I really enjoyed getting to know more about the world of servitors and seeing further into their world. We do hear from Brezan but the mystery of what's going on with Cheris doesn't last nearly as long as it did in the previous book. Somewhat unexpectedly the book jumps forward nine years from the end of Raven Stratagem, which took a bit of getting used to. There are two main point of view characters in this final book: a servitor that spends a lot of time with the Cheris/Jedao that we've come to know and love over three books and a brand new Jedao constructed by Kujen and lacking most of his memories, which went with Cheris. And what's worse, Jedao and Kujen are being hunted by an enemy who knows more about Jedao and his crimes than he does himself. Kujen's friendliness can't hide the fact that he's a tyrant. The Kel soldiers under his command may be compelled to obey him, but they hate him thanks to a massacre he can't remember committing. Soon Jedao learns the situation is even worse. Surely a knack for video games doesn't qualify you to take charge of an army? Hexarch Nirai Kujen orders Jedao to reconquer the fractured hexarchate on his behalf even though Jedao has no memory of ever being a soldier, let alone a general. His few memories tell him that he's a seventeen-year-old cadet-but his body belongs to a man decades older. When Shuos Jedao wakes up for the first time, several things go wrong. I do not recommend reading it out of order (start with Ninefox Gambit).

This is very much an overarching story told over three volumes and, even though each book introduces new point of view characters, the story depends very much on what went before.

I have previously read and reviewed Ninefox Gambit and Raven Stratagem. Revenant Gun by Yoon Ha Lee is the third and final book in The Machineries of Empire trilogy.

Revenant gun by yoon ha lee