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Having read Naomi Novik’s Scholomance trilogy (and loved it), the first Temeraire book (His Majesty’s Dragon: enjoyed it but didn’t love), and Spinning Silver and Uprooted, I was, I felt, a good candidate to read this collection of short stories that have mostly been published in other collections previously. Having finished this set, I feel if you’re like me and are familiar with (and really enjoyed) those books, you’re the best prepared to enjoy this. If you’re not familiar with the worlds of Temeraire and the Scholomance, you already won’t get much out of three stories.
Interestingly, the “Spinning Silver” story here is the basis for the novel. I did enjoy the fleshed-out book; it gave the proper attention to the elements that started in the story.
The short stories here set in the Temeraire world, of an alternate history where dragons are part of the armies in the Napoleonic Wars, are fun. I most liked Temeraire and the other curious, intelligent dragons who grow up from hatchlings with human trainers/partners/fliers. In this collection, I must admit I was most entertained by “Dragons and Decorum,” in which Elizabeth Bennet gets to become a captain in the Aerial Corps as the partner of dragon Wollstonecraft.
Novik also enters the world of Sherlock Holmes via her story “Commonplaces,” exploring the character of Irene Adler. I’ll admit I’ve never actually read any of the classic Conan Doyle books, so I didn’t get a lot out of this one.
I loved getting to pop back into the Scholomance world, in a story that takes place after the end of the series. It wasn’t earth-shaking, but it was just fun to revisit.
“Buried Deep” was a fascinating story, but one that definitely deserves the novel treatment. It felt like a study of a larger work to come, but I don’t know if Novik has plans to do that. She is, however, working on a novel set in the world of the last story, “The Long Way Round.” The taste the story gave me of that world she is just starting to explore in her imagination was fine but didn’t necessarily leave me eager for the novel.
So… I’d say this collection is kind of a mixed bag. Some of the stories didn’t really spark my fancy, and I most enjoyed the ones that simply revisited existing worlds. Again, best for those who have read most of Novik’s previous works.
Rated: Moderate. Profanity includes 2 uses of strong language (both in the last story), around 10 instances of moderate profanity, about 20 uses of mild language, a couple of uses of British (bl-) profanity, and a couple of instances of the name of Deity in vain. Sexual content includes some references to sex and kissing. Violence is be briefly gory in a few spots.
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*I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
