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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
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:
Complicated
Temeraire And The Dragon Plague; or Temeraire In Africa; or Naomi Novik Entirely Jumps Down Another Trouser Leg Of Time, Thus Ensuring That Her World Will Never Loop Back To Ours.
I do appreciate that each book has its own separate plot arc though, it's important for long series.
I do appreciate that each book has its own separate plot arc though, it's important for long series.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Honestly, this is the best fantasy series I have read in a long time.
After 3 books, you can bet that Novik would want to keep things fresh in this fourth instalment. And rightly so, I feel that if it had just been another book of do this errand to help our chances of beating Napolean, I might've gotten bored. But to go on an errand to save all of Britain's dragons from a deadly illness? Now those are some fresh stakes.
I like how throughout the series, Novik takes us to different parts of the world and makes us see it through Laurence's perspective and then get to listen to his and Temeraire debate over these different topics. This book proved to be no exception, with Temeraire and Laurence tackling the heavy topic of the slave trade and the not-quite-as heavy topic of draconic liberation in society. Plus, Captain Harcourt's condition in this book was interesting to read about, as well as Laurence's reaction to it.
I did manage to identify a weakness in this book, which is that I, along with many fans, have fallen in love with watching Laurence's and Temeraire's partnership, it's basically the main reason why many of us keep coming back for more. So I realized how much weaker the book was when Laurence was separated from Temeraire for several chapters throughout the story. This was when I took a 36 hour (gasp) break from my 10-day Temeraire reading binge. Even such a short separation of these two characters was enough to make my attention flag, which was an interesting revelation. Whelp, let's just hope that they never leave each other's sides ever again :P
The ending tho, I sense that the next book will be quite different indeed. I think ima take a short break from my 10-day, 3-book Temeraire reading spree and give other beloved authors some much-deserved attention.
Can't believe that 5/16 of the books I've read so far this year have been by Naomi Novik!
I like how throughout the series, Novik takes us to different parts of the world and makes us see it through Laurence's perspective and then get to listen to his and Temeraire debate over these different topics. This book proved to be no exception, with Temeraire and Laurence tackling the heavy topic of the slave trade and the not-quite-as heavy topic of draconic liberation in society. Plus, Captain Harcourt's condition in this book was interesting to read about, as well as Laurence's reaction to it.
I did manage to identify a weakness in this book, which is that I, along with many fans, have fallen in love with watching Laurence's and Temeraire's partnership, it's basically the main reason why many of us keep coming back for more. So I realized how much weaker the book was when Laurence was separated from Temeraire for several chapters throughout the story. This was when I took a 36 hour (gasp) break from my 10-day Temeraire reading binge. Even such a short separation of these two characters was enough to make my attention flag, which was an interesting revelation. Whelp, let's just hope that they never leave each other's sides ever again :P
The ending tho, I sense that the next book will be quite different indeed. I think ima take a short break from my 10-day, 3-book Temeraire reading spree and give other beloved authors some much-deserved attention.
Can't believe that 5/16 of the books I've read so far this year have been by Naomi Novik!
Picking up in the midst of their flight from the continent at the end of the last novel, Temeraire and Laurence find His Majesty's Aerial Corps dragons reeling from a dragon disease of unknown origins. When it is discovered that Temeraire is somehow safe from the disease, that first presents as a dragon cold, they remember the "cold" he recovered from while in Africa. The interior of Africa is largely unknown and the search for the cure brings Temeraire and company in contact with mysterious African cultures and dragons. Lots of action, new dragons, and a surprising ending kept me wanting to find out what would happen next and the plot points involving the slave trade, Africa and it's cultures in this world of dragons, and the rights of dragons kept this quest story interesting.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery
Moderate: Violence
This book was a sort of resounding Meh. I've had issues staying interested with the previous books as there always seems to be a major plot point that is just sort of danced around until the final 50 or so pages. Not to mention the fact that the presence of dragon's has not affected the balance of power in the world at all throughout all of history feels tedious (though I am probably nit picky about this fact).
Ultimately, I felt that Black Powder War was going to be a turnaround point as it felt like the characters were making decisions and pushing the plot forward. Empire of Ivory felt like a return to Throne of Jade's storytelling where the reader knew what had to be done and the space in between needed to be filled. Empire of Ivory started strong with the end of flight to England and delved deeper into the politics of high society in England. This is where Novik really shines. Her writing style lends itself to really getting into the detail and the conservative nature of politics at the time. The relative ease with which the upper classes were able to write off dragon's as animals throughout all of the books was well thought out and ingrained in the reader a sense of impatience with the status quo.
The biggest problem I had with this though is that Laurence, though incredibly fond of Temeraire rarely seems to fight for him. He's so boring and caught up within British officer culture that I find it hard to relate to someone who loves their friend so much, but offers little to help him beyond "there is a war on dear, we can't expect to make life better yet". Empire of Ivory does little to help this view of Laurence as he does make a huge decision at the end of the book, only to pull a Lassie like moment, deflating the world changing decision he made.
Overall this book probably sealed the deal on not wanting to read more of the series. I want to know what happens, but I feel like all the extra baggage that comes with it isn't worth the effort.
Ultimately, I felt that Black Powder War was going to be a turnaround point as it felt like the characters were making decisions and pushing the plot forward. Empire of Ivory felt like a return to Throne of Jade's storytelling where the reader knew what had to be done and the space in between needed to be filled. Empire of Ivory started strong with the end of flight to England and delved deeper into the politics of high society in England. This is where Novik really shines. Her writing style lends itself to really getting into the detail and the conservative nature of politics at the time. The relative ease with which the upper classes were able to write off dragon's as animals throughout all of the books was well thought out and ingrained in the reader a sense of impatience with the status quo.
The biggest problem I had with this though is that Laurence, though incredibly fond of Temeraire rarely seems to fight for him. He's so boring and caught up within British officer culture that I find it hard to relate to someone who loves their friend so much, but offers little to help him beyond "there is a war on dear, we can't expect to make life better yet". Empire of Ivory does little to help this view of Laurence as he does make a huge decision at the end of the book, only to pull a Lassie like moment, deflating the world changing decision he made.
Overall this book probably sealed the deal on not wanting to read more of the series. I want to know what happens, but I feel like all the extra baggage that comes with it isn't worth the effort.
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked it. I feel like we're finally hitting a stride. I mean, it was predictable, but I really like reimagining what sub-Saharan Africa would have looked like with dragons. (Or, taming things like elephants for animal husbandry.) It should be radically different.
Plus, I loved the culture. The spirits of their greatest leaders are "reborn" into dragons, who then love and protect people as if they were truly their descendants? And while still in their eggs the dragons are told the memories of the departed, so they grow up their entire lives feeling and being someone's father, grandmother, grandparent? I am on board for that.
Plus, I loved the culture. The spirits of their greatest leaders are "reborn" into dragons, who then love and protect people as if they were truly their descendants? And while still in their eggs the dragons are told the memories of the departed, so they grow up their entire lives feeling and being someone's father, grandmother, grandparent? I am on board for that.