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A review by chirson
Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik
4.0
This novel accomplished two things: by the end, it made it clear to me that politics, British dragons and the Napoleonic wars, as a backdrop that allows for the development of the characters and their relations, work much better for me than any locales Novik chooses, and it finally made me like Laurence after a period of relative neutrality (the last 15% particularly - such a marked improvement, and the writing really made his characterisation come through). Admittedly, when it comes to that last part, my brain suddenly deciding to cast Aidan Turner [think Poldark] as Laurence might have helped.
I enjoyed the beginning a lot, with its dire straits for the dragons, and Jane's growing relationship with Laurence. The subsequent part, with the African adventures, was much more boring, save for the ancestor dragons. It didn't include enough interactions between dragons, and although the climax was sufficiently dramatic, too much of the outcome seemed already pre-determined for me to care about the stakes.
And then the ending - it was the best I've read of Temeraire so far. The last couple of chapters featured some of the tensest situations, best characterisation and interactions, dilemmas we could actually get behind. It was enough to make me start reading the next volume immediately.
Spoiler
His decision to oppose the British government and to bring the cure to French dragons was in character and so was his subsequent willingness to accept the punishment. And somehow Novik's writing really made that decision seem weighty, and the relationship between him and Temeraire has finally delivered on its promise, as a result. That, and I thought the writing was particularly affecting in those fifteen percent).I enjoyed the beginning a lot, with its dire straits for the dragons, and Jane's growing relationship with Laurence. The subsequent part, with the African adventures, was much more boring, save for the ancestor dragons. It didn't include enough interactions between dragons, and although the climax was sufficiently dramatic, too much of the outcome seemed already pre-determined for me to care about the stakes.
And then the ending - it was the best I've read of Temeraire so far. The last couple of chapters featured some of the tensest situations, best characterisation and interactions, dilemmas we could actually get behind. It was enough to make me start reading the next volume immediately.