Reviews - El Imperio de Marfil

915 reviews for:

El Imperio de Marfil

Naomi Novik

3.93 AVERAGE

galaxywitch's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

iam's review against another edition

4.0

The fourth book of the series felt like the heaviest one to me, both due to the main plot about the sick dragons, and much of it playing in Africa. It paints an ugly picture of slavery, and while the main characters all violently oppose it, they can't do much. The institutionalization of that and other horrible things was quite disenheartening.
Still, it has it's moments, if some were quite wild and it felt a bit scattered overall: the introduction of new chracters was clumsy and meaningless, with no indication of who would be important and who wouldn't be; there's a few details that don't add up, which characters being mentioned as going missing, and then suddenly they are back without anyone remarking on it.
Much of my enjoyment of this book lays on the backs of the characters. Many of the ones missing from the second and third books reappear, and I was happy to have them again. Equally, there were some delightful developmens and the typical hilarity of Temeraire & Crew's shenanigans and Laurence being thrust in situations that that make him blush horribly - though it was all a bit more subdued that usual.

Content warnings include: slavery, racism, racial slurs, violence and gore, death, willfull spreading of deathly illness, treason, unplanned pregnancy.

danisaur's review against another edition

4.75

adventurous dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This is such a difficult book to talk about after the joys of the previous books. There is so much heartache and pain in this one. It is a book that really showcases Captain Laurence’s honor and Temeraire’s loyalty. It tests the ethics of the characters and makes the characters that much more enjoyable. I am glad we are only a little over halfway through the series because otherwise I would be deeply sad to have to wait for the next part.

eash1920's review against another edition

5.0

Much better than the slow third book.

tpmurphy15's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous medium-paced

theinkwyrm's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I think this has been my favorite in the series so far since the first one. I loved how we got to learn more about the dragons and how they exist in different environments and circumstances. The only thing is I’m not sure where the whole story arc with Moshueshue and the African dragons is going and how it will interact with the war already going on. Also, I’m a little worried about the cliffhanger at the end of this book, since I have a couple of ideas about how it could play out in the next book.

Content Warnings