The Hollow Boy, by Jonathan Stroud

Successful psychic investigations mean Lockwood & Co are overwhelmed with cases dealing with recalcitrant ghostly phenomena. This is exacerbated by a huge outbreak in Chelsea soaking up the resources of the major agencies. Taking on efficient Holly Munro as admin manager makes work go more smoothly, but she is the diametric opposite of Lucy and the two girls clash. Lucy’s particular psychic sensitivities are also causing her problems, creating dangerous distractions in the field as they develop. This third book of the series sees the Lockwood team navigating its own internal friction and dealing with the broader politics and economics of the ghost fighting industry and its shifting alliances while struggling for a secure place within it. The tricky relationship between Lucy and Anthony Lockwood puts the whole team at risk, leading to a big decision for Lucy that will dramatically affect the future of the agency. Smart, funny and scary, Stroud’s Lockwood & Co series operates on several levels. Each fast-paced teen mystery is underpinned by a complex world and punctuated with clues to an overarching conspiracy that promises a satisfying eventual conclusion.

Lockwood & Co - The Whispering Skull, by Jonathan Stroud

Stranger than usual happenings in Kensal Green cemetery see Lockwood & Co investigating an historic mystery of a sinister Victorian-era Doctor who was involved in some very nasty and dangerous experiments. Independent teen agents Anthony, Lucy and George again clash rapiers with Quill Kipps and his team from the establishment Fittes agency in a bid to prove their superior skills. But sometimes your enemy’s enemy can be your friend, or at least your ally, when lives are at stake. The young ghostbusters are just scratching the surface of what looks like a major conspiracy among those who profit most from ‘the problem’ that has been plaguing the country for 50 years. This makes it even more of a pity that Netflix has opted not to continue with its series beyond this second book. In a nice cliff-hanger at the end Anthony Lockwood reveals a family secret, which should make the next book even more interesting.

The True Queen, by Zen Cho

A wild storm washes up two sisters, Muna and Sakti, on the shores of Banda Jaik. A curse has caused them to lose their memories, so the witch Mak Genggang sends them to England’s Sorceress Royal to learn how to break it. On the journey they are separated; Sakti is trapped in the Fairy Queen’s palace, while Muna must navigate England’s snobbery and prejudice to try to reunite with her sister. Along the way she finds friends and allies, as well as enemies, who all play a part in Muna’s discovery of her true self and her place in the world. A sequel to Sorcerer to the Crown, Prunella and her husband are peripheral characters here, her best friend Henrietta taking centre stage along with Muna. The Sorceress Royal’s struggles to establish magical rights for women in Regency England is a mere backdrop to Muna’s story. Zen Cho has largely left behind the stilted and awkward language of the first book, aided by more of the action taking place in Fairyland and Malaysia. It moves faster too, making for an entertaining read. The climax and conclusion are rather convenient, but it’s hard to argue with a happy ending.

Angel Mage, by Garth Nix

The Archangel Palleniel of Ystara has turned against his people, inflicting a plague that either turns their blood to ash or transforms them into savage, cannibalistic beastlings. Ystara is now a wasteland, its refugees the underclass in neighbouring Sarance because touching them with angelic magic reignites the plague. More than a century later Liliath, the maid of Ellanda, wakes from a very long sleep to lead the refugee Refusers back to Ystara. But first she must find four young people who carry the spark of Palleniel and are essential to her quest. Nix has created an alternative version of 17th century France, where the most powerful are mages who can summon the strongest angels to do their bidding, but pay a terrible price for it; the more and stronger they summon, the faster they age. Liliath is the only exception, as she can summon and even absorb angels without ageing. Unusually for Nix, this book is a slog. It takes a very long time to set the scene, with unnecessarily tedious details of city layouts, buildings and costumes, before the four young heroes are finally introduced. Their stories and characters are as interesting and compelling as those in his previous books, so it’s a pity the story doesn’t start with them, instead of lingering over the details of the unpleasant Liliath. It takes almost 500 pages to get to the rather rushed conclusion in which she meets her fate, but judicious editing would have cut it by a fifth and made it a much more enjoyable journey.

Sorcerer to the Crown, by Zen Cho

Zacharias Wythe is Sorcerer Royal in a version of Regency England. A former slave, he has inherited his role from his late mentor and is a fish out of water among his aristocratic peers. Miss Prunella Gentleman has a natural talent for magic and an inheritance that could be very dangerous in a world that denies and suppresses female magic users. Together, the two must overcome their outsider status and battle enemies in both England and the Fairy Kingdom to save the future of magic. There is a lot going on in this novel, which starts very slowly but gathers life when magical women enter the picture. The tone is not quite right, drawing too heavily on the likes of Georgette Heyer, with awkward dialogue that strives too hard for period accuracy and loses something in translation. It is not as good as Black Water Sister, but it was her debut novel so it will be interesting to see if the sequel is better.

Sword and Pen, by Rachel Caine

The fifth and final volume of the Great Library series sees the team of young scholars and soldiers in Alexandria fighting against all odds for the library’s very existence. Not only has the evil deposed Archivist placed assassins and traitors in their midst, but the world’s powers – Spain, England, Wales, Japan, France and Russia – are ranged against them, hoping to scoop up the spoils of civil war. It is an epic power struggle that will determine the fate of the world, as well as the lives of Jess, Glain, Morgan, Khalila, Thomas and Dario. They must use all their skills to survive and protect their mentors, but will the sacrifice be too great? Rachel Caine’s dark alt-history series pays great tribute to librarians and their vital role in preserving knowledge. In this world, in a very real way, knowledge is power and controlling and restricting it corrupts. It provides a nice allegory for the real world and the potential benefits of a new broom.

League of Dragons, by Naomi Novik

The final instalment of the Temeraire versus Napoleon saga sees hungry, freezing and exhausted aviators and dragons pursuing the French tyrant in his retreat from Russia. Napoleon may have lost the battle, but the war is far from over and he has big plans. This includes a spot of egg-napping, which leads Lawrence and Temeraire into captivity. History nerds will know the eventual outcome, so the interest lies in the journey there and how it is altered by the presence of dragons. In truth the social and political reforms achieved by the dragons during this period is unbelievably rapid, but make for a nice conclusion. The prospect of Temeraire MP is delightful, but it is difficult to fathom Westminster accommodating dragons – physically or socially.

Spellbreaker, by Charlie M Holmberg

Elsie is assistant to a stonemason and also a secret spellbreaker in a Victorian England where magic rules, rather than science and technology. An orphan with abandonment issues, Elsie has contributed her talents for many years to a secret organisation she believes is dedicated to freeing up magic for the poor and oppressed. When she is caught on a secret mission by aspiring magic master Bacchus Kelsey, he obtains her help in return for not turning her in to the authorities. There is a lot going on in this very complicated story, which gets bogged down in too much exposition and florid description. The plot relies on unlikely coincidences and the wilful ignorance of its otherwise intelligent protagonist. Its resolution reads as though made up on the fly. This has the bones of a good tale, with some interesting characters, but needed at least one more draft and a damn good edit to make it work.

Blood of Tyrants, by Naomi Novik

Separated from his dragon and his colleagues by a shipwreck, Captain William Laurence has washed ashore in hostile Japan. His injuries include amnesia – he has lost most of the past eight years, including all memory of Temeraire and their service with the Air Corps. Rejoining his colleagues and continuing their mission to China puts into question the bond between aviator and dragon, which must be slowly rebuilt as Laurence’s memories gradually return. The pair eventually find themselves in Russia, once again fighting Napoleon and his grand ambition. Novik skilfully weaves her fighting dragons in and around real historical events and battles. The politics and social world of Russian dragons is similar to that of serfs and nobles, with similar consequences. This penultimate book of the series ends rather abruptly, with our heroes once again under threat. One can only assume they will finish up back in England to end the saga in the final book.

Crucible of Gold, by Naomi Novik

Laurence and Temeraire are relatively content on their isolated property in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, when a familiar British diplomat literally drops in. Bonaparte has allied with the Tswana with designs on South America and so the draconic duo are to be (sort of) reinstated to the military to help head off the problem, because of their African experience. Of course nothing goes smoothly – shipwreck, marooning and mutiny are just the start of their obstacles. The Incan Empire offers a whole new take on human-dragon relations, as well as a new phase in the Napoleonic wars. By helping in Brazil, Britain gains Portugal’s friendship. But shifting alliances put Laurence’s reinstated captaincy at risk and it seems he and Temeraire may be returning to China for their next adventure.

Tongues of Serpents, by Naomi Novik

Convicted of treason, Lawrence and his dragon Temeraire have been busted out of the air corps and transported to New South Wales. The dragon factor means they are not treated as ordinary convicts, but without official rank they are caught between the civil war in the colony between ousted governor Bligh and the new landed gentry under MacArthur. There are no native dragons in Australia but, as the British aeronauts discover when they venture into the vast interior, there are vicious and predatory Bunyips. There they also discover a major threat to British trade, with the smuggling of luxury goods from China via what will later become the port of Darwin. As usual Novik uses real historical events and people as the basis for her tale and gives them a fascinating twist. Her depiction of the interaction of Aboriginal, Asian and European cultures, for better and for worse, is particularly interesting.

Victory of Eagles, by Naomi Novik

Following their return from delivering the dragon plague cure to France, Temeraire and Will Laurence have been separated by the authorities. The dragon has been banished to the breeding grounds in Wales and the aviator has been convicted of treason and sentenced to death. Bonaparte’s invasion of Britain changes their circumstances, as the pair marshals a guerrilla force of dragons, managing to negotiate improved working conditions along the way. The relationship between man and dragon is tested by the fallout from their treason, with Temeraire’s gradual realisation of the consequences of their actions signalling a maturing of the dragon-human bond. Novik has hit her straps in this fifth novel of the saga of the Napoleonic wars with added dragons. She skilfully weaves fantasy with history, using her unique characters to change the course of events but arrive at a similar outcome. Helping to save the day isn’t enough to ensure the two can benefit from their efforts, with Laurence’s sentence commuted to transportation. And so the scene is set for the next book in the series as they set sail for New South Wales.

Empire of Ivory, by Naomi Novik

Finally arriving back in Britain, Laurence and Temeraire discover why they received no help getting there. The dragons have been laid waste by a viral disease; many have died and there is little hope. The news has been kept secret – if Napoleon finds out he will invade with little resistance. This puts on hold their plans for political change to improve the rights of dragons; even with the dragons ravaged by illness there is little consideration for their care or comfort. Temeraire seems to be immune to the disease. He had a cold on their journey to China and there is a theory that he actually had the deadly virus but ate something that cured him on one of their stops. So the aviators are off to southern Africa to search for a cure. Novik explores rich territory, geographically, politically and philosophically in this fourth Temeraire novel. Slavery, colonialism and conflicting loyalties inform the personal and professional conflicts central to the plot. Impossibly honourable Laurence remains just too good to be true - taking the fall for everyone else, including his dragon companion. With several more books in the series he will clearly be extracted from the dire situation he faces at the end of this story. An epilogue gives a glimpse of an interesting alt history for southern Africa and a hopeful note for a refugee sponsored by Laurence.

Black Powder War, by Naomi Novik

Volume three of the Temeraire chronicles opens where two ended, with the Celestial dragon and his crew preparing to leave China for a long voyage home. A dispatch from England prompts a decision to take the much faster, but treacherous, overland route to collect three eggs from the Ottoman Empire. An adventure ensues via mountains and desert, leading to encounters with tribal raiders and feral dragons. Then there are political troubles to deal with in Istanbul and battles with the old foe Bonaparte in Prussia – will they ever get back home? Novik seamlessly blends her world of dragons with historical detail of the Napoleonic wars. The pace of this journey is a little brisker than the previous one to China, with interest maintained throughout. But it is still light on character development; Captain Laurence and his crew remain, ironically, vehicles for the dragons rather than fully rounded protagonists. Volume four will hopefully focus on the crew’s reintegration into British military life, allowing development of relationships on the home front. Or maybe they will just jump off on another all-action boys own adventure. It’s called Empire of Ivory so probably the latter.

The Throne of Jade, by Naomi Novik

It takes quite a long time to actually get to China and the jade throne of the title, in this sequel to Temeraire, almost two-thirds of the book. Along the way are adventures and misadventures galore before the young dragon encounters his origins and must decide where his future lies. The Temeraire series has all the elements required for a great read – dragons, battles, culture clashes and alt history. Somehow it falls short and the story tends to drag in places. Possibly it’s because the main character, William Laurence, is not very interesting. He anchors the story as a naval officer, turned accidental aeronaut, in the early 19th century. But his character is totally reactive, serving as a foil to the almost childlike dragon and as a kind of interpreter of his times. He is a thoroughly decent and honourable man, with little light or shade. He generates goodwill in the reader, but not passionate attachment as with the feisty heroines of Novik’s other books. She does a good job depicting the developing relationship between man and beast, as Laurence comes to terms with Temeraire growing up. She throws in a teaser at the end that hints at the dragon becoming an activist, which could be tricky in the aftermath of the French Revolution with a government crackdown on dissent. It could be a girl thing, it could be a war thing, but this series just does not hold the appeal of feminist folk tales or murderous schools of magic. With many more books to come, perhaps persistence will pay off.

Temeraire, by Naomi Novik

Hornblower meets Anne McCaffrey in this tale of the Napoleonic Wars, with added dragons. On the high seas Captain William Laurence and his crew capture a French ship that contains a rare prize – a dragon egg. When it becomes clear that the egg will hatch before they can make land, one of the sailors must bond with the hatchling to prevent it going feral. But this means the bonded man must leave the navy to become an aviator – relinquishing family, friends and naval career. The aviators are an odd bunch, who do things their own way and keep very much to their own. The development of Laurence’s relationship with Temeraire and his adaptation to aviator life is interesting, if a little slow. Alt history can be tricky but Novik does a good job with the setting. Adding the aviator branch of the armed forces provides an opportunity to mix things up a bit, such as adding female captains to shake up the gender dynamics. The world and voices of the dragons are not quite as convincing, with Temeraire in particular too much of a prodigy. You might think dragons would make naval battles more exciting, but they are still battles, depicted in mind-numbing detail and strictly for enthusiasts. This is the first in a series of nine and it will be interesting to see if there is enough momentum in the story to sustain them.