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Book Review of Empire of Ivory (Temeraire, Bk 4)

Empire of Ivory (Temeraire, Bk 4)
Empire of Ivory (Temeraire, Bk 4)
Author: Naomi Novik
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
reviewed on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


The fourth book in Naomi Novik's series - which is a "realistic" look at what the Napoleonic wars would have been like if fought with an aerial corps of dragon - continues a story begun in the second book, when a courier brought a flu-like disease back to England. The disease has spread to nearly all the dragons, and by pure coincidence, Temeraire and co. know what the cure is.

Ms. Novik sends her heroes to Africa, and once again creates an entirely new dragon-culture where dragons are protectors and ancestors to the human villages. The world she's created with the dragon city brings up questions of how her world would continue without the occupation of Africa by the European powers. The issue of slavery is addressed full-on, as Temeraire denounces the slave trade and tries to improve the lot of dragons in Britain.