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Nabaza.net-The MarketPlace - Empire of Ivory (Temeraire, Book 4)
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List Price: $7.99
Our Price: $7.99
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Del Rey
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780345496874
ISBN: 0345496876
Label: Del Rey
Manufacturer: Del Rey
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 416
Publication Date: 2007-09-25
Publisher: Del Rey
Release Date: 2007-09-25
Studio: Del Rey
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Editorial Reviews:
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“A new writer is soaring on the wings of a dragon.”
–The New York Times
“Enthralling reading–it’s like Jane Austen playing Dungeons & Dragons with Eragon’s Christopher Paolini.”
–Time, on His Majesty’s Dragon
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.
“A gripping adventure full of rich detail and the impossible wonder of gilded fantasy.”
–Entertainment Weekly, on His Majesty’s Dragon
“A thrilling fantasy . . . All hail Naomi Novik.”
–The Washington Post Book World, on His Majesty’s Dragon
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik
Comment: This is an engrossing continuation of Naomi Novik's retelling of the times of the Napolionic Wars and the perfect entertainment for a history buff who always wished she had her own 'realio, trulio pet dragon'.Empire of Ivory (Temeraire, Book 4)
Customer Rating:
Summary: A Spellbinding Trek Through Early 19th Century South Africa from Naomi Novik
Comment: When a deadly cold threatens to wipe out the British Aerial Corps' elite dragon fighting force, Temeraire and Captain Will Laurence embark upon their most dangerous mission yet, seeking a cure in the remote, largely unexplored, reaches of southern Africa. Fellow Brunonian Naomi Novik offers one of the most compelling installments in her Temeraire Series with the fourth book, "Empire of Ivory". Tis a story that will resonate strongly with those readers who cherish the intense emotional and intellectual relationship between Temeraire and Laurence; a strong friendship that will lead both to question their loyalties to Great Brtiain's military forces, forcing them to challenge the wisdom of Admiral Lord Nelson himself. Novik offers us yet again a spellbinding tale that is exceedingly rich in exploring the culture and history of a distant land; in this case, the Bantu peoples of Eastern South Africa. Among her most exciting chapters are those recounting the harsh treatment that Laurence, and eventually, Temeraire, receive at the hands of the dragon-led Tswana kingdom. Once more her substantial gifts as both a fine prose stylist and story-teller are prominently on display here, demonstrating why her ongoing series is among the most intriguing, and best-written in all of fantasy.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Captivating book
Comment: This book (and the 3 before that) is just great.
I was getting tired of fantasy, and then I bought the first 3 of the series. I couldn't stop reading !
The books are very interesting because they mix dragons with history. It's a very realistic world with dragons (probably because it is ours... with dragons). Characters are great (especially dragons), storyline is captivating... One of the finest series I read recently !
Beware, though... There are 5 books now in the Temeraire Series. I'm still in the fifth when I write this, so I don't know for sure there won't be a sixth. And you can't really read only part of them. Unless you like to stop reading in the middle of the storyline...
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Comment: Great Book...I have been reading through Naomi Novik's Temeraire series. I find them very interesting from a historical view and a fantasy view...She blends them seamlessly...Great read for all. Empire of Ivory was probably my favorite except for the first.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Saved only by the strong ending
Comment: "Empire of Ivory" is an alternate history novel, set in Europe and Asia at the time of the Napoleanic war. This novel continues where "Black Powder War" left off with the (untrue) promise that this novel would focus on T--'s attempts to reform Brittish law concerning dragons. Instead, this novel follows L-- and T-- as they meander through a series of loosely related adventures from England, down to Africa, and back. All of the dragons in England are deathly ill, and only L-- and T-- can save them.
I found "Empire of Ivory" to be a bit dull. Instead of the interesting plotline promised at the end of the previous novel, we are presented with yet another series of mini-adventures -- and after two novels chocked full of meandering mini-adventures, I am ready for something else. On top of that, the plot relies FAR too heavy on the "unjust world" theme. For myself, I'd have condensed the entirity of this book into a short story.
That said, the book is saved by the last three chapters. These go off on a tangent, and by rights should have been placed at the start of the next book. While the urgency is absurd and the melodrama over the top, this is quite forgivable. These chapters set up a wonderful little tragic dilema for L-- and T--, who have hithertofore simply followed orders. I'd have given "Empire of Ivory" 2-stars except for the last three chapters.
Until that point, the overall feel of this novel is "the continuing adventures of L-- and T-- as they meander through a forgettable series of adventures, brightened occasionally by encounters with favorite characters from previous novels." It will likely appeal to anyone who enjoyed Black Powder War (Temeraire, Book 3) (Temeraire) or The Hero Strikes Back or Forged Without Fire: A Champion for Catlover or The Truthsayer's Apprentice (The Loregiver Series, Book 1).
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