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Books Like Temeraire

7 books to read after His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik, sorted by what you loved about it.

7 books By Sandro Andreatta, historian Updated
Cover of His Majesty’s Dragon

You loved

His Majesty’s Dragon

Naomi Novik

Naval captain Will Laurence. An alternative Napoleonic world with military dragons.

Temeraire opening novel.

Get your personal matchSee it on the shelf

If you loved: prioritise the dragon partnership

Cover of DragonflightDragonflight

Dragonflight

Anne McCaffrey Start with First published Pern novel; distinguish its science-fiction setting from supernatural dragon fantasy.

Editorial match

What it is
Lessa bonds with a queen dragon as Pern must prepare for the return of destructive Thread.
Why it fits
Human–dragon bonds and organised dragonriders are central attractions.
The difference
Pern has a science-fiction foundation; not Napoleonic military history.

If you loved: dragonriders within a political institution

Cover of FireborneFireborne

Fireborne

Rosaria Munda Start with The Aurelian Cycle, book one.

Editorial match

What it is
Annie and Lee, friends with contrasting class backgrounds. A post-revolutionary society with a competitive dragon fleet.
Why it fits
Dragon service intersects with status and political change.
The difference
YA training and rivalry rather than an experienced adult officer’s service.

If you loved: more gunpowder-era military fantasy

Cover of Promise of BloodPromise of Blood

Promise of Blood

Brian McClellan Start with Promise of Blood; original trilogy concludes with The Autumn Republic.

My pick Editorial match

What it is
Ensemble includes Field Marshal Tamas, marksman Taniel and retired inspector Adamat. Adro after a coup against its monarchy.
Why it fits
Military roles operate alongside extraordinary battlefield power.
The difference
Secondary-world coup and investigation; no equivalent central dragon partnership.

On the shelfSee who recommends it

If you loved: focus on the campaign

Cover of The Thousand NamesThe Thousand Names

The Thousand Names

Django Wexler Start with Book one of The Shadow Campaigns; the broader series has five novels.

My pick Editorial match

What it is
Soldiers of Vordan face a campaign in a setting inspired by Napoleonic Europe and North Africa, with supernatural stakes.
Why it fits
Officers and soldiers face unfamiliar threats in a gunpowder army.
The difference
Human military ensemble; the dragon companionship is absent.

On the shelfSee who recommends it

If you loved: duty and changing loyalties

Cover of Guns of the DawnGuns of the Dawn

Guns of the Dawn

Adrian Tchaikovsky

My pick Editorial match

What it is
Emily Marshwic is drawn from civilian life into a musket war as the demands of recruitment grow.
Why it fits
Military service forces reconsideration of civilian assumptions.
The difference
Female conscript and a grimmer war experience; no dragon bond.

On the shelfSee who recommends it

If you loved: learning a new military life

Cover of Sheepfarmer’s DaughterSheepfarmer’s Daughter

Sheepfarmer’s Daughter

Elizabeth Moon Start with First novel of The Deed of Paksenarrion trilogy.

Editorial match

What it is
Paks leaves an arranged future behind to join mercenaries and discovers the demands of army life.
Why it fits
Service, training and belonging structure the protagonist’s development.
The difference
A young volunteer in a medieval-style company replaces a naval officer’s transfer.

On the shelfSee who recommends it

If you loved: more aerial command, with machinery instead of dragons

Cover of The Guns AboveThe Guns Above

The Guns Above

Robyn Bennis

Editorial match

What it is
A newly appointed airship captain must earn her crew’s trust while confronting a dangerous enemy move.
Why it fits
Both concern military service in the air and the responsibility of an officer for others.
The difference
The Guns Above replaces a central dragon bond with an airship crew and a captain confronting institutional prejudice.

On the shelfSee who recommends it

FAQ

What should I read after His Majesty’s Dragon?

It depends on what you loved about it. For prioritise the dragon partnership: Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey. For dragonriders within a political institution: Fireborne by Rosaria Munda. For more gunpowder-era military fantasy: Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan.

How many books like Temeraire are on this page?

7 books, grouped by what readers loved about His Majesty’s Dragon. Each one says why it fits, what is different and who backs the recommendation.

How this list is made: every match comes from Sandro's research catalog, which records who recommends what (book creators, readers, book sites) and an editorial comparison of what each book offers. Matches marked "Editorial match" are his own comparison. Recommendations cannot be bought.