Another factor that enticed me to check out this saga was that it also dealt with Napoleonic wars. Actually, my main interest lies in the Peninsular war, which is more or less an important chapter in this tumultuous era, and at this juncture I am already eagerly anticipating how Naomi Novik would mold this campaign into her entertaining novels (3, so far; the fourth one is forthcoming).

The first book in this series, His Majesty's Dragon , is anchored around the time when Napoleon was busily carving out his empire and England 's superior navy was ruling the seas. In this alternate reality, dragons exist for real and are used by many countries as mainstays of their aerial forces (precursors for modern-day scouts, fighters and bombers), which is a refreshing premise to say the least. This tale features a few twists: Admiral Nelson survives Trafalgar and this crucial sea battle itself serves as a ruse to draw out Britain 's naval forces while French units are being ferried across the channel.

Summary . After seizing a dragon egg from a captured French frigate, the crew and officers of HMS Reliant realized with dismay that the egg was only days away from hatching. Contrary to their hopes of sharing the bounty (if the egg could be safely handed to the proper authorities), it was evident that one of them would have to volunteer as its 'handler', a fate that no self-respecting naval officer would want. Or else, let the dragon go feral (wild) -- which was even worse, because England only had a few combat dragons.

After hatching, the fully articulate black (an unusual color) dragonet unexpectedly took to Capt. William Laurence, who manfully accepted his fate and promptly gave up his command. He named the dragon Temeraire. Later, he learned from an expert that his charge was actually a Chinese imperial, a rare and highly prized oriental breed known for their intelligence and grace. It did not take long for the two to bond, and after a few weeks they proceeded to Loch Laggan in Scotland for intensive training.

There, they met other dragons of various sizes and breeds -- although Temeraire was clearly different from anyone else -- as well as aviators (including a few female handlers) and ground crews. Training was hard, but the training instructor (a dragon!) was pleased to discover that aside from being a fast and highly maneuverable flyer, Temeraire had the unusual ability to 'hover.'

A few months later, news of England 's victory in Trafalgar reached them. Everyone celebrated. However, they soon learned with dismay that this huge naval engagement was merely a ploy. And while most of the country's aerial forces were away to assist Nelson, only a few inexperienced combat-weight dragons were left to protect England 's coast against an imminent French invasion. In this desperate, climactic aerial battle, Temeraire realized his full powers, and consequently his real identity.

It is later revealed that Temeraire was not an imperial, but a Chinese celestial -- the rarest of dragon breeds, raised as companions to the Chinese imperial family. And that he had been intended as a gift to Napoleon, judged by the Chinese (the world's best dragon breeders) as a fitting recipient being an emperor himself.

His Majesty's Dragon is a highly entertaining read. The bond between Capt. Laurence and Temeraire is touching and the aerial dogfights (err, dragonfights?) are fascinating. With their ability to communicate and work with their crew and fellow dragons, Ms. Novik's dragons add a fascinating dimension to aerial battles (it's pretty hard to remain detached and focused on your mission when you hear a dragon roar in pain).

Fans of fantasy books who are also history buffs will find plenty to like in this series. It doesn't quite have the multi-layered complexity and the gracious prose of Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strane and Mr Norrell, but it's still a fascinating tale.