Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik

7 reviews

ladypalutena's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The fourth book in the Temeraire series opens with Laurence and Temerarie setting out to find a cure for the sickness that has taken hold of all the dragons in England. It reads, again, as one of those side quest episodes that happen when the main storyline needs to catch back up with itself, but the whole thing is a rush from start to finish. 

A lot of things happen, and it happens quickly, but as I've mentioned in previous reviews for these books, sometimes the descriptions of things are a little lacking. At one point, a man goes down under a bayonet to save another, and I assumed, for all that has happened, that the first man was dead. No, a few chapters later, it is revealed that he in fact survived the fatal bayonet blow and recovered very well. Every single description regarding this man up until this point let me believe that he was dead. It was very unclear.

Laurence's life continues to fall apart in this book,

and by the end of it, he is marching towards England from France, being returned to them as a traitor, though Napoleon himself begged Laurence to stay and not return.

Every time I finish a book, I'm left with the feeling of "Well, where do they go from here?" and the next book brings something even worse for the reader. 

I've got a bit of a wait before the next in the series is available, so we'll see what happens when I get there.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Medical content, Death, Colonisation, Slavery, and Vomit

readingfourme's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

An absolute triumph. This is the most difficult of the Temeraire books so far, which make the lightheartedness in the reunion that much more important. Novik is brave with her characters. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Colonisation, Slavery, and Vomit

emeraldrina's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Another page turner! Much more exciting than the last book in the series, with a lot more character development all around. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Trafficking, Pregnancy, Colonisation, Blood, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Animal death, Vomit, and Violence

deckofdragons's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Colonisation, and Racism

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Vomit and Alcohol

szuum's review

adventurous emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Colonisation, Slavery, Death, Kidnapping, and Racism

Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny

Minor: Pregnancy

rini's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Animal death, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Racism, Slavery, Violence, and Vomit

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Blood

Minor: Cannibalism

alexandra296's review

adventurous slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Colonisation, Racism, Slavery, and Torture