#and also general vibes of the hexarchate as well

[quatregats]

Hmmm mayhaps I should not have stayed up until Twelve Twenty-Two Ay Em writing my Machineries of Empire Aubreyad AU but heigh ho, here we are

[sock-to-the-third]

Revenant Gun

By Yoon Ha Les

Machineries of Empire series concluded? :(

Well, it is a fantastic conclusion. I like how all the loose ends were tied up with Cheris and Jedao. Not to mention with the light drop of Brezan and Tseya getting together lol. Political marriage or not, they’re gonna be on hell of a couple!

There’s a new they/them fella in this book, Talaw (Kel Commander, I think). They originally worked for Dhanneth (prev General) who has a helluva personality that I love. Very subtle the changes but so gratifying. I love have Yoon Ha Lee gives bits of character development even to supporting characters. Talaw’s a nice addition to the gang who last time I checked only included Sho Zehun (advisor of Hexarch Mikodez).

One thing I can’t get over with Revenant Gun but all the books in Machineries of Empire series is the vocabulary. I love the references to how language changed via Jedao with honorifics to how the “high language” and “low languages” didn’t always translate well into each other but also informal and formal ways of addressing that don’t come up in English so much but add so much to comment on. It made the world feel so vivid and bright.

Lee also did some fantastic development with the Moths like Revenant as well as different groups of serviters. Some of them implied to have hexarchy sympathies while others want to ally with certain humans and the moth-allied ones who just want to fuck off. It makes totally sense the moth-allied servitors (especially under Kujen) to be pretty radical compared to the others but DAMN! I did not think they’d straight up massacre all of Revenant’s crew. Then the servitors being like “we won’t murder Jedao cuz you helped us and we’re polite” but also the moths totally are pissed you’re a turn coat.

It just works so well narratively. Utterly terrifying and suspenseful while reading and I legit thought that moth-Jedao is no way surviving this. Also, I love how Lee differentiated moth-Jedao from Cheris character-wise. AlsoI love how moth-Jedao doesn’t have dyscalcula yet nearly fucked up the whole assasination having the wrong sign which threw off the formation. It’s so simple and believable and real and damn, flipping signs and keeping track of them such a pain.

I have to admit that moth-Jedao being 16-17 y/o yet using formation instinct to get Dhanneth’s assistance pretending to be in a relationship… that.. I still don’t really like that, especially with how it ended for Dhanneth. Say all you want that moth-Jedao is a kid with crazy power yet no life experience in a shitty situation driving him to do shit. Hawkfucking is still pretty fucked up. It’s acknowledged, hell, Cheris shoots moth-Jedao for it. *shivers* It’s just alot and still doesn’t sit well. Not that it should just.. idk what I’m saying.

Anyway, I did enjoy Revenant Gun alot. I didn’t expect singular they/them pronouns and it was a happy surprise plus the queer rep with Inesser (she/her) having wives. Then Brezan having two fathers, one referred to as the “older” and another as the “younger” which I might use that style in my writing.

All around vibe of a book. Vibe of a series. I plan on reading other books by Lee in the future.

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