Tongues of Serpents

This, the sixth volume in the Temeraire series, takes the characters to an entirely new continent: Australia. Laurence and Temeraire are transported, after the events of the previous novel, and must make a new life on the barely colonized Australian coast. There they discover that political machinations cannot be left behind and that the English are not the only people on the continent. Adventures, naturally, ensue.

The core of the narrative here is once again a loose quest -- in this case, a pursuit -- and Novik works well within those parameters, creating dangerous challenges, interesting new species encounters, and -- as always -- developing the relationship between Laurence and Temeraire with each twist and turn. This installment show more continues the tradition introduced in the previous of bringing Temeraire's perspective directly into the novel within the confines of the third person narration; the reader is shifted between his voice and Laurence's with some regularity, but the shifts are smooth, to the point that one doesn't often notice the change until Temeraire's more unusual opinions pop up. Such smoothness is the mark of writerly skill; by this point, Novik has these characters down pat and one can definitely tell.

Novik has taken the opportunity to play a little bit here, with history and culture, and that works to make a familiar pattern seem still fresh. The incorporation of the mythical Australian bunyip, for example, creates some nice, creepy peril as the quest-pursuit unfolds and gives us -- and the characters -- an opportunity to feel that perhaps even having a dragon or three around isn't a guarantee of safety. Such variation is necessary, given that much of the novel is taken up with a trek across the Australian outback, so the usual detailed descriptions of cities, period scenes, or integrated dragon societies simply aren't possible.

The end of this novel almost feels like an ending to the series, or the start of a totally new one, but the next volume is waiting for me, so I know there is more to this story. That is a good thing. Overall, this novel is another solid, if not perfect, addition from a writer whose series is remarkably consistent in its strength and imagination. I'm looking forward to that next one. show less

I just really love the Temeraire novels. Mostly because I just really love Temeraire, and his relationship with Laurence and the rest of his crew, and any opportunity to have him "nudge" anyone--what a great image, with his gigundous muzzle and the teeth just inside.

This one introduces an interesting and rather amusing new dragon character, Kulingile, whose hatching story is awesome. It also lets us see more of Roland (the younger one), Demane, and to some extent Sipho. On the other hand, continuing away from England means we're still missing some of the series's most compelling characters and relationships, including Roland (the elder), Harcourt (now Riley, I guess), and various really great dragons.

Tongues of Serpents felt less show more structurally and technically strong than the preceding installment; it just didn't stick together and deliver a satisfying closing the way it might have done, and I guess the action feels imbalanced, with really the only battle coming quite near the end. There's also stuff that feels like dropped balls, like the potentially-interesting "bunyip" thing (wanted some sort of something with the whole Australian-species-evolving-differently hints here, the ridge where wings might be). But the landscape takes on a great deal of power here, especially in the sudden rainstorm/fire sequence, and Novik provides some great descriptions as the characters travel. I look forward to reading the next one! show less

Tongues of Serpents is the seventh book in in Naomi Novik's Temeraire Series. It picks up where the last book left off, with Celestial dragon Temeraire and Captain William Laurence sentenced to be transported to the penal colony in New South Wales, following their exile from Britain for treason. The book is a mix of historical fiction and fantasy. It is set during the Napoleonic Wars but contains a Dragon Aerial Corps and other mythical creatures, in this case sea serpents. The book differs from earlier entries in the series, with less emphasis on military action and more on exploration and survival. Australia is a land without dragons. In fact, the British send three eggs with the escort to try to establish an initial dragon colony, show more which does not quite go as planned.

The novel tackles colonialism as a running theme through its portrayal of the settlement at Sydney, interactions with Aboriginal peoples, and battles at sea to protect trading routes. Temeraire's outside perspective points out many flaws in colonial thinking and the damage done by claiming "empty" lands. The bulk of the narrative involves a journey to rescue a stolen dragon egg, which sets up the clash between colonial powers with indigenous people and foreign traders. Other themes relate to loyalty, displacement, and ethics. There is much more complexity here than simply an adventure story.

It is more character-driven than some of the previous books. Laurence's character arc centers on reconciling his ingrained sense of duty with his past actions and uncertain future. Temeraire experiences a growing disillusionment with human politics, though his loyalty to Laurence remains unwavering. There are several new dragons in this book, each with a separate and distinct personality. I am amazed at the author’s ability to provide such unique characterizations for each new dragon. I listened to the audiobook, brilliantly narrated by Simon Vance, who brings these characters to life. It is always delightful to spend time with Temeraire, Laurence, and company. show less

In this volume of the Temeraire series, Captain Laurence—along with Temeraire, of course—has been exiled to Australia following his betrayal of Britain back in book four. Laurence must find some way to navigate no longer being allowed to serve technically, while still also being of use to his country.

I think this is probably one of the lesser installments of the series, but I still enjoyed it immensely. Novik conjures up character, place, and society with skill in equal measure; I love Laurence and Temeraire, of course, and the bits with Captain Bligh are fun but also kind of horrifying. The worst part of Temeraire's world are of course part of ours as well. Like with Throne of Jade and Horn of Ivory, some of the book hinges show more around discovering that a non-European society makes its own complex and interesting use of dragons. I have to say, an anti-orientalist bent is honestly not what I expected from this series going in! But it very mush is interested in using dragonriding to interrogate the way Britain sees the rest of the world. I think what hold this one back is it's more of a travelogue, without a strong sense of climax, but it was a journey I enjoyed nonetheless. show less

This, the sixth in the popular Temeraire series, by Novik, was probably my least favorite so far. However, I'd still rather read an "average" Temeraire novel than one from almost any other series. The Temeraire books, equal parts historical adventure and fantasy, are styled after the Horatio Hornblower novels of C.S. Forester, but with intelligent (and often quite cultured) dragons as the "sailing vessels". Former British naval officer Will Laurence, convicted of treason in the previous volume of the series for his actions in battle against Napoleon's forces, is sentenced, with his free-thinking dragon Temeraire, to an 8-month journey by sea to the British penal colony of Australia. Once there, in order to try to remain outside the show more political fray of a rebellion in the colony, Laurance, Temeraire and their fellow dragons and aviators take on the task of tracking smugglers in the interior of the Australian continent. Though this volume in the series has almost no outright "action" and "adventure" it is filled with character development and changes in the political landscape that forms the backdrop of this Napoleonic-era plot. I've seen it mentioned in other reviews, and I'd have to agree -- in the complicated gameboard of Temeraire's world, Tongues of Serpents felt like Novik moving the playing pieces into place for their next big encounter, but never quite getting to that encounter. A tasty treat, but a bit too much of a tease for the next volume.

Originally reviewed for my local library's website: http://www.lincolnlibraries.org/depts/bookguide/srec/staffrec11-08.htm show less

Something of a place-holder volume, perhaps, Tongues of Serpents, the sixth Temeraire novel has our friends Laurence and Temeraire transported to Australia, where naturally they could not possibly just settle down to a peaceful existence and wait for Government to come to its senses and bring them back to the front. When one of the three eggs they've been charged with protecting is stolen, the pair (along with the delightfully troublesome Iskierka and their crews) must rattle off into the outback, where all sorts of unknown dangers lurk.

Novik's dragons continue to be the shining stars of her novels, and we meet some fascinating new ones here who I hope we'll see again in the next volume. While this particular book may not be the best in show more the series, it still made for a great read, and I look forward to the forthcoming installment with anticipation. show less

This is perhaps not as fast-paced as previous novels in the series—there are fewer battles, and so not as many big set pieces. I still enjoyed this tremendously, however, because there was much more scope for character development, and I feel as if I now know Laurence much better than I did previously. I sadly missed Jane Roland—present only in some hilarious letters—but Roland fille is shaping fair to be as much of a character as her mother, and the new dragon characters introduced are all very entertaining.

Most of all, I loved the bits and pieces of world-building which we got throughout—of the Iroquois and Ojibwe raising their dragons; of the Tswana invading Europe and South America in order to gain revenge for, and halt, the show more slave trade; more mention of the empire of the Incas; Emily Roland's matter-of-fact mention of the issues she has to deal with as the only female member of a dragon crew; Australia with English and Chinese trading posts, not to mention active, involved indigenous peoples. (Oh, oh, and the Chinese using the sea serpents for trade! That is ingenious, and not something I would ever have thought of.)

I would dearly love a map of the world as it is in this universe, because I am so curious as to where the boundaries differ from the early nineteenth century world as we know it—though perhaps such a thing would spoil any future surprises Novik may have for us? And certainly the ending which we are given here does leave the stage wide open for any number of things—now that Laurence has finally made the decision to leave the Corps and the government's demands behind him, who knows what shall happen? show less