Fantasy

Empire of Ivory

Empire of Ivory

  • Downloads：2984
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-04-06 14:57:46
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Naomi Novik
  • ISBN：0345496876
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

Tragedy has struck His Majesty’s Aerial Corps， whose magnificent fleet of fighting dragons and their human captains valiantly defend England’s shores against the encroaching armies of Napoleon Bonaparte。 An epidemic of unknown origin and no known cure is decimating the noble dragons’ ranks–forcing the hopelessly stricken into quarantine。 Now only Temeraire and a pack of newly recruited dragons remain uninfected–and stand as the only means of an airborne defense against France’s ever bolder sorties。
Bonaparte’s dragons are already harrowing Britain’s ships at sea。 Only one recourse remains: Temeraire and his captain， Will Laurence， must take wing to Africa， whose shores may hold the cure to the mysterious and deadly contagion。 On this mission there is no time to waste， and no telling what lies in store beyond the horizon or for those left behind to wait， hope， and hold the line。

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Reviews

Evin Grody ，

Some spoilers （though don't really reveal anything significant about the plot） but really more just general points about the series so far: I am so torn by this series， but essentially I'd give it 5 stars for the actual dragons， 3-4 stars for the general plot， and I love a number of Novik's other books but there are certain moments that just want to drag all those stars down。 To paraphrase the words a friend used to describe the phenomenon in another book: there is so much absolutely unnecessary Some spoilers （though don't really reveal anything significant about the plot） but really more just general points about the series so far: I am so torn by this series， but essentially I'd give it 5 stars for the actual dragons， 3-4 stars for the general plot， and I love a number of Novik's other books but there are certain moments that just want to drag all those stars down。 To paraphrase the words a friend used to describe the phenomenon in another book: there is so much absolutely unnecessary trauma in these books so far and the most egregious moments do *nothing* to advance the plot—they could've 100% been cut out and nothing would have changed。 Did the young local interpreter's brother being stabbed to death while the British officers screamed racial slurs at him make any difference to the story？ Nope。 In a previous book， as Temeraire &co。 were fleeing Turkey， did the child crew member and dragon egg with enclosed hatching falling off Temeraire and dramatically crashing to their death have literally anything to do with anything？ Nope， pretty sure we already had a really solid grasp of how much danger they were all in anyway， thanks。 I have no problem with dramatic moments or violence *when they're playing a roll* but these are just excessive。 And then there is the *constant* dragging sexism/misogyny。 Was that an incredibly paternalistic and patriarchal period， when women were incredibly limited？ Absolutely。 But also it's being re-written to include bloody *dragons* so you know， is the dragging sexism actually doing anything for the plot and story/character development？ Like， sure， have Captain Laurence have an equality "awakening" when he joins the Core and meets the Longwing riders for the first time to mark that this was the mood of the time but the Core was doing it differently。 But Laurence just never gets over it and it rears its head almost every time something is happening with a female character。 It reached a whole new level when he finds out Captain Catherine Harcourt is preggers and the father is that asshat of a sea rat captain Riley。 So Laurence talks to Harcourt and she clearly spells out why she has no need or interest in marrying or really involving the aforementioned asshat。 And dear Laurence is all "ah， yes， I see， that makes sense， so let me turn around and aggressively pressure you into this marriage for absolutely no good reasons other then my own bullshit sEnSiBiLiTiEs"。。。。 Yeah， so I turns out I have some feelings about that nonsense lol。 I find I'm leaving more and more space before picking up the next of the series， which is shame because I just really want to see more Iskierka and Temeraire and for the ultimate revolution of the dragons。 I'm very here for that。 I'm so here for that I guess I'll keep putting up with stuffed shirt Larry and his prissy nonsense。。。 because Iskierka。 （Who I'd also love to invite to our current grad student strike with Columbia， as I feel she'd really just provide that extra gravitas。。。 and surprise fishing boats snatched from the Hudson every so often。 Which is what every picket line needs， clearly。）Also just want to point of the human-centred bullshit that I've just realised the wikipedia page for the Temeraire series: Temeraire is the only dragon with his own character bullet listing， all the others are *only* mentioned in ref to their human companions！ Nonsense！ Utter nonsense！ And now I'll get down from my soapbox。 。。。more

Kate ，

This is the first time I've read a series longer than a trilogy in a long time （maybe since childhood？）， so I guess it makes sense that the books are starting to feel like they are bleeding into one another。 Fortunately， I found this one quite entertaining。 I'd be interested in learning about what African readers （or readers of African descent， or readers who are students of African history） think about Novik's descriptions of the 1800s southern African peoples and settings。 This is the first time I've read a series longer than a trilogy in a long time （maybe since childhood？）， so I guess it makes sense that the books are starting to feel like they are bleeding into one another。 Fortunately， I found this one quite entertaining。 I'd be interested in learning about what African readers （or readers of African descent， or readers who are students of African history） think about Novik's descriptions of the 1800s southern African peoples and settings。 。。。more

Andrea ，

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 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 :PThe 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！ 。。。more

Lisa ，

Have to say， reading this during the current pandemic gives another level of context to feel the urgency and fear of the illness plaguing the dragons。 Absolutely loving this series， and the mix of adventure and history and war is balanced by the wonderful relationship of Temeraire and Lawrence。

Annie ，

（view spoiler）[Woohoo！ Stakes and consequences！ （hide spoiler）] （view spoiler）[Woohoo！ Stakes and consequences！ （hide spoiler）] 。。。more

Alexa Ayana ，

Penasaran kan kenapa di buku sebelumnya Temeraire dan Laurence macam harus bertanggung jawab menghadapi kemarahan Prussia yang di php Inggris？ Ternyata Inggrisnya sedang dilanda wabah pilekNaga yang sangat berbahaya。 Temanya pas banget dengan kondisi pademik kita ya。。。Karena jadi satu-satunya naga yang sehat jadi pasangan ini terpanggil untuk melakukan banyak misi harian。 Dan saat itu gak mungkin dilakukan mereka terpaksa menjalani misi pencarian obat dan terapi sampai benua Afrika。 Memadukan is Penasaran kan kenapa di buku sebelumnya Temeraire dan Laurence macam harus bertanggung jawab menghadapi kemarahan Prussia yang di php Inggris？ Ternyata Inggrisnya sedang dilanda wabah pilekNaga yang sangat berbahaya。 Temanya pas banget dengan kondisi pademik kita ya。。。Karena jadi satu-satunya naga yang sehat jadi pasangan ini terpanggil untuk melakukan banyak misi harian。 Dan saat itu gak mungkin dilakukan mereka terpaksa menjalani misi pencarian obat dan terapi sampai benua Afrika。 Memadukan issue perbudakan dan emansipasi para Naga itu ide yang cemerlang。 Kota Naga di Afrika itu menarik banget， sayang gak di eksplorasi lebih dalam。 Aksi maneuver diatas naga gak sebanyak buku sebelumnya karena lebih banyak berkecimpung soal politik militer dari dewan yang lemah。 Nah walaupun gak out of character tapi keputusan simalakama yang diambil Laurence demi Temeraire benar-benar membuat mereka terperosok jauh。 Aku stress kan sekarang kepo pengen tahu gimana nasib mereka。。 😣😣😣😣 。。。more

Minnie ，

Mir war nicht bewusst， dass ich die Reihe vermisst habe。 Erst nachdem ich den vierten Band angefangen habe zu lesen， war es für mich wie damals， als ich den ersten Band angefangen hatte。 Für mich einer der besten Bände bisher （nur der Erste bleibt ungeschlagen！） und am Ende war ich so emotional， dass ich sogar Tränen in den Augen hatte。 Nachdem ich in den Goodreads-Reviews bereits gestöbert habe und in einem die Rede von einem Cliffhanger war， habe ich mir sofort den nächsten Band gekauft。 Diesm Mir war nicht bewusst， dass ich die Reihe vermisst habe。 Erst nachdem ich den vierten Band angefangen habe zu lesen， war es für mich wie damals， als ich den ersten Band angefangen hatte。 Für mich einer der besten Bände bisher （nur der Erste bleibt ungeschlagen！） und am Ende war ich so emotional， dass ich sogar Tränen in den Augen hatte。 Nachdem ich in den Goodreads-Reviews bereits gestöbert habe und in einem die Rede von einem Cliffhanger war， habe ich mir sofort den nächsten Band gekauft。 Diesmal begleiten wir Laurence und Temeraire nach Afrika， wo sie ein Gegenmittel suchen wollen für eine lange andauernde und tödlich verlaufende Drachenseuche in England。 Dabei wurden Themen wie Sklaverei， Rassismus und deren Konsequenzen in meinen Augen gut verarbeitet。 Auch wenn ich plane den fünften Band im April zu lesen， kann ich es kaum erwarten weiter mit Temeraire in die Lüfte zu fliegen und Kämpfe zu gewinnen。 。。。more

Anaya ，

Sometimes I just want to give Temeraire a huge hug。 I know he's probably like 20 times my size and could easily crush me but he's such a cinnamon roll sometimes and I love it。 （view spoiler）[I love how he's become a dragon-rights activist and is now radicalized against the monarchy。 Laurence is so traditional like I can see how he's changed his mind on some things like his view of women but in some ways， he is still so obstinate in his world views。 The fact that he was so insistent on Catherine Sometimes I just want to give Temeraire a huge hug。 I know he's probably like 20 times my size and could easily crush me but he's such a cinnamon roll sometimes and I love it。 （view spoiler）[I love how he's become a dragon-rights activist and is now radicalized against the monarchy。 Laurence is so traditional like I can see how he's changed his mind on some things like his view of women but in some ways， he is still so obstinate in his world views。 The fact that he was so insistent on Catherine getting married just because she was pregnant was annoying to me。 （hide spoiler）] I love the women in the aerial corps because they're so liberated and make their own decisions about marriage， clothes， and children。 Laurence still doesn't get that they should be allowed their own freedom in everything。 I do think Naomi Novik did do a great job of illustrating how a man of the time would think though。 I feel like the historical part of this novel is so accurate and I love how the books have taken readers on a travel of the world in the Napoleonic era。 Every time Temeraire ate Chinese food I wanted to have some too。 I also can't believe I'm going to the same school as Naomi Novik， I swear every day I find a new famous Brown alum。 。。。more

JaneymacD ，

3。75 stars This series continues to be a joy to read。 I can't wait to get the next one！ 3。75 stars This series continues to be a joy to read。 I can't wait to get the next one！ 。。。more

Steve ，

3。5 - rounded down to 3This series is interesting， there is enough in each book to keep you going but this installment was lacking， for me。 Maybe with the pandemic and the "sickness" it hit too close to home？ Regardless， onto book 5， I am certain it will get better as this left book left on a great cliffhanger！ 3。5 - rounded down to 3This series is interesting， there is enough in each book to keep you going but this installment was lacking， for me。 Maybe with the pandemic and the "sickness" it hit too close to home？ Regardless， onto book 5， I am certain it will get better as this left book left on a great cliffhanger！ 。。。more

Scott Johnson ，

I wish there was a 3。5 star rating。 This was better than the previous entry， but not up to the original standard yet。I think it was solid right up until the abduction when they were stealing the mushrooms from that cave。 I think that was where the wheels came off and it just became more chaotic and hard to follow。 Again， I think the problem is that she excels with slower periods of reflection and character development and struggles with faster action。I am glad to see something seeded two books a I wish there was a 3。5 star rating。 This was better than the previous entry， but not up to the original standard yet。I think it was solid right up until the abduction when they were stealing the mushrooms from that cave。 I think that was where the wheels came off and it just became more chaotic and hard to follow。 Again， I think the problem is that she excels with slower periods of reflection and character development and struggles with faster action。I am glad to see something seeded two books ago that the reader thought was just a throwaway detail be incredibly relevant。 It's nice to see an author seemingly in control like that， and it gives me confidence that she's not just winging it a la Terry Goodkind。That said， the endings are also falling into a predictable pattern of establishing a cliffhanger。 It's really the one thing I'd change about the story; just leave off those hooks to catapult you right into things in the next book instead。 I think ending with learning that they sent a sick dragon back to France was a more natural endpoint。I still hate Iskierka's name， but she's great otherwise。 Probably the high point in terms of comedy was her showing off her blinged-out captain， who just stood there mortified， questioning his life choices。 。。。more

Tanya ，

I love this series so much！

Nicholas Eames ，

Devouring these on audiobook。 So good。 And wouldn't you know it: right when I decide to take a break there's a MASSIVE cliffhanger。 Can't wait to get back to these。 Absolutely phenomenal series。 Devouring these on audiobook。 So good。 And wouldn't you know it: right when I decide to take a break there's a MASSIVE cliffhanger。 Can't wait to get back to these。 Absolutely phenomenal series。 。。。more

Rebecca （ofliterarynature） ，

So mad at this book， honestly！ Everything after book 1 I’ve been determinedly unimpressed with， and then Novik goes and drops that ending。 I cried！ I was teary for a good hour！ How dare！！！！！！

Tasha Robinson ，

These books just keep getting more fascinating to me， which is a rare thing for me to experience with an ongoing series。 I find myself reading breathlessly in a what-happens-next frenzy， then catching myself up abruptly and making myself read particularly lyrical passages more slowly， to actually take them in。 This one has both — some tremendously tense and fascinating situations， including a staggering end-book development， and some sequences I had to go back and read just for the lovely descri These books just keep getting more fascinating to me， which is a rare thing for me to experience with an ongoing series。 I find myself reading breathlessly in a what-happens-next frenzy， then catching myself up abruptly and making myself read particularly lyrical passages more slowly， to actually take them in。 This one has both — some tremendously tense and fascinating situations， including a staggering end-book development， and some sequences I had to go back and read just for the lovely descriptions。 The kind of self-destructive nobility the characters display in this book is one of my biggest narrative addictions， but the plot intricacies that make it possible in this case are also a big draw。 I'm loving this series。 。。。more

Danielle ，

Why am I seeming to find plague and illness in so many books？

Julia Coleman ，

I loved the discoveries that Lawrence and Temeraire made on this trip。 A great alternative version of our world and compelling characters。

MorganJac ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 It's been a few months since I finished the this book in this series。 I began to think that I was just excited about finding a decent dragon book and might be exaggerating how good the Temeraire books are。 Reading the 4th book reminded jogged by memory。  The books are amazing。 The characters are entertaining， engaging and believable。 The plot in the 4th one struck a little closer to home since we're still dealing with covid but it was decently done and introduced us to another continent of drago It's been a few months since I finished the this book in this series。 I began to think that I was just excited about finding a decent dragon book and might be exaggerating how good the Temeraire books are。 Reading the 4th book reminded jogged by memory。  The books are amazing。 The characters are entertaining， engaging and believable。 The plot in the 4th one struck a little closer to home since we're still dealing with covid but it was decently done and introduced us to another continent of dragon cultures （which I loved）。 This series is 10 stars in just only allowed to show 5。 Highly， highly recommend。 。。。more

Eric Minner ，

On audiobook - Five stars alone for the first disk， especially the first half or so。 Some of her best writing， and Simon's ever-perfect reading。 On audiobook - Five stars alone for the first disk， especially the first half or so。 Some of her best writing， and Simon's ever-perfect reading。 。。。more

Inger Faherty ，

A little too much war and blah blah， but then it ended on a crazy cliffhanger so I'm looking forward to book 5！ A little too much war and blah blah， but then it ended on a crazy cliffhanger so I'm looking forward to book 5！ 。。。more

Jeremiah Mans ，

Probably the most complex book and the one where the 'alternate history' starts to really diverge from the real 1800s。 Without getting into spoilers， it creates a real break for several characters and resets their arcs going forward。 Given all that， the book ends up feeling a little packed in places。 Probably the most complex book and the one where the 'alternate history' starts to really diverge from the real 1800s。 Without getting into spoilers， it creates a real break for several characters and resets their arcs going forward。 Given all that， the book ends up feeling a little packed in places。 。。。more

Of Bears and Ravens ，

I absolutely loved all of the other Temeraire novels and this one is no different！ It is really interesting to travel around the world and experience all the different cultures through Laurence and Temeraire's travels。 Can't wait for the next one！ I absolutely loved all of the other Temeraire novels and this one is no different！ It is really interesting to travel around the world and experience all the different cultures through Laurence and Temeraire's travels。 Can't wait for the next one！ 。。。more

Kahlia ，

This was excellent， though I wish it hadn't ended on a cliffhanger。。。 I have other audiobooks I need to listen to， so rude。 But， Empire of Ivory was definitely a huge step up from Black Powder War， which felt like a filler novel。 I enjoyed getting to spend time with Roland， Riley， Harcourt and Temeraire's original crew again， and the moral stakes felt much higher than in previous novels as we diverge more clearly from history。 Oh， and the bromance between Temeraire and Laurence remains perfectio This was excellent， though I wish it hadn't ended on a cliffhanger。。。 I have other audiobooks I need to listen to， so rude。 But， Empire of Ivory was definitely a huge step up from Black Powder War， which felt like a filler novel。 I enjoyed getting to spend time with Roland， Riley， Harcourt and Temeraire's original crew again， and the moral stakes felt much higher than in previous novels as we diverge more clearly from history。 Oh， and the bromance between Temeraire and Laurence remains perfection。 。。。more

Grace ，

This was definitely a step up from the previous couple books！That said， it still feels like I just read 3 different books even though I only read one。 I really approve of how this series UNDERSTANDS that what I care about are the relationships and emotions。 It's absolutely priceless， and I continue to love Temeraire and Laurence。 But I am weary and they have traveled SO much; if they ever try to strike out for the New World I will riot。The decision Laurence and Temeraire made at the end ups the This was definitely a step up from the previous couple books！That said， it still feels like I just read 3 different books even though I only read one。 I really approve of how this series UNDERSTANDS that what I care about are the relationships and emotions。 It's absolutely priceless， and I continue to love Temeraire and Laurence。 But I am weary and they have traveled SO much; if they ever try to strike out for the New World I will riot。The decision Laurence and Temeraire made at the end ups the stakes for the whole series。 I'm so hoping that the next book will tackle the actual Napoleonic war in a more head-on manner。 。。。more

Grace ，

See review of first in series。

Julie Bergley ，

So much happened in this story that I can't even fully sum it up。 There was a deadly virus for the dragons and an epic search for the cure。 I don't want to get into everything cause spoilers， but I can't wait to see what book five holds！！！ So much happened in this story that I can't even fully sum it up。 There was a deadly virus for the dragons and an epic search for the cure。 I don't want to get into everything cause spoilers， but I can't wait to see what book five holds！！！ 。。。more

Nathan ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Interesting choice to have Africa fight back against it's colonizers and enslavers。 It implies a whole host of other changes。 I wonder how that quite large historical change affects the rest of the series。 It does make me wonder why colonization would have happened in the first place if locals had dragons that vigorously defended their tribes。 Is it merely because there's more unity now， that tribes were too small to prevent enslavement or colonization before？ Europeans are largely on the demand Interesting choice to have Africa fight back against it's colonizers and enslavers。 It implies a whole host of other changes。 I wonder how that quite large historical change affects the rest of the series。 It does make me wonder why colonization would have happened in the first place if locals had dragons that vigorously defended their tribes。 Is it merely because there's more unity now， that tribes were too small to prevent enslavement or colonization before？ Europeans are largely on the demand side of this economy in Africa， so what's the dynamic between the African tribes that were/are supplying the slaves and the formerly victimized tribes？ What happened off the page between the slave trading tribes and newly unified tribes？ 。。。more

J。A。 McLachlan ，

I was enjoying this series- well-written， unique， interesting characters， and I love the relationship between Temeraire and Lawrence。 But this book gets into some miserable politics， and these days I do not want to read about incompetent or corrupt or immoral leadership。 We have been going through enough of that in real life， and are at a time when good leadership is particularly needed to get us through this pandemic， so it's no fun to read about and be frustrated by bad leaders。I happen to hav I was enjoying this series- well-written， unique， interesting characters， and I love the relationship between Temeraire and Lawrence。 But this book gets into some miserable politics， and these days I do not want to read about incompetent or corrupt or immoral leadership。 We have been going through enough of that in real life， and are at a time when good leadership is particularly needed to get us through this pandemic， so it's no fun to read about and be frustrated by bad leaders。I happen to have borrowed all the series but may not finish them。 May go back to them later， because it is good reading， hust not right now。。。 。。。more

Kristina ，

Novik does such an incredible job of creating a setting throughout this series。 And this book is no exception。 The stakes were always high throughout the book， and the exploration of dragons in Africa was another interesting addition to the dragon-world she’s created。 I am so stressed about the fate of Laurence and Temeraire now！ Can’t wait to read book 5！

Adele_Eastmacott ，

Encore un très bon page Turner。 J'étais vissée au bouquin une bonne partie du troisième livre Encore un très bon page Turner。 J'étais vissée au bouquin une bonne partie du troisième livre 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Empire of Ivory

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Empire of Ivory&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Empire of Ivory&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0