Crucible of Gold
(Temeraire 7)
Naomi Novik
Dates Read
Dec 23-25
2024
Listened to audio via Spotify Premium
9 hours, 54 minutes
Blurb:
For Laurence and Temeraire, put out to pasture in Australia, it seems their part in the war has come to an end just when they are needed most. But perhaps they are no longer alone in this opinion. Newly allied with the powerful African empire of the Tswana, the French have occupied Spain and brought revolution and bloodshed to Brazil, threatening Britain’s last desperate hope to defeat Napoleon.
And now the government that sidelined them has decided they have the best chance at negotiating a peace with the angry Tswana, who have besieged the Portuguese royal family in Rio—and thus offer to reinstate Laurence to his former rank and seniority as a captain in the Aerial Corps. Temeraire is delighted by this sudden reversal of fortune, but Laurence is by no means sanguine, knowing from experience that personal honor and duty to one’s country do not always run on parallel tracks.
Nonetheless, the pair embark for Brazil, only to meet with a string of unmitigated disasters that force them to make an unexpected landing in the hostile territory of the Incan empire, where they face new unanticipated dangers.
Now with the success of the mission balanced on a razor’s edge, and failure looking more likely by the minute, the unexpected arrival of an old enemy will tip the scales toward ruin. Yet even in the midst of disaster, opportunity may lurk—for one bold enough to grasp it.
Favorite Character:
Still Iskierka
Pre Read Thoughts:
We're settled in our home why are we going back.
Finished:
Hammond came back just to drag us to South America. I can't believe we lost Riley and the Allegiance and more than half our crew. The Incan dragons are interesting though looking more like birds than reptiles. They protect their people and work with them. Creating an alliance with the Tswana was an interesting touch especially since the Incan empress married Napoleon.
Commentaires