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3.01 AVERAGE
3.01 AVERAGE
It was soo hard finishing this book. The idea behind the story is great but I just don‘t feel any connection with any of the characters … their development is just so … boring. And the love story is rushed, like stop falling in love after 5 minutes of talking.
It was an ok read. I liked the concept and the characters. But I felt like this book should have been a trilogy or two books. There was to much information packed into one book. I liked the romance but it was way too fast, no slow burn!
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“Once those memories are gone, scattered among the highest bidders, it’ll be as if my mother never existed.”
Seventeen year old Etta lives in the city Craewick, where there is a cruel power hungry ruler named Madame. Here, memories are currency. Etta wants no part of this world but cannot leave her mother behind who was placed in the city’s asylum because of an accident that has left her bedridden. Etta is forced to take action when she receives a notice that her mother is being put up for auction, a Craewick practice in which a "criminal's" memories are sold to the highest bidder before being killed. To save her mother’s life she sets out on a journey in which she faces startling attacks, unexpected romance, and, above all, her own past in order to set things right in her world.
I wanted to love this book so bad but it’s a 3.5 for me. The synopsis captivated me and the concept of memories being used as currency was so unique and really piqued my interest.
The first half of the book is great! The author does an excellent job at world building, almost to where you felt like you were right there standing next to Etta! There was a lot of anticipation of the crazy things Etta would have to go through and even the start of a slow burn romance.
However, I did get confused a few times. I think certain aspects needed to be explained more thoroughly to easier follow the story line. I later learned there was a glossary in the back of the book that would have helped tremendously. I now know that the glossary has been moved to the front of the book for the final print books, so this may prevent confusion for future readers.
Then the second half of the book lost all its momentum, while simultaneously rushing through the reframing story. These much anticipated events and struggles were resolved too quickly and easily, making the story too unbelievable. The one slow burn romance turned into love WAY before it should have. I don’t even remember the final battle because it was barely touched upon, and I still really don’t understand what happened.
This book had SO MUCH potential and I truly feel as if the author could have fulfilled it - and that maybe someone had her take chunks out...That’s what it feels like....Big chunks are missing. This book needed to be much longer to explain the backstory more and give the characters more depth.
Thank you to netgalley & Blink for the copy in exchange for the honest review! The Memory Thief publishes on October 1, 2019!
Seventeen year old Etta lives in the city Craewick, where there is a cruel power hungry ruler named Madame. Here, memories are currency. Etta wants no part of this world but cannot leave her mother behind who was placed in the city’s asylum because of an accident that has left her bedridden. Etta is forced to take action when she receives a notice that her mother is being put up for auction, a Craewick practice in which a "criminal's" memories are sold to the highest bidder before being killed. To save her mother’s life she sets out on a journey in which she faces startling attacks, unexpected romance, and, above all, her own past in order to set things right in her world.
I wanted to love this book so bad but it’s a 3.5 for me. The synopsis captivated me and the concept of memories being used as currency was so unique and really piqued my interest.
The first half of the book is great! The author does an excellent job at world building, almost to where you felt like you were right there standing next to Etta! There was a lot of anticipation of the crazy things Etta would have to go through and even the start of a slow burn romance.
However, I did get confused a few times. I think certain aspects needed to be explained more thoroughly to easier follow the story line. I later learned there was a glossary in the back of the book that would have helped tremendously. I now know that the glossary has been moved to the front of the book for the final print books, so this may prevent confusion for future readers.
Then the second half of the book lost all its momentum, while simultaneously rushing through the reframing story. These much anticipated events and struggles were resolved too quickly and easily, making the story too unbelievable. The one slow burn romance turned into love WAY before it should have. I don’t even remember the final battle because it was barely touched upon, and I still really don’t understand what happened.
This book had SO MUCH potential and I truly feel as if the author could have fulfilled it - and that maybe someone had her take chunks out...That’s what it feels like....Big chunks are missing. This book needed to be much longer to explain the backstory more and give the characters more depth.
Thank you to netgalley & Blink for the copy in exchange for the honest review! The Memory Thief publishes on October 1, 2019!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Intriguing world and interesting characters. A bit predictable but still fun to read the twists.
I couldn't put it down once I started reading! There's so much about the human condition as well as social commentary in this teen book.
This world has "gifted" and "ungifted" people. The gifted are able to take memories from others and make them their own. Governments auction off memories so that others can get a thrill like a drug. The poor and ungifted often have to sell cherished memores to make ends meet and orphans often make a little money by being the repository of bad memories so that the more affluent don't have to keep them within themselves. However, there's a cost to all this memory sharing. Do it too much and you become "hollow" and no longer have an identity of your own.
Etta was once part of the "Shadows", which was a Robin Hood like organization that stole back memories and returned them to whom they belonged. However, due to an accident Etta's mother became comatose and in order to get her into the "asylum" for care and protection she had to betray the Shadow organization in exchange from the ruler's promise to keep her mother safe. She went into hiding for 4 years fearing retribution. Then she gets a notice from the government that her mother will be sent to auction, which is something usually only done voluntarily or for criminals as a form of execution as when all memories are removed the person dies. She reconnects with the Shadows and must go on a mission to find the one person that could put a stop to the ruler. Along the way she learns more about her past and is always wondering whether her memories are truly her own. This is a story about perseverance, regret, and hope. One I highly recommend people read.
This world has "gifted" and "ungifted" people. The gifted are able to take memories from others and make them their own. Governments auction off memories so that others can get a thrill like a drug. The poor and ungifted often have to sell cherished memores to make ends meet and orphans often make a little money by being the repository of bad memories so that the more affluent don't have to keep them within themselves. However, there's a cost to all this memory sharing. Do it too much and you become "hollow" and no longer have an identity of your own.
Etta was once part of the "Shadows", which was a Robin Hood like organization that stole back memories and returned them to whom they belonged. However, due to an accident Etta's mother became comatose and in order to get her into the "asylum" for care and protection she had to betray the Shadow organization in exchange from the ruler's promise to keep her mother safe. She went into hiding for 4 years fearing retribution. Then she gets a notice from the government that her mother will be sent to auction, which is something usually only done voluntarily or for criminals as a form of execution as when all memories are removed the person dies. She reconnects with the Shadows and must go on a mission to find the one person that could put a stop to the ruler. Along the way she learns more about her past and is always wondering whether her memories are truly her own. This is a story about perseverance, regret, and hope. One I highly recommend people read.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes