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Empire of Ivory (The Temeraire Series) Paperback – 3 Mar. 2008

by Naomi Novik (Author)

246 ratings

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Naomi Novik’s stunning series of novels follow the adventures of Captain William Laurence and his fighting dragon Temeraire as they travel from the shores of Britain to China and Africa.

Laurence and Temeraire made a daring journey across vast and inhospitable continents to bring home a rare Turkish dragon from the treacherous Ottoman Empire.

Kazilik dragons are firebreathers, and Britain is in greater need of protection than ever, for while Laurence and Temeraire were away, an epidemic struck British shores and is killing off her greatest defence – her dragon air force is slowly dying.

The dreadful truth must be kept from Napoleon at all costs. Allied with the white Chinese dragon, Lien, he would not hestitate to take advantage of Britain's weakness and launch a devasting invasion.

Hope lies with the only remaining healthy dragon – Temeraire cannot stay at home, but must once again venture into the unknown to help his friends and seek out a cure in darkest Africa.

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Product details

Paperback : 400 pages
ISBN-10 : 0007256744
ISBN-13 : 978-0007256747
Publisher : Harper Voyager (3 Mar. 2008)
Product Dimensions : 12.9 x 2.54 x 19.71 cm
Language: : English

Best-sellers rank 132,657 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
532 in Science Fiction Alternate History
772 in Historical Fantasy (Books)
1,199 in Myths & Legends

Customer reviews:
246 ratings

Product description

Review

‘These are beautifully written novels, not only fresh, original and fast-paced, but full of wonderful characters with real heart’
Peter Jackson

‘Novik won me over with her first novel. the combination of military history, sympathetic characters, and engaging style makes this series great, intelligent fun’
The Times

‘Plenty of intrigue, swordplay, exotic locations, plausible invention. In short a treat’
The Telegraph

'In the best tradition of fantasy, historical fiction and nautical novels'
Guardian

Synopsis

Naomi Novik's stunning series of novels follow the adventures of Captain William Laurence and his fighting dragon Temeraire as they travel from the shores of Britain to China and Africa. Laurence and Temeraire made a daring journey across vast and inhospitable continents to bring home a rare Turkish dragon from the treacherous Ottoman Empire. Kazilik dragons are firebreathers, and Britain is in greater need of protection than ever, for while Laurence and Temeraire were away, an epidemic struck British shores and is killing off her greatest defence -- her dragon air force is slowly dying. The dreadful truth must be kept from Napoleon at all costs. Allied with the white Chinese dragon, Lien, he would not hestitate to take advantage of Britain's weakness and launch a devasting invasion. Hope lies with the only remaining healthy dragon -- Temeraire cannot stay at home, but must once again venture into the unknown to help his friends and seek out a cure in darkest Africa.

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Customer reviews

5 star		74%
4 star		15%
3 star		6%
2 star		3%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

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Brilliant idea, well executed

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 September 2020

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I really like both fantasy novels and historical ones, so this series seemed to be a perfect fit and I have not been disappointed. A simple premise (that dragons exist and always have done) set within the era of Napoleon and the age of exploration.
I've been buying these on both Audible and Kindle so that I can continue the story wherever I am. Brilliant.

Comment

Raises the stakes for Laurence and Temeraire

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 January 2012

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Laurence and Temeraire are finally back in Britain after their long travels - but all is not well with their friends, dragon and human. The pair are forced to take off to Africa - and make a very tough decision that affects their lives at the most profound level...

I really love these books, and it's a delight to be back in the company of Temeraire's companions, especially grumpy, enormous Maximus. I felt that this book, in particular, really raises the emotional stakes for our friends, with some hard decisions being taken on the sides of both Laurence and Temeraire.

I really don't want to say any more about the plot which would spoil things for other readers. Suffice to say these are brilliantly written books with real heart and soul. The relationship between Laurence and Temeraire is wonderfully realised, with some very underplayed but incredibly moving scenes towards the end.

More, perhaps, that the other books in the series, this ends on a bit of a cliffhanger so it's well worth having the next instalment (Victory of Eagles (Temeraire 5) ready for the moment you finish this. I can't get enough of this series - highly recommended.

Comment

Still a good read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 June 2013

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Still well written, engaging and entertaining.

I tend to devour these books, with the strange side effect that I find myself talking like Captain Lawrence for a day or so after.
I think my favourite thing about the books (other than the dragons) is that Naomi has so succesfully brought to life a 19th centure Englishman, with the ridiculous patriotism and unconcious prejudice that entails. And then challenges these through the voice of Temeraire. Its masterfully done.

One person found this helpful

Comment

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 July 2018

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Love the world setting and concept space for these books.
Later books maybe not making as much use of pseudo period etiquette/flavour as the earlier ones. Which is a pity.
Still readable though.

Comment

Another enjoyable book in the series

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 December 2019

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Another enjoyable book in the series

Comment

I love this series of books

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 January 2017

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I love this series of books, the characters are engaging and the story is thoroughly gripping, I wasn't sure at first how I would like the history with a twist element of the books but I have grown to love them and am interested to see how the Napoleonic Wars turn out!

Comment

Another great book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 June 2014

Verified Purchase

I am thoroughly enjoying this series. Yet again, total edge- of-the-seat stuff, with a great exchanger at the end. Cannot wait to get started on the next one!

This series should definitely be made into a film or TV series. I reckon it as good as Game of Thrones.

Comment

Slow to start and slow ending. Not as good as the first book.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 March 2019

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As above. I think Novik sacrifices too much war for insight into the dragons. Good solid read nonetheless. I recommend.

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Top reviews from other countries

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Nola

Naomi Novik does it again

Reviewed in Australia on 23 September 2014

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Empire of Ivory picks up directly from where the third novel in the series begins, so anyone considering reading it who has not read the earlier books first is strongly recommended to get hold of the preceding volumes first. Book 4 takes us to Africa in search of an antidote to a lung infection which has struck the dragons of Britain, unleashed after an American dragon had been imported from the breeding grounds of Nova Scotia. Temeraire himself had contracted the disease on an earlier trip, but had been able to recover after inadvertently eating some local produce at Cape Town so he and Laurence set off on a desperate quest to discover what had cured Temeraire, and to bring it back to England.

This is a pivotal novel in the series so far, so I won't spoil anyone's enjoyment by revealing any further detail, except to say that the ending is genuinely surprising and very moving. As usual, Iskeirka provides some wonderfully realised comic relief, while the other principal characters, be they human or dragon, continue to be developed in a most satisfying manner. If the plot loses some pace during the long journey through Africa and the principal characters' sojourn among the Tswana, the author compensates by providing fascinating details of dragon-human cultural relations in a new part of the world.

In book 4 we are once more treated to a triumph of imaginative creativity and authorial skill on Novik's part. I can't recommend this whole series highly enough.

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Susanne S. aus FFM

Wenn Drachen Schnupfen haben kann das tödlich enden!

Reviewed in Germany on 25 January 2009

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Ursprünglich stieß ich auf die Bücherserie durch die Empfehlung eines Freundes und muß sie weitergeben, für alle, die die Abenteuer von Horation Hornblower (Romane gleichen Namens von C. S. Forester) und Jack Aubry (Master and Commander, Far Side of the World etc. von Patrick O'Brian) mochten und auch nichts gegen Drachenabenteuer a la Eragon einzuwenden haben hier mein Schmökertip mit Suchtgarantie:
Von Naomi Novik die Reihe "Die Feuerreiter Seiner Majestät" mit dem ersten Band "Drachenbrut" - und hier endlich der vierte Band.
Ich bin gerade durch den vierten Band durch und muß sagen, 450 Seiten Lesevergnügen bei unter 9 € Preis für die DT Version) - ist voll gerechtfertigt. (Die Englischen Taschenbücher sind sogar um die 6 Euro nur!)
Ich will nichts verraten, aber das erste Buch hat mich vom ersten Satz an gefangen genommen und ich kann es nur für die langen Winterabende oder längere Bahnfahrten empfehlen.
Hier im vierten gehen die Abenteuer in die menschlichen und "drachischen" Dramen der Zeit Napoleons weiter, wir treffen auf den großen Korsen, die Drachen Britanniens sind durch eine schlimme Krankheit bedroht, aber auch die menschliche Zivilisation droht an dem Gift namens Sklaverei zu ersticken. Ein herrliches buntes Zeitbild wird auch wieder im 4. Band gemalt und ich bin wirklich der Temeraire-Sucht verfallen!!
Klar, einige Sachen waren für mich recht vorhersehbar, doch "Horry" und "Lucky Jack" waren das ja auch und das sind keine "Marcel Reich-Ranicki empfiehlt"-Literatur, sondern leichte Unterhaltung. Die Fortsetzung jedenfalls ist schon vorbestellt!

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Miezekatze

Mehr Schwung als der dritte Teil

Reviewed in Germany on 26 October 2007

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"Empire of Ivory" hat sich aus dem Tal der Langeweile von Napoleons Preußenfeldzug im dritten Band erholt. Im vierten Band dreht sich alles um die Bekämpfung der Seuche, an der die englischen Drachen sterben, und die Suche nach Heilung bringt die Temeraire-Crew nach Südafrika, wo Laurence und Co unwissentlich das Heilmittel einer zentralafrikanischen Superstaatsmacht stehlen - deren Herrscher ein Drache ist! Und die Rache dieses Herrschers ist fürchterlich...

Mich hat endlich wieder die Handlung richtig mitgerissen. Action und Sozial-/Kolonialismuskritik waren für mich gut ausgewogen. Doch anders als in den bisherigen Temeraire-Bänden wird die Diskrepanz zwischen wirklicher Geschichte und der Historie der Naomi-Novik-Welt extrem groß - die Interpretation des Imperialismus der Kolonialmächte in Afrika scheint in Noviks Universum zu einer radikalen Veränderung der Weltgeschichte zu führen. Wo der Temeraire-Zyklus irgendwann enden wird (in einer radikal anderen Welt oder in einer Annährung an der unsrigen Geschichte, halt mit Drachen), ist nicht absehbar, und ich bin gespannt, ob das Temeraire-Universum in den Folgebänden ein grandioser Wurf wird oder irgendwann im Absurden versinkt. Jedenfalls freue ich mich schon auf die nächsten Bände!

Der Cliffhanger am Ende des Buchs ist gut gelungen, allerdings nerven die hohen Moralansprüche von Laurence und Temeraire irgendwann...

Eigentlich 4 Sterne, aber aufgrund der radikalen Darstellung des Kolonialismus-Themas einen Extra-Stern.

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Gunnvaldr

Awesome Series

Reviewed in Canada on 31 January 2013

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Another excellent edition of the Temeraire Series. I've found the alternate history spun in these books to be entertaining. Her writing reminds me of O'Brian and Hentey

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Fergus Forsyth

A good read

Reviewed in Australia on 7 February 2019

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A good read if you like this kind of genre, fantasy, tinged with historical figures.

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