Voyage of the Basilisk - A Memoir by Lady Trent

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Voyage of the Basilisk - A Memoir by Lady Trent (#493) by Marie Brennan.  This is actually the third book in this Victorian-era adventure series following the career of dragon naturalist Isabella Camherst, but you don't have to have read the previous two volumes to easily follow the protagonist as she sets sail for ports of call around the world where she can observe a variety of dragon species in an effort to advance the scientific research being done on them.

Isabella inhabits a world with as rigid a class system as England ever boasted, although here her native land is called Scirling.  As she sails aboard the Basilisk, it is easy to recognize most of the countries and cultures she encounters, although the names have all been changed to fictitious kingdoms and dynasties.  Victorian dress and mores prevail here, though, as she creates a scandal by departing on her expedition in the company of Tom Wilker, one of her oldest friends and colleagues, since she is a widow and Tom is unmarried.  Tongues will wag, even as Isabella pooh-poohs the thought of there being anything between the two of them other than mutual interest in serious scientific research.  Besides, she has her young son Jake and his governess along with them on the two year voyage.  What could possibly go wrong?

Well, plenty!  Encounters with sea serpents, hostile soldiers and forbidding environments could easily end with Isabella's death, and she comes terribly close several times.  She does wind up playing a key role in a rescue that will have later ramifications on her life, and she winds up making a momentous discovery that will advance her own professional reputation when she judges the time is right.  There's a hint of romance, but the emphasis here is always on the dragons and Isabella's quest to learn more about them

A small thing that I also enjoyed about this book was the way it was published; an interesting and eye-catching cover thoroughly in tune with the theme of the book, but what really struck me was that it is printed in blue ink, with occasional wood-cut type illustrations throughout.  I found the blue printing remarkably easy on the eyes.  I also liked the fact that as in many Victorian-era novels, each chapter title has a number of subtitles.  As the story progresses, the subtitles at the top of the right hand page change to reflect where the reader is in the chapter.  It certainly helped me decide whether or not to keep turning the pages at night or quit until the next day! 

If you've enjoyed Naomi Novick's wonderful dragon series, Isabella is a heroine for you.  I can't wait to go back and read the previous two novels, and look forward to the further adventures of Isabella Camherst as they become available.