Temeraire by Naomi Novik
Also called His Majesty’s Dragon.

Captain Will Laurence has been at sea since he was just twelve years old; finding a warmer berth in Nelson’s navy than any he enjoyed as the youngest, least important son of Lord Allendale. Rising on merit to captain his own vessel, Laurence has earned himself a beautiful fiancée, society’s esteem and a golden future. But the war is not going well. It seems Britain can only wait as Napoleon plans to overrun her shores.
Trigger & Content Warnings:
- Misogyny
- Minor sex work shaming & slurs
- Suicide*
- Alcohol consumption
- Recreational drug use (smoking)
- Blood depiction
- Death of a colleague (off-page)
- Murder
- Gun violence
- Bombings
- War themes (Napoleonic Wars)
- Military violence & naval warfare
- Animal death (graphic, multiple scenes)
- Animal cruelty & abuse
- Animal illness & injury
- Animal attack
- Death of an animal companion
*Note: An enemy air force captain chooses to stay on-board his dying dragon as it falls & plummets into the ocean.