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oceia's review against another edition
1.0
I have heard many people rave about anne leckies writing but after reading this book I have to say it's not for me. Her world building is interesting but her characters are flat - almost to the point of being unemotional. At times it felt like I was reading a play - the dialogue moves the plot forward but there is no feeling behind it, no inner monologue. While Ingray makes many interesting decisions in the book, they always felt controbed or out of nowhere since her relationships are surface level and there's maybe half an emotional throughline.
sherwoodreads's review
Thoroughly enjoyed this space opera comedy of manners, set in the author's Radch universe.
It kind of reminded me of Lois McMaster Bujold a bit; though I think the worldbuilding is a step more complex than Bujold's, the emotional grip isn't as strong. Even so, the story carried me along as Ingray, our main character, goes from an ambitious but fairly clueless young adult to someone just grasping competence, and beginning to think strategically.
All the side characters were fun, and of course there was Leckie's trademark gender fluidity. I closed it with a smile, which is exactly what I demand of my entertainment reading these days.
It kind of reminded me of Lois McMaster Bujold a bit; though I think the worldbuilding is a step more complex than Bujold's, the emotional grip isn't as strong. Even so, the story carried me along as Ingray, our main character, goes from an ambitious but fairly clueless young adult to someone just grasping competence, and beginning to think strategically.
All the side characters were fun, and of course there was Leckie's trademark gender fluidity. I closed it with a smile, which is exactly what I demand of my entertainment reading these days.
capyrenica's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
opalamber's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lanpea's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
saoirsesaithe's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.5
wakenda's review against another edition
3.0
This is a book of political family space intrigue, set in a different part of the same universe as the Ancillary Justice trilogy. This book took forever for the plot to get started (like things didn't pick up until 30% in or so), and once they got started it was fun, but not particularly deep, and a few twists were a little predictable. I'm not sad I read it, but I'm not sure I think it's worth the time, and if you haven't read the Imperial Radch books, definitely go for those first. One thing worth noting is that Ann Leckie continued to play with gender and pronouns, but through the culture of a different planet of humans, which was cool. Instead of using she/her for everyone like the Radch, the Hwae (the people of this book's human planet) have three genders, men, women and nemen (who use e/em pronouns). I love that there's an increasing body of sci fi that's embracing a broader spectrum of gender outside the binary and normalizing the use of pronouns other than he/him and she/her.
hybridhavoc's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
deziginer's review against another edition
challenging
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
lelcopter's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5