Blood of Tyrants

Fiction Historical Fiction Adventure Fiction

Description

In 1812, William Laurence and his formidable dragon, Temeraire, push beyond familiar battlefields to forge alliances across Japan, China, and Russia—only to find that diplomacy is as dangerous as war. When the dragon transport Potentate runs aground and Temeraire’s formation must scramble to set things right, their efforts collide with surveillance, misdirection, and the heavy-handed posturing of Western powers. As Laurence and Temeraire are pulled into palace intrigue and shifting loyalties, their partnership is tested by a devastating rupture in memory and identity. Blending alternate-history spectacle with Naomi Novik’s sharp wit and emotionally grounded character work, this installment explores the costs of power, the fragility of trust, and what it means to rebuild a bond when the past won’t stay put.