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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
This is my favourite of the series so far! The pace definitely picked up and you really get to see Laurence's and Temeraire's character; there was also lots of action and I felt the world was expanding quite a lot.
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Review of Temeraire: Empire of Ivory
By Naomi Novik
In the fourth installment of this adventurous series, Laurence and Temeraire have returned to England only to discover the other dragons, including Lily and Maximus, are deathly ill. Laurence learns that they might find a possible cure for the dragons on the continent of Africa. Upon arrival and finding the mushrooms that could cure the dragons, they find themselves in the middle of war between African tribes.
In this story, we find our characters in a hostile environment as they are despised by the African people for being British and stealing mushrooms off their land. This plot gives the reader a more brutal story by having Laurence and some of the aviators being captured, enslaved, and Laurence himself is tortured for information. Novik gives enough detail that you understand what’s going on, but not too graphic. It is an examination of the trade situation, especially the slave trade. Laurence and Temeraire don’t support the slave trade, but this tribe sees them as guilty putting them in an uncomfortable and dangerous situation. Novik’s writing still continues to have a Victorian feel, but it is a fast-paced story, but we aren’t taken to Africa until the second part. I would have liked to spend more time on the continent but the nature of the plot wouldn’t allow it. The story also explores the struggle of a female aviators, especially with the character of Catherine Harcourt. She has an intimate relationship with Riley that results in her getting pregnant and Laurence himself is conflicted, because Riley is still his friend. Catherine refuses to give up her dragon and in her mind that’s what Riley will ask of her. This story looks at some more series issues of the time, not just the war with Bonaparte, but it is written in a way that’s not too heavy.
By Naomi Novik
In the fourth installment of this adventurous series, Laurence and Temeraire have returned to England only to discover the other dragons, including Lily and Maximus, are deathly ill. Laurence learns that they might find a possible cure for the dragons on the continent of Africa. Upon arrival and finding the mushrooms that could cure the dragons, they find themselves in the middle of war between African tribes.
In this story, we find our characters in a hostile environment as they are despised by the African people for being British and stealing mushrooms off their land. This plot gives the reader a more brutal story by having Laurence and some of the aviators being captured, enslaved, and Laurence himself is tortured for information. Novik gives enough detail that you understand what’s going on, but not too graphic. It is an examination of the trade situation, especially the slave trade. Laurence and Temeraire don’t support the slave trade, but this tribe sees them as guilty putting them in an uncomfortable and dangerous situation. Novik’s writing still continues to have a Victorian feel, but it is a fast-paced story, but we aren’t taken to Africa until the second part. I would have liked to spend more time on the continent but the nature of the plot wouldn’t allow it. The story also explores the struggle of a female aviators, especially with the character of Catherine Harcourt. She has an intimate relationship with Riley that results in her getting pregnant and Laurence himself is conflicted, because Riley is still his friend. Catherine refuses to give up her dragon and in her mind that’s what Riley will ask of her. This story looks at some more series issues of the time, not just the war with Bonaparte, but it is written in a way that’s not too heavy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Pregnancy
Oooh, I loved this next installment in the Temeraire books. I think it moved along faster than the third book, Black Powder War. The illness was a really compelling part of the book, even though I was pretty sure they would cure the dragons. I was surprised when it wrapped up much sooner than the end of the book. The rest of the action that followed was quite the page-turner. And there is a major cliffhanger at the end of the book, which just makes me sad that it isn't May 2008 right now. Some other thoughts: the baby dragon that was born in the last book is still pretty funny, but her part is minimal in most of the book; Berkley taking care of the big dragon (Maximus) is kind of hilarious, so is how they treat Catherine. Oh! And so is how Laurence's father treats Emily Roland. That's part of what I loved about this book, I actually laughed out loud at some of the situations and dialogue.
When I first bought the Temeraire trilogy, I got them from the YA section, but I notice now they're being marketed as adult novels. Which I think is a better classification, especially in this latter case as there's some language and death that would at least get it an R rating at the movies.
When I first bought the Temeraire trilogy, I got them from the YA section, but I notice now they're being marketed as adult novels. Which I think is a better classification, especially in this latter case as there's some language and death that would at least get it an R rating at the movies.
More dragonporn. These do get better as the series goes on - I'm addicted, but I'm not proud. Good cliffhanger, though.
I still love these books but honestly I'm too emotionally involved. Like there's more books left in the series, so it HAS to work out okay, right? But UGH the tension of it. And I like the books less when the tension is Laurence and Temeraire being separated. So I'm knocking off a star, not because it isn't a great book but because I spent too much time worrying over what would happen. And because the ending was just so emotionally upsetting. But it has to work out, right? I mean there's so many more books! *SOBS*
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Mixed feelings about this one- there were a lot of good, emotive scenes involving the dragons and their captains over the dragon sickness, and the ending was particularly heart-wrenching (and of course, an epic cliffhanger).
But I feel like the author wasn't quite as comfortable or knowledgeable about the Africa of the early 1800s, and that detracts from the book a bit.
But I feel like the author wasn't quite as comfortable or knowledgeable about the Africa of the early 1800s, and that detracts from the book a bit.
I can highly recommend the audiobooks for this series. Simon Vance, who reads it, manages to do a whole variety of voices with zero cringe involved in hearing any of them, which is remarkable, and the dragons! The voices for the dragons! I went ‘awwwww!’ and metaphorically clutched my heart many, many times in all the books so far.
Many historical fiction books not explicitly about slavery often avoid discussing slavery much at all, even if it was a significant issue of the day. This one doesn’t do that. Lawrence, the main human character who is Temeraire’s captain, comes from an abolitionist family and another of the characters, a man he served with in the navy, comes from a slave-owning family with plantations in the Caribbean. At the beginning of the novel, these two men, who had managed to be friends by awkwardly avoiding the topic, have a falling out.
Also, I gotta say, there’s something nice about a novel in which
There is some criticism that not a lot happens in this novel, and it does have some aspects of a middle book in a trilogy, which is funny because this almost a middle book in a nine book series, which this is kind of is. However, I was so invested in all the characters that I didn’t mind and barely noticed because I enjoy spending time with them so much. Some of that may have to do with listening to the audiobook, because you just have to keep listening which isn’t as active a thing as reading in my experience.
Many historical fiction books not explicitly about slavery often avoid discussing slavery much at all, even if it was a significant issue of the day. This one doesn’t do that. Lawrence, the main human character who is Temeraire’s captain, comes from an abolitionist family and another of the characters, a man he served with in the navy, comes from a slave-owning family with plantations in the Caribbean. At the beginning of the novel, these two men, who had managed to be friends by awkwardly avoiding the topic, have a falling out.
Also, I gotta say, there’s something nice about a novel in which
Spoiler
colonial Cape Town burns to the ground.There is some criticism that not a lot happens in this novel, and it does have some aspects of a middle book in a trilogy, which is funny because this almost a middle book in a nine book series, which this is kind of is. However, I was so invested in all the characters that I didn’t mind and barely noticed because I enjoy spending time with them so much. Some of that may have to do with listening to the audiobook, because you just have to keep listening which isn’t as active a thing as reading in my experience.
Being back with Temeraire and Laurence was great. These two are fun characters and still very much the main selling point of the series to me. The historical setting can be fun too and this book, I think, showcases the author's passion for research and delving into this world that she has created. However, I was once again thrown off by having wrong expectations going in. I really need to stop doing this to myself. I keep mentioning in these reviews that I want to see the major conflict with Napoleon and his forces, I even mentioned in the last review that there are six more novels left in the series and I should check my that particular expectation moving forward. I failed yet again. Still, I didn't expect another lengthy excursion to a different part of the world. Once I got past that though, this book was another similarly enjoyable installment in the series. I think I will remember Empire of Ivory as the plague and Africa book moving forward.
Oh and the cliffhanger ending. I can't forget to mention that. That whole plot line was the best one of the series so far. I felt the conflict within our characters and was torn by the hard decisions they had to make. But then to leave it like that! I felt forsaken. I will continue on with the series of course but not right away.
Oh and the cliffhanger ending. I can't forget to mention that. That whole plot line was the best one of the series so far. I felt the conflict within our characters and was torn by the hard decisions they had to make. But then to leave it like that! I felt forsaken. I will continue on with the series of course but not right away.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced