2019/31: League of Dragons -- Naomi Novik

Yu Li broke [the silence] herself, saying in Chinese, "This is a very handsome map, but those men are not over there," while leaning forward to make several alterations to the disposition of figures with the talons of her foreleg, nudging some here and there in small increments until she was satisfied with their arrangement. She straightened up from the table and blinked around at the company, who wore a general expression of disquiet: a dragon did not generally appear in a dining room, and even Laurence had to admit of a vague sense of something decidedly out of place, as though a caricature from the Gazette had abruptly come to life. [p. 317]

In which Temeraire and Laurence go home.

The grand finale to the series, which does not quite tie up every plot-thread, but achieves resolution for the major arcs: Laurence's happiness, the rights of dragons, the threat of Napoleon's empire-building, and the various agendas and motivations of the humans and dragons of different nations. There are, again, strong female characters with agency (I was pleased to encounter Jane Roland again, as well as Perscitia and Iskierka and Anahuarque) and multiple reversals. Persons who have seemed trustworthy are not: some characters who have been tangential to the main arcs become more significant.

Temeraire is still a delight, and a formidable strategist, though prone to acting on impulse when his protective instincts are engaged. Tharkay is also a delight, especially at the end of the novel. Why yes, there is a happy ending. Indeed, there are several. Diplomacy, subterfuge, legitimisation and surprising alliances! Kind hearts! Coronets! ... It's hard to write about this novel without major spoilers: suffice to say that it was, for me, a satisfactory resolution to the series overall, and a well-paced novel in its own right.