2025-02-21

lightreads: a partial image of a etymology tree for the Indo-European word 'leuk done in white neon on black'; in the lower left is (Default)
2025-02-21 03:38 pm

This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinniman

This Inevitable Ruin

4/5. Seventh book. Do not start here.

What a ride. I waited for the audiobook to come out (trailing the ebook by months) and I’m glad I did because the production is, as always, excellent. Anyway, what a time. This is the war book. They have all been war books, but this one is more literal about it.

Things I liked: More time with the AI, which raises waaaay more questions than it answers; Pony; the way this definitely felt like a turning point book; okay the entire ensemble let’s be real; how I was worried about the title going in particularly given this was a war book, but finished it knowing that the ruin isn’t just for our guys; the running theme of being known as of by a god, someone who can see entirely into you, and what the cost of that is to both parties.

Things I tilt my head at: The bigger politics picture, which is basically a giant crazy spaghetti yarn diagram at this point with the author slapping his hand down on one spot and screaming, “see! See!” While everyone is like “no? Not really?”

Anyway, I continue to have a great time and will be happy if he lands this massive messy thing with even part success.

Content notes: Violence, gore, many kinds of body modification.