His Majesty's DragonBy new author Naomi Novik, who worked on the [i]Neverwinter Night

A book by new author Naomi Novik, who worked on the Neverwinter Nights game. "His Majesty's Dragon" (or "Temeraire" as it was published in the UK) is part one of a trilogy which is being released in North America in three successive months - on March 28, April 25 (Throne of Jade) and May 30 (Black Powder War).

I read one enthusiastic review and picked it up on a whim. It was Sunday morning, around 11am.

I finished it around midnight the same day.

In a word, wow.

The book takes place during the Napoleonic Wars. Navy Captain Will Laurence and his crew successfuly capture a French vessel bearing a gift for Napoleon from the Chinese - a dragon's egg near hatching. Two weeks from the nearest port, Laurence is forced to make a decision. Dragons are only of use to the military if they can be harnessed out-of-shell by a specially trained member of the Areal Corps; they form an instant and profound attachement to their rider, and riders must live a strange life outside of normal human society. No one on board wants the responsibility, but for crown and country, Laurence makes everyone draw lots.

That brief description accounts for much of what happens in the first chapter. What does not is describe how wonderful this book is to read. I haven't been this enthusiastic about a book since... well, since the first time I read Harry Potter. All the characters are well-realized, especially Temeraire (the dragon) and Laurence. The plot is exciting and the action tense. The book details events in the war, including some breath-taking areal battles - but at its heart it is about the relationship between Temeraire and Laurence.

Novik writes wonderfully. The only flaw is the dialogue, which is very formal, but I forgive that as her trying to be accurate to the times.

I can't wait until April 25. I think I'm going to try and pace myself for the next one so I don't have to wait an entire month to visit these characters again.

On a side note, this book reminded me of a shorter, easier version of "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell" by Susanna Clarke. If you haven't read that one, I recommend it with a qualifier - it's long, and sometimes dry, and though in the end I absolutely loved the story, I don't think I'll pick it up again for a re-read anytime soon. It also takes place in the Napoleonic Wars, but instead of dragons it's about magic, and the two magicians (not the hat-n-bunny kind) who bring magic back the England (and open the door to a host of trouble, likely to be picked up in the next book).

"His Majesty's Dragon" is similar in setting, but utterly takes the cake in terms of readability - there's not a boring page in the whole book. My highest personal recommendation.

EDIT: I accidentally pasted this whole post in the subject heading. Any mod who wanders by can shorten it to "His Majesty's Dragon."