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Imperial Radch
Radiant Star
Space opera's sharpest mind returns to the world of the Imperial Radch in this brilliant standalone from award-winning author Ann Leckie.
The Temporal Location of the Radiant Star has always been a source of both conflict and hope for the people of Ooioiaa. However, the imperial Radch see it only as an inconvenience, an antiquated religious site soon to be absorbed into their own, superior culture. But local politics is complicated, and the Radch have made a final concession: One last man will be allowed to join the mummified bodies in the temporal location to become a “living saint”.
But this decision will ripple out to affect every part of the city. Amidst a slowly worsening food shortage, riots, and a communication blackout from the rest of the Radch Empire, a religious savant will entertain visions of his own sainthood, a socialite will discover hir comfortable life upended, and a young man sold into servitude will find unlikely escape.
The Temporal Location of the Radiant Star has always been a source of both conflict and hope for the people of Ooioiaa. However, the imperial Radch see it only as an inconvenience, an antiquated religious site soon to be absorbed into their own, superior culture. But local politics is complicated, and the Radch have made a final concession: One last man will be allowed to join the mummified bodies in the temporal location to become a “living saint”.
But this decision will ripple out to affect every part of the city. Amidst a slowly worsening food shortage, riots, and a communication blackout from the rest of the Radch Empire, a religious savant will entertain visions of his own sainthood, a socialite will discover hir comfortable life upended, and a young man sold into servitude will find unlikely escape.
11 pages, Audiobook
First published May 12, 2026
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May 27, 2026
As you may remember if you’ve read Ann Leckie’s Ancillary series, the Imperial Radch is in some disarray, various instances of its dictator Anaander Mianaai being at war with other instances of her, and as we know from events in our own world, wars damage the infrastructure that enables transportation and communications. Strait of Hormuz, interstellar gates, it’s all the same.
So Charak Svo, the military governor of an obscure Radch possession, the rock planet Aaa, hasn’t heard from her superiors in a while. Pilgrims to the shrine of the titular Radiant Star are finding it difficult to book travel home again. And shipments of food aren’t coming in. This last is particularly worrisome for a planet like Aaa, which broke free of its star untold millennia ago and has no arable surface. Its inhabitants live in the underground city of Ooioiaa, and while they do practice agriculture they subsist mainly on subterranean worms etc.; the planet doesn’t produce nearly enough food to feed itself. Charak is a reasonably well-intentioned colonial administrator — you know how it is: the natives are now citizens of the empire, but you can’t really call them fully civilized, some of their customs are abhorrent, and of course your expertise in all matters outweighs whatever it is they think they know, so — of course! of course! — your response to the problem of feeding the city will be the best one. Won’t it?
But it’s a mistake, maybe, to mention Charak first, when the moral center of “Radiant Star” is a young man (more about that in a minute) named Jonr, whose parent sold him to some distant oligarch before he was born. Jonr of course knows nothing of this; he’s only aware that, apparently for no reason, he’s a pariah among his agemates, all “boys” who will become servants to the Consorority of the Translocation, a principal religious institution on Aaa. When, aged eighteen, he learns what fate he’s intended for, he bolts in search of help.
Help is not forthcoming, and when we next encounter Jonr thirty years have passed.
Jonr, the traumatized Radchaai whose caretaker he becomes, and the Radch troopship Justice of Albis (in the form of its ancillaries) are, I think, Leckie’s favorite kind of characters: the downtrodden and unconsidered who despite all the forces arrayed against them manage to do right. (There’s a rescue scene late in the book that made me cry.)
“Radiant Star” doesn’t include a world-shattering character like Breq of the Ancillary books; rather, it’s a story about what happens in the hinterland as an empire begins to fall apart, and about how people and institutions respond to crisis. Ooioiaa has its clergy, its imperial administrators, its plutocrats, its poisonous families, its schemers, its shopkeepers, and its social climbers. Many of them get a turn in the Radiant Star’s spotlight, as point-of-view characters. They are all memorable. They all have failings, and even the colonial governor and the plutocrat have their gifts. (Notably, for example, Charak Svo doesn’t spare herself the consequences of her decisions; possibly, she even learns something.)
And now for a word about gender. In the Radch, of course, everyone is denominated “she.” In the various other polities in and around the Radch, social gender appears to have little or nothing to do with chromosomes or phenotype. Some people in “Provenance” use the e/eir pronoun string; Reet in “Translation State” is a man because he feels like a man, and if I remember rightly, the Presger Translator Qven decides on “it.” Also “it” are the sentient-citizen Radch warships and stations. People who go by “they/them” turn up everywhere. Every so often a reader will happen across a more or less nuclear family structure, but even then it won’t be obvious who, if anyone, is biologically related to anyone else, or what sex, if any, they were assigned at birth. (Also, Amaat help anyone trying to figure out the structure of Radchaai clans.)
In my review of “Translation State,” I remarked on this free-and-easy way with gendered pronouns, thus drawing the attention of a couple of Sad Puppies as well as a TERF. The former were irked because I dared to express enjoyment of Leckie’s progressive politics. The latter professed to be a fan of Leckie’s books (sureJan.gif) and informed me that I misunderstood TERFism. Can you imagine having reading comprehension skills that bad? Anyway, Ann Leckie must really like sticking it to TERF World, because “Radiant Star” is a gender free-for-all: you have never seen so many different pronouns in one book. I cackled every time a character showed up with a new one.
Thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC of this often bleak but always humane book. This review reflects my honest, entranced opinion.
And, by the way, the audiobook is performed by Adjoa Andoh!
So Charak Svo, the military governor of an obscure Radch possession, the rock planet Aaa, hasn’t heard from her superiors in a while. Pilgrims to the shrine of the titular Radiant Star are finding it difficult to book travel home again. And shipments of food aren’t coming in. This last is particularly worrisome for a planet like Aaa, which broke free of its star untold millennia ago and has no arable surface. Its inhabitants live in the underground city of Ooioiaa, and while they do practice agriculture they subsist mainly on subterranean worms etc.; the planet doesn’t produce nearly enough food to feed itself. Charak is a reasonably well-intentioned colonial administrator — you know how it is: the natives are now citizens of the empire, but you can’t really call them fully civilized, some of their customs are abhorrent, and of course your expertise in all matters outweighs whatever it is they think they know, so — of course! of course! — your response to the problem of feeding the city will be the best one. Won’t it?
But it’s a mistake, maybe, to mention Charak first, when the moral center of “Radiant Star” is a young man (more about that in a minute) named Jonr, whose parent sold him to some distant oligarch before he was born. Jonr of course knows nothing of this; he’s only aware that, apparently for no reason, he’s a pariah among his agemates, all “boys” who will become servants to the Consorority of the Translocation, a principal religious institution on Aaa. When, aged eighteen, he learns what fate he’s intended for, he bolts in search of help.
Help is not forthcoming, and when we next encounter Jonr thirty years have passed.
Jonr, the traumatized Radchaai whose caretaker he becomes, and the Radch troopship Justice of Albis (in the form of its ancillaries) are, I think, Leckie’s favorite kind of characters: the downtrodden and unconsidered who despite all the forces arrayed against them manage to do right. (There’s a rescue scene late in the book that made me cry.)
“Radiant Star” doesn’t include a world-shattering character like Breq of the Ancillary books; rather, it’s a story about what happens in the hinterland as an empire begins to fall apart, and about how people and institutions respond to crisis. Ooioiaa has its clergy, its imperial administrators, its plutocrats, its poisonous families, its schemers, its shopkeepers, and its social climbers. Many of them get a turn in the Radiant Star’s spotlight, as point-of-view characters. They are all memorable. They all have failings, and even the colonial governor and the plutocrat have their gifts. (Notably, for example, Charak Svo doesn’t spare herself the consequences of her decisions; possibly, she even learns something.)
And now for a word about gender. In the Radch, of course, everyone is denominated “she.” In the various other polities in and around the Radch, social gender appears to have little or nothing to do with chromosomes or phenotype. Some people in “Provenance” use the e/eir pronoun string; Reet in “Translation State” is a man because he feels like a man, and if I remember rightly, the Presger Translator Qven decides on “it.” Also “it” are the sentient-citizen Radch warships and stations. People who go by “they/them” turn up everywhere. Every so often a reader will happen across a more or less nuclear family structure, but even then it won’t be obvious who, if anyone, is biologically related to anyone else, or what sex, if any, they were assigned at birth. (Also, Amaat help anyone trying to figure out the structure of Radchaai clans.)
In my review of “Translation State,” I remarked on this free-and-easy way with gendered pronouns, thus drawing the attention of a couple of Sad Puppies as well as a TERF. The former were irked because I dared to express enjoyment of Leckie’s progressive politics. The latter professed to be a fan of Leckie’s books (sureJan.gif) and informed me that I misunderstood TERFism. Can you imagine having reading comprehension skills that bad? Anyway, Ann Leckie must really like sticking it to TERF World, because “Radiant Star” is a gender free-for-all: you have never seen so many different pronouns in one book. I cackled every time a character showed up with a new one.
Thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC of this often bleak but always humane book. This review reflects my honest, entranced opinion.
And, by the way, the audiobook is performed by Adjoa Andoh!
Want to Read
August 13, 2025A NEW ANN LECKIE BOOK AND IT IS SET IN THE UNIVERSE OF THE IMPERIAL RADCH????? MAY 2026 CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH
Read
May 17, 20263.5 Stars
As a big fan of Ancillary Justice and its direct sequels, I was excited to read another book set in the same universe. I enjoyed references to the previously established worldbuilding.
As is often the case with companion series, I enjoyed returning back to the world but I didn't find the story as impactful or memorable as the original story. I didn't find these characters as compelling as the previous protagonist and the stakes just don't feel as high.
All that being said, I still enjoyed spending time with this installment and would recommend to other fans of Imperial Radch universe. Ann Leckie is an excellent writer with solid prose and a clear love of the genre.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
As a big fan of Ancillary Justice and its direct sequels, I was excited to read another book set in the same universe. I enjoyed references to the previously established worldbuilding.
As is often the case with companion series, I enjoyed returning back to the world but I didn't find the story as impactful or memorable as the original story. I didn't find these characters as compelling as the previous protagonist and the stakes just don't feel as high.
All that being said, I still enjoyed spending time with this installment and would recommend to other fans of Imperial Radch universe. Ann Leckie is an excellent writer with solid prose and a clear love of the genre.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
February 22, 2026
Ann Leckie is SO back! This is by far my favorite extended Radch-verse novel outside of the main Ancillary ___ trilogy. 4.5
An ensemble cast gives you a look into a city in crisis at the fringes of the dissolving Radchaai empire. Seemingly small-scale household dramas, political machinations, religious disputes, and urban planning are somehow are somehow all woven together in a way that somehow make a compelling story. Although the decentralized plot and larger cast of characters took a while to get going, the second half of the book made me stay up until 12:30 am to finish.
So glad I got to read this ARC and definitely recommend to others once it’s published!
An ensemble cast gives you a look into a city in crisis at the fringes of the dissolving Radchaai empire. Seemingly small-scale household dramas, political machinations, religious disputes, and urban planning are somehow are somehow all woven together in a way that somehow make a compelling story. Although the decentralized plot and larger cast of characters took a while to get going, the second half of the book made me stay up until 12:30 am to finish.
So glad I got to read this ARC and definitely recommend to others once it’s published!
May 15, 2026
This was fine. Radiant Star is fine. I want to start this way because I want to ground myself in the actual experience of this book and not succumb to temptation to laud it because of Ann Leckie’s name being attached to it. If you go into this expecting something with the same epic scope as the Imperial Radch trilogy or the deep exploration of alien identity of
Translation State
, I think you’ll be disappointed. But if you look at this as an interesting, intersecting set of stories that happen to take place on an alien world on the edges of the crumbling Radch, then you will probably enjoy it. I received an eARC from NetGalley and Orbit in return for a review.
The people of Ooioiaa worship at a place called the Temporal Location of the Radiant Star. When events elsewhere (you know the ones) cut the planet off from the rest of the Radch, the people in power jockey for position and for survival. Radiant Star follows several characters, including the Radchaai governor of the colony, a lowly consoror who was raised to be sent away by his consorority, and an ungrateful heir and his scheming wife, and a priest who might become a saint. As their stories intertwine and their goals flow together or against one another, the situation on Ooioiaa worsens, and the drama unfolds.
Leckie uses an omniscient narrator here, which is such an interesting choice. Limited third person is all the rage these days, and even when that limited perspective head-hops, it usually happens across chapter breaks or section breaks. This narrator is truly omniscient, albeit personified as an unnamed author (presumably Ooioiaan) writing about this time from an unspecified point in the future. Their tone is dry, sardonic, yet also a little scholarly. Nevertheless, they provide access to the thoughts and motives of almost every character we meet.
The challenge with an omniscient narrator is that it can make your characters feel flat. When every character is explained to us, when all their thoughts and feelings are lain bare, they become less interesting. There is a power to the mystery created by a more limited perspective. Radiant Star lacks a sense of true danger because we never get close enough to any of the characters. Some are more sympathetic than others, of course. But at the end of the day, the arm’s length nature of the narration means I definitely felt more like I was reading a historical treatise than an intense story following a few characters.
On the other hand, the omniscient narrator gives Leckie more licence when it comes to the scope of the story. I love how each of these standalone Radch novels introduces us to new and interesting cultures on the fringes of Radch society. The frequent shifts between personal pronouns for the same character, depending on which perspective we’re tracking, signals this overtly. As always, I love how Leckie plays with ideas of gender as social construct. But more importantly in Radiant Star is the idea of food as both status and cultural symbol.
Radiant Star is in many ways a novel about the fall of empire from the perspective of a farflung province. Instead of a dramatic rebellion, we see a quiet devolution of power. The supply lines dry up. Famine ensues, unrest, martial law. The governor ponders what to do. All the while, Ooioians who know and care nothing for the wider Radch ponder power and jockey for their own positions within this particular society, and it’s fascinating.
As always, Leckie is so skilled at creating a memorable society that feels both alien and human at the same time. This story does not have the same intense personal and political scope as the first trilogy, and I also didn’t enjoy it as much as some of the other standalones we’ve seen. But that isn’t to say you should sleep on this one if you’ve enjoyed the others.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
The people of Ooioiaa worship at a place called the Temporal Location of the Radiant Star. When events elsewhere (you know the ones) cut the planet off from the rest of the Radch, the people in power jockey for position and for survival. Radiant Star follows several characters, including the Radchaai governor of the colony, a lowly consoror who was raised to be sent away by his consorority, and an ungrateful heir and his scheming wife, and a priest who might become a saint. As their stories intertwine and their goals flow together or against one another, the situation on Ooioiaa worsens, and the drama unfolds.
Leckie uses an omniscient narrator here, which is such an interesting choice. Limited third person is all the rage these days, and even when that limited perspective head-hops, it usually happens across chapter breaks or section breaks. This narrator is truly omniscient, albeit personified as an unnamed author (presumably Ooioiaan) writing about this time from an unspecified point in the future. Their tone is dry, sardonic, yet also a little scholarly. Nevertheless, they provide access to the thoughts and motives of almost every character we meet.
The challenge with an omniscient narrator is that it can make your characters feel flat. When every character is explained to us, when all their thoughts and feelings are lain bare, they become less interesting. There is a power to the mystery created by a more limited perspective. Radiant Star lacks a sense of true danger because we never get close enough to any of the characters. Some are more sympathetic than others, of course. But at the end of the day, the arm’s length nature of the narration means I definitely felt more like I was reading a historical treatise than an intense story following a few characters.
On the other hand, the omniscient narrator gives Leckie more licence when it comes to the scope of the story. I love how each of these standalone Radch novels introduces us to new and interesting cultures on the fringes of Radch society. The frequent shifts between personal pronouns for the same character, depending on which perspective we’re tracking, signals this overtly. As always, I love how Leckie plays with ideas of gender as social construct. But more importantly in Radiant Star is the idea of food as both status and cultural symbol.
Radiant Star is in many ways a novel about the fall of empire from the perspective of a farflung province. Instead of a dramatic rebellion, we see a quiet devolution of power. The supply lines dry up. Famine ensues, unrest, martial law. The governor ponders what to do. All the while, Ooioians who know and care nothing for the wider Radch ponder power and jockey for their own positions within this particular society, and it’s fascinating.
As always, Leckie is so skilled at creating a memorable society that feels both alien and human at the same time. This story does not have the same intense personal and political scope as the first trilogy, and I also didn’t enjoy it as much as some of the other standalones we’ve seen. But that isn’t to say you should sleep on this one if you’ve enjoyed the others.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
February 18, 2026
I am delighted to read a standalone Radch book that I unequivocally enjoyed with no caveats! I loved the initial Radch trilogy, did not care for Provenance, and really enjoyed Translation State with a couple of sizeable "buts." Outside the Radch universe, I really enjoyed Raven Tower and Leckie's short fiction collection, Lake of Souls.
This book takes place during the events of the first trilogy but on a sunless ice planet far from the Radch civil war. Leckie does an excellent job of pacing the rising tension of the book--and there's a surprising amount, given that the book isn't particularly action-heavy. Themes of the relativity of cultural norms and practices will be familiar to anyone who has read Leckie before, but this book also does some nice deep dives into the personal, and how the shifting slipperiness of the stories we tell ourselves allows us to reckon (or avoid reckoning altogether) with things we have done.
Jonr and his charge were my favorite human characters in the book--I would be so happy to read more stories about them--and Justice of Albis was a total delight.
This book has politics without wandering into the weeds or getting mired in intrigue, characters it's easy to care about but that left me wanting to know more (in a good way), and high stakes for a planet without losing sight of the personal stories that made the outcomes matter. The macro and the micro were well-balanced and the pacing was excellent. Honestly, no notes.
This is a smaller, quieter story than the Radch trilogy*--the struggles and dramas are on a smaller scale--but it is very good and I'm so glad I got to read it. Netgalley and Orbit Books provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and I'm too fussy about books to give any other kind.
*It couldn't very well be otherwise, being so far from the center of the action... and honestly, not every story can have a supreme ruler of a systems-spanning empire going to war with iterations of themselves.
This book takes place during the events of the first trilogy but on a sunless ice planet far from the Radch civil war. Leckie does an excellent job of pacing the rising tension of the book--and there's a surprising amount, given that the book isn't particularly action-heavy. Themes of the relativity of cultural norms and practices will be familiar to anyone who has read Leckie before, but this book also does some nice deep dives into the personal, and how the shifting slipperiness of the stories we tell ourselves allows us to reckon (or avoid reckoning altogether) with things we have done.
Jonr and his charge were my favorite human characters in the book--I would be so happy to read more stories about them--and Justice of Albis was a total delight.
This book has politics without wandering into the weeds or getting mired in intrigue, characters it's easy to care about but that left me wanting to know more (in a good way), and high stakes for a planet without losing sight of the personal stories that made the outcomes matter. The macro and the micro were well-balanced and the pacing was excellent. Honestly, no notes.
This is a smaller, quieter story than the Radch trilogy*--the struggles and dramas are on a smaller scale--but it is very good and I'm so glad I got to read it. Netgalley and Orbit Books provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and I'm too fussy about books to give any other kind.
*It couldn't very well be otherwise, being so far from the center of the action... and honestly, not every story can have a supreme ruler of a systems-spanning empire going to war with iterations of themselves.
March 22, 2026
I’d never read Ann Leckie before and I’ve always wanted to. Radiant Star is a standalone set in the same universe as her Radch series. I enjoyed the read but I suspect I would have gotten more out of it if I’d read the series first.
I loved Radiant Star and kept finding myself reading late just to race through it! The bureaucracy of colonizing a conquered planet is a constant presence throughout the book. I know this sounds impossible but it wasn’t boring!!!! I found myself crazy invested in the systems of religion & local government. I wanted every detail about the water treatment plant, the food shipped in from off world and how the military was utilized to control the local population.
Leckie is clearly highly intelligent. There’s so much to think about it could take a masters thesis to pull it all apart. It felt like it was all background to the story. The details contributed directly to understanding our characters, none of it felt unnecessary. I wish I’d read it with a book club and could spend an hour talking through it!
I loved Radiant Star and kept finding myself reading late just to race through it! The bureaucracy of colonizing a conquered planet is a constant presence throughout the book. I know this sounds impossible but it wasn’t boring!!!! I found myself crazy invested in the systems of religion & local government. I wanted every detail about the water treatment plant, the food shipped in from off world and how the military was utilized to control the local population.
Leckie is clearly highly intelligent. There’s so much to think about it could take a masters thesis to pull it all apart. It felt like it was all background to the story. The details contributed directly to understanding our characters, none of it felt unnecessary. I wish I’d read it with a book club and could spend an hour talking through it!
Read
June 6, 2026Da ne ulazimo sad previše u detalje dok mi je sve još ovako sveže, niti u spojlere ovako brzo nakon pojavljivanja romana, ali:
- na jednom određenom, čisto SF nivou (idejni koncepti, prikazana kultura) ovo mi je posle prve knjige možda i najbolja stavka u serijalu o Radžu;
- pripovedački glas je čisto uživanje, En Leki ume i voli da menja narativne pristupe (The Raven Tower je tu bio fenomenalan primer) i savršeno kontroliše taj aspekt romana;
- minusi su slični kao u prvoj trilogiji, naime zaplet je možda malko naddeterminisan... ako je to pravi domaći termin... ko se seća savršenog trenutka da se jezero provali iz drugog dela serijala, znaće na šta mislim;
- ali meni lično je u ovom trenutku leglo savršeno, i tu ne mislim samo na suvi humor sveznajućeg pripovedača već i na krug ključnih tema od kojih bih izdvojila dve: pokušaj pojedinca da nađe svoje mesto u okviru zvanične religije kojoj pripada (i iskušenje da pređe u neku drugu u kojoj bi mu bilo lakše) & napori pojedinca da u kriznim situacijama ILI postupi ispravno (po visoku cenu) ILI da se samo dovoljno uspešno obmane kako je to i učinio. Ovo drugo naročito.
- na jednom određenom, čisto SF nivou (idejni koncepti, prikazana kultura) ovo mi je posle prve knjige možda i najbolja stavka u serijalu o Radžu;
- pripovedački glas je čisto uživanje, En Leki ume i voli da menja narativne pristupe (The Raven Tower je tu bio fenomenalan primer) i savršeno kontroliše taj aspekt romana;
- minusi su slični kao u prvoj trilogiji, naime zaplet je možda malko naddeterminisan... ako je to pravi domaći termin... ko se seća savršenog trenutka da se jezero provali iz drugog dela serijala, znaće na šta mislim;
- ali meni lično je u ovom trenutku leglo savršeno, i tu ne mislim samo na suvi humor sveznajućeg pripovedača već i na krug ključnih tema od kojih bih izdvojila dve: pokušaj pojedinca da nađe svoje mesto u okviru zvanične religije kojoj pripada (i iskušenje da pređe u neku drugu u kojoj bi mu bilo lakše) & napori pojedinca da u kriznim situacijama ILI postupi ispravno (po visoku cenu) ILI da se samo dovoljno uspešno obmane kako je to i učinio. Ovo drugo naročito.
Did Not Finish
March 24, 2026The writing style is impersonal. There's many characters, and I never felt close to any of them. The narration always keeps you at a maximum distance.
It always felt like this book was expecting me to laugh at the satire of bureaucracy before me, but I didn't find it funny. I found it boring.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
It always felt like this book was expecting me to laugh at the satire of bureaucracy before me, but I didn't find it funny. I found it boring.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
January 28, 2026
The latest book in the Imperial Radch series is an intriguing, thought provoking, and, at times, cheeky stand alone entry in this long standing series. This book is set just after the original trilogy (Ancillary Justice, Ancillary Sword & Ancillary Mercy) in the timeline, but focuses on the politics and religions of a small, isolated world that is almost entirely cut off from the rest of the Radch universe and, therefore, the plots of all the other books in this series. Despite this fact, however, this is a book best read after you’ve enjoyed the rest of the series.
As with all Ann Leckie novels, this book follows the stories of multiple characters through a series of politically heavy events. The characters grow throughout the tale and their stories eventually weave together through the narrative, even if some characters never meet. I find Ann Leckie’s books almost impossible to describe except to say that if you like your SciFi on the thinking side, you’re sure to enjoy her complex world building and examination of unique alien and planetary premises. No two books are alike and Ann Leckie is truly a master of creating alien beings and cultures that somehow are never alienating to the reader. These are the books to read when you want to see and feel the commonality and humanness even in the other. Radiant Star is no exception and any fan of Ann Leckie or thought provoking SciFi is sure to love both this series and this newest entry.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ann Leckie for an ARC of this book.
As with all Ann Leckie novels, this book follows the stories of multiple characters through a series of politically heavy events. The characters grow throughout the tale and their stories eventually weave together through the narrative, even if some characters never meet. I find Ann Leckie’s books almost impossible to describe except to say that if you like your SciFi on the thinking side, you’re sure to enjoy her complex world building and examination of unique alien and planetary premises. No two books are alike and Ann Leckie is truly a master of creating alien beings and cultures that somehow are never alienating to the reader. These are the books to read when you want to see and feel the commonality and humanness even in the other. Radiant Star is no exception and any fan of Ann Leckie or thought provoking SciFi is sure to love both this series and this newest entry.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ann Leckie for an ARC of this book.
May 31, 2026
The latest novel set in Leckie's Imperial Radch concerns an obscure and environmentally hostile planet named Aaa at the edge of the empire and how it coped with the Radch's collapse. I did wonder from the outset why the Radch bothered to rule Ooioiaa, apparently the only city on the planet, as it seems to mostly export religious relics and saints. Also trained servants, so potentially the labour force appeared useful. Anyway, the Radchaai governor has to deal with the politics of two competing religious orders, both of which use the same sacred site: The Temporal Location of the Radiant Star. This dynamic between politics and religion is neatly shown.
Despite the perils that inhabitants of Ooioiaa experience, Radiant Star is not as exciting as the Ancillary trilogy. Nonetheless it is neatly plotted and full of thoughtful world-building. As ever with Leckie's fiction, the plot proceeds via discussions and formal meetings. The narration is a little different to the other Radch novels, as the omniscient narrator takes a rather superior tone. The protagonists only begin taking the initiative quite late on, after providing interesting but essentially passive perspectives on events.
I found the depiction of food shortages and religious conflict notable highlights. On the other hand, I was struck by the relative absence of capital-P politics. There was plenty of wrangling and resentment concerning resource access and individual influence, but a surprising lack of principled resistance to Radch occupation and control. This does accord with the principles of Radiant Star worship: equanimity, beneficence, obedience, prayerfulness, fortitude, and patience. Still, the Radch invasion occurred thirty years prior to the events of the book, well within living memory, and it is unclear what material advantages (if any) forcible incorporation into the empire brought. Colonisation definitely created ongoing disruption to religious traditions and the Radch are evidently resented as outsiders. I could not help but think that their status on Ooioiaa at the end of the book was highly unstable. Surely it wasn't just a question of whether the governor wanted to remain there, but whether her position was tenable without an empire behind her? I found all this interesting to think about. While I was certainly not indifferent to the fates of the main characters, the wider world was of greater interest.
One specific mystery still needles me.
I had fun reading Radiant Star, although it doesn't reach the heights of the Ancillary trilogy. I found it to be another intriguing expansion of the Radch world and examination of the seismic impact of the empire's fall. The peculiar underground world of Ooioiaa is full of memorable details, such as food, garments, and manners. Physical descriptions of the characters are lacking (also characteristic of Leckie), however the total absence of any daylight led me to suppose they're all rather pallid.
Despite the perils that inhabitants of Ooioiaa experience, Radiant Star is not as exciting as the Ancillary trilogy. Nonetheless it is neatly plotted and full of thoughtful world-building. As ever with Leckie's fiction, the plot proceeds via discussions and formal meetings. The narration is a little different to the other Radch novels, as the omniscient narrator takes a rather superior tone. The protagonists only begin taking the initiative quite late on, after providing interesting but essentially passive perspectives on events.
I found the depiction of food shortages and religious conflict notable highlights. On the other hand, I was struck by the relative absence of capital-P politics. There was plenty of wrangling and resentment concerning resource access and individual influence, but a surprising lack of principled resistance to Radch occupation and control. This does accord with the principles of Radiant Star worship: equanimity, beneficence, obedience, prayerfulness, fortitude, and patience. Still, the Radch invasion occurred thirty years prior to the events of the book, well within living memory, and it is unclear what material advantages (if any) forcible incorporation into the empire brought. Colonisation definitely created ongoing disruption to religious traditions and the Radch are evidently resented as outsiders. I could not help but think that their status on Ooioiaa at the end of the book was highly unstable. Surely it wasn't just a question of whether the governor wanted to remain there, but whether her position was tenable without an empire behind her? I found all this interesting to think about. While I was certainly not indifferent to the fates of the main characters, the wider world was of greater interest.
One specific mystery still needles me.
I had fun reading Radiant Star, although it doesn't reach the heights of the Ancillary trilogy. I found it to be another intriguing expansion of the Radch world and examination of the seismic impact of the empire's fall. The peculiar underground world of Ooioiaa is full of memorable details, such as food, garments, and manners. Physical descriptions of the characters are lacking (also characteristic of Leckie), however the total absence of any daylight led me to suppose they're all rather pallid.
May 3, 2026
I did not realize this was part of a larger series. As a standalone yes, but I was so very lost. I think if I’d read the series this book is attached to, I would have been fine. This is a very certain type of sci fi. The beginning grabbed my attention, however after a 30-year time hop, it was deep into political drama and lots and lots of details. It’s incredibly written, don’t get me wrong, but I think this is “a right time and right place” kind of read. Neither of which I was in. I think I want to go read the foundational series and come back to this one.
Radiant Star hits shelves May 12.
Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for the eARc and opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.
Radiant Star hits shelves May 12.
Thank you to Orbit Books and Netgalley for the eARc and opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions are my own.
May 17, 2026
A disappointing tale from one of my favorite authors. Too many points of view, a very small scale of locations, and almost everything that happens is entirely out of the control of the characters involved.
April 14, 2026
Leckie knocked this one out of the park.
This is in her Imperial Radch universe, about a smallish but significant city/planet that becomes a Radch territory just as the Radch empire is falling apart from the events in the original Ancillary trilogy. This planet is home of the Temporal Location of the Radiant Star, a site of saints and pilgrims.
There are a couple of really interesting characters you follow in this story, and their paths wind together. Also the usual Leckie stuff with species having different genders and pronouns. Plus there is an unnamed narrator in the midst of this who is has an amusing viewpoint.
Perfect for fans of Leckie but it also might be a good entry point into her writing.
This is in her Imperial Radch universe, about a smallish but significant city/planet that becomes a Radch territory just as the Radch empire is falling apart from the events in the original Ancillary trilogy. This planet is home of the Temporal Location of the Radiant Star, a site of saints and pilgrims.
There are a couple of really interesting characters you follow in this story, and their paths wind together. Also the usual Leckie stuff with species having different genders and pronouns. Plus there is an unnamed narrator in the midst of this who is has an amusing viewpoint.
Perfect for fans of Leckie but it also might be a good entry point into her writing.
May 27, 2026
He stopped again, unable to find a way to explain that no matter how much money Serque Iono might have, he could not use it to change time, or distance.Of all the authors I read while i was being treated for cancer, Leckie is the one I owe the most to: singlehandedly demolishing my retience regarding reading multiple author works in succession, setting me on the Ancillary series, pushing me towards a future held in thrall by whatever sequels and adaptations may come. Thus why I acquired this as rapidly as I did, breaking yet another long held creed of my reading that puts the hype on hold after having been burned far too often before by the convulsions of late stage capitalism. As one can see, though, things did not go so well this time, which has as much to do with the objective as my own unwittingly parasocial tendencies. Or it may just be the simple fact of the time passed between the publication of that trilogy and now, during which Leckie and I, alas, went our separate ways. As its customary, here is where I make some stab at figuring that out.
A few months back, I read a book called Rot, a deep dive into Ireland's most infamous potato famine. As can be surmised, yes, there was more than one, and the most well known was not the worst, but the one that came into the media cycle just went the latter was just getting started, riding the rungs of public favor much as many US denizens derive their healthcare from GoFundMe and likewise inevitably dwindling out. It was the sort of nonfiction that proved to me once again how little I will ever truly know, and it will serve as the template for imperial benign neglect/capitulation to capital until further notice. It was Leckie's misfortune to come after with a story bearing sufficient structural symmetry (occupation, monoculture, failure of said monoculture) for me to compare and contrast, for while she was content to vaguely wave at "riots" and "cannibalism", I knew full well the grim realities that would reduce any of us to either state and beyond. It made for tedium with the highfalutin parts of the cast who were fleshed out and frustrated graspings at the generic 'others' who were not, and even my beloved ancillaries couldn't fully mollify me. All in all, this is, as is always the case, a story told by power, and while it isn't Leckie's fault that the realm of fiction cannot compare to that of nonfiction in certain vital regards, I just didn't have the stomach to watch this particular spin off as eagerly as I did her initial trilogy.
For all my grumbling, I'm still glad I sourced this for my workplace. For there's something special about Leckie's adherence to certain themes, and with transphobia continuing to be a burgeoning bugbear across the globe, every bit of banal normalization helps. I also have to thank her for establishing a baseline when it comes to my engagement with sci-fi, which has served me well whenever I ventured beyond her immediate sphere of influence. So, not the triumphant realm I had hoped for, but a self aware one at least, which is in short supply these days when it comes to anyone with any level of influence over social capital. I just hope that the folks reading this don't believe that this sequence of events could devolve in real life with a similarly restrained sense of abject horror, lest they face the firing squad of their superiors and the arson of their inferiors as reward for their good intentions.
May 31, 2026
Radiant Star was a thoughtful and engaging science fiction novel that surprised me with how invested I became in its characters and political intrigue. This is a multi-POV story set in a city facing growing unrest, food shortages, religious tensions, and shifting political power. While the scope isn’t galaxy-spanning, the stakes felt significant because of how deeply they impacted the people at the center of the story.
The multiple perspectives gave me a well-rounded view of the unfolding events, and I enjoyed watching seemingly separate storylines gradually connect. The political maneuvering was fascinating, but the book never lost sight of the characters behind the decisions. Their personal struggles, ambitions, and relationships kept me turning the pages.
What stood out most was the worldbuilding. The blend of religion, culture, politics, and social dynamics created a setting that felt complex and lived-in. There is plenty to think about here, but it never felt overwhelming or inaccessible.
This isn’t an action-heavy sci-fi novel. Instead, it builds tension through character choices, competing interests, and the ripple effects of decisions made throughout the city. If you enjoy science fiction with rich worldbuilding, multiple POVs, and political intrigue, this is definitely worth checking out.
I ended up really enjoying this one and will absolutely be looking into more of Ann Leckie’s work in the future.
The multiple perspectives gave me a well-rounded view of the unfolding events, and I enjoyed watching seemingly separate storylines gradually connect. The political maneuvering was fascinating, but the book never lost sight of the characters behind the decisions. Their personal struggles, ambitions, and relationships kept me turning the pages.
What stood out most was the worldbuilding. The blend of religion, culture, politics, and social dynamics created a setting that felt complex and lived-in. There is plenty to think about here, but it never felt overwhelming or inaccessible.
This isn’t an action-heavy sci-fi novel. Instead, it builds tension through character choices, competing interests, and the ripple effects of decisions made throughout the city. If you enjoy science fiction with rich worldbuilding, multiple POVs, and political intrigue, this is definitely worth checking out.
I ended up really enjoying this one and will absolutely be looking into more of Ann Leckie’s work in the future.
May 16, 2026
Мне нравится, как вбоквелы к Радчаайской трилогии исследуют другие уголки вселенной и другие культуры, но при этом не теряют связь с основной трилогией. Раскачивалась долговато, но концовка того стоит.
May 16, 2026
The moment I found out this book existed I pre-ordered it and, in the past weeks, basically vibrated with excitement to lay my eyes upon in. And, thankfully, Radiant Star was so worth the wait! Truly Ann Leckie at her best as she presents us a small, underground city facing occupation from a crumbling empire, food shortages, and a grand religious event that will be the last of its kind. Leckie has populated this city with a whole host of characters that we follow as they deal with these events and the impact they have on their lives.
I have always loved Leckie's ability to create cultures that are not monolith--her worlds are always populated by different ethnic and religious group that influence the position, worldview, and agency of her character. In Radiant Star, she shows off that ability in full force and I love how intricately crafted the city of Ooioiaa and its habitants were.
Out of all the Radch books that aren't the main trilogy, this one is definitely my favorite. I love how selfcontained it was, yet the events in Radiant Star still connect to events that happened in the other books.
I also really enjoyed the narration style. If Leckie can do anything it's pull off a non-conventional narration style, I know that's right!
All in all, tens across the board for me!! 🌌🦠🧅✴️
I have always loved Leckie's ability to create cultures that are not monolith--her worlds are always populated by different ethnic and religious group that influence the position, worldview, and agency of her character. In Radiant Star, she shows off that ability in full force and I love how intricately crafted the city of Ooioiaa and its habitants were.
Out of all the Radch books that aren't the main trilogy, this one is definitely my favorite. I love how selfcontained it was, yet the events in Radiant Star still connect to events that happened in the other books.
I also really enjoyed the narration style. If Leckie can do anything it's pull off a non-conventional narration style, I know that's right!
All in all, tens across the board for me!! 🌌🦠🧅✴️
May 19, 2026
This was a really refreshing read. It has the meat of "hard" sci-fi, but Leckie's writing has a lot of wit and humor to keep it from feeling like a slog.
This was my first time reading Leckie, so I was unfamiliar with the Radch universe or the preceding events of the trilogy or other books. I do think it made me feel a bit unmoored when I first started it, but about 30% in, it started to come together. I like that Leckie did recap some stuff and explain some of the concepts (like the ships).
It's a story more about a place than people, though the characters are very strong. However, it's the events taking place large-scale that filter down to these characters. I liked that though a lot was explained, a lot was left to interpret as well. It feels a lot like reading a history of a place, and I mean that positively. I enjoyed the back-and-forth from the narrator who tells you events preceding and then far in the future, to the here and now with the current characters.
I definitely want to read the Imperial Radch series now!
This was my first time reading Leckie, so I was unfamiliar with the Radch universe or the preceding events of the trilogy or other books. I do think it made me feel a bit unmoored when I first started it, but about 30% in, it started to come together. I like that Leckie did recap some stuff and explain some of the concepts (like the ships).
It's a story more about a place than people, though the characters are very strong. However, it's the events taking place large-scale that filter down to these characters. I liked that though a lot was explained, a lot was left to interpret as well. It feels a lot like reading a history of a place, and I mean that positively. I enjoyed the back-and-forth from the narrator who tells you events preceding and then far in the future, to the here and now with the current characters.
I definitely want to read the Imperial Radch series now!
May 19, 2026
The aftermath of the Ancillary trilogy as seen on a remote planet with competing religious sects.
Many of the characters are awful in interesting ways.
One of those great combinations of social and setting issues Leckie excels at.
Many of the characters are awful in interesting ways.
One of those great combinations of social and setting issues Leckie excels at.
February 5, 2026
I love that Leckie is coming back to the world of Imperial Radch but is willing to do one shots on the periphery. Also, ngl, I love that this novel's speaking voice is essentially similar to the narrators in a Victorian novel, except for a culture we don't know, and is willing to razz the reader a bit for not knowing "civilization". We get a fascinating comedy of manners that also overlaps with a pending Imperial annexation, and all the fascinating things that can happen when social rules are in flux, or the place where you live is in a liminal position of not knowing if it's going to be annexed or not. Incredible character and narrative voice work here, the plot's great, and I love that we get more ancillaries as characters while we're at it. Comes out in May, preorder it now.
April 6, 2026
As always, it is such a delight to get to read a novel from Ann Leckie. I adore the Imperial Radch world so much and every book in it is a must read.
This one’s builds so quietly and slowly, in such an obvious way that can’t be changed. It was so much fun to read. Jonr and Keemat were both such standout characters for me. I loved how their stories (and every character’s story) all connected at the end. The Justice of Albis was delightful, I love the ancillaries.
Fantastic read. It’s made me want to go back and reread all the books in this world.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
This one’s builds so quietly and slowly, in such an obvious way that can’t be changed. It was so much fun to read. Jonr and Keemat were both such standout characters for me. I loved how their stories (and every character’s story) all connected at the end. The Justice of Albis was delightful, I love the ancillaries.
Fantastic read. It’s made me want to go back and reread all the books in this world.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.
May 23, 2026
As a longstanding fan of the Imperial Radch series, this book has been on my radar since it was first announced. In Radiant Star, the underground cave city of Ooioiaa has been recently invaded by the imperial Radch—but now the planet is cut off from the gate system, with only a governor, a bare-bones support staff, and one AI ship to control an entire colony. As the ceremonial mummification of a living saint approaches, Radchaai politics collide with a young man frozen in stasis, a religious visionary, and a pair of wealthy socialites.
Unlike most of Leckie's oeuvre, Radiant Star is written through the perspective of an opinionated, unnamed narrator. Matching the narration, the tone is firmly comedy of manners: nothing is taken seriously, and the narrator turns a mocking eye on most of the characters. Nobody escapes unscathed, from a deeply religious but vain oracle, to an ambitious young couple snubbed by their father's will, to the arrogant and ruthless Radchaai governor herself. Even poor Joris, who's told by his mother that he was born as a slave for a distant purchaser before being forcibly stuck in stasis for thirty years, does not escape the narrator's critique. (Too young and naive). It's an eagle's eye view of a complex logistical problem as the city slowly collapses—but a cold one. The satirical tone never lapses, even as the colony descends into scenes worthy of the siege of Stalingrad.
There's a comfort in reading a book by an excellent author where you know it's going to be good. Radiant Star was, predictably, excellent, even though the style wasn't my favorite of the post-Ancillary Justice books. (That honor goes to Translation State.) Here, the large cast of characters is just along for the ride as Ooioiaa slowly collapses. There's no hero, no protagonist, just snapshots of a city in turmoil. I won't spoil the details, but the central issue involves the municipal wastewater treatment, and, delightfully, a great deal of onions. In combination with that short story in Lake of Souls, I begin to suspect that Leckie has a fixation on onions...
Excellent as always, although I liked Translation State better. Radiant Star effectively stands alone with an all-new cast of characters, but I think you'll get more out of it if you've read the main trilogy first. Recommended for fans of Ursula Le Guin.
Unlike most of Leckie's oeuvre, Radiant Star is written through the perspective of an opinionated, unnamed narrator. Matching the narration, the tone is firmly comedy of manners: nothing is taken seriously, and the narrator turns a mocking eye on most of the characters. Nobody escapes unscathed, from a deeply religious but vain oracle, to an ambitious young couple snubbed by their father's will, to the arrogant and ruthless Radchaai governor herself. Even poor Joris, who's told by his mother that he was born as a slave for a distant purchaser before being forcibly stuck in stasis for thirty years, does not escape the narrator's critique. (Too young and naive). It's an eagle's eye view of a complex logistical problem as the city slowly collapses—but a cold one. The satirical tone never lapses, even as the colony descends into scenes worthy of the siege of Stalingrad.
There's a comfort in reading a book by an excellent author where you know it's going to be good. Radiant Star was, predictably, excellent, even though the style wasn't my favorite of the post-Ancillary Justice books. (That honor goes to Translation State.) Here, the large cast of characters is just along for the ride as Ooioiaa slowly collapses. There's no hero, no protagonist, just snapshots of a city in turmoil. I won't spoil the details, but the central issue involves the municipal wastewater treatment, and, delightfully, a great deal of onions. In combination with that short story in Lake of Souls, I begin to suspect that Leckie has a fixation on onions...
Excellent as always, although I liked Translation State better. Radiant Star effectively stands alone with an all-new cast of characters, but I think you'll get more out of it if you've read the main trilogy first. Recommended for fans of Ursula Le Guin.
May 25, 2026
I have been a big fan of Ann Leckie’s Radch novels so far, and particularly enjoyed the original Ancillary trilogy. Sad to say that Radiant Star was just boring and after long anticipation, deeply disappointing. For long stretches the novel consists largely of priests from rival sects manoeuvring for influence, alongside local political and financial infighting on a supposedly alien, sunless world that never really comes alive on the page.
None of it engaged me. The pace is glacial, the stakes rarely feel meaningful, and I spent much of the book distracted by wondering who the unnamed narrator was supposed to be — a question the novel never answers. There are so many characters, all of whom are flat and lacking energy, and the range of pronouns (Leckie’s culture has a lot more than two genders) is hard to process and applied inconsistently as some characters that are one gender in the Ooioiaan society, are then a different gender in Radch society. The 'and they all lived happily ever after' ending was wholly unsatisfying.
Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t confusing or badly written. Radiant Star is just not engaging and lacking in hooks to keep the reader wanting to turn the page.
None of it engaged me. The pace is glacial, the stakes rarely feel meaningful, and I spent much of the book distracted by wondering who the unnamed narrator was supposed to be — a question the novel never answers. There are so many characters, all of whom are flat and lacking energy, and the range of pronouns (Leckie’s culture has a lot more than two genders) is hard to process and applied inconsistently as some characters that are one gender in the Ooioiaan society, are then a different gender in Radch society. The 'and they all lived happily ever after' ending was wholly unsatisfying.
Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t confusing or badly written. Radiant Star is just not engaging and lacking in hooks to keep the reader wanting to turn the page.
May 18, 2026
This is a sidebar story to the Imperial Radch universe, describing what happens on a backwater planet with dueling religions when the Radch Civil War breaks out and all contact is cut off. The Radch governor is a capable bureaucrat caught in an untenable situation with food shortages and feuding factions. There's quite a bit about 'God and mammon' as the religious leaders jockey for position and wealth.
Meanwhile, a boy who was bred for sale off-planet is trapped in suspended animation and finally let out after thirty years. He tries to come to grips with his new reality while caring for a damaged Radch citizen.
This has Leckie's trademark humor but also the horror of a repressive society that can destroy its citizens. It's an encapsulation of her thesis about autocratic empires, writ small on a single planet that nobody in the Radch empire really cares about.
It could be read as a stand-alone, but really you shouldn't start here. Start with Ancillary Justice.
Meanwhile, a boy who was bred for sale off-planet is trapped in suspended animation and finally let out after thirty years. He tries to come to grips with his new reality while caring for a damaged Radch citizen.
This has Leckie's trademark humor but also the horror of a repressive society that can destroy its citizens. It's an encapsulation of her thesis about autocratic empires, writ small on a single planet that nobody in the Radch empire really cares about.
It could be read as a stand-alone, but really you shouldn't start here. Start with Ancillary Justice.
May 10, 2026
**Review of advance copy received from NetGalley**
3.5 stars—maybe 3.75?
After thoroughly enjoying Provenance, unfortunately I found this standalone somewhat disappointing. As excited as I was for a new Radch Empire novel (post AI-Ancillary upheaval), Radiant Star, while technically proficient, feels a bit on the wry/dry side. Perhaps the author intended a departure to explore a different tone/style? Could be that Leckie’s choice of “third person narrator” to describe events and character motivations made it feel inaccessible, and furthermore, somewhat frustratingly, their identity is never revealed (Justice of Albis?) so there’s no context provided. Thus, the story seems more like a detailed recounting, its “characters” largely unrelatable. The liberal use of unfamiliar gender pronouns adds another layer of impenetrability, complicated further by the overlay of Radchaai language (which has no other pronoun than “she” to refer to others.)
Set on the insignificant planet of Ooioiaa off the interstellar path, events center on its fractious politico-religious hierarchy and grasping factions jockeying for power. In the midst of this, the Radchaai arrive and take control of the government. Perhaps intended to illustrate the inevitable repercussions of larger events (“described elsewhere if the reader is interested” as the narrator often coyly reminds us), in this respect, the novel works as intended. A fragile détente, simply awaiting the right conditions to unravel. Cut off completely from the outside world, the tenuous supports of society and economy quickly break down. (I also spent some time wondering whether I was supposed to remember Jonr’s consoror as a significant character from the other Radch novels.) The novel has its breakthrough moments, when characters act with altruism and emotion, but largely most are unable to think beyond themselves.
Ultimately, events come to an appropriate resolution, and despite drawbacks, the novel represents a significant expansion of Leckie’s post-Radch Empire world. I just found myself wishing for something more engaging.
3.5 stars—maybe 3.75?
After thoroughly enjoying Provenance, unfortunately I found this standalone somewhat disappointing. As excited as I was for a new Radch Empire novel (post AI-Ancillary upheaval), Radiant Star, while technically proficient, feels a bit on the wry/dry side. Perhaps the author intended a departure to explore a different tone/style? Could be that Leckie’s choice of “third person narrator” to describe events and character motivations made it feel inaccessible, and furthermore, somewhat frustratingly, their identity is never revealed (Justice of Albis?) so there’s no context provided. Thus, the story seems more like a detailed recounting, its “characters” largely unrelatable. The liberal use of unfamiliar gender pronouns adds another layer of impenetrability, complicated further by the overlay of Radchaai language (which has no other pronoun than “she” to refer to others.)
Set on the insignificant planet of Ooioiaa off the interstellar path, events center on its fractious politico-religious hierarchy and grasping factions jockeying for power. In the midst of this, the Radchaai arrive and take control of the government. Perhaps intended to illustrate the inevitable repercussions of larger events (“described elsewhere if the reader is interested” as the narrator often coyly reminds us), in this respect, the novel works as intended. A fragile détente, simply awaiting the right conditions to unravel. Cut off completely from the outside world, the tenuous supports of society and economy quickly break down. (I also spent some time wondering whether I was supposed to remember Jonr’s consoror as a significant character from the other Radch novels.) The novel has its breakthrough moments, when characters act with altruism and emotion, but largely most are unable to think beyond themselves.
Ultimately, events come to an appropriate resolution, and despite drawbacks, the novel represents a significant expansion of Leckie’s post-Radch Empire world. I just found myself wishing for something more engaging.
May 16, 2026
Leckie creates a whole new complex world only loosely connected to the other Ancillary books but it is beneficial to read the other books first to better understand the references in this book. As usual, her new characters & world are well developed but she uses a third party narrative in this book. I would have liked more back story on several of the characters, especially Jonr’s consoror, Citizen Esinu Birit. I feel the consoror must be tied to a character from a previous book but don’t recall anyone who lost an arm. Guess I’m going to have to reread the earlier Ancillary books.
May 26, 2026
While I enjoyed the Ancillary trilogy so much that I read it twice, this is the second standalone Leckie novel set in the Imperial Radch universe that is not my cup of tea (Radch pun intended). [The other was Provenance.] I do not recommend Radiant Star, and I fear this is the last Leckie novel I will read.
May 29, 2026
Wonderful. A tale of greed, piety, disaster and unrest, and connection, narrated in a brilliant Jane Austen-esque third person semi-omniscient style. I l adored it. This may be the best book Leckie's written since The Raven Tower, and that's a very high bar.
May 17, 2026
Apparently there's a meme going around today about six genders because of Dementler mishearing cisgender and going on another dying neuron fueled rant about it. If you were one of the people gleefully swapping memes with all your friends (I saw a fun one with a Sly and the Family Stone album cover) and you're also a Regency fan, you might get a kick out of this book. I think there were easily six genders, along with the agender Justice. This was a new tone for Leckie, and while I didn't love it quite as much as Provenance, it was still a fun read. The ending left me feeling a bit like the "where do we go from here" reprise at the end of Once More With Feeling (entertained but also vaguely dissatisfied) but it was fun to see another Justice and the setting on a rogue planet was cool as hell.
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