Do I need to read the previous books in the Temeraire series before starting Empire of Ivory?

Empire of Ivory is the fourth book in the Temeraire series and continues the overarching narrative. While each book has its own adventure, the character development and political context build significantly from the earlier volumes, making it highly recommended to read them in order for the best experience.

Does Empire of Ivory end on a cliffhanger?

This installment concludes its primary expedition storyline, but it leaves several broader plot threads open, consistent with its place in a longer series. Readers will find a sense of resolution for the immediate journey while anticipating future developments for the characters and the ongoing war.

How does this book compare to the earlier Temeraire novels?

Empire of Ivory expands the series' scope by moving the setting beyond Europe, introducing new cultures and political landscapes that challenge Laurence and Temeraire in different ways. It delves more deeply into the complexities of colonialism and cultural clashes, adding layers to the established military fantasy.

Empire of Ivory

Alternate History Fantasy

Pages: 400
Published: 2007
Language: English

Synopsis

Napoleon is gathering forces to invade Britain, and the Aerial Corps cannot meet him. A flu-like plague has struck most of its dragons, so few remain to guard the island. Captain Will Laurence flies patrols against the French with Temeraire, his dragon, who is immune to the sickness.

Between flights, the pair press for dragon rights and take up the abolitionist cause at home. Their position is awkward: the Corps needs them in the air, while their politics make them awkward guests among the officials who decide the dragons' fate.

Then orders send them to Africa. A formation of dragons goes with them, along with a missionary family who were once enslaved, and the ship makes for the Cape Colony in search of a cure. The hunt turns up a fungus that heals the sick. It also leads them to a land where dragons are honoured and the slave trade is fiercely opposed.

That discovery does not keep them safe. Laurence and Temeraire are captured and imprisoned, and they must find a way home before the plague reaches France and the war turns darker. This fourth Temeraire novel carries the series out of Europe and into questions of slavery, empire and where dragons belong in human society.

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