A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

Goodreads Storygraph

"Ambassador Mahit Dzmare arrives in the center of the multi-system Teixcalaanli Empire only to discover that her predecessor, the previous ambassador from their small but fiercely independent mining Station, has died. But no one will admit that his death wasn't an accident—or that Mahit might be next to die, during a time of political instability in the highest echelons of the imperial court. Now, Mahit must discover who is behind the murder, rescue herself, and save her Station from Teixcalaan's unceasing expansion—all while navigating an alien culture that is all too seductive, engaging in intrigues of her own, and hiding a deadly technological secret—one that might spell the end of her Station and her way of life—or rescue it from annihilation."

...and so begins Arkady Martine's award-winning Teixcalaan series! While this checked all my boxes on paper -- space imperialism! lesbians! people in other people's brains! -- on actual paper I find it a little lack-luster. The world and characters failed utterly to grab me. Nonetheless if you prefer political poetry over blood and guts, you might should check this out -- my opinion is in the very minor minority.