Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik is the second volume of the Temeraire series. The first novel was released in Great Britain as Temeraire and in the United States as His Majesty's Dragon. At the end of the first novel, Temeraire (the dragon in question) is discovered to be an incredible rare species of Chinese dragon, and one that the Chinese do not allow to fall into the hands of barbarians like the British, and certainly not the likes of a common soldier like Captain William Laurence, formerly of His Majesty's Royal Navy, now partner and captain of Temeraire in England's struggle against Napoleon.

(Source: Del Rey)