This second book in Ann Leckie's stately and astonishing space opera is even better than the first. One Esk Nineteen, also know as Breq, is now travelling under the name Breq Mianaai. Despite successfully killing several bodies of the Lord of the Radch, Anaander Mianni has given Breq a ship and orders to keep the peace in the Athotek system. Breq, Seivarden and Mercy of Kalr begin the journey through gate space, with danger behind them and also ahead. The Lord of the Radch is fragmented, the ships are casting their allegiances and the threat of the Presger looms over them all. This series tackles questions of classism, sexism, gender and identity in ways I have never seen before in sci-fi. I cannot recommend them highly enough.