His Majesty's Dragon

In an alternate 19th century where dragons are sentient beings integral to military strategy, Naomi Novik's "His Majesty's Dragon" introduces Captain Will Laurence, a decorated officer in the British Royal Navy. His life takes an extraordinary turn when his ship, the HMS Reliant, captures a French frigate carrying a precious, unhatched dragon egg. Upon its unexpected hatching, the newly emerged dragon, Temeraire, chooses Laurence as his companion, forging a unique and immediate bond that irrevocably alters the captain's destiny. Thrust from the familiar seas into the elite and often perilous world of the Aerial Corps, Laurence must quickly adapt to airborne combat and the intricate social dynamics of dragon-riders. As the Napoleonic Wars escalate and Bonaparte's forces threaten Britain, Laurence and Temeraire, a rare and exceptionally intelligent breed, must learn to fight as one, facing daunting aerial battles and political intrigue, all while navigating their profound and unconventional partnership.