Provenance

By: Ann Leckie

Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh

An ambitious young woman has just one chance to secure her future and reclaim her family's priceless lost artifacts in this stand-alone novel set in the world of the award-winning, New York Times bestselling Imperial Radch trilogy.

Though she knows her brother holds her mother's favor, Ingrid is determined to at least be considered as heir to the family name. She hatches an audacious plan—free a thief from a prison planet from which no one has ever returned, and use them to help steal back a priceless artifact.

But Ingray and her charge return to her home to find their planet in political turmoil, at the heart of an escalating interstellar conflict. Together, they must make a new plan to salvage Ingray's future and her world, before they are lost to her for good.

©2017 Ann Leckie (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"More intriguing cultures to explore, more characters to care about, more Leckie to love."—Kirkus

"Character-centered space opera from one of SF's brightest stars."—Library Journal

"A perfect follow-up to the trilogy."—The New York Times

Worth it as an audiobook

Adjoa Andoh's narration is unbelievable, among the best I've ever heard. I loved Ancillary Justice (as a printed book, have not heard the audio version), but all the followups were only okay. The story here is also only okay, kind of repetitive and political, meaning it makes a whole lot out of very small actions and events. But it's a very interesting, original universe.

I did find the monologue from the Geck ambassador very moving. I'm not sure whether or not I would have in print. I'm still thinking about it days later.

A lackluster followup

The first chapter drags. It doesn't get any better from there on out. The story is thin and the characters unmemorable. I would like to see something more from the author of the Imperial Radcht trilogy.

Found the book rather boring

I found this book rather boring, predictable and flat. The narrator character accents were unappealing and strange and personally I do no feel they adjusted to the type of story, perhaps if they would have been portrayed in a different way the book wouldn't have been that annoying to me.

I'm sure that some folks will connect better with the character and enjoy the book, but not me.

riveting story, wonderful performance

The story and performance were great! I love the diversity and unconventional romances as side narratives. I like that the protagonist is female, though I wish she wouldn't have been portrayed as being so weepy all the time, or at least have exhibited some growth and gained emotional resiliency by the end. Fun and addictive read!

OK

Characters are good. But the world building was complicated and served little point to story

Fun story but not epic

If you liked the Imperial Radch series and you want more, this book will satisfy. However, the main character isn't terribly interesting and the story, while a fun adventure, won't change your life.

Forever to get anywhere - then doesn't go far

First, I've not read any of Anne Leckie's other books and understand there is a series that connects with this stand-alone book. Ok, but even so... this book takes FOREVER to get started, then when it does get rolling it doesn't roll very far. I bought it for Adjoa Andoh's narration because she's WONDERFUL. And she's wonderful in this performance as well. I always have such a good time listening to her. The characters here are fun (for the most part) and you do get to know them. But so much of this book is about traditions and breaking out of traditions and you feel like it should be harder for the main character, but in reality she does very well by just going w/ the flow. For Sci-Fi, there's very little action. Nothing is ever very surprising and nothing really ever gets done except at the very end (and it's nothing like a "battle" or climatic experience). So, yeah. Meh.

Good addition to the Ancillary universe

I enjoyed this story about political intrigue in among a small human system of planets and stations in the wider universe described in the author’s ancillary trilogy.

Instead of the AI, gender and galactic power plays explored in the Trilogy, this book has a smaller more personal scope without quite as many big ideas. The book’s protagonist is very sympathetic and uncomplicated. Her adventure is a small, personal one in many ways by sci-fi standards and she encounters some interesting human characters and some aliens that are an interesting testimony to the author’s imagination.

Leckie in one of the better new voices in the genre and Provenance continues her streak of well-written, imaginative books. I didn’t enjoy this as much as her other novels but appreciated the well-drawn characters, subtle humor attention to detail and strong writing that I’ve come to expect from Leckie.

The narration is also quite good.

I recommend this book for fans of Le Quin style SF that favors the exploration human social constructs and interpersonal relationships more than action, technology and galactic conflict.

Sibling Rivalry, Coming of Age and Politics

This was a interesting story. Like my headline after I finished listening I came to the conclusion that this was story about sibling rivalry and coming of age mixed with politics. All of this is wrapped up in a complex plot while following the sibling who never expected to inherit because of her adoption background. Included were the different worlds, aliens, and the politics involved when you mixed all of this up. There is great world building and back story told from the main characters point of view. Adjoa Andoh does great job with giving voice to all the characters that are represented in this very complex plot.

Fun characters, interesting world, great narration

I like Provenance a lot - lots of likable characters, great narrator (excellent distinct accents). I found it got a little complicated at the end, which took a bit out of my enjoyment, but overall really liked the book. I think it also has re-listen value, which is a category I don't usually think about, but I totally see myself wanting to listen to this book again next year. Note: I did not read any of the Imperial Radch series before reading this book. You absolutely do not have to read it to follow the story in Provenance, and now that I have read Ancillary Justice et al. (delayed review writer over here), I'm actually glad I listened to Provenance first so I had no pre-conceived notions of the world.