"...it seems to me," he added, grimly, a suggestion of a low growling anger beneath his voice, "that we are just like slaves; only there are fewer of us, and we are much bigger and dangerous, so we are treated generously where they are treated cruelly; but we are still not free." [loc. 3421]
Temeraire is a Celestial, the rarest breed of dragon: he was hatched from an egg sent by the Emperor of China to the Emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte: Laurence is uneasily aware that he, formerly a naval captain of moderately noble birth, cannot be a suitable companion for such a prize. Indeed, this is what the British Government have been telling him all along. But now he finds himself and his dragon despatched to China, in the company of young-but-ruthless diplomat Hammond and Chinese Prince Yongxing (plus entourage).
The journey is long, but when Laurence lands in China he finds himself just as much at sea as ever, struggling to negotiate the formalities and machinations of the Imperial Court. Temeraire, meanwhile, is delighted to discover that in China the dragons have money, jobs, social status and respect -- all somewhat lacking in Western Europe.
The first time I read the first novel in the sequence, Temeraire, I felt the lack of the wider world. In this second volume, there is a brief stopover at Africa -- where we learn that the interior is rumoured to be too dangerous to cross, due to feral dragons and other beasts -- and an encounter with a sea-serpent. And, of course, China, an ancient and powerful empire where society has evolved in different ways to our own history.
Throne of Jade picks up pace after the rather slow sea-voyage, and there is plenty of excitement for Laurence and his friends: some surprises, too, as the motivation for the Emperor's gift to Napoleon is revealed. Laurence, still adjusting to life as a dragon's companion/captain, has another change of status, and a momentous decision to make: to his credit, he does not let his patriotism blind him to the realities of the situation.
Lots of little details to enjoy: I'd like to read more about Queen Elizabeth's serving-maid, who was the first woman to be 'set to' a Longwing, sparking the discovery that Longwings prefer female captains.
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