tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304302673132222419.post373524355325313659..comments2023-11-09T22:51:59.986-05:00Comments on Dreaming About Other Worlds: Review - Crucible of Gold by Naomi NovikAaron Poundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11747596648152141394noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304302673132222419.post-39749566099026541102012-07-18T17:22:22.272-04:002012-07-18T17:22:22.272-04:00@Vorkosigrrl: The high quality of the first part o...@Vorkosigrrl: The high quality of the first part of the series is part of what has made these last two books so painful. The first couple books it was fun to watch as the world was changed by the addition of dragons and yet Novik was able to recreate the key battles of Napoleon's campaigns. But in the last two books the series has simply foundered, drifting along without any real advance to the main plot. I think that this may be because Novik has written herself into a corner and can't figure out how to get to the Battle of Nations, but that's just a guess.Aaron Poundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11747596648152141394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304302673132222419.post-48313025644428519912012-07-17T15:53:47.291-04:002012-07-17T15:53:47.291-04:00Hello! I found your review through a google alert...Hello! I found your review through a google alert for Naomi Novik. <br /><br />This has been one of my favorite series ever, but I do agree with you about the last two books. Painful. I can understand Tongues of Serpents being that way; after all, they are in a prison colony, and the desert is hardly hospitable. And it was at least made interesting by the bunyips and the interaction with Rankin, and the African boy (forget his name) coming to command the new, large dragon (forget his name as well).<br /><br />But Crucible of Gold just seemed pointless. I understand that the Portguese prince regent actually was in Rio during part of the Napoleanic wars, so the historical basis does seem valid, but the plot seems like much ado about nothing. The only thing it added to the story was a few juicy tidbits about the characters, and the full circle relationship between dragons and humans (dragons being the owners in the slave relationship). Those things were interesting, but didn't warrant an entire book.<br /><br />On the other hand, I still have high hopes for the remaining two books in the series, and hoping it finds its way again to bring it on home!Vorkosigrrlnoreply@blogger.com