(no subject)

[wolffyluna]

I still need to write a full on post about Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee, but I just finished the sequel, Raven Strategem.

It's good. Very good. Definitely doesn't suffer from Middle Book Nothingness Syndrome.

Very, very good.

(Also: a lot of trans characters? If that's your thing.)

But if you like dark military space opera with weird, extravagant worldbuilding, plots and characters that leave you second guessing in a good way, and endings that feel like being hit in the face with a frying pan-- also in a good way, The Machineries of Empire series may be your sort of thing.

Non-spoilery warnings: violence, torture, genocide, general standard warnings for 'dark military space opera.'

Spoilery warnings: suicide, rape. (I'm personally of the opinion that both of those things are handled well, especially the rape-- but they are very much there and very much not avoidable. Which is one of the reasons I think they are handled well-- they're only there because they have to be, you couldn't cut them out-- but yeah.)

Comments

[zdenka]

Glad to hear you liked it! (Though yeah, it does get dark.) I got very fond of Brezan and his grumpy Done With All This attitude.

[wolffyluna]

Brezan is so great. (Especially his, uh, attempts to take the swarm from Cheris).