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ailsaod's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
5.0
I've been picking this book up in my local Waterstones, reading the first chapter, deciding it sounds cool and then putting it back for a couple years now and decided to finally get it as a present to myself.
This book is a strange one - taking place in a universe that contains a vast intergalactic empire headed by a leader whose rule is absolute and clones themself and has some kind of hive mind situation going on. Also gender who? - the Raadchai don't do gender and in a refreshing turn of events use the pronoun 'she for everyone. I have come across gender neutral/agender characters before (the Fool from Robin Hobb's 'Farseer' series is the best example I can think of) but 'he' is used as the default pronoun which kind of blots out that aspect of the character - although in newer works 'they' or neopronouns are sometimes used which avoid this. Using 'she' as default is not something I've come across before and initially I thought it would come across in that kind of annoyingly overstated "#GIRLPOWER" way but it's fine. It does result in some double takes when characters are accidentally misgendered but I found it very interesting to read. I think we generally place wayyyy too much importance on gender - although I'm not about to take much life advice from the Raadchai as lack of gender aside every other aspect of their society is kind of yikes and they have a worrying tendency to commit horrible war crimes.
The book takes place over two time lines, almost twenty years apart, and while I generally don't get on well with that format ('Haze' by L.E. Modesitt, one of my least liked books I have chosen to read has a dual time format almost exactly the same as this book) I really enjoyed it here. Leckie has interesting things happen in both timelines (wowee!) and when things begin to kick off it happens in the present time rather than the past, as I find usually happens in this kind of book, which was much more exciting as you have no way of knowing how it is going to be resolved.
I'm finding it difficult to put into words how good I think this book is - I haven't even touched on the interesting world building details that are scattered about and make me want to know more or how the more you think about this book the more you realise. It is obvious from the beginning that the past time line is going to go poorly but how it does and the impact it does - or rather doesn't have - makes you think. Also the characters make the mistakes of people that don't know what their future holds rather than puppets that the author is directing which makes the events feel particularly real.
It is just a very good book and while I'm not sure how the rest of the trilogy will match it I'm looking forward to finding out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Medical trauma
Moderate: Genocide, Slavery, Murder, and Colonisation
Minor: Addiction, Child death, Death, and Drug abuse
So many war crimes. A lot of potentially disturbing themes arising from the use of 'ancillaries' - humans from colonised planets that have been 'wiped' of their previous existence and made into cyborg soldiers for AIs to operate.katie_the_librarian's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Violence, Xenophobia, and Trafficking
Moderate: Addiction, Body horror, Drug abuse, Gun violence, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Genocide
reina's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I went in knowing nothing and loved the reveals as you learn about what/who the main character was. I found the world building really interesting, as well as the philosophy and ethics. I also liked the nonlinear storytelling. The impact of events were stronger that way.
Space opera.Not much spoilers: I hadn't thought of myself as a fan of AI themes, but this made me realize it. I got a low-key Bladerunner vibe. It also reminded me of 'The Ship Who Sang' by Anne McCaffrey. Although it's been a long time since I read it.
Space opera.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Violence, and Medical trauma
Minor: Body horror and Suicide
Severely depressed character, withdrawal, injury,