eBook, 496 pages
English language
Published March 2, 2021 by Doherty Associates, LLC, Tom.
An alien armada lurks on the edges of Teixcalaanli space. No one can communicate with it, no one can destroy it, and Fleet Captain Nine Hibiscus is running out of options.
In a desperate attempt at diplomacy with the mysterious invaders, the fleet captain has sent for a diplomatic envoy. Now Mahit Dzmare and Three Seagrass—still reeling from the recent upheaval in the Empire—face the impossible task of trying to communicate with a hostile entity.
Whether they succeed or fail could change the fate of Teixcalaan forever.
Loved it! It took me a little longer to get into than the first, but it comes together so strongly. Sad to learn it's just a duology.
This is shaping up to be my favorite #SciFi series.
Good:
1st contact story that feels truly alien & consequential.
Figuring out how to talk to aliens hearkens back to classic sci-fi stories.
Political intrigue from the 1st book continues.
All characters are relatable & their motivations clear.
8 Antidote is a great POV character.
Bad:
Darj Tarats' outburst in the end is kind of inconsequential.
On one had this is a brutal and unforgiving universe, where uncounted lives are crushed in the unforgiving wheels of Empire.
On the other hand our young protagonists are given carte blanche to find their way and work to change the world for the better without being crushed in the gears.
During hard times it is especially nice to spend time in a universe where hope is encouraged.
Better than the first installment of the series. The characters are more rounded, the story around the first contact with an alien species can be read on many levels and is much more adapted to a SF setting than the first installment. I hope there'll be another book telling what happens with Mahit and Three Seagrass!
Starts off really slow, but about halfway through, gets really interesting really fast.
If you haven't read A Memory Called Empire, go read it. If you do there's no point to me trying to sell you this book because it will have sold itself, and if it didn't you and I can not be friends.
This is more of the same in the best possible meaning of the word, a thoughtful, imaginative, introspective and far-reaching sci-fi story full of thoughts on culture, as a threat and an obstacle and an opportunity, genuinely interesting characters (Eight Antidote the GOAT), and a setting I really hope I get to spend more time with in the future.
I absolutely loved the first book of Teixcalaan, so I was very excited to a/ be able to ask for the second book on NetGalley b/ actually get an eARC for it
