Another disappointing sequel to the excellent Ancillary Justice, even more tedious than Ancillary Sword. Much of it feels like an extended “agony aunt column” or psychotherapy session, with the MC giving life advice time and again to several other characters. Even what little action occurs is oddly lacklustre and unexciting. In fact the whole novel feels strangely static.

There’s no significant development in the characters, in the political situation or in the ethical dilemmas the characters contend with. I’m guessing the repetition of tea drinking and tea things is a nod to the reader to see parallels between the imperialism of the Radch and the British Empire. The silliness with personal pronouns continues and even briefly discussed by characters in a vague sort of way that struck me as pretty pointless. I’m not one who regards the primary function of fiction as being a kind of soft political propaganda, so none of these aspects impressed me.

In a nutshell, my recommendation is to read the excellent Ancillary Justice but not to bother with the following two novels, Ancillary Sword and this one.

I loved every moment of this conclusion to the Imperial Radch trilogy. Where the second book focused primarily on the political and cultural implications of colonialism, and, generally, felt more externally focused, this was deeply personal and intimate. After an entire book where Breq seemingly couldn't lose, she finally reaches the limits of her physical, mental and emotional abilities, and has to face difficult truths about herself, Ship, Seivarden, and her crew as a whole. I was levelled by the emotional conversations between Breq, Ship and Seivarden in particular.

I also felt like the pacing in this installment worked really well, making it a quick and compelling read. We pick up right where we left off at the end of book two, with significant action and emotional revelation before 50% and an extended resolution to the conflict that felt exactly right for the series and our characters.

And the Presger translator! The levity the Presger bring is excellent, and I was laughing out loud every time the translator entered the conversation.

Ultimately, this conclusion brought all the sentient ship moments I love - the developing self-awareness, the deep and unwavering loyalty, the stubborn insistence on respect, the passive aggressive rebuffs, the new emotional revelations. God I loved this.

"...And maybe it isn't that ships don't love other ships, it's that ships love people who could be Captains." 

I loveeeee how this wrapped up!! Ann Leckie's writing definitely does it for me. 

How do you satisfyingly end a series with such a difficult question at the heart of it? You don't, really. The characters, however, are a delight and a welcome distraction of the messiness of the plot. I did like the conceit behind the omniscient narrator, though.