Empire of Ivory: A Novel of Temeraire

The book was an ex-Library book from Britain, and had the title page and another page ripped out of the front of the book. I knew it was a used book but it was reported in good condition, and I do not consider a book with mutilated pages "good".

Fourth in the Temeraire alternative historical military-fantasy series and revolving around a Chinese Celestial fighting dragon and his British partner, Captain Will Laurence, and using Laurence's perspective with a third-person point-of-view. This story ranges from England to South Africa.

My Take
The overall theme is one of equality — the lack of it for dragons. A lack that Temeraire is determined to repair. Novik makes good use of the "blindness" of the Admiralty to show us how poorly those in charge regard one of their greatest strengths in this war, just part of a minor theme of honor, which truly comes through at the end.

I do love how his experiences in China changed Temeraire's thinking — and Captain Laurence's. Although, the captain is much more aware of the obstacles facing Temeraire. One of the reasons I adore this series is discovering what Temeraire does next to fulfill his dreams, lol.

Novik also gains revenge for the North American continent and its Indians when the American dragon brings its germs to the Olde Worlde. Yet more revenge comes when Laurence and company don't consider that the African natives might be more advanced than the Europeans had thought. History changes yet more when you learn what happens to the European colonies in Africa.

I also enjoy how well Novik combines draconic characteristics with their intelligence. Temeraire can be so childish and mature at the same time. Novik also keeps the mores and manners of the time intact. I do love how she "hides" the female partners of the Longwings and then makes use of it to rouse "horror" and consternation…oh, my! As for Laurence's concerns about honor and Captain Harcourt, well, he gets a lesson in aviator independence, lol.

The ferals add amusing, if frustrating conflict for the Air Corps. A much sadder conflict is that between Laurence and Riley, for Riley's prejudiced attitude to the reverend and his family. More bigotry is confronted as the Allegiance's crew and passengers discover how intelligent the dragons are as they discuss mathematics and science on the voyage. At least, it's an enjoyable knockdown. More laughter comes from that greedy Iskierka's actions, as she ensures her own income by taking French ships as prizes. She doesn't see why navy captains get to take prizes and she doesn't, lol. She's also been "outfitting" her captain to look quite "fine" *more laughter*

The Story
It's a disaster, as Temeraire and the ferals cross the seas with those they've rescued from Napoleon's armies. One that becomes worse when no dragon comes forth from the British Isles to aid them in their escape. Yet worse when Laurence and Temeraire learn the tragedy which has struck His Majesty's Aerial Corps.

An epidemic is raging through the dragons with no known cure, and only Temeraire and the ferals are uninfected — and are the only airborne defense against the bolder French sorties.

The only hope, a slim one, lies in Temeraire and his captain, Will Laurence, retracing their voyage to China, to discover why Temeraire appears to be immune.

The Characters
England
Temeraire is a black Celestial dragon with a divine wind who adores mathematics, writing, and literature and can't wait to tell his friends of the wonders of China and dragon equality. Prince Captain William Laurence is his beloved partner. Lord Allendale is Laurence's snotty father. The pregnant Elizabeth is wife to Laurence's eldest brother.

Temeraire's crew includes…
…Calloway, the gunner; Allen and Harley are the young lookouts; Lieutenants Henry Ferris and Riggs; Ensigns Dyer, Harley, and Emily Roland (Jane's daughter) are runners; Keynes is their surgeon who insists on tending to the sick dragons (Dorset will replace him); Gong Su is the Chinese cook Temeraire likes so well; Turner is the signal-officer; Fellowes is the ground-crew master, Winston and Porter are harness-men; Blythe is the armorer's mate; and, retired Admiral Gordon's youngest grandson will become a third cadet.

Iskierka is…
…the new baby dragon, a fire-breathing, demanding, aggressive Kazilik, they rescued in Turkestan with First Lieutenant John Granby her new captain ( Black Powder War , 3). Her new crew will include Lieutenants Lithgow as his first and Harper (who will also be captain of the riflemen) as his second and Row will be captain of the bellmen.

The twenty ferals from Turkestan include…
…their leader, Arkady; Gherni, a blue-and-white with the complexion of china, is the smallest; Wringe, a dark grey; Hertaz is wily; and, Lester is motley-colored. Tharkay is half-British and half-Nepalese, not accepted by either side, but important as one who can communicate in Durzagh, the language of the ferals. Dunne, a rifleman, and Wickley, a bellman, have been assigned to the ferals.

His Majesty's Aerial Corps
Admiral Jane Roland (Laurence's lover before he left in Throne of Jade , 2) is partnered with the sick Excidium. Admiral Lenton mourns his dragon, Obversaria. Dragon surgeons include Dr. Harrow and Dr. Wapping. Other dead dragons include Inlacrimas, Minacitus, and Conterrenis, shot by Gardenley.

Laggan, Inverness-shire is…
…the training camp in Scotland where Celeritas instructs the new dragons. Captain Wexler is the commander of the fort.

Other dragons in His Majesty's Aerial Corps include…
…Victoriatus with Richard Clark as his depressed captain; Sanderson weeps over Animosia; Felicita is a Yellow Reaper who thinks she's good for another egg whose captain is Brodin; Prolixus; Laudabilis; Repugnatis; Portland is in Gibraltar; Laetificat; Volly is off to Gibraltar with her Captain James; and, Auctoritas and Caelifera are from Dover.

Temeraire builds a pavilion for the sick dragons which include Celoxia partnered with Captain Meeks. Mr. Royle is the architect. Cutter.

Grenville is First Lord of the Admiralty; his brother is the prime minister. Lord Nelson comes to support Laurence. Lord Mulgrave becomes the new First Lord. He, along with the unimpressed Admiral Gambier, Ward, and Lord Palmerston, is part of the board of inquiry, and they've come up with a hideous plan along with Nelson. Mr. Portis is the officer of the watch in the London covert.

The pretentious Albert Ferris, Lord Seymour, is Henry's brother; Lady Catherine Seymour is their mother. Richard is another brother, an army captain. Colonel Prayle is one of the guests at Heytham Abbey.

Lady Wrightley is an intimate of Laurence's mother's. Miss Lucas is a guest at Wrightley's ball. Lord Broughton is with the Foreign Office. Arthur Hammond was the duplicitous diplomat who traveled to China with Laurence and Temeraire in Throne of Jade . Edith Woolvey, née Galman, Laurence's ex-fiancée, has delivered her first child.

The event is put on by…
…Lord Allendale with Lord Wilberforce, the abolitionist. Attendees included the Marchioness of Carstoke, the bigoted Mr. Bathurst, and the Reverend Josiah Erasmus.

English dragon breeds include…
…Longwings who will only accept female partners. Regal Coppers are another heavy-combat dragon, Yellow Reapers are common, Pascal Blues, and Winchesters breed quickly.

Capetown, Africa is…
…a British colony with Lieutenant-General Grey the acting governor. The Earl of Caledon is to take over as governor when he arrives. Mr. Rietz is one of the chief men of Swellendam, a village of the Cape. Cape Coast is a British port; its only survivors — George Case of Liverpool and his partner, David Miles, are slavers — are quite vindictive.

The interior
Demane and his little brother, Sipho Tsuluka Dlamini, aid the dragons. Nemachaen is their dog.

Mosi oa Tunya is…
…the ceremonial capital of the Tswana, a blended tribe of smaller kingdoms who banded together for protection against raids and slavers. King Mokhachane, a female dragon, rules. His eldest son is Moshueshue. They are angry with the theft of their plants AND of their children who have been taken into slavery. Kefentse is one of the dragons, and Hannah's, Lethabo's, great-grandfather. (Hannah was named Lethabo before she was taken into slavery and is revered by the Tswana.)

The voyage is…
…aboard Captain Tom Riley's ship, the Allegiance ( Throne of Jade ), a dragon transport. Riley and Laurence had served together in the navy, but they disagree vehemently about slavery. Lieutenant Franks commands the boat's crew. Owens is the deck officer. Mr. Britten is the official chaplain, an alcoholic. Raclef is the ship's surgeon. Dragon Surgeon Keynes travels with them as senior surgeon in charge of finding the cure.

Catherine Harcourt (Lieutenant Jack Harcourt, on Flutaire, had been her father) and her acid-spurting Lily with Hobbes as her first lieutenant, Tooke is one of her runners, Kettering is a rifleman, Larring is the ground-crew master, Pratt, Peck is a harness-man, and Waley is her surgeon.

Maximus is partnered with Captain Berkley with Gaiters as his surgeon. Dulcia, a Yellow Reaper, is partnered with Captain Chenery with Alden as one of his runners and Bailes is a harness-man. Nitidus is a Pascal Blue partnered with Captain Warren. Immortalis is partnered with Captain Little; his crew includes Hyatt, a wingman, and Lieutenant Libbley. Messoria is a Yellow Reaper partnered with Captain Sutton. Martin is someone's crewman.

The Reverend Josiah Erasmus, a former slave from Jamaica and a man of the Lunda, will accompany Laurence to Africa. His wife is Hannah, and they have two daughters. They will take over the London Missionary Society in Capetown.

The Prussians are…
…British allies in the war against Napoleon. General Kalkreuth is a passenger aboard Arkady. Major Seiberling is now the senior Prussian. Eroica was one of the Prussian dragons who ridiculed Temeraire and his ideas.

The French
Napoleon Bonaparte is winning in Europe. Lung Tien Lien, an unlucky white Celestial, hates Temeraire and Laurence for events in Throne of Jade and escaped to France where she advises Napoleon. Termeraire is ticked that she has convinced Napoleon to widen the streets so she and other dragons can stroll; Napoleon has also built her a pavilion. The former Chinese envoy, De Guignes, visits Laurence. Validius, a Petit Chevalier, has a notion about cooking. Accendare leads the formation to escort Laurence and Temeraire. Other French dragon breeds include Chasseur-Vocifère, Pou-de-Ciel, Plein-Vite, and Petit Chevalier.

The Cover and Title
The cover is a textured and bright royal blue with a golden dragon entwined around a gold pocket watch with its glass front displaying the fort's tower with pink clouds in a blue sky. The author's name is at the top in white while the title is in a soft grass green outlined in black at the bottom. The series information is white with a dark blue background at the very bottom.

The title refers to Africa, the Empire of Ivory.

Laurence and Temeraire search for a cure to the illness ravaging England's dragons. Unlike the previous installment, this book has a solid throughline. The plot makes for extraordinarily satisfying hurt/comfort--revolving around Laurence and Temeraire, but, unusually, also around other dragons and their captains; it's a welcome broadening of emotional investment, and works beautifully. This book also marks the series's first major departure from history (dragons aside, of course), and it's a telling change that directly addresses the racial issues that permeate the narrative. I was initially skeptical of the tendency to elide historical slavery and the fictional social role of dragons, but the way this development works, combined with increasingly diverse representation, specifically of Africans, goes a long way to resolving that. This series is super tropey, in its tone and relationships, which is what makes it so compulsively readable. But the underlying historical setting, with all its injustice and complication, tempers and enriches that tone. I'm remain in love with the series, but this volume in particular was fantastic. (And, that ending!)

The primary story line in this series is entertaining and engaging. I am a fan of historical fiction and fantasy, and the Books of Temeraire bring these two genres together wonderfully. I am frequently laughing out loud over Temeraire's antics and his matter of fact, innocent outlook on life and liberty, especially in his possessive defense of Will Laurence, his captain. That being said, the tactical, military jargon and drawn out descriptions can drag along, forcing me to take a break just to give myself a change to come back and re-engage. I borrow mine from an on-line lending library, and good thing... There is a great deal of foreign language, requiring translation, as well as English vocabulary I need to look up. Though you can gain some insight from context, having the ability to look up those items on my tablet definitely helps to make sense of the plot at any given point.

Premise: (Follows Black Powder War) Lawrence and Temeraire return to Britain after a long and difficult journey, only to find that their troubles are still far from over. Sickness has struck the dragons of Britain, and Temeraire and Lawrence are eventually sent south with their squadron in search of a cure. While there, they run into more dragons, some feral, and some less so. A new potential world power is emerging, and their squadron is right in the middle of it!

Thematically, the events of Empire of Ivory continue the general trends of this series. This one explores the parallels between Temeraire's hopes for the future of British dragons with Lawrence's father's work with the abolitionist movement, and then deals with the realities of the aftermath (including possible world war) of the slave trade, as well as decisions made by government officials who aren't on board with the idea that dragons could have rights.

Although I was frankly a little surprised that there had been a slave trade, given the presence of dragons in Africa, the exploration of the coalescing nation there was fascinating.

The minor characters solidify their places a bit in this one, and there's some funny scenes where Lawrence struggles with the fact that he hasn't fully left his stuffy upper-class upbringing behind after all, at least not when it comes to relations between men and women.

This is a good entry in this series, but not fantastic, except that it has a really amazing ending. Heartrending, gorgeous, perfect cliffhanger of an ending. Time to look up Book Five

I have enjoyed the Temeraire books from the first words I read. Ms. Novik's imagination, and ability to translate it to written words takes the reader not just back in time, but into an altered history that I find myself so fully caught up into that I wish I was going out to ride a dragon instead of driving my car. Every friend I recommend read these books are also hooked. If you like history and/or fantasy you have to give them a try.

Naomi Novik, Empire of Ivory (Del Rey, 2007)

Novik's fourth Temeraire book slips a bit in comparison to the first three, but that doesn't mean it's not still better than 90% of the books you're going to read in any of the genres it bends. She knows that she's doing, and she does it well.

Laurence and Temeraire get back from China, with the ferals in tow, to find England's dragons in the grip of a horrible plague. A number of dragons have already died, and many more are on the brink. The only healthy dragons in all of England, in fact, are Temeraire, his new crew of miscreants, and a handful of couriers. Laurence and Temeraire could go look for a cure, but who's going to defend England, especially with the new reports that Napoleon seems to have a lot more dragons down there than he has any way to feed, all of whom are ready for invasion?

The answer to that question begins the main storyline here, and while it's the same kind of alternate-history fantasy that's marked the first three books, a number of reviewers have marked that this one seems a little off, but most can't put their finger on why. I'm not entirely sure myself, but something rubbed me the wrong way about the whole thing; I don't know whether it seemed to read a bit closer to stereotypes than was comfortable, or whether the questions Novik brings up in here were treated more facilely than they should have, or whether some of the things that happened about halfway through the book were just a tad too convenient. Any of these, alone or in combination, may be it, or it may be something that didn't catch my eye, and of course it may be different for everyone who reads this. One way or the other though, the original conceit is still awesome, and Novik's writing brings quality to the table no matter what she's doing. If you've gotten involved with the series so far, then you should definitely read this one. If you haven't, you should. *** ½

I read and enjoyed the preceding novels in the Temeraire series, but as the third one drew to a close I was starting to lose enthusiasm. This new and exciting volume in the series brought me back, and I'm eagerly anticipating the next one.

In the third volume of the series, the Napoleonic war and endless military action was increasingly dominating the story over the things that I found more interesting: the speculative history, in a parallel world where dragons existed; the education of a young dragon and his growing awareness of the injustice of his own situation; the parallels between slavery and the condition of dragons; the through and engaging presentation of the culture and manners and assumptions of the period. The battles are exciting but, at least for me, I was finding them a bit too much: like the descriptions of actual Quidditch matches in the Harry Potter series (that J.K. Rowling thankfully relegated to the background in the last few books) -- the first few are exciting but after a while I begin to feel I just want to know the outcome and move on with the story ... I know I may be in the minority on both of these fronts.

In any case, the latest edition has a lot more of exactly what I like from the series. A mysterious illness draws Temeraire and crew back to Africa for a longer and more dangerous visit, and along the way Temeraire's growing awareness of social and political matters forces Laurence to become more circumspect, to take a stand on issues about which he would prefer neutrality, and it gets him into heaps of trouble. British expansionism, and nationalistic appeals for unjust practices and military tactics, are seen as not the obvious goods they were sometimes taken to be. Slavery, sexism, colonialism, are all brought up as themes to be questioned in the course of the story -- and done so lightly and masterfully, similar to the ways in which J.K. Rowling deals with similar themes, and not with a heavy handed or moralizing approach that might be taken by lesser writers. I like novels to raise issues, but I don't like to be preached to by novelists, and Naomi Novik raises a wide range of issues in this novel without preaching and without losing track of an engaging set of events. This is definitely five star fantasy. I can't wait for the next one -- and given the dramatic ending of this volume the next one promises to begin in the thick of things.

"Empire of Ivory" is an alternate history novel, set in Europe and Asia at the time of the Napoleanic war. This novel continues where "Black Powder War" left off with the (untrue) promise that this novel would focus on T--'s attempts to reform Brittish law concerning dragons. Instead, this novel follows L-- and T-- as they meander through a series of loosely related adventures from England, down to Africa, and back. All of the dragons in England are deathly ill, and only L-- and T-- can save them.

I found "Empire of Ivory" to be a bit dull. Instead of the interesting plotline promised at the end of the previous novel, we are presented with yet another series of mini-adventures -- and after two novels chocked full of meandering mini-adventures, I am ready for something else. On top of that, the plot relies FAR too heavy on the "unjust world" theme. For myself, I'd have condensed the entirity of this book into a short story.

That said, the book is saved by the last three chapters. These go off on a tangent, and by rights should have been placed at the start of the next book. While the urgency is absurd and the melodrama over the top, this is quite forgivable. These chapters set up a wonderful little tragic dilema for L-- and T--, who have hithertofore simply followed orders. I'd have given "Empire of Ivory" 2-stars except for the last three chapters.

Until that point, the overall feel of this novel is "the continuing adventures of L-- and T-- as they meander through a forgettable series of adventures, brightened occasionally by encounters with favorite characters from previous novels." It will likely appeal to anyone who enjoyed Black Powder War (Temeraire, Book 3) (Temeraire) or The Hero Strikes Back or Forged Without Fire: A Champion for Catlover or The Truthsayer's Apprentice (The Loregiver Series, Book 1).

Empire of Ivory, the fourth book in the Temeraire series, picks up shortly after Black Powder War and the fall of the Prussians to Napoleon with Temeraire, Captain Will Laurence and crew, and the feral dragons they picked up along the way returning to an England in dire straits: an unknown disease has stricken the entirity of England's Ariel Dragon Corps. The defense of England is left to Temeraire and his untrained feral groupies as they try to prevent France from learning of the sad condition of the Isles' defenses.

When it is determined that the disease originated in Africa and is similar to what ailed Temeraire as the round the Cape in Throne of Jade, Temeraire and Laurence are sent with a handful of ailing dragons to Africa to look for the cure that nursed Temeraire back to health.

What ensues is an adventure to the Dark Continent that really adds new dimensions to this alternate Earth where Dragons walk among men and not always as its equal or subordinate. Temeraire grows even more as a character and Captain Will Laurence faces his toughest test as an officer when he must face the horrific intentions of his superiors and the future of England and the World's Dragons.

This is another excellent installment in a fantastic and original series from Naomi Novik!

(One bone to pick with the publisher: once you have started a series in paperback, DO NO start releasing hardcovers after four books! With book five slated as a hardcover release, and my library now sporting four paperbacks in this series, I am NOT going to mix formats.)

>>>>>>><<<<<<<

A Guide to my Rating System:

1 star = The wood pulp would have been better utilized as toilet paper.
2 stars = Don't bother, clean your bathroom instead.
3 stars = Wasn't a waste of time, but it was time wasted.
4 stars = Good book, but not life altering.
5 stars = This book changed my world in at least some small way.

The war against Napoleon has turned bad for the English forces since a deadly disease has ravaged the dragon corps. Desperate to find a cure before they lose the aerial war, the English leadership learns the elixir may exist in Africa. As abolitionists protest the African slave trade and demand rights for dragons, British captain Will Laurence and his dragon Temeraire lead a band of warriors with the dragons across the Mediterranean to Africa.

However, the Dark wild continent is unwelcoming to the English as the natives know of the slave trade. Local dragons and their human cohorts go into combat mode to drive the English off the continent. Will and Temeraire know they will lose some friends in the skirmishes even as they struggle with their cause as they agree with the Africans that the slave trade is an abomination and dragons deserve rights as sentient beings.

The fourth Napoleonic era fantasy (see THRONE OF JADE, HIS MAJESTY'S DRAGON, and BLACK POWDER WAR) is a fabulous refreshing entry as Naomi Novik takes her soaring champions to Africa where the English morality is questioned to the point that the heroic duet wonder if they fight for the wrong side. The battle scenes that include dragons at war seem genuine even with the mythos element. Filled with plenty of action, strong characterizations, and a fascinating locale, the key to this superior early nineteenth century epic remains the quest of human (and dragon) rights as the English run the slave trade and are the invaders claiming they bring a superior lifestyle to these uninformed pagans.

Harriet Klausner

I just started reading Naomi Novic's Temeraire series a couple months ago. I wish I'd found it sooner...and yet I'm very glad to have found it late! Here's why: now I can finish one book and immediately move on to the next, with only the wait at the bookstore cashier line.

His Majesty's Dragon was excellent. Throne of Jade was subpar, though still good, and in Black Powder War things picked up again. I just finished Empire of Ivory, and am hard put to decide whether it is the best since the first, or the best so far! It was magnificently executed, combining many of the successful plot elements of previous books, while avoiding their pitfalls. There is a lot of suspense and tension, with a goodly amount of action.

Like Throne of Jade, in Ivory we are shown a new society and its relation to dragons. While China was fascinating, African dragons are amazingly conceived. Also, this book does a lot to further character development, especially for Lawrence and Temeraire...though others get more page time too. The dragons really came to life and personality for me in this one more successfully than in the past. And this one already has me itching to read the next.

"Temeraire: Empire of Ivory"

It's wonderful to see that even after three novels the author is still on form as the series progresses. This fourth book shows us a little more of the world that Novik has created, including the depths of the dark continent of Africa and their practices concerning dragons, as well as a glimpse of other areas of England and Scotland. The writing is concise and beautiful, bordering at times on poetry, and the dialogue is some of the best I've ever read.

Novik has managed to keep the story ongoing and compelling without merely writing "the adventures of...", ensuring that each novel expands upon the continuity without simply throwing in new situations or characters. The characters themselves here are wonderfully written, and although there has been less of the interaction between the dragon Temeraire and his captain Laurence during the last few instalments, we see a reinstatement of their close blond and the promise of further development.

With a great storyline and a killer ending, this is definitely worth picking up if you've read the first three novels.

8.5/10

While each of the Temeraire books deal with the adventures of Temeraire and Capt.
Laurence as they travel across the globe, I think this is the first time author
Naomi Novik has had free reign to develope an entire civilization.

In the previous books, Novik presents Europe and China from a historical perspective,
imagining what differences would occur from the inclusion of dragons in culture
and society. She had some fairly well established societies to start with.

In this book, Novik gets to create an entire civilization (one unknown to readers)
in the heart of deepest, darkest Africa. And in doing so, she creates a significantly
more dangerous threat than "the devils you know" from the first books.

While letting her imagination completely loose for the first time, Novik has set
up the saga to go in directions unrestrained by the flow of actual history, into
a realm all her own.

Bravo.

Britain, fighting an overmatched war against Napoleon, now suffers from a plague that keeps the dragons grounded and is gradually killing them off. French victory seems certain unless a cure can be found. When Temeraire proves to be immune, his captain, Laurence, realizes that Temeraire might have found the cure during his journey around Africa. Temeraire and his wing are dispatched to Capetown in hopes that somehow Temeraire will be able to remember what he ate that cured him--and share this with the other dragons.

Africa in the early 19th century is torn apart by the slave trade and by European colonization. European incursions into the interior of this vast continent frequently vanish. Still, aided by his dragon, Laurence doesn't have any special fears. After all, a dragon who mounts a crew of over 100 is not likely to be disturbed by a few spear-wielding native warriors. Neither Laurence, nor any other European, is prepared for what they face when the African continent finally explodes.

Author Naomi Novik is in excellent form with EMPIRE OF IVORY. The relationship between Laurence and Temeraire continues to evolve, with Temeraire raising Laurence's consciousness about the unfairness of how both dragons and slaves are treated while Laurence has brought his strong sense of honor to the dragon. Novik digs more deeply into how the presence of dragons has changed history--with the major new world civilizations having apparently fought off European invasion.

The slave trade of the 19th century is not romantic--it's horrible, a black mark against humanity. For this reason, perhaps, many authors writing books set in this period simply ignore the entire institution. To her credit, Novik confronts it head-on, and develops an intriguing twist on history in doing so.

EMPIRE OF IVORY concludes with Temeraire and Laurence being faced with a horrible choice--one that appears certain to lead to dishonor on the one hand, or death on the other. I'm pleased to see that the next volume in this fine series will be out later in 2008--I can't wait.

Well, I enjoyed this latest installment. I thought the drama was intense, the issues continue to be complex and difficult, the partnership between men and dragons also complex but moving.

Things have been changing... Napoleon and other big-wigs make an appearance, and very strange civilizations in Africa... It's no longer just Sea Adventure with Dragons--but then, it never really was. The history has diverged from the familiar books ago. And some will miss that gradual loss of the familiar, but there's also something exciting about it. We are heading more into the parts of the map Where There be Monsters, which makes a kind of sense given the Dragons!

I used to be someone who was annoyed at cliff-hangers, but nowadays, with so many continuing series and books that rarely stand alone, I have to say, "get over it!" Things don't always wrap up in one book--in fact, in fantasy these days, they rarely do! If we want the intricacy of a long-running series, we get stuff like cliff-hangers! I've seen a number of them this year and I no longer count it against a good book in a good series. Just have some patience and read on if the stories are good, I say. I'm only briefly annoyed if I think the book is a stand-alone. But does anyone think this series is NOT a series??? I think it's made pretty clear by now. Plus the fact that the last book had cliff-hangers in it, too! (Duh!!!)

Say what you will about Naomi Novik's Temeraire series, but you will never find a more mature set of books about a dragon fighting in the Napoleonic Wars.

That line is only half tongue-in-cheek. As a man of a certain age, I often receive accusatory smirks when other adults catch me reading yet another Temeraire story - as if I have incriminated myself somehow as an unserious reader. Without getting into the merits of my reading list, anyone who judges the themes of the Temeraire series solely by the cover art shows their prejudices.

Novik may not be writing novels that will rival the masterworks of American literature, but these are books about something more than just high fantasy. In "Empire of Ivory," Temeraire and Will Laurence confront not one but two timeless moral traps - slavery and germ warfare, and their chosen side's dastardly role in both. How Laurence and Temeraire confront these dilemmas forms the heart of the book, and these ideas elevate the book beyond the usual sword-and-sorcery fare.

The plot is fairly straightforward, at first. The war with France rages on, but a sinister disease has decimated the dragons of England. Several are dead and most of the others are dying, without any hope for a cure. It is only a matter of time before Napoleon figures out that England's shores are vulnerable and he will attack.

So Laurence and Temeraire whip down to Africa on the most desperate of errands - to find the cure that will save their friends and save their nation. But what promises at first to be a frantic treasure hunt turns into a shocking confrontation with Europe's colonial politics and the human cost of the slave trade. Many fights are fought and many questions are asked, but not all are answered.

To be fair, the first several chapters plod along at a very pedestrian pace, but the book's latter chapters save the day.

Do not read these books out of order - if you start with this one, you'll miss a great deal of back story. But start reading this series, and read it proudly, enduring the scoffs of your fellow adults.

Was this latest book in the Temeraire series as exciting as the first three? No, but does that make Empire of Ivory any less of a great read? Again, no. The book does bog down a little in the first half, but I have to give Novik credit for taking real English history and inserting dragons into the mix in such a way that it seems a normal as anything. Moreover, having never been all that interested in the Napoleonic era, I have to give Novik even more credit for keeping me glued to the page. I see Empire of Ivory as a transitional book that does more to develop the mythology of Novik's alternate world, and taking that into consideration I came away from this novel having thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience and eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. If you enjoyed the first three Temeraire novels you should definitely enjoy Empire of Ivory.

Temeraire and Laurence make it back to England after their adventures on the way back from China only to find that a mysterious illness has struck the Dragon Corps. This illness appears to have no cure, and is extremely contagious. Not only that, but once stricken, the Dragon almost inevitably dies. Temeraire though, for some reason, does not get infected and that creates the hope that somehow he was inoculated against this disease during his Chinese travels. Thinking about it, everyone remembers that he did come down with the sniffles on his way south along the African shore, but was cured somewhere around the tip of South Africa. So, he and his wing mates are immediately dispatched there to seek a cure.

Most of this book follows the adventures encountered in this search and we are introduced to the raging debate about slavery as well as the takeover of South Africa by the British from the Dutch. While there are no particular naval or air engagements described, there is plenty of adventure and action as the cure is found, the British dragons and their people are confronted by a well organized local society of people and dragons, and the cure is eventually brought back to England, and ultimately to France.

As an adventure story, the writing is first rate and the placement of this whole world in the Napoleonic era continues to shine. There are a couple of problem areas that made me take one star off of my rating of this book. First, there are several situations where the timelines are impossible. I would have to give out important plot points to describe them fully, so I won't beyond saying that if you pay attention to how long things take, this book takes significant liberties with some of them in the interest of keeping the story moving. Another issue that I have is the way Captain Laurence is portrayed. Now, this may be intentional, but he is being portrayed as a very stuck up and stuffy individual who has no clue about what is going on around him. With episodes such as his complete bewilderment as to why his girlfriend keeps checking the calendar on those days when they spend the night together (remember that this is set in Napoleonic times - before the advent of birth control), to his complete disregard of the feelings of a woman who just lost her husband to a spear attack, he is made out to be a person that I would not want to associate with. Yet, this is the main hero of these stories aside from Temeraire!

Putting aside these problems, this book is still very well written, it draws you in and keeps you turning the pages in excited anticipation of what the next twist in the tale might be. The descriptions of the African wilds and the British lands are so good that you can easily envision what the characters see as they travel over them. This is definitely a good read and will occupy pride of place in my library.

Opening right on the heels of 'Blackpowder War', Will Laurence, Temeraire, and crew, make it back to England-and discover why the British failed to provide Dragon-support for the Prussians at Jena. The British dragons have fallen ill, with what to me looks like a nasty form of influenza. There's no cure, and the beasts are dying like, um, flies. Acting on a hunch, Laurence, Temeraire, and the sick Dragons of Temeraire's formation set out for the Cape of Good Hope to find a cure, before Napoleon discovers just how vulnerable England is.

The book marks a break from the earlier ones, which were more pure adventure. True, Novik brought up issues of slavery and the rights of Dragons, but here both issues are more fleshed out and the stakes are higher. It's clear that the rights of blacks and dragons are enmeshed; freeing one now means freeing the other, or at least, ceasing to think of them as brute beasts.

All the series regulars are here. Captain Roland, Chenery, John Granby (and the bratty Turkish dragon Iskierka), Harcourt and her dragon, Lily.
Historical figures show up, like Nelson, Napoleon, and Wilberforce, who takes up the dragons' cause. Socially, everyone still thinks of Aviators the way they do of, say, actors; they do good work, but they're still disreputable riff raff.

There are also clashes between British society at large, and the Aviators' insular world. A poignant miscommunication involving Laurence, his father, and Emily Roland. An amusing incident at the wedding of an Aviatrix and a British naval officer, in which the dragon threatens the groom if he's mean to her captain (you think you've got in-law troubles?)

At the end, the British Admiralty commits a crime that pushes Laurence into a desperate act of treason. As the book ends, he's headed back to England-and arrest, possibly the gallows. I'm looking forward to the next installment. I hope Ms. Novik can keep this up.

The fourth book in Naomi Novik's Temeraire series continues the saga of the dragon Temeraire and his captain, Will Laurence, who return home from China to find the British dragon-based aerial corps decimated by a deadly disease. To save their friends from sickness and their country from Napoleon's increasingly aggressive advances, the pair heads to Africa in search of a cure. But their mission is hampered by the deep scars of slavery, the customs of a new dragon culture, and other misadventures.

Although the first book in this series is still my favorite, Empire of Ivory is a good read. The voyage to Africa and the adventures in the interior drag a bit, but the finale will keep you turning those pages until the wee hours of the morning.

one of the challenges of creating a whole new world is being willing to expand that world much further than your readers would have expected. Novik does this and more with Empire of Ivory - easily the best of the Temeraire series yet out. who could have imagined an Africa with dragons and the impact that would have on slaving and the slave trade? Novik did and as she weaves our favorite dragon and his captain into that setting the reader can do little but admit complete captivity to a compelling and thrilling book. July 08 seems very far off now!

the only caveat is that I think you must start with book 1 to fully appreciate this series. don't start with book 4 - it's great but it'll be even better if you read in order!

In Empire of Ivory, the author starts using dragons as a vehicle for early 19th century social criticism and the book falls flat.

Novik is falling prey to her own fiction. In her first book she whipped up a race of speaking beasts set in the Napoleonic Wars; belatedly she realized having another sapient race on the planet might make for some social changes. Up until this point, the Temeraire books had been more or less-parallel to our own history -with dragons.
In Empire of Ivory, however, she regresses into vilifying the British for the practice of Slavery (which she rewrites them into NOT abolishing in 1807) and for their senseless cruelty to dragons, and idolizes the enlightened China she has created. Napoleon's France, too, is now rewritten as a force for social equity! (nb: in actuality, he *revived* slavery, which had been abolished in the Revolution)

In the effort to discover a cure for a mysterious plague, the English discover a *completely* unknown, continent-spanning African Empire, ruled by a dragons -a sort of cross between Shaka's Zulu Kingdom and Mahdist Sudan set in the Congo. And, surprise, they're angry about the slave trade!
Now, I have a particular problem with the fictional Africans being -at the same time!- portrayed as a force of social justice both morally superior and more socially enlightened than the English, while ALSO being willfully close-minded murderers. More practically, if a kingdom were powerful enough to destroy EVERY white city from South Africa to Nigeria, how on earth was it unknown to the world? And how did it fall victim to the slave trade in the first place?
While it started out fascinating, the gaping plot holes and poor planning eventually boggled the mind.

The ending of the book is predictable, disgusting and pointless. Or rather, it is the inevitable result of the plot, but it is disgusting and pointless that the plot should have led in that direction. Nothing is resolved by the end of the book, and the reader is left dissatisfied with a sour taste in the mouth. Yes, I want to read more, but only so I can forget how horrible *this* book was.

Since few people know what was going on in darkest Africa during the first decade of the seventeenth century, this is a plausible narrative of what might have happened with dragons involved. Very entertaining.

This is a great series reminiscent of the Master and Commander series and set in the 19th century Napoleonic wars but with the added bonus of dragons. The main dragon is charming and naive but like an idiot savant extremely intelligent and fiercely loyal to his Captain. Start at the beginning with Her Majesty's Dragon bit do read it.

The manner in which the author presents an extremely complex and layered world is admirable and impressive. This book more than the previous three, shows such a grand scope while simultaneously presenting the consistent attention to detail of language and setting. It makes this installment genuinely breathtaking.

This was an excellent light read, and much more of the world was explored.

The issue is that Naomi Novik bit off a pretty hard cliffhanger. While her attempted style is to have some of the traditional taste for cliffhangers a la Dickens et al, I believe she unintentionally escalated the tension. People are best advised to wait for the next book first before purchasing this book.

The ending wasn't a bad place to stop, on face. The novel, though, had really changed character. Novik changes this from a parallel history with dragons to a much more alternative history axis. A major battle was dragged 15 years into the past, changed ethnic groups, and changed the pyhhric nature of the battle into a kind of massive Pearl Harbor. Also, the British does something that is different from the normal pace of the Napoleonic Wars, and well, there is now some thought as to how this will end.

It's not as if it hasn't always been a truly alternative history. Spain is a weak power, apparently having only control of Mexico. We don't really hear anything about the southern colonials, even though we hear about Halifax and the Dakotas. The Qing Empire doesn't exist, and more of a extended Ming empire is still around. The Incas are still around. So around the edges, this isn't a kind of magical version of history, like Harry Turtledove's rendition of WWII.

So in effect Novik has gotten her novel going to breakneck speed (and a very good ride it is!), only to crash at the end...

In this 4th book in the Temeraire series, Novik has introduced us to an entirely new civilization, further expanding the Temeraire universe. And she still has lots of room to expand even more. Not only that, but I could easilly see her writing another series from the perspective of this newly discovered civilization. And to give us incentive to read the next book in the Temeraire series, she made sure to end this one with a cliffhanger.

Having read all 4 of the Temeraire series, which I enjoyed very much, "Empire of Ivory" was my favorite. With almost non-stop action and suspense, this story seemed to flow through its plot more quickly and evenly than the first 3 books. The connection with Africa and slavery was deeply moving, being more relevant to issues that still touch us today. I would suggest,however, that a reader at least start with " His Majesty's Dragon," to get the context of both the underlying plot from the beginning, and to enjoy the development of the principle characters, especially Temeraire himself. There's a rumor afoot that Peter Jackson has bought the film rights to this series. What fantastic movies they would make: to rival the Ring Trilogy. Though as books, they are by no means of the literary significance of Tolkein. Novik does a splendid job of entertaining her readers, and her imagination is absolutely delightful. Rock on, Naomi!

Naomi Novik has spun fantasy gold with her Temeraire series. While I liked the 1st two volumes of the series better, the fourth of the series moves forward in a lively and unexpected direction. The adventures of the clever and willful Temeraire and his devoted captain are most capitivating.

Too captivating perhaps...my niece has already claimed and devoured my copies of the first three books of this series and is hankering for this one too, even though I've had it for just a few days!

Naomi Novik just keeps getting better. Love her alternate Africa! If only there'd been dragons like Temeraire, our whole sorry world would have been better. Can't believe how addictive this series is.

There are plenty of great summaries out there, so I'm offering advice and praise. First, read the other books. Second, the best feature of this novel is the maturing of Lawrence and Temeraire. If you loved them before,you'll fall in love all over again. The new civilization can seem like it's going out on a limb, but take that mental leap of faith. Like the cure, Novik makes it realistic. She "earns" it with meticulous and rich detail. My only criticism: you will want the fifth book so badly after reading this one that you maybe tempted to do something rash. Take calming breaths. Harassing letters will not make her write faster.

This was my favorite so far in this great series. As a South African, I thought she did a magnificent job of making Temeraire's adventures in Africa feel authentic. I felt like I could picture Temeraire perched atop Table Mountain. I also loved the civilization next to the Victoria Falls. All in all, a wonderful action-packed story! I really hope this makes it to the big screen!!!

While I was floored with the original book, by the time I got to the fourth I was ready to be put down.

The first Book was a screaming romp in the lines of O'Brian and a vigorous page turner. I've always been a fan of the Napoleonic era, and the concept of adding Dragons into the spin! What fun! But by the time I got to this one... sigh. The fun was dead.

Continues a well written, historically accurate series with the carefully thought out addition of -- dragons! This one takes place in Africa and is satisfying to those of us who think Africans have gotten a raw deal out of history.

The potential of these amazing characters is totally unrealized in these short fluffy novels. Novik deserves credit for creating them, and we love them.
BUT Novik gives us a cop-out cliffhanger, "fantasy series" type ending. You're strung along, then the book just ends without an end. I have always hated that tactic. Perhaps it is the publisher's urging that leads Novik to do it for monetary sales. But it smacks of copout to me. I think readers have proven by loving Sherlock Holmes or Amelia Peabody that they will still come back for MORE of characters they love without a juvenile cliffhanger ending.

I agree with the reviewer who wrote the readers who bought this book deserve better. I love Temeraire & Laurence & Roland & Harcourt & Lily & Maximus, and now I want more of Kefentse and Iskierka. But cliffhangers are not the way to do it.

The 4th installment in author Naomi Novik Temeraire series is an amazing read! The attention to detail and descriptions of this alternate reality, where dragons are real and as much a part of every day life as horses, is so enthralling it makes you think you are reading a historical novel instead of fantasy fiction! Her attention to character and story development is excellent. Can't wait for number 5!

Although still a good strong book, I didn't enjoy this one as much as the previous books. It almost felt like this book was going to be an opinion on slavery which it did address, but it didn't make it as a full focus of the book. I'm hoping that this book was just a lull between the action and that book 5 will be stronger.

Great reading. If you loved Anne McCaffrey, you'll love Temeraire. He's a walking, talking, thinking dragon that gets himself and his person in trouble constantly. This book finds them getting into the deepest trouble ever. I am about to start book 5. I hate to read the last of the series. It's that good!!