Novik delivers another masterpiece in her unique blend of naval historical fiction and dragonlore à la McCaffrey. The story is quick-paced and full of new adventures and unforeseen developments and kept me reading long into the night. Book three has lost nothing of its momentum and clever storytelling; nonetheless, I liked the first two better, which is simply a matter of taste. While before, there was always a note of juvenile playfulness and a positive outlook in spite of all obstacles in the development of Temeraire and his association with Will Laurence, now their prospects are growing grim and grimmer. After being treated like royality in China, Temeraire and his crew are now conscripted by the Prussians - in spite of their rather urgent mission of transporting three dragon eggs to Britain before their hatching - and have to endure doomed battles, hunger and deprivation, and the personal enmity and revengefulness of Lien, who has allied with Napoleon.
Of course this is well in accordance with the historical precedents before Napoleon`s final defeat, and there is nothing wrong with the storytelling.
I would look forward to book 4 rendering more hopeful prospects, but the preview gives little hope for that; still, I can hardly wait to get it in my hands and start reading. I hope also that it will not be the last in the series.