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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
funny
mysterious
reflective
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:
Yes
No one writes science fiction as cunningly as Ann Leckie does, pitched exquisitely at the intersection of culture-rich ethnographies, compelling narrative mysteries, and byzantine interstellar bureaucracies. Come for the space opera; stay for the witty, playful intelligence and always-neat storytelling.
Ann Leckie is masterful at world-building, and I loved meeting the Geck and seeing other humans in this universe. Unfortunately, none of these characters were as interesting or as endearing as the cast of the Imperial Radch trilogy. I could never get a grip on Ingray-- she was a brilliant tactician, but was completely incapable of intuiting anyone else's plans. She was a bold, brave action-taker, but also cried at every inconvenience. The Geck ambassador was my favorite, but she only showed up for one real scene.
I'll read Leckie's next books, but this won't be a re-read for me.
I'll read Leckie's next books, but this won't be a re-read for me.
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
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:
Complicated
Sci fi murder mystery. Some cool world building but the main character reads much younger and less capable than the book wants you to believe she is.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Honestly had a hard time getting into the universe again. The confusing plot didn't really help. While I managed to get into the story and characters after a while, I think "Provenance" tried to do too many things at once. The ending felt rushed and the protagonist mostly remained clueless till the very end. Cute sapphic relationship on the margins of the narrative but I think the entire book remained on the surface of things.
Not good. Horrible dialog. Read it out of spite I guess. I know this author is capable of so much better, not sure why her editors didn't stop this one before it went out the door.
One of the things I love about Leckie's writing is how she sets up multiple different cultures and then has people bounce off each other in realistic ways. (Another is her skill with dialogue.) I do feel like there were some background bits and hints and implications that could've used more screen (page?) time, but ultimately this IS Ingrey's story, so it makes sense that we're limited by her point of view.
(Not quiiiite as good as the Ancillary series ... but let's be honest, that's a really tough act to follow!)
(Not quiiiite as good as the Ancillary series ... but let's be honest, that's a really tough act to follow!)
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Ingray is a delightful narrator because she has a specific point of view and limitations on her knowledge and capabilities, which are reflected in the reader's understanding of what’s happening. She’s also a smart choice from Leckie as a follow-up to the previous trilogy in this universe because she is so different from Breq.
Once the plot got going, I couldn’t put this down. I loved all the shifting alliances and how the murderer being extremely obvious played into not knowing how this would be solved. And I’m always on board for a surprise romance and Leckie’s cast of queer and trans characters.
Once the plot got going, I couldn’t put this down. I loved all the shifting alliances and how the murderer being extremely obvious played into not knowing how this would be solved. And I’m always on board for a surprise romance and Leckie’s cast of queer and trans characters.