Ahoy there me mateys! I received an eArc of this sci-fi novel through NetGalley in exchange for me honest musings . . .
Title: translation state
Author: Ann Leckie
Publisher: Orbit Books
Publication Date: TOMORROW!!! (hardcover/e-book)
ISBN: 978-0316289719
Source: NetGalley
First of all let me start with saying that this book is not the place to start the series. It has spoilers for the other four books. When I read the other books, I wanted to know more about the translators. Now that I have answers, I am not sure I like them. This may be me and not the book judging by the number of five star ratings.
Basically this book has three POVs that come together. Enae is a middle age human whose not-so-nice grandmother died. She is sent off-world on a task to be out of the way. No one expects her to be part of an inadvertent political disaster. Qven is a Presger Translator in training. I did love how the training works. It is super weird and fun. Reet is an adopted refugee that just wants a sense of his unknown ancestors and where he came from. I loved the set-up for this book but once the narratives combine was where I had problems.
The major problem I had with the book is where Reet and Qven's stories converge and how they resolve. It was too filled with angst. I didn't like the backstory or mystery of Reet at all. I didn't want relationship drama. I wanted more of Enae and more of inter-galactic politics. The (limited) politics, relationships, and mystery elements all seemed resolved too quickly and easily. I enjoyed the legal questions of the novel but it branches off in the last part of the book into an exploration of Presger abilities that I didn't really care for. The ending in particular was unsatisfying.
Given how fully I love the other four books of the series, this novel did not live up to them. The elements that I love are there but overall this one did not come together for me. That said, I would read more set in this world. Arrrr!
Goodreads has this to say about the novel (shortened by me cause spoilers):
When Enae's grandmaman passes away, Enae inherits something entirely unexpected: a diplomatic assignment to track down a fugitive who has been missing for over 200 years . . .
Reet knows nothing about his biological family. He loves his adoptive parents, but has always secretly yearned to understand his identity, the roots that would explain why he seems to operate just a bit differently . . .
Qven was created to be a Presgr translator . . . The realization that they might want something different isn't "optimal behavior". . . But Qven rebels anyway, determined to find a way to belong on their own terms.
. . . the paths of all three will collide in a chain of events that will have ripple effects across galaxies . . .
To visit the author's website go to:
Ann Leckie – Author
To buy the novel go to:
translation state – Book 5
To add to Goodreads go to:
Yer Ports for Plunder List
Previous Log Entries for this Author
Broadside No. 16
Imperial Radch Series - Sci-Fi
night's slow poison - book 0.5
she commands me and i obey - book 0.6
ancillary justice - book 1 (Second Reflections)
ancillary sword - book 2 (Second Reflections)
ancillary mercy - book 3 (Second Reflections)
provenance - book 4
Standalones - Fantasy
raven tower
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