Throne of Jade

This is the second installment of a series set in an alternate universe where intelligent dragons are employed by the military to fight the Napoleonic War. In the previous volume, HIS MAJESTY'S DRAGON, Captain Will Laurence of the British navy captured a highly prized Chinese dragon egg intended for Napoleon himself, and, when it hatched, bonded with the new dragon, Temeraire. Now, the Chinese Emperor, perceiving Temeraire's association with a mere captain as an insult, has sent an embassy demanding that Temeraire return to China. As the dragon-human pair refuse to be parted, the two embark on the lengthy sea voyage to China, where a delicate and dangerous diplomatic mission awaits them.