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Machine Mandate #4
Where Machines Redeem the Lost
Recadat Kongmanee has lost everything to the machines: the woman she loved, the hero's prize she was promised, and her memories. All she has left is vengeance.
Within the Garden of Atonement, artificial intelligences offer healing and a return to innocence. Brought in as an inmate, Recadat must keep up a dangerous charade while she readies a weapon built to destroy AIs--and prove that machines are not gods. But as she's pulled into games of control and obsession, she draws ever closer to forgetting her purpose.
Yet she has not been sent alone, and a hidden ally watches from the shadows to ensure that she carries out her mission . . . or else that she never leaves the Garden alive.
Within the Garden of Atonement, artificial intelligences offer healing and a return to innocence. Brought in as an inmate, Recadat must keep up a dangerous charade while she readies a weapon built to destroy AIs--and prove that machines are not gods. But as she's pulled into games of control and obsession, she draws ever closer to forgetting her purpose.
Yet she has not been sent alone, and a hidden ally watches from the shadows to ensure that she carries out her mission . . . or else that she never leaves the Garden alive.
112 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2021
16 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
Benjanun Sriduangkaew
83 books404 followersScience fiction, fantasy, and others in the between. Cute kissing ladies? I write those. Ruthless genocidal commanders? Got that covered too! 2014 finalist for Campbell Award for Best New Writer, 2015 BSFA finalist for Best Short Fiction (SCALE-BRIGHT). I like beautiful bugs and strange cities.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 31, 2022
4/5 stars
Wow...that was different for the Machine Mandate universe. And needed.
Recadat Kongmanee, Thannarat's former police partner who we first saw in Shall Machines Divide the Earth, has arrived at the Garden of Atonement. A facility disguised as a moon and run by AIs to heal the broken and outcaste. Recadat is a former shade of the woman we knew before and the AI Wisdom of Vishrava wants to heal her, get closer to her. But then, Recadat catches the eye of another "patient" named Zerjic, who entices her with sex. But Recadat cannot stop thinking about Thannarat and everything she's lost. Her raw mind is playing tricks on her. And she cannot help but think that she's in the Garden of Atonement for another reason.
As I said, this is very different to any other installment in the Machine Mandate series. Benjanun Sriduangkaew said that Where Machines Redeem the Lost would be more psychological than previous than any of the previous books, and she certainly arose to the occasion. What makes the story all the more different is not just the genre but also Recadat herself. Recadat is a different protagonist in Sriduangkaew's army (pun partially intended) of stoic butches and playful yet just a deadly femmes. What sets her apart from the rest is this: she's vulnerable. Most of the cast of Machine Mandate have very few weaknesses and are all hardened, whether butch or femme, and sometimes coy. We saw some vulnerability in Anoushka near the end of Now Will Machines Hollow the Beast, but it was nothing like this. Recadat is truly broken; she wants to be love and make love, to be conquered like in her most forlorn fantasies. She has lost so much that it weighs upon her--she nearly even cries at one point. She is weak, but not a weak character. In fact, she's one of the strongest written characters of this series because of how different she is for our author.
Recadat's character is fitting and parallel to even the tone of the story. In other Machine Mandate stories, despite the hardships and setbacks the characters face, we all know that Anoushka, Numadesi, Orfea, and whomever else will get over it and win the day. Or at least win the day according to their terms and wants. However, Where Machines Redeem the Lost is not a story with this certainty in place. Recadat does not win at everything, and there are things that she regrets or will come to regret doing. Prices are paid, and what is paid is incredibly taxing. She does not always feel the absolute confidence and certainty that all the previous characters felt. This makes her Sriduangkaew's most human character to date, and by extension the most human Machine Mandate story to date. I will, however, say that I felt that Where Machines Redeem the Lost could've been a little bit longer. Sriduangkaew obviously both excels and delights in the shorter written form, but this book could've been helped with some extra length. For one, a certain plot revelation happens a bit early in the story's flow for me. Once this change happens I feel that the Recadat we've been observing and been invested in has partially left us. The unexpected path Sriduangkaew takes towards the end of the book forgives this somewhat, but I still wish we would've stayed with the Recadat we first meet a little bit longer. Nonetheless, the story and its mystery are altogether satisfying.
I will also say one other criticism: for some reason the line editing in this book wasn't nearly as tight as the other books, and I'm not sure why. There were times where there was a period instead of a question mark and I recall two instances where the wrong pronouns were used for a character. These editing errors do not weaken the story, but they can be noticeable.
Those criticisms aside, this book is very solid. Sriduangkaew's prose is as great as ever. All of the characters are memorable. Zerjic was a great addition to this series' cast. Ey are proud and skilled like Anoushka, but not as cocky as her. Eir character was a great addition too, because like Recadat, ey are a refreshing addition to the cast. It was nice to see Orfea again too. Seeing her interact with other people besides Krissana was interesting and fun to see.
Recadat's journey was a great one and I wish I saw more like it in any genre that deals with this psychological aspect. Refreshing, different, and welcomed is all that I can summarize Where Machines Redeem the Lost as. Apparently, there are two more books remaining in this series. Now Will Machines Devour the Stars and the forthcoming final installment Shall Machines Bite the Sun. Can't believe that this series is almost over.
Sriduangkaew is obviously good at what she typically writes, but when she diverts from her norm, she excels even greater.
Wow...that was different for the Machine Mandate universe. And needed.
Recadat Kongmanee, Thannarat's former police partner who we first saw in Shall Machines Divide the Earth, has arrived at the Garden of Atonement. A facility disguised as a moon and run by AIs to heal the broken and outcaste. Recadat is a former shade of the woman we knew before and the AI Wisdom of Vishrava wants to heal her, get closer to her. But then, Recadat catches the eye of another "patient" named Zerjic, who entices her with sex. But Recadat cannot stop thinking about Thannarat and everything she's lost. Her raw mind is playing tricks on her. And she cannot help but think that she's in the Garden of Atonement for another reason.
As I said, this is very different to any other installment in the Machine Mandate series. Benjanun Sriduangkaew said that Where Machines Redeem the Lost would be more psychological than previous than any of the previous books, and she certainly arose to the occasion. What makes the story all the more different is not just the genre but also Recadat herself. Recadat is a different protagonist in Sriduangkaew's army (pun partially intended) of stoic butches and playful yet just a deadly femmes. What sets her apart from the rest is this: she's vulnerable. Most of the cast of Machine Mandate have very few weaknesses and are all hardened, whether butch or femme, and sometimes coy. We saw some vulnerability in Anoushka near the end of Now Will Machines Hollow the Beast, but it was nothing like this. Recadat is truly broken; she wants to be love and make love, to be conquered like in her most forlorn fantasies. She has lost so much that it weighs upon her--she nearly even cries at one point. She is weak, but not a weak character. In fact, she's one of the strongest written characters of this series because of how different she is for our author.
Recadat's character is fitting and parallel to even the tone of the story. In other Machine Mandate stories, despite the hardships and setbacks the characters face, we all know that Anoushka, Numadesi, Orfea, and whomever else will get over it and win the day. Or at least win the day according to their terms and wants. However, Where Machines Redeem the Lost is not a story with this certainty in place. Recadat does not win at everything, and there are things that she regrets or will come to regret doing. Prices are paid, and what is paid is incredibly taxing. She does not always feel the absolute confidence and certainty that all the previous characters felt. This makes her Sriduangkaew's most human character to date, and by extension the most human Machine Mandate story to date. I will, however, say that I felt that Where Machines Redeem the Lost could've been a little bit longer. Sriduangkaew obviously both excels and delights in the shorter written form, but this book could've been helped with some extra length. For one, a certain plot revelation happens a bit early in the story's flow for me. Once this change happens I feel that the Recadat we've been observing and been invested in has partially left us. The unexpected path Sriduangkaew takes towards the end of the book forgives this somewhat, but I still wish we would've stayed with the Recadat we first meet a little bit longer. Nonetheless, the story and its mystery are altogether satisfying.
I will also say one other criticism: for some reason the line editing in this book wasn't nearly as tight as the other books, and I'm not sure why. There were times where there was a period instead of a question mark and I recall two instances where the wrong pronouns were used for a character. These editing errors do not weaken the story, but they can be noticeable.
Those criticisms aside, this book is very solid. Sriduangkaew's prose is as great as ever. All of the characters are memorable. Zerjic was a great addition to this series' cast. Ey are proud and skilled like Anoushka, but not as cocky as her. Eir character was a great addition too, because like Recadat, ey are a refreshing addition to the cast. It was nice to see Orfea again too. Seeing her interact with other people besides Krissana was interesting and fun to see.
Recadat's journey was a great one and I wish I saw more like it in any genre that deals with this psychological aspect. Refreshing, different, and welcomed is all that I can summarize Where Machines Redeem the Lost as. Apparently, there are two more books remaining in this series. Now Will Machines Devour the Stars and the forthcoming final installment Shall Machines Bite the Sun. Can't believe that this series is almost over.
Sriduangkaew is obviously good at what she typically writes, but when she diverts from her norm, she excels even greater.
June 24, 2022
“I want to be savaged.”
“I’ll stay with you always, or for as long as you want me to.”
Just imagine that meme of the screaming cat, that was me reading this book. I *loved* this, even more than book 3 which I also loved. The relationships between between Recadat, Zerjic and Vishrava were so complex and nuanced for such a small book. This is a sci-fi psychological horror book about trauma and healing, following Recadat who is brought to a Garden of Eden facility to rehabilitate after she tries to kill an AI. It is balanced so well between the introspective nature of Recadat’s journey versus action and romance/sex. And the latter was *chef’s kiss*. This was messy and sexy and so bloody good, I have immediately bought more in the series!
Content warnings: graphic sex (including a role played chase scene), BDSM (including knife play), confinement, torture, PTSD, suicidal ideation, violence, murder, gun violence, manipulation
“I’ll stay with you always, or for as long as you want me to.”
Just imagine that meme of the screaming cat, that was me reading this book. I *loved* this, even more than book 3 which I also loved. The relationships between between Recadat, Zerjic and Vishrava were so complex and nuanced for such a small book. This is a sci-fi psychological horror book about trauma and healing, following Recadat who is brought to a Garden of Eden facility to rehabilitate after she tries to kill an AI. It is balanced so well between the introspective nature of Recadat’s journey versus action and romance/sex. And the latter was *chef’s kiss*. This was messy and sexy and so bloody good, I have immediately bought more in the series!
Content warnings: graphic sex (including a role played chase scene), BDSM (including knife play), confinement, torture, PTSD, suicidal ideation, violence, murder, gun violence, manipulation
December 6, 2024
Those who are able to complete their time in the Garden of Atonement will be absolved of all wrongdoing, no matter how heinous or numerous their crimes may be. Such is the benevolence of the machines. After having endured a stay in a prison whose inmates experience a fate worse than death, she is amazed to now be here. Even a rehabilitation and reeducation center that forcibly corrects its clients into suitable individuals may seem like paradise by comparison. Do the AI simply want to help the wayward and broken become productive members of society again?
This is the first book of this loosely connected series that has a viewpoint character from a previous book. How many years have passed is unclear, though it's at least several. While it does improve my opinion of the ending of the previous book the character was in, I believe that the motivation of the character is less plausible than the prior book. Characterization in general tends to be weakest aspect in Sriduangkaew's otherwise well-written works. In at least once case her writing has been so purple that it'd resemble the face of someone dangerously addicted to erotic asphyxiation.
I continue to consider these as erotic science fiction rather than science fiction erotica, but I believe they could be argued to be either. It's definitely not romance, or at least not how I'd define the term. The main issue I have with the sex scenes is that they seem it's based on a quota rather than organically occurring. The main eroge that I've played, Utawarerumono, which later had an all-ages version would have the sex scenes at intervals and it never made sense. That's what I was reminded of when reading this. The plot's just moving along and then it's sex time with blades, intense biting, and non-standard anatomy. For the latter this time for me it was, "So that's what Deidara what do", though there are a few more recent references now. That's not to say the sex isn't significant to the plot. In this case it's integral to the twists and reveals, and as with the Game of Thrones tv series, it even serves as sexposition. On a related note, it was unclear to me what was meant to be sexualized and what wasn't, but that wasn't an issue for me.
There's a weird tonal shift near the end which seemed entirely contrived for relationship purposes. There aren't many pages for character development, but I found all the changes to be too much too quickly. Sure, the memes exist for a reason and maybe I simply don't understand, but the change from rough uncaring casual sex to sappy sentiment was peculiar.
I can't not see the cover as a reference to Samus. To end with again, here's an excerpt: She enters the kitchen to find [her] butchering a human carcass..."This isn't a real corpse. It's synthetic meat that looks like a dead person."
Do you believe her?
This is the first book of this loosely connected series that has a viewpoint character from a previous book. How many years have passed is unclear, though it's at least several. While it does improve my opinion of the ending of the previous book the character was in, I believe that the motivation of the character is less plausible than the prior book. Characterization in general tends to be weakest aspect in Sriduangkaew's otherwise well-written works. In at least once case her writing has been so purple that it'd resemble the face of someone dangerously addicted to erotic asphyxiation.
I continue to consider these as erotic science fiction rather than science fiction erotica, but I believe they could be argued to be either. It's definitely not romance, or at least not how I'd define the term. The main issue I have with the sex scenes is that they seem it's based on a quota rather than organically occurring. The main eroge that I've played, Utawarerumono, which later had an all-ages version would have the sex scenes at intervals and it never made sense. That's what I was reminded of when reading this. The plot's just moving along and then it's sex time with blades, intense biting, and non-standard anatomy. For the latter this time for me it was, "So that's what Deidara what do", though there are a few more recent references now. That's not to say the sex isn't significant to the plot. In this case it's integral to the twists and reveals, and as with the Game of Thrones tv series, it even serves as sexposition. On a related note, it was unclear to me what was meant to be sexualized and what wasn't, but that wasn't an issue for me.
There's a weird tonal shift near the end which seemed entirely contrived for relationship purposes. There aren't many pages for character development, but I found all the changes to be too much too quickly. Sure, the memes exist for a reason and maybe I simply don't understand, but the change from rough uncaring casual sex to sappy sentiment was peculiar.
I can't not see the cover as a reference to Samus. To end with again, here's an excerpt: She enters the kitchen to find [her] butchering a human carcass..."This isn't a real corpse. It's synthetic meat that looks like a dead person."
Do you believe her?
September 13, 2021
Benjanun Sriduangkaew’s Machine Mandate series continues with book 4, Where Machines Redeem the Lost.
This time we find out what happened to Recadat Kongmanee, set two years after the events on Septet. Recadat has been stripped of everything, punished by The Mandate for the murder attempt on the core of AI Chun Hyang’s Glaive. First a brutal stay on a human-run prison Shenzhen and now for her last year of rehabilitation she is brought to the Garden of Atonement governed by 3 AI’s.
Wisdom of Vishrava tips her head up by the chin, making her look into xer face. “Here is the method by which I’ll be your corrective. I will hone you and temper you, so that instead of softening or bending in this place, you will become a weapon. Sharp and terrible and beautiful, absolute in yourself. For the rest of your life, you will always have that.”
This was an interesting one. The mind games between Recadat and her fellow inmates Zerjic and Ceres. She believes Thannarat is dead, but can she trust her own memories? In the meantime, Zerjic has their own agenda. And what about AI Vishrava’s obsession for humans? This series is absolute catnip to me.
The series is available on Scribd.
f/f bdsm elements
Themes: The Garden of Atonement, Wisdom of Vishrava, Ravana’s Beguiling, Mahiravanan’s Victory, Krissana Khongtip makes an appearance, the Qualia where the ghost of Thannarat makes contact, isotoxal virus.
5 Stars
This time we find out what happened to Recadat Kongmanee, set two years after the events on Septet. Recadat has been stripped of everything, punished by The Mandate for the murder attempt on the core of AI Chun Hyang’s Glaive. First a brutal stay on a human-run prison Shenzhen and now for her last year of rehabilitation she is brought to the Garden of Atonement governed by 3 AI’s.
Wisdom of Vishrava tips her head up by the chin, making her look into xer face. “Here is the method by which I’ll be your corrective. I will hone you and temper you, so that instead of softening or bending in this place, you will become a weapon. Sharp and terrible and beautiful, absolute in yourself. For the rest of your life, you will always have that.”
This was an interesting one. The mind games between Recadat and her fellow inmates Zerjic and Ceres. She believes Thannarat is dead, but can she trust her own memories? In the meantime, Zerjic has their own agenda. And what about AI Vishrava’s obsession for humans? This series is absolute catnip to me.
The series is available on Scribd.
f/f bdsm elements
Themes: The Garden of Atonement, Wisdom of Vishrava, Ravana’s Beguiling, Mahiravanan’s Victory, Krissana Khongtip makes an appearance, the Qualia where the ghost of Thannarat makes contact, isotoxal virus.
5 Stars
September 3, 2021
Devil Take Me
For the first proper sequel in the Machine Mandate series in contrast to the rest of the work's overarching connections without a set starting point it is an accomplishment, the narrative is emotionally strong and self indulgent in ways that I hope to one day achieve. Zerjic makes for a lovely Lucifer, and the entire premise is rather interesting, and as it is a sequel if you read it after "Shall Machines Divide the Earth" you will have a number of "Wait a fucking second" moments that are plot relevant.
I'm giving four stars because I can't give 4.9, as if I recall right this is the book Bee pumped out in a month and it shows in a few typos here and there that could use an editing pass, but they only make you pause for a second. In specific I can mention a few uses of she/her pronouns for Zerjic when ey uses ey/em ones. Hopefully Bee can get the book updated to fix all that, after which I will be able to grant the .1 star I can't give right now.
For the first proper sequel in the Machine Mandate series in contrast to the rest of the work's overarching connections without a set starting point it is an accomplishment, the narrative is emotionally strong and self indulgent in ways that I hope to one day achieve. Zerjic makes for a lovely Lucifer, and the entire premise is rather interesting, and as it is a sequel if you read it after "Shall Machines Divide the Earth" you will have a number of "Wait a fucking second" moments that are plot relevant.
I'm giving four stars because I can't give 4.9, as if I recall right this is the book Bee pumped out in a month and it shows in a few typos here and there that could use an editing pass, but they only make you pause for a second. In specific I can mention a few uses of she/her pronouns for Zerjic when ey uses ey/em ones. Hopefully Bee can get the book updated to fix all that, after which I will be able to grant the .1 star I can't give right now.
March 28, 2022
I was a little uncertain about this one. Recadat is not my favorite character, and this is her story a few years post the disastrous games, but by the end I was won over. Make SURE you read the previous book and the two short prequel stories before starting this one, because there's a lot going on underneath the surface that you won't catch otherwise. This book is exciting and interesting and delightfully clever.
May 17, 2025
Alright, I totally get the hype around Recadat now. My feral bestie. Tbh this knocked my socks off. Very unique while still fitting into the larger universe very nicely. The sort of plot you don't expect but when it happens you go "oh, of course!! Where else could she have wound up?"
September 23, 2021
That was a really great read! Glad I have more novellas in this world I can try out later.
January 19, 2022
Great story. Highly recommended.
July 6, 2024
4/5
11/10 mind-fuckery.
Also, I adore Recadat.
11/10 mind-fuckery.
Also, I adore Recadat.
November 14, 2024
Different than my usual. Romance was like 2/10 everything else was intriguing and well written.
I’d read another in the series but, feels so heavy I think I need a break
I’d read another in the series but, feels so heavy I think I need a break
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2022
I loved this sequel and think Recadat is such an original character. I loved her journey and seeing her fight and heal.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews