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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My buddy Todd and I have been loosely reading them together (though I think he's already burst through and read all of them while I've been dragging my feet.) I struggled with the first half of this one, it felt slower to me than the others. As such, it took me a couple of months to meander through. The last half was excellent though - there's a bit white-savioring to prove what a Good White Man Captain Lawrence is (I had to roll my eyes at a little, I don't think there's any universe where someone who thinks of himself as an upright 19th century gentleman would be so aggressive about abolition), but once past that Novik throws her characters right back into the messy (un)ethical consideration of slave labor and personhood.
adventurous
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I hope that no-one is going to fuss; I would dislike fuss extremely.
These books have yet to disappoint me, I adore all of the characters and the writing style - given the time period, the characters speech is often rather formal by current standards, but the characters often make me laugh out loud with their dry humor. I will say that I missed Granby as part of Temeraire's crew in this book, but the addition of Iskierka is definitely a positive.
The discussion of colonialism, equality, and honor that featured heavily in this book was really interesting. However, I found the ending rather abrupt - but at least I'm not in the position of having to wait for the next book to be released.
These books have yet to disappoint me, I adore all of the characters and the writing style - given the time period, the characters speech is often rather formal by current standards, but the characters often make me laugh out loud with their dry humor. I will say that I missed Granby as part of Temeraire's crew in this book, but the addition of Iskierka is definitely a positive.
The discussion of colonialism, equality, and honor that featured heavily in this book was really interesting. However, I found the ending rather abrupt - but at least I'm not in the position of having to wait for the next book to be released.
A great, solid instalment to the Temeraire series. We see the world getting bigger and issues getting addressed, as well as a whole new side of the world.
When I originally set up my GoodReads account and it asks you to add books you've already read, just to get started, etc.... I marked this one as read. However, now having actually read it, I'm quite certain I hadn't read it yet. Yes, folks, I only made it through 3 Temeraire books before. And I think twice! I have now advanced past book 4! Go me!
Okay, so this one I believe is the first one where she starts writing out the different languages, instead of just saying they're speaking in another language. Contrarily, this book ALSO had a lot of skipping over dialogue. You know the thing, like 'he summarized the circumstances', etc. A bit of that is okay. There are times when it's perfectly appropriate, because to go on at length would be boring to the reader. However, it happened a LOT in this book. And sometimes it just read as being too lazy to work out exact sentences. Not that I should call an author who has written like 8+ books lazy. Just that it felt like it when I was frustrated by wanting to know EXACTLY what he said.
Anyway, I'm already halfway through book 5, so allons-y! (Look, actually typed out French. See what I did there?)
Okay, so this one I believe is the first one where she starts writing out the different languages, instead of just saying they're speaking in another language. Contrarily, this book ALSO had a lot of skipping over dialogue. You know the thing, like 'he summarized the circumstances', etc. A bit of that is okay. There are times when it's perfectly appropriate, because to go on at length would be boring to the reader. However, it happened a LOT in this book. And sometimes it just read as being too lazy to work out exact sentences. Not that I should call an author who has written like 8+ books lazy. Just that it felt like it when I was frustrated by wanting to know EXACTLY what he said.
Anyway, I'm already halfway through book 5, so allons-y! (Look, actually typed out French. See what I did there?)
This review contains no spoilers for this book but spoilers for the previous three in the series.
A terrible dragon sickness has gripped England. The cold that Temeraire caught in book two is now decimating the dragon population. A transport of dragons is sent to South Africa to hunt for a cure. And thus we are introduced to yet another dragon society.
I didn't understand what the heck Novik was doing in book two when she sent our protagonists to China. I thought it was a boring trip and I was desperate to get back to the action in Europe. With the addition of African dragons in this novel I realize that this is not just a series about the Napoleonic wars. Novik means to explore every continent and every way she can think of that dragons and humans might coexist. With Temeraire asking questions and puzzling through answers, it's a series about human rights, how to treat others and a lesson in civics and ethics as well.
I found the dragon societies of South east Africa fascinating--both in style of warfare and in societal structure. It's the most inventive so far with actual dragon rulers. I wonder what Temeraire will decide to do with this new model of civilIzation.
A terrible dragon sickness has gripped England. The cold that Temeraire caught in book two is now decimating the dragon population. A transport of dragons is sent to South Africa to hunt for a cure. And thus we are introduced to yet another dragon society.
I didn't understand what the heck Novik was doing in book two when she sent our protagonists to China. I thought it was a boring trip and I was desperate to get back to the action in Europe. With the addition of African dragons in this novel I realize that this is not just a series about the Napoleonic wars. Novik means to explore every continent and every way she can think of that dragons and humans might coexist. With Temeraire asking questions and puzzling through answers, it's a series about human rights, how to treat others and a lesson in civics and ethics as well.
I found the dragon societies of South east Africa fascinating--both in style of warfare and in societal structure. It's the most inventive so far with actual dragon rulers. I wonder what Temeraire will decide to do with this new model of civilIzation.
After the previous installment, Black Powder War, I wasn't sure if I should continue on with the series. I am satisfied with my decision to read Empire of Ivory. I think it makes up for the previous shortcomings, and it is more tightly plotted compared to the previous books.
That being said, Temeraire novels are a slow burn. There are periods of inactivity between skirmishes, and periods of time where the characters are stuck in their situation. That is indicative of being in the military. I remained engrossed in the characters and the political plot while waiting for the next action scene or twist.
Empire of Ivory is focused on a respiratory virus/bacterial infection that is plaguing the English dragons. Temeraire, Laurence, and company travel to Africa to find a cure. A bit of a longshot, but Temeraire was believed to have been ill in Black Powder War, and was unknowingly cured when he sampled some of the African cuisine.
The introduction of African dragons proved to be another fascinating culture. I liked that although the setting was tribal, the indigenous people were not viewed as uneducated or incapable of progress. I found myself comparing this book to Marie Brennan's Tropic of Serpents, a somewhat similar story of dragons in an African setting. I think Empire of Ivory gives a different perspective, although I would have liked more description of the culture.
I think Novik did well in discussing slavery, in that she is obviously not tolerant of it, but realizes the attitudes of the time do not allow the characters to be highly vocal about it. There is a scene which does clearly show Laurence's attitudes toward it.
I like Laurence a lot more now than I originally did. Additionally, I was able to follow the minor characters with more clarity than before. I liked the involvement of the female aviators, Jane Roland and Catherine Harcourt, and that they were in positions of power, without being tyrannical or incapable.
Laurence's actions are the end of the book leave a major cliffhanger, and I wonder if I would have made the same decision as he did, were I faced with it. Do you chose sworn duty or moral convictions?
I finally figured out why Novik's writing sometimes doesn't flow naturally. Novik uses the semicolon heavily, and it made the reading jarring at first. I think it reads better verbally, but once I got about to the fourth chapter, I became accustomed to it. I don't think the semicolon is being misused per se, but I think it is used too frequently in a manner than makes many paragraphs feel like long run on sentences. I don't know if that is the style in the Master and Commander books this series is influenced by?
That being said, Temeraire novels are a slow burn. There are periods of inactivity between skirmishes, and periods of time where the characters are stuck in their situation. That is indicative of being in the military. I remained engrossed in the characters and the political plot while waiting for the next action scene or twist.
Empire of Ivory is focused on a respiratory virus/bacterial infection that is plaguing the English dragons. Temeraire, Laurence, and company travel to Africa to find a cure. A bit of a longshot, but Temeraire was believed to have been ill in Black Powder War, and was unknowingly cured when he sampled some of the African cuisine.
The introduction of African dragons proved to be another fascinating culture. I liked that although the setting was tribal, the indigenous people were not viewed as uneducated or incapable of progress. I found myself comparing this book to Marie Brennan's Tropic of Serpents, a somewhat similar story of dragons in an African setting. I think Empire of Ivory gives a different perspective, although I would have liked more description of the culture.
I think Novik did well in discussing slavery, in that she is obviously not tolerant of it, but realizes the attitudes of the time do not allow the characters to be highly vocal about it. There is a scene which does clearly show Laurence's attitudes toward it.
I like Laurence a lot more now than I originally did. Additionally, I was able to follow the minor characters with more clarity than before. I liked the involvement of the female aviators, Jane Roland and Catherine Harcourt, and that they were in positions of power, without being tyrannical or incapable.
Laurence's actions are the end of the book leave a major cliffhanger, and I wonder if I would have made the same decision as he did, were I faced with it. Do you chose sworn duty or moral convictions?
I finally figured out why Novik's writing sometimes doesn't flow naturally. Novik uses the semicolon heavily, and it made the reading jarring at first. I think it reads better verbally, but once I got about to the fourth chapter, I became accustomed to it. I don't think the semicolon is being misused per se, but I think it is used too frequently in a manner than makes many paragraphs feel like long run on sentences. I don't know if that is the style in the Master and Commander books this series is influenced by?
That was one rollercoaster ride
I'm glad I had the next book already because this was definitely the worst cliffhanger of the series so far
I'm glad I had the next book already because this was definitely the worst cliffhanger of the series so far