Empire of Ivory

Empire of Ivory, the fourth installment in Novik's Temeraire series, takes place in an alternate 19th century where dragons are integral to military warfare. Captain William Laurence and his dragon Temeraire return to Britain only to find their nation's aerial forces devastated by a mysterious illness affecting the dragon population. The story follows their urgent mission to Africa in search of a cure for the epidemic that threatens Britain's dragon forces. Their journey takes them through unexplored territories where they encounter new cultures, unfamiliar dragon species, and complex political situations that challenge their understanding of empire and loyalty. Set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, the novel integrates historical elements with fantasy, creating a rich alternate history where the presence of dragons has reshaped colonial expansion and military strategy. The narrative expands beyond traditional European settings to explore the African continent and its unique dragon-human societies. The book examines themes of colonialism, medical ethics, and the moral responsibilities that come with power, while continuing the series' exploration of the bond between humans and dragons in a time of crisis.

Readers describe this as a darker turn in the Temeraire series, with higher stakes and more complex moral questions. Many appreciate how it tackles colonialism and its impacts on Africa, though some found the political themes heavy-handed. Liked: - Development of Laurence and Temeraire's relationship - Rich portrayal of African dragon culture - More serious tone compared to previous books - Strong emotional impact of key decisions - Fast pacing in second half Disliked: - Slow start with lengthy disease subplot - Less humor than previous books - Some found the Africa sections stereotypical - Ends on an abrupt cliffhanger "The ethical dilemmas felt real and wrenching," noted one Amazon reviewer. "Too much time spent on the plague cure," commented another. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.17/5 (41,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (1,100+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (300+ ratings)

His Majesty's Dragon - Set in the same Napoleonic era with dragons, this first book in Temeraire series introduces the core dragon-human military partnership that forms the foundation of this universe.

Throne of Jade - The bond between dragon and human captain continues across cultural boundaries as Laurence and Temeraire navigate Chinese dragon traditions and diplomatic intrigues.

Black Powder War - Through Ottoman territories and across Asia, this installment delivers the military strategy and cross-cultural dragon lore that Empire of Ivory readers expect.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke This alternate history novel about magic in Napoleonic England incorporates similar themes of British imperialism and military power with fantastical elements.

The Thousand Names by Django Wexler The first Shadow Campaigns novel combines military fantasy with colonial settings and features similar themes of empire and power in a transformed historical context.

🔹 The Temeraire series was directly inspired by Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" films - Novik began writing it after imagining how the Napoleonic Wars would have been different with dragons like the Nazgûl's flying beasts. 🔹 African kingdoms remained largely unconquered by European powers in this alternate timeline due to their powerful dragon forces, particularly the massive Tswana dragons that could carry entire villages. 🔹 Naomi Novik wrote the first three Temeraire novels while working as a computer programmer designing video games, including the game "Neverwinter Nights: Shadows of Undrentide." 🔹 The mysterious dragon illness described in the book was partially inspired by historical accounts of the rinderpest virus that devastated African cattle populations in the 1890s. 🔹 The character of Temeraire was influenced by Chinese mythology, specifically the celestial dragons of Chinese folklore, and his design combines elements from both Eastern and Western dragon traditions.