Ninefox Gambit

By: Yoon Ha Lee

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

The first installment of the trilogy, Ninefox Gambit centers on disgraced captain Kel Cheris, who must recapture the formidable Fortress of Scattered Needles in order to redeem herself in front of the Hexarchate.

To win an impossible war, Captain Kel Cheris must awaken an ancient weapon and a despised traitor general.

Captain Kel Cheris of the Hexarchate is disgraced for using unconventional methods in a battle against heretics. Kel Command gives her the opportunity to redeem herself by retaking the Fortress of Scattered Needles, a star fortress that has recently been captured by heretics. Cheris' career isn't the only thing at stake. If the fortress falls, the Hexarchate itself might be next. Cheris' best hope is to ally with the undead tactician Shuos Jedao. The good news is that Jedao has never lost a battle, and he may be the only one who can figure out how to successfully besiege the fortress. The bad news is that Jedao went mad in his first life and massacred two armies, one of them his own. As the siege wears on, Cheris must decide how far she can trust Jedao - because she might be his next victim.

©2016 Yoon Ha Lee (P)2016 Recorded Books

Creative but bizarre concept poorly explained

Calendrical math that yields advanced, magic-like technology. I respect the commitment to the premise, but it wasn't worth the investment for me.

This isn't for everyone but I LOVE IT!

The world is complex and detailed but the author doesn't spell everything out for you, you figure it out gradually as you go along. This may irritate some people but I prefer it over an author that wastes 1/4 of the first book just trying to set up the world. Sometimes a popcorn read is nice, but this is not that book.
The characters and plot are excellent. This is a series I keep coming back to.

good

A lot of jargon, but a good story if you can get past the first hour.

Inspired Worldbuilding

The only author and worldbuilding that I've enjoyed and respected as much as this is Terry Pratchett's discworld.

To quote Escher: "my work is a game, a very serious game," and Yoon Ha Lee's game, what is it about? Winning and losing, simulation, rules, a way to spend time with others? Yes. And also, behavior modification: "the rules constrain some behaviors and reward others. Meaningless cards, tokens, and symbols become invested with value and significance in the world of the game.

Wish i’d read this sooner!

Been a fan of Yoon’s visual art for ages & even met him socially, but only just this month read Ninefox Gambit and WOW. The prose is poetic but not verbose, the action is engrossing, the characters compelling.
I grant the system of calendrical conflict is somewhat opaque, but in a way that makes me want to learn more—which i will soon do in further Hexarchate novels.