Empire of Ivory

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This week we’re back into the thick of the perils of war, discovering new ways in which man can leave his smouldering mark upon the world. What I am loving about this series is the way in which the narrative twists and turns, unearthing these incredible surprises like truffles. A simple quest narrative that sends a cascade of worms rushing out all over the floor, Empire of Ivory is a real page-turner.

After being away from England for so long a time, Laurence and Temeraire are excited to return and see all their friends. But disaster has struck while they have been away. A terrible disease plagues the entire Aerial Corps, proving fatal to many of the dragons. Time is very much against them, as Bonaparte’s aerial scouts continue to creep closer to discovering the Corps’ weakened state. In order to save their friends, Laurence and Temeraire must embark on another long journey to find a cure, this time venturing into the most dangerous and mysterious of places: Africa.

While this instalment is certainly not as rollicking as Black Powder War, what it does do is really bring to light the ethical, political, and social conflicts that have been violently bubbling under the surface. Through a very thrilling and cleverly constructed series of acts, Laurence and Temeraire’s characters become stretched, contorted, torn, and reknitted into someone new: someone coming to grips with the horrible irony there is so much promise in the world, yet so little shared. I think so far, this is definitely the most emotionally charged book of the series.

As cool as African dragons are, I have to applaud Novik for not colouring the story with too much descriptive world building. While the dragons are certainly what make these books unique, this series is about the pressures of war and the historic decisions and rules made by human society. In Empire of Ivory, be warned, the theme of slavery comes very heavily into play and the dichotomy of good and evil, civilisation and savagery, is prevalent. The basic threat of invasion becomes an anthill of a problem when compared with stolen generations and entire cultures wiped out for the betterment of a single society. This is the book that inspires bouts of reflectiveness and emotional evaluation whilst powering through its pages.

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Filled with drama, action, adventure into the unknown and uncharted, and heroism, Empire of Ivory is a fantastic fourth instalment in a series that has fast become one of my favourites.

Author: Naomi Novik, 2007

Published: HarperVoyager, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, London, 2008.

Empire of Ivory is the fourth book in Naomi Novik’s Temeraire series. It is preceded by Temeraire, Throne of Jade, and Black Powder War.