2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss Throne of Jade, the second book in the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik.

Pages: 398 pages

Length: 1 month (January)

Participants:SarahKat, Dominique

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

Hey Dominique, still with me on this one? I was planning on starting this week but I could wait a little if I need to

Hello!

I was planning on starting beginning of next week. Okay for you?

Dominique wrote: "Hello!

I was planning on starting beginning of next week. Okay for you?"

Sounds good! Did you like the first one?

SarahKat wrote: "Dominique wrote: "Hello!

I was planning on starting beginning of next week. Okay for you?"

Sounds good! Did you like the first one?"

Yes i did, loved the relationship between man and dragon. Now I want one!

Hi SarahKat!

Going to start on Sunday.

Great! I'm almost done with one of my physical books so I should be able to star then as well!

Part 1 Chapter 1-4 (view spoiler)[ Temeraire's anger is really showing from the beginning of the book. Willing to kill anyone who will separate or harm Laurence shows how much he's attached to him. I think that if Temeraire heard the way they said that Laurence turned him into a savage beast, he wouldn't hesitate to kill. I like Emily Roland, love the fact that the author made a very strong woman surrounded by men. Even though they escaped they were not executed but are shipped to China. When Temeraire got hurt you can feel the love and worry Laurence has for his dragon (hide spoiler)]

I have started but have had very busy days! I think I've just started chapter 3. I'll try to read through 4 tonight.

Finally read through chapter 4: (view spoiler)[I agree I love the relationship between Laurence and Temeraire. It's like they are both mama bears for each other. Fiercely protective. I like that they are going to China together but interested on what sorts of problems there will be. I feel like Sun Kai might be an ally. (hide spoiler)]

I see you've already finished! You can post your thoughts and I'll respond as soon as I can. I'm still working on a library book that's taking precedence because I have to return it soon but then I'll be able to read more in this one every day.

I really love Novik as an author. I've read Spinning Silver and her Scholomance series and I have loved those and this, but they are all so different. If you didn't know, I don't think you'd be able to tell they all came from the same mind.

This is my first time readinger her novels. I do have the other ones but never had the chance to start one.

I'll post my thoughts tonight!

Gave it a 4 stars

(view spoiler)[Love the deep bond these two have with each other. Temeraire was willing to do anything to keep them together while the others tried so hard to keep them apart. The author did a great job with Temeraire, she made the dragon very curious and intelligent. So much was happening in China, people were still trying to eliminate Laurence, Temeraire meeting his family was a great way to know where he came from. Yongxing got what he deserved. Laurence got respect and made some kind of peace with Britain and upgrade his social status.
I love her writing, her characters are well written. Solid action scenes and very engaging story
Can't wait to read their story back to London (hide spoiler)]

Finally finished! I'm commenting here before I even update it on my home page but I will also give it 4 stars.

(view spoiler)[I was surprised that actually very little of the book was set in China. I think at least 2/3 of it were in transit. I'm honestly surprised at how much I still loved this even though not a lot of action happens in the middle of the book. It starts with a battle and ends with a dragon duel, but the middle was mostly absent of big battle scenes.
I agree Yongxing got what he deserved, trying to usurp his brother's claim to the throne by killing Laurence and claiming Temeraire. Scummy all around. I do feel terrible for his dragon though. I haven't read the synopsis for any of the other books because I don't want to spoil anything for myself, but I wonder if we will see the Chinese dragons and characters again.
I love the connection Laurence and Temeraire have, and how thirsty for knowledge Temeraire is. I think some of their philosophical conversations are so interesting. Temeraire being haunted by killing that sea serpent because it wasn't too far off from a dragon and the back and forth between him and Laurence on that. Temeraire is still so young and has seen so little of the world, and Laurence is very set in his ways and culture. What makes complete sense to Laurence is proving to not be the case world-wide and upon further reflection, may not be how things should or could always be.
I'm glad he got to see that dragons in China are treated more like citizens than animals and now he wants to take that back to London. I think he's definitely going to ruffle some feathers. I wonder what the other dragons will think of his newfound skills of reading and writing. (hide spoiler)]

SarahKat wrote: "Finally finished! I'm commenting here before I even update it on my home page but I will also give it 4 stars.

I was surprised that actually very little of the book was set in China. I think at l..."

(view spoiler)[ That was a real surprised that a dragon can read and write. You're right about the lack of action in the book but the writing is great and makes up for it. I think that the others in the books might get more battles. So far she mostly based the first books on their relationship and the way it evolved pretty quickly between them (hide spoiler)]