(Spoilers ahead!)
I really needed this series in my life. I don't think I ever won't need it in my life.
The Imperial Radch series lets you look behind all the doors fans want, desperately, to look behind in their favorite media—that is to say, small, heartfelt moments between characters, hard-hitting conversations that dig deep, relationships being developed that only ever remain hints or scraps in most narratives. This kicks some serious character-driven butt, while at the same time constructing a world that you want to lose yourself in. And lose yourself you do—with strong characters to lead the way.
Ann Leckie pours so much empathy, wisdom, and general understanding of human nature into the pages of this series. This is a rarity that I have simply never come across at this level before in any media. In Sword, the conversation with Queter about making her oppressors see their actions for what they are—it was so real and raw and liable to seize anyone who has known that fire in themselves. Those moments with Seivarden and Ekalu in Mercy, where privilege and entitlement are made visible and brought to its knees. This series is packed full of palpable moments that get you thinking about what the subject-matter tackled means for the characters as well as in your own life.
The setting is vibrant and epic, while also focusing and scaling to small pieces of that setting, creating both a larger-than-life feel as well as something that you can settle in and familiarize yourself with. By the end of Mercy, I wanted to live alongside the characters, and the story had enough depth to allow that feeling to seem tangible.
I was so invested in these characters that the moment action starts, I am desperately wishing it away—I'm not distanced and unemphatic, unworried for the character's safety because I'm looking forward to cool explosions or gunshots, as I am in every other bit of media. I am terrified. I want it to end so they can all have tea and be happy.
(And speaking of terrifying—Zeiat genuinely terrified me a few times, which is amazing because I also love her adorable self to bits. She is the best use of “wacky and child-like character is secretly terrifying” I have ever seen.)
I suppose I wrote this review more for the author than for potential buyers, I'm not going to pretend this review isn't for a book written by an individual, I'm not going to pretend, as people like to, that media just exists on its own, rendering the creators invisible:
Ann Leckie, I loved this series to bits. Start to finish. Every bit of it. It had so much depth, so many meaningful interactions between characters. And god, I sobbed like an alarmed child when Breq got the brief surveillance clip of the protesters sitting peacefully in Station. I laughed more times than I can count. I laughed harder than I ever have—I threw my kindle across the room and shrieked, laughing until I cried, when Zeiat showed up at Mercy of Kalr's doorstep in the midst of crisis and asked for oysters. There were so many times I had to set the book down and catch my breath during the chapter where Breq and Mercy of Kalr and Seivarden sort out their feelings for each other.
You are an amazing writer, Ancillary Mercy exceeded my expectations, and honestly forever raised the bar that I judge all media by. I admire you, and always will.
Thank you, with all of my heart, for giving us such a wonderful story.
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