His Majesty's Dragon

By: Naimo Novic

Aerial combat brings a thrilling new dimension to the Napoleonic Wars as valiant warriors rise to Britain’s defense by taking to the skies . . . not aboard aircraft but atop the mighty backs of fighting dragons.

When HMS Reliant captures a French frigate and seizes its precious cargo, an unhatched dragon egg, fate sweeps Capt. Will Laurence from his seafaring life into an uncertain future–and an unexpected kinship with a most extraordinary creature. Thrust into the rarified world of the Aerial Corps as master of the dragon Temeraire, he will face a crash course in the daring tactics of airborne battle. For as France’s own dragon-borne forces rally to breach British soil in Bonaparte’s boldest gambit, Laurence and Temeraire must soar into their own baptism of fire. (Borrowed from Amazon)

I literally picked this book up on a whim. I had one audio book from the library in my hand, and for whatever reason decided that I could use another. So I sauntered down the aisle, pretty much looking for the fantasy or sci-fi stickers they put on the CD cases, and stumbled across this.

Dragons. Napoleon. Sure, I'm in.

I don't actually know anything about the Napoleonic Wars, only that Napoleon was involved, so as for the historical accuracy—I've got nothing. However, Naomi Novic drew me in with the first chapter and I never got bored. The main character is so stoutly British as to be amusing to me (I am American—talking back is one of my favorite past times) but I loved him and cheered for him at every turn.

The dragon, Temeraire, is hyper intelligent and all sorts of interesting. I pretty much want one of my own. Only I don't have any cows or lambs for a dragon to eat, so that might not work out very well. I'll have to work on that.

Being an action junkie, I wanted a bit more of the war side of the story, but the lack didn't distract at all. I'm just need my action fix! MHA, here I come...

This is the first of like nine books (not all written yet), and I'm going to have to see if the library has book 2 on CD. If you haven't checked this series out, give it a shot. You might like it!