Sarah's Reviews > Ancillary Sword

I’m sort of surprised to be writing this review. I fully expected another solid 4 star experience from Leckie, but sadly this book fell a little short for me. I think once the shiny newness of her complex world building wore off I was disappointed at what I was left with.

The plot in this book felt like it had no purpose or direction. In the first book, you know Breq has her reasons for doing what she does, she just hasn’t shared them with you yet. Here, she wanders from pitfall to pitfall on Athoek station for no other reason the Anaander sent her there.

Which brings me to point number two: Leckie creates a false sense of suspense by allowing Breq to know things the reader doesn’t. There is never a reason or justification given for Breq knowing these things, she just has “suspicions”. She tells you she suspects it, but she never says why or who. It just left a bad taste in my mouth. I feel like this also happened in the first book, but with less frequency.

Seivarden was largely non-existent for most of the book which I found extremely disappointing. She went from being hated at first to being loved and then she seemed to be written off in book two. Why go through all that character development and then stow her away, off stage?

I know at this point I don’t sound very positive, but I do enjoy Breq as a character. I loved the one action scene at the end, and the further glimpses into Radchaai culture. So while this is no means a bad book, I just don’t think it had as much to offer as Ancillary Justice. I will probably continue with Ancillary Mercy and hope for a stronger plot structure.