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A review by macloo
Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie
4.0
The final book in the trilogy is an immensely satisfying story, although a tiny bit less wonderful than the second book. The story begins almost immediately after the ending of book 2. Fleet Captain Breq and her lieutenants are on their ship, Mercy of Kalr, and the republic-wide crisis is about to come directly to them and nearby Athoek Station.
The relationships between Ship (Mercy of Kalr) and Breq (Justice of Toren), Breq and Seivarden, Breq and Tisarwat, and — well, really, each relationship Breq has with anyone, including Station — as well as Seivarden's relationship with Lt. Ekalu — are all the spinning plates of this book, with the extra point of interest being that three of them are AIs, and the others, the humans, have all had their identity jerked around in some serious way that left damage. So many moments had me thinking about what it means to be human, to be a person — or to be something else, but still a sentient being that has feelings and desires. And a citizen, and the obligations of the state to its citizens ...
There's a new Presger translator, and another new character, an ancillary called Sphene whose ship waits on the other side of the Ghost Gate. (I love the way author Ann Leckie is able to convey so much about SF constructs, like space gates, without bogging us down in technical detail.) Both the translator and Sphene impose themselves upon Breq and her crew, and eventually they become endearing characters in their own rights.
We learn quite a lot more about the Presger gun that Breq has been carrying around since book 1, and it's pretty damned interesting!
Eventually, Anaander Mianaai, Lord of the Radch (one of her, anyway) barges in, and all manner of deadly threats and danger ensue.
One of the sweetest things is how the members of her crew react, now, to Breq's almost constant singing. Oh, and there's tea. And tea bowls.
I'm definitely going to reread all three.
Book 1: Ancillary Justice
Book 2: Ancillary Sword
The relationships between Ship (Mercy of Kalr) and Breq (Justice of Toren), Breq and Seivarden, Breq and Tisarwat, and — well, really, each relationship Breq has with anyone, including Station — as well as Seivarden's relationship with Lt. Ekalu — are all the spinning plates of this book, with the extra point of interest being that three of them are AIs, and the others, the humans, have all had their identity jerked around in some serious way that left damage. So many moments had me thinking about what it means to be human, to be a person — or to be something else, but still a sentient being that has feelings and desires. And a citizen, and the obligations of the state to its citizens ...
There's a new Presger translator, and another new character, an ancillary called Sphene whose ship waits on the other side of the Ghost Gate. (I love the way author Ann Leckie is able to convey so much about SF constructs, like space gates, without bogging us down in technical detail.) Both the translator and Sphene impose themselves upon Breq and her crew, and eventually they become endearing characters in their own rights.
We learn quite a lot more about the Presger gun that Breq has been carrying around since book 1, and it's pretty damned interesting!
Eventually, Anaander Mianaai, Lord of the Radch (one of her, anyway) barges in, and all manner of deadly threats and danger ensue.
"I'm Justice of Toren. All that's left of it. It was Anaander Mianaai who destroyed me."
One of the sweetest things is how the members of her crew react, now, to Breq's almost constant singing. Oh, and there's tea. And tea bowls.
I'm definitely going to reread all three.
Book 1: Ancillary Justice
Book 2: Ancillary Sword