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Cover of Ancillary Sword by Ann LeckieAncillary Sword
Modern · Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy

Ancillary Sword

by Ann Leckie
2014 · 359 pages · Fiction
71.9Must-Read
Score Modern
Critics' pick
≈ 9 hours to read · about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

Breq, who was once a warship with thousands of bodies, has been given command of the ship Mercy of Kalr and sent to Athoek Station, where the sister of the lieutenant she loved lives. Annexed six hundred years ago, Athoek should be peaceful and civilized, but old divisions and injustices are still there.

Why it's worth reading

It was a finalist for both the Hugo and Nebula awards. It's the middle book of Ann Leckie's acclaimed Imperial Radch trilogy.

You'll love it if you liked

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Good to know

Read Ancillary Justice first. It's quieter and more political than the first book.

By the numbers

71.9Must-Read Score
  • Readers61 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics43 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Bestseller31 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Buzz3 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Shortlisted
Hugo Award finalist (2015)Nebula Award finalist (2014)

Reads as

Adventurous

How we rank

Already read it? Upload your Goodreads or StoryGraph history and get the 50 best books you haven't read, tuned to your taste.Get my 50

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Quick answers

Is Ancillary Sword worth reading?

Yes. It was a finalist for both the Hugo and Nebula awards. It ranks #1,099 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.9 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is Ancillary Sword about?

Breq, who was once a warship with thousands of bodies, has been given command of the ship Mercy of Kalr and sent to Athoek Station, where the sister of the lieutenant she loved lives. Annexed six hundred years ago, Athoek should be peaceful and civilized, but old divisions and injustices are still there.

How long does it take to read Ancillary Sword?

About 9 hours (359 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after Ancillary Sword?

If you liked it, try Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie, A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine or The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin.