Ancillary Sword

I wish I liked this more. But like the first book, it's just so small in scale. A handful of characters, action only in one place, very little of import really happens in the plot. It's odd to read something with all the trappings of grand space opera when what you get is so limited in scope.

I was prepared to really dislike this book but the author brings it all home 3/4 of the way through in Chapter 16 with the character Queter, and her relationship with Raughd Denche. And a conflict that results in a pitch-perfect scene about the plight of indigenous people being dominated by a colonialist force. That scene was so empathetic and meaningful it redeemed the whole book for me.

Also emphasized the best thing about the author's writing of Breq, the main character. Her empathy and understanding of individual people. It's a little puzzling given her own background but the character is very compelling and so well written.

I'll probably read the third book just because I'm so invested but I do wish there were just a little more in the way of excitement.