serpents sunning themselves in the ruins of a fallen civilization to the show more mighty sea serpents of the tropics, these creatures are a source of both endless fascination and frequent peril. Accompanying her is not only her young son, Jake, but a chivalrous foreign archaeologist whose interests converge with Isabella's in ways both professional and personal.
Science is, of course, the primary objective of the voyage, but Isabella's life is rarely so simple. She must cope with storms, shipwrecks, intrigue, and warfare, even as she makes a discovery that offers a revolutionary new insight into the ancient history of dragons.
Thoughts: This is my favorite of the Isabella's adventure thus far! I think that is partly due to the fact that Kate Reading is an exceptionally good reader for Lady Trent. Her other voices are good, but she embodied Isabella so perfectly!
Otherwise, this installment managed to do what some of Naomi Novik's books couldn't do, and that was to make a long sea voyage actually interesting. Nothing was built up too much and even though they were in some places quite briefly, it never felt unduly rushed or overlooked. There was lots of science and adventure and politics and culture! It was great fun.
The longest section, in Keonga, was particularly fun for me because of it's obvious basis in Melanesia/Polynesia. Many of the customs were familiar from my time in New Zealand and my study of Maori, Fijian, and Samoan cultures. The way the Keongans greeted/challenged the foreigners upon arrival is exactly what I experienced every time I visited a new marae. The concept of tapu is an exact appropriation and the use of ta moko (facial tattoos) is another clear link. What I appreciated most, however, is that Brennan doesn't glamorize or fetishize the islanders or allow her characters to judge them by their personal mores. The stories of Heali'i and Liluakame were some of my favorite parts!
And then there is Suhail. He is dreamy! I hope that the hinted at future romance with him does happen. What a good pair they make!
I would have liked some more in depth study of some dragon species, but I'm no longer disappointed by this. I've accepted that this isn't something akin to [Dragonology], but rather more like my beloved [Amelia Peabody] with dragons instead of Egyptology!
Rating: 4
Devoted readers of Lady Trent's earlier memoirs, [A Natural History of Dragons] and [The Tropic of Serpents], may believe themselves already acquainted with the particulars of her historic voyage aboard the Royal Survey Ship Basilisk, but the true story of that illuminating, harrowing, and scandalous journey has never been revealed―until now.
Six years after her perilous exploits in Eriga, Isabella embarks on her most ambitious expedition yet: a two-year trip around the world to study all manner of dragons in every place they might be found. From feathered serpents sunning themselves in the ruins of a fallen civilization to the show more mighty sea serpents of the tropics, these creatures are a source of both endless fascination and frequent peril. Accompanying her is not only her young son, Jake, but a chivalrous foreign archaeologist whose interests converge with Isabella's in ways both professional and personal.
Science is, of course, the primary objective of the voyage, but Isabella's life is rarely so simple. She must cope with storms, shipwrecks, intrigue, and warfare, even as she makes a discovery that offers a revolutionary new insight into the ancient history of dragons.
Thoughts: This is my favorite of the Isabella's adventure thus far! I think that is partly due to the fact that Kate Reading is an exceptionally good reader for Lady Trent. Her other voices are good, but she embodied Isabella so perfectly!
Otherwise, this installment managed to do what some of Naomi Novik's books couldn't do, and that was to make a long sea voyage actually interesting. Nothing was built up too much and even though they were in some places quite briefly, it never felt unduly rushed or overlooked. There was lots of science and adventure and politics and culture! It was great fun.
The longest section, in Keonga, was particularly fun for me because of it's obvious basis in Melanesia/Polynesia. Many of the customs were familiar from my time in New Zealand and my study of Maori, Fijian, and Samoan cultures. The way the Keongans greeted/challenged the foreigners upon arrival is exactly what I experienced every time I visited a new marae. The concept of tapu is an exact appropriation and the use of ta moko (facial tattoos) is another clear link. What I appreciated most, however, is that Brennan doesn't glamorize or fetishize the islanders or allow her characters to judge them by their personal mores. The stories of Heali'i and Liluakame were some of my favorite parts!
I would have liked some more in depth study of some dragon species, but I'm no longer disappointed by this. I've accepted that this isn't something akin to [Dragonology], but rather more like my beloved [Amelia Peabody] with dragons instead of Egyptology!
Rating: 4
Liked: 4show less
Plot: 4
Characterization: 4
Writing: 4
Audio: 4
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy.
allthingsuf.com
THE VOYAGE OF THE BASILISK is Lady Trent's most thrilling adventure to date. With little of grinding misogyny that peppered earlier books, here Isabella takes to the seas with her research fellow Tom, her son Jake, and a stalwart captain mad enough to hunt sea serpents in their natural habitat.
Once again, Brennan offers the daily realities of biology at the turn of the century, as much hunting and politics and anthropology as it is studying natural phenomena. Those Machiavellian obstacles don't seem as frustrating when she can sail away on her ship, encountering fascinating (and romantic) people in her search for answers.
Over the course of this book tantalizing hints collect show more about Lady Trent's future relationships, the political upheavals that would shape her future , and the biological nature of the dragons she so loves. While I've enjoyed this series all along, THE VOYAGE OF THE BASILISK may be the first that I finished and was desperate for the next installment. Isabella is at the cusp of so many changes, both personal and professional, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
Sexual Content: None. show less
allthingsuf.com
THE VOYAGE OF THE BASILISK is Lady Trent's most thrilling adventure to date. With little of grinding misogyny that peppered earlier books, here Isabella takes to the seas with her research fellow Tom, her son Jake, and a stalwart captain mad enough to hunt sea serpents in their natural habitat.
Once again, Brennan offers the daily realities of biology at the turn of the century, as much hunting and politics and anthropology as it is studying natural phenomena. Those Machiavellian obstacles don't seem as frustrating when she can sail away on her ship, encountering fascinating (and romantic) people in her search for answers.
Over the course of this book tantalizing hints collect show more about Lady Trent's future relationships, the political upheavals that would shape her future , and the biological nature of the dragons she so loves. While I've enjoyed this series all along, THE VOYAGE OF THE BASILISK may be the first that I finished and was desperate for the next installment. Isabella is at the cusp of so many changes, both personal and professional, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
Sexual Content: None. show less
In this third book in the series, Isabella Camherst (Lady Trent) sets off on a maritime voyage with her colleague Tom, son Jake, and Jake’s governess, to study Sea Serpents and their possible taxonomic relationship with dragons. They travel by ship, but also stop in various places where Isabella has an opportunity to study Komodo Dragons, Fire Lizards, and other land animals that may be related to dragons. This book contains one adventure after another. It contains a scientific analysis of a fantasy species, and I am really enjoying the series. In this book we start to see that Isabella has more motherly instincts than she had previously revealed. The enthusiastic scientific interaction between Isabella the naturalist and Suhail the show more archeologist is a fun addition. Their chemistry is wonderfully portrayed. Suhail is a great character, and I hope we see more of him. I listened to this on audio, and Kate Reading does a fabulous job with voices and emotions. I’m looking forward to continuing the series. show less
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100+ Works 11,568 Members
Marie Brennan is a LibraryThing Author, an author who lists their personal library on LibraryThing.
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- Canonical title
- The Voyage of the Basilisk
- Original publication date
- 2015-03-31
- People/Characters
- Isabella, Lady Trent; Thomas Wilker; Suhail; Capt. Dione Aekinitos; Jacob Camherst; Heali'i (show all 19); Natalie Oscott; Abigail Carew; Frederick Kemble; Wademi n Oforiro Dara; Miriam Farnswood; Feodor Lukovich Gavrilenko; Khüen; Waikango; Pa'oarakiki; Wali; Apoa; Liluakame; Princess Miriam
- Important places
- Scirling; Keonga
- First words
- Depending on your temperament, you may be either pleased or puzzled to see that I have chosen to include my time upon the Basilisk in my memoirs.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)It was that plaster cast, and all of the questions it created.
- Original language
- English
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Statistics
- Members
- 903
- Popularity
- 29,795
- Reviews
- 43
- Rating
- (4.05)
- Languages
- English, French, German, Polish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 21
- ASINs
- 7
