My Rating: 4.1/5

The science fiction book Ancillary Sword (Imperial Radch #2) by Ann Leckie is, in my opinion, a shade weaker than the first installment. I honestly expected more action because the ending of the first book seemed to promise it. Instead, this sequel suffers a bit from "middle book syndrome," shifting its focus from a galaxy-spanning space opera to local politics and character development.

The entire plot is confined to Athoek Station and a small part of a planet where tea is grown. While the writing remains great, the pacing is much slower. I honestly miss the intense space battles, which I felt were the true essence of the first novel. Also, you can expect a lot of tea drinking in this book, which Leckie deliberately uses as a thematic nod to historical cultural colonialism, showing how the Radch Empire forces its customs onto annexed planets.

Now, a little about the story:

The plot follows Breq, an AI from the ship Ancillary Justice now inhabiting a single human body. Breq ends up entangled in a series of mysteries that kept me intrigued. In the first act, as the ship prepares to travel to Athoek Station, Breq is incredibly tightly wound, tense, and angry with the crew, leaving both them and the reader completely in the dark as to why. The ultimate revelation of the problem and its solution is clever, cruel, and harsh. It also gives the reader deeper, chilling insight into the process of creating ancillaries and the empire's utter callousness toward human life.

Upon arriving through the Gate, they face another puzzle: an ancillary ship running away from them toward a permanent Ghost Gate, despite being hailed as friends. Once that is somewhat resolved, Breq is confronted at the station with the mystery of the "Underground"—an unsanctioned habitation area that was previously damaged and left unrepaired. What makes these segments interesting is Leckie’s unique narrative style. Even though Breq is stuck in one body, she can occasionally connect to the AI of other ships, allowing her to see events from multiple viewpoints at once. To navigate this complex web of puzzles and lies, Breq will have to use every bit of her AI-driven intelligence.

Ultimately, while it lacks the explosive action of the first book, it does a fantastic job of setting the stage for the grand finale in Ancillary Mercy. I would highly recommend this book to any fan of space opera sci-fi who appreciates deep worldbuilding.