Provenance by Ann Leckie

Anne Leckie returns to the universe of her Imperial Radch trilogy with Provenance, a standalone novel set outside the Radch Empire.

Ingray Aughskold has put everything she owns into a desperate gambit to out-maneuver her brother Danach and finally raise herself high enough in her mother’s esteem that she might be named her successor. Her plan to free a prisoner who can lead her to priceless missing artifacts, or vestiges, on her homeworld of Hwae begins to fall apart when the person she frees turns out not to be who she thought they were. Quickly following is an odd encounter with the ambassador from the alien Geck, who is obsessed with the captain of the ship upon which she has booked passage home. She returns home to find more aliens at her mother’s house back on Hwae who are seeking political help for their own aims. Ingray finds herself at the center of events that threaten her own planet, nearby systems and more than one alien race. Ingray must rely on both new and old friends, but primarily draw on her own resourcefulness and courage she didn’t know she had if disaster is to be averted.

Leckie has once again demonstrated incomparable world-building, filled with complicated plots and politics. Provenance is more character driven than the Radch trilogy, but is still layered with intriguing ideas and concepts. The interesting and thought-provoking use of gendered pronouns is present here, but not to the same degree as her earlier books. Ingray is on a journey of discovery, both of who she is and what she wants her life to be. Likewise, Leckie explores how societies forge an identity based on the things they choose to hold sacred, even if those choices appear incomprehensible to outsiders. Ingray’s life has been a battle with her brother to shine in her mother Netano’s eyes. She questions if she has any place in the family if she fails to do so. How much is she willing to risk to succeed?

Fans of Leckie’s earlier work will certainly enjoy Provenance. For those who have not read her previously, Provenance is an excellent jumping off point before diving into the Radch trilogy. It can be read either before or independent of that series.

All Ann Leckie does is write great books. Do yourself a favor and pick up Provenance. Highly recommended.

I was fortunate to receive an advance copy of the book from the publisher.

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