A Desolation Called Peace
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- Create Date：2022-02-19 09:51:50
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Arkady Martine
- ISBN：1529001641
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Summary
An alien armada lurks on the edges of Teixcalaanli space。 No one can communicate with it， no one can destroy it， and Fleet Captain Nine Hibiscus is running out of options。
In a desperate attempt at diplomacy with the mysterious invaders， the fleet captain has sent for a diplomatic envoy。 Now Mahit Dzmare and Three Seagrass—still reeling from the recent upheaval in the Empire—face the impossible task of trying to communicate with a hostile entity。
Whether they succeed or fail could change the fate of Teixcalaan forever。
In a desperate attempt at diplomacy with the mysterious invaders， the fleet captain has sent for a diplomatic envoy。 Now Mahit Dzmare and Three Seagrass—still reeling from the recent upheaval in the Empire—face the impossible task of trying to communicate with a hostile entity。
Whether they succeed or fail could change the fate of Teixcalaan forever。
Reviews
Rich Saskal
，
I jumped right in to the follow-up to "A Memory Called Empire。" （And this is definitely one of those second books where you need to read the first。）The book doesn't ratchet up the tension as the pace its predecessor did — that is a very high bar to clear — but there is plenty of narrative tension， and a nice mix of the development of key characters from the first book along with new and interesting figures as the action moves off of Teixcalaan。I don't think some of the philosophical themes from I jumped right in to the follow-up to "A Memory Called Empire。" （And this is definitely one of those second books where you need to read the first。）The book doesn't ratchet up the tension as the pace its predecessor did — that is a very high bar to clear — but there is plenty of narrative tension， and a nice mix of the development of key characters from the first book along with new and interesting figures as the action moves off of Teixcalaan。I don't think some of the philosophical themes from "Memory" are quite continued here， and a first contact scenario that played out in a way that was easy to foresee， in contrast with the denouement of the predecessor book。But it's still a riveting read and a worthy follow up。 。。。more
Lisa
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I love the exploration of language and its various descriptions and usage。 It is woven through all parts of the story。 It is a wonderful follow-up to A Memory Called Empire。
Kir
，
4。5 ⭐
Faith B
，
A long sequel with a slow start， but if you can stick out a couple hundred pages of slow-moving plot， you will be warmly rewarded！ Not sure if there will be a third in the series， but if so I'll happily read it。 A long sequel with a slow start， but if you can stick out a couple hundred pages of slow-moving plot， you will be warmly rewarded！ Not sure if there will be a third in the series， but if so I'll happily read it。 。。。more
Rachel
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To my mind， not as good as the first， but interesting。 I enjoyed spending time with poor Eight Antidote。
Erich
，
More of the same without being more of the same。 Praise disguised as criticism: Like sometimes with delicious food， the worst part about it is that the narrative is very compelling so I found myself thinking I ought to take more time to savor it but still rushed onward。
Greymalkin
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Loved this sequel， though for different reasons than the first one。 If the first one was a murder-mystery-political-thriller， this one is a scifi-horror-military-drama。 Which is 100% okay with me。 I continue to love Arkady Martine's attention to all the little details that make the cultures feel like living breathing groups that can sustain factions within them， instead of sanitized archetypes。 The editing on this one felt a little rushed， there were some repetitions of phrases that should have Loved this sequel， though for different reasons than the first one。 If the first one was a murder-mystery-political-thriller， this one is a scifi-horror-military-drama。 Which is 100% okay with me。 I continue to love Arkady Martine's attention to all the little details that make the cultures feel like living breathing groups that can sustain factions within them， instead of sanitized archetypes。 The editing on this one felt a little rushed， there were some repetitions of phrases that should have been caught， but nothing that ruined the flow， just caused an occasional hiccup。Also I adored Swarm and truly believed Nine Hibiscus as yatolek。（view spoiler）[ The exploration of Three Seagrass and Mahit Dzmare's relationship was nicely done， and a lot sexier than I had expected given how chaste/demure the first book was。 The author notes said it was even more sexy before which I kinda am sad we didn't get to read because that would have been fun。 I was also amused at the Tribble references， and the pulp Golden Age comics references。 （hide spoiler）] 。。。more
Emily Mackinnon
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A Desolation Called Peace has absolutely cemented a place in my heart as an absolute fave。
Justin
，
Wow， what can I say about A Desolation Called Peace？ Martine takes all the phenomenal world-building and cultural immersion of A Memory Called Empire and places it against the backdrop of an impending alien invasion on the outskirts of space。 I absolutely love Mahit， and her and Three Seagrass come alive in this novel in a way they didn't in the first one。 It makes me want to reread the entire series and I will at some point。 Themes of power， imperialism， and what it means to be human， along wit Wow， what can I say about A Desolation Called Peace？ Martine takes all the phenomenal world-building and cultural immersion of A Memory Called Empire and places it against the backdrop of an impending alien invasion on the outskirts of space。 I absolutely love Mahit， and her and Three Seagrass come alive in this novel in a way they didn't in the first one。 It makes me want to reread the entire series and I will at some point。 Themes of power， imperialism， and what it means to be human， along with queer romance are all present as Teixcalaan， Lsel Station， and a previously unknown alien species all fight for survival。 。。。more
Helen
，
I wanted to love this as much as the first book， and it didn't quite make it for a variety of reasons， but 。。。 I don't think I've ever enjoyed an 11 year old as a central character in adult lit so much as this one。In other news， this and the last audiobook are both just really really fantastic。 I wanted to love this as much as the first book， and it didn't quite make it for a variety of reasons， but 。。。 I don't think I've ever enjoyed an 11 year old as a central character in adult lit so much as this one。In other news， this and the last audiobook are both just really really fantastic。 。。。more
Fred
，
Firstly audiobook as well made as the previous 。 More characters and viewpoints in this one so it is a slight bit harder on some transitions but that's more likely me and my scatteredness。"Hey Me， I liked this first book， let's check out the sequel; it'd be interesting to see where it goes。 Sure should be fun at least。" Gets punched in face with fascinating intrigue， politics， and information about the external forces eluded to in the prior as well as more info on the forces that pulled the stri Firstly audiobook as well made as the previous 。 More characters and viewpoints in this one so it is a slight bit harder on some transitions but that's more likely me and my scatteredness。"Hey Me， I liked this first book， let's check out the sequel; it'd be interesting to see where it goes。 Sure should be fun at least。" Gets punched in face with fascinating intrigue， politics， and information about the external forces eluded to in the prior as well as more info on the forces that pulled the strings in the prior。As long as you've read the previous you will be floored by this one。 It plays with the views of Person/civilization vs barbarian viewpoint as well as all the lovely bits of the prior and its fallout。Damn 。。。more
Jen
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Love this intelligent Sci Fi series with all the political intrigue and clever characters。 Feels fresh and unique。
mads ☆ﾐ
，
4。5 starsmartine’s ability to write MASTERCLASS dialogue and relationships is truly unbeatable。 this duology will stick with me for awhile <33
Doll
，
4。75
Aaron Lewis
，
Fun at times but oddly structured， and frequent italics make for strained prose。
Sarah
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Read this sequel to A memory Called Empire sooner than I meant to as the library book was sitting in the house。 Usually I wait a bit longer between books but this was fresh and new - a big book but I enjoyed it all。 None of the repetition of the first book and lots of extra interesting characters， places and situations。 Beautifully written。
Taina
，
Toinen osa Teixcalaan-sarjasta。 Poliittista avaruusoopperaa edelleen， tällä kertaa imperiumia uhkaa tuntematon， ylivoimaiselta vaikuttava vihollinen。 Onko uusien olentojen kanssa mahdollista kommunikoida ja miten？ Aikamoinen sekamelska syntyy kuitenkin näkökulmien suuresta määrästä， joka hidasti ja vaikeutti lukemista。 Ei yllä ekan osan tasolle， mutta mukavasti tämäkin meni kevyenä iltalukemisena。
Taylor
，
I cannot believe how good this book was。
Swaye
，
*sighhhhh* Arkady's writing and worldbuilding are brilliant。 There is a lot to love about this sequel。 Nineteen Adze， Eight Antidote， Nine Hibiscus， the political intrigue， everything about memory and connectedness， and what it means to be a person。 However， there was quite a bit of repetition and going round in circles which made this quite a slog at times。The crux of this story for me though and what I loved most about this duology overall is the deliciousness between Three Seagrass and Mahit *sighhhhh* Arkady's writing and worldbuilding are brilliant。 There is a lot to love about this sequel。 Nineteen Adze， Eight Antidote， Nine Hibiscus， the political intrigue， everything about memory and connectedness， and what it means to be a person。 However， there was quite a bit of repetition and going round in circles which made this quite a slog at times。The crux of this story for me though and what I loved most about this duology overall is the deliciousness between Three Seagrass and Mahit Dzmare （view spoiler）[and the ending just KILLED me！！ I really needed them to have a proper happily ever after。 Why Mahit wouldn't go with Three Seagrass makes zero sense to me especially with Three Seagrass finally understanding how she was unintentionally hurting Mahit and how far they'd come。 Ugh， I'm so frustrated！ （hide spoiler）]I reallllllly hope that this isn't the end of this series。 I feel like there is so much more of this story left to tell。["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]> 。。。more
John Adams
，
A strong sequel， going deeper into the protagonist's relationships both personal and political while offering a nifty twist on familiar alien invasion tropes， building to a rousing and heartening climax as the different and ultimately incompatible goals of the various factions come to a head， all written in unusually artful prose。 A strong sequel， going deeper into the protagonist's relationships both personal and political while offering a nifty twist on familiar alien invasion tropes， building to a rousing and heartening climax as the different and ultimately incompatible goals of the various factions come to a head， all written in unusually artful prose。 。。。more
Marina
，
dude， i love space politics。 and i love how the beautiful writing reflects the whole poetic aesthetic of the empire。the real star of the show was His Excellency， Eight Antidote， Imperial Associate， Heir to the Sun-Spear Throne <3 that lad CAN DO NO WRONG， what an excellent little spy。 i'm glad he got so much attention in the sequel。 dude， i love space politics。 and i love how the beautiful writing reflects the whole poetic aesthetic of the empire。the real star of the show was His Excellency， Eight Antidote， Imperial Associate， Heir to the Sun-Spear Throne <3 that lad CAN DO NO WRONG， what an excellent little spy。 i'm glad he got so much attention in the sequel。 。。。more
Shelbycat
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This took a lot of reading and I'm 100% sure I didn't take in all that the author meant。 This took a lot of reading and I'm 100% sure I didn't take in all that the author meant。 。。。more
William
，
A Desolation Called Peace is yet another thought provoking novel from Arkady Martine。 I welcomed the addition of several POVs in this sequel to A Memory Called Empire。The story dragged for me until about halfway through before picking up steam。 The word count in this narrative could have been shortened without sacrificing substance。The handling of first contact with an alien species is well done。 This is but one of many plots present。 I especially enjoyed the scenes with Nine Hibiscus， Twenty Ci A Desolation Called Peace is yet another thought provoking novel from Arkady Martine。 I welcomed the addition of several POVs in this sequel to A Memory Called Empire。The story dragged for me until about halfway through before picking up steam。 The word count in this narrative could have been shortened without sacrificing substance。The handling of first contact with an alien species is well done。 This is but one of many plots present。 I especially enjoyed the scenes with Nine Hibiscus， Twenty Cicada， and Eight Antidote。 Their morals are constantly tested; faced with the most difficult of decisions。 Mahit and Three Seagrass return and again assume critical roles in deriving multiple outcomes。The finale left too many unanswered questions for my personal taste。 。。。more
Janice
，
Quite a nice sequel to A Memory Called Empire。 Perhaps not quite as focused as the first book， and the ending comes a little quickly。There's an new alien species warring against the Teixcalaan empire。 They don't seem to speak a language that anyone can understand。 In fact， just hearing the sounds of the language induces nausea and severe discomfort in humans。 Mahit Dzmarr and Three Seagrass from the first book end up being called in to try to communicate with the aliens。 I thought it was suspici Quite a nice sequel to A Memory Called Empire。 Perhaps not quite as focused as the first book， and the ending comes a little quickly。There's an new alien species warring against the Teixcalaan empire。 They don't seem to speak a language that anyone can understand。 In fact， just hearing the sounds of the language induces nausea and severe discomfort in humans。 Mahit Dzmarr and Three Seagrass from the first book end up being called in to try to communicate with the aliens。 I thought it was suspiciously easy for them to figure out a way to communicate （after they'd taken a load of anti-emetics。） But whatever。What does it mean to be human？ To be alien？ To be barbarian？ Can we really communicate？Excellent writing。 Audio narration was ok。 。。。more
Kate
，
4。5 stars。 So much to love in this sequel。 The language is beautiful， the ideas are rich and well developed and Martine's take on first contact is super interesting。 I felt that it was missing a bit of the drive of the first book and I missed the city as the backdrop/character。 Nevertheless， a very smart and enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to what's next for Arkady Martine。 4。5 stars。 So much to love in this sequel。 The language is beautiful， the ideas are rich and well developed and Martine's take on first contact is super interesting。 I felt that it was missing a bit of the drive of the first book and I missed the city as the backdrop/character。 Nevertheless， a very smart and enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to what's next for Arkady Martine。 。。。more
~Anita~
，
Not as good as the first one but still really strong writing。
Andrea
，
Damn！ That was amazing！
Marian
，
I enjoyed this book once I was able to re-orient myself to this universe。 It took a few chapters but once I was in， I was all in—listening to the audiobook until fatigue demanded that I stop。 （Olympics？ What’s that？）。 The substructure is fascinating—a universe not based on Western European norms but Aztec or Mayan norms？ I need to find reviews more familiar with the cultures portrayed。 And the author’s ability to write a character with the double consciousness of a colonized subject is without p I enjoyed this book once I was able to re-orient myself to this universe。 It took a few chapters but once I was in， I was all in—listening to the audiobook until fatigue demanded that I stop。 （Olympics？ What’s that？）。 The substructure is fascinating—a universe not based on Western European norms but Aztec or Mayan norms？ I need to find reviews more familiar with the cultures portrayed。 And the author’s ability to write a character with the double consciousness of a colonized subject is without parallel。 。。。more
Xi'an
，
This book by Arkady Martine is a sequel to the Hugo Awarded Memory called Empire， which I appreciated， overall。 I also did enjoy this one， no matter how different the settings are。Indeed， this second （and last？） volume is much more space-opera-esque in that most of the action takes place on a spatial fleet trying to fight an incomprehensible and invading alien force （whose mindset is rendered through an initially obscure chapter！）。 And subject to internal tensions， despite its military hierarchi This book by Arkady Martine is a sequel to the Hugo Awarded Memory called Empire， which I appreciated， overall。 I also did enjoy this one， no matter how different the settings are。Indeed， this second （and last？） volume is much more space-opera-esque in that most of the action takes place on a spatial fleet trying to fight an incomprehensible and invading alien force （whose mindset is rendered through an initially obscure chapter！）。 And subject to internal tensions， despite its military hierarchical structure。 While the attempts at communicating with this unknown enemy are central to the story， they echo the main theme of the Teixcalaanli series （duology？）， which is on how to reach the delicate balance between complete assimilation into a rich and fascinating culture and isolationism in order to preserve one’s original culture and way of life， doubled by the dilemmas caused by falling in love with someone from this other culture。 （This may be the strongest aspect of the novel。） The related theme is the opposition between collective and individualistic societies， even though power competition is described in both the Teixcalaanli and the space station societies。 （All three groups have achieved a way to operate as a collective。 I actually wondered whether the “desolation” in the title was itself an intended collective， as in a murder of crows， esp。 since a major character is nicknamed Swarm， but I could not find this collective ever being used。） It brought back some memories of Ender’s Game， in the sense of facing a radically different but still sapient species and backing away from complete annihilation。 （The futuristic component of the book is as sketchy as in the previous one， with USB sticks being carried by spaceships as the only way to communicate， for no clear reason… But this issue is far from being of any importance， considering the overall output。） 。。。more
Lorendia
，