A Desolation Called Peace

The story is very good, and I like the switching voices of narration. However, the profligate use of italics is EXHAUSTING. I can’t write italics on my phone, so I use all caps, but the point is the same: italics and all caps and underlining should be used like salt and sparingly. I’ll still read the next one, for what that’s worth, because it’s a cool story.

“A Desolation Called Peace” is the second book in the Teixcalaan Series by Arkady Martine. It’s a very well regarded work, having received the Hugo Award for best Novel in 2022. It was also listed on: Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2021, Amazon's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy of 2021, Bookpage's Best Science Fiction & Fantasy of 2021, And was a Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee for Best Science Fiction Book of 2021. It’s a sweeping space opera, that focuses on the relationship between the independent Lsel Station, and the Teixcalaan Space Empire. The story continues to follow Ambassador Mahit Dzmare, who has returned to Lsel Station from the Teixcalaanli Empire, after the succession crisis that lead to the ascent of the new Empress. Meanwhile, the secretive aliens beyond the jump-gate leading out from Lsel Station have destroyed a Teixcalaan resource extraction colony. An armada has been dispatched to deal with this threat. Once alien communications have been intercepted, Three Seagrass is sent to the front lines to attempt to understand and communicate with these enigmatic and deadly beings. She stops by Lsel Station to enlist the aid of Mahit Dzmare in the effort to head off a potentially genocidal war with these aliens. Like it’s predecessor, “A Memory Called Empire”, this is a great book, and it’s an impressive continuation of the Teixcalaan Series. The world-building is complex and unique. Definitely different than most space opera. I’m certainly hoping to see more books in this series that continue the story beyond the events of this novel.

An amazing writer. Better than her first book. Can’t wait for more Teixcalaan!

A worthy sequel to A Memory Called Empire though the motivations of the main characters are not always clear, even upon reflection. Still not sure about several plot points involving relationships but still enjoyed the journey.

I thought this one a little over the top in some aspects. I was very happy with the male-female character “reversal “ - it felt natural.