The dragon Temeraire and his human companion Captain Laurence are back in Black Powder War, the third novel in the Temeraire series by Naomi Novik. After surviving thier death defying adventures in China, the pair and their assorted comrades are looking forward to the long voyage back to the British Isles. The threat of war has been eliminated, their partnership has been blessed by the Chinese Emperor, and all is right with the world. And Laurence will have several months to try and convince Temeraire that people aren't quite as rational as the dragon seems to think. Karma, however, isn't going to let them out of the frying pan yet. While their ship lies in the harbor waiting for the trade winds, an urgent dispatch arrives, ordering them home without delay by the quickest means possible. Oh, and they're to pick up some dragon's eggs in the Ottoman Empire on the way.

(Source: Del Rey)