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3.01 AVERAGE
3.01 AVERAGE
The full review + more can be found at The Book Bratz
Thank you Blink for sending me a copy of THE MEMORY THIEF in the mail in exchange for an honest review!
Hi. Hello. I am a sucker for pretty covers. The cover The Memory Thief isn't just pretty, it's stunning. Now imagine my excitement when I learned that it was a stand-alone fantasy and saw that it finally had a summary. Needless to say that I was pretty excited when I received The Memory Thief to review.
Etta lives in a corrupt society where memories and talents can be bought or sold. The Memory Thief opens in the auction where "criminal's" memories are sold by Madame before they are killed. After a tragic accident to landed Etta's mother in the asylum and left Etta struggling with guilt, Madame threatens to send her mother to auction and Etta knows she will do anything to save her. Etta re-joins the Shadows, a rebel group that cost Etta everything four years earlier, but it's the only way to save her mother from her impending doom. To swear her loyalty to the Shadows Etta must memorize a map of the maze created by the cruel neighboring realm's leader. Only Etta isn't a lone, she is joined by Reid who is a desperate search for his brother who is trapped in the very maze that Etta has to break into.
The Memory Thief is fast paced and didn't stop for one second. From page one you are transported to a gritty and corrupt society and through the realms on Etta's journey. I ended up finishing The Memory Thief in only a few hours (I was suppose to go to bed but I kept saying, "One more chapter" and then I was suddenly done with the book. #noregrets) The plot was unique and intriguing and kept me with the nagging feeling of wanting to know what was going to happen next. By last one hundred pages I was flying through the pages because I was desperate to know how Etta's story was going to end and if evil was going to be put to rest.
I really enjoyed the both Etta's and Reid's characters. Especially together. Their banter and arguments made me laugh and go back to reread the things they said. Though I did find their relationship to develop rather quickly I did enjoy the romance aspect. I enjoyed it because it showed how both characters are flawed and that they both have things they need to heal from and that they are going to help each other through it. Love isn't always rainbows and unicorns and both Etta and Reid have things that they are going to spend time needing to recover from.
The Memory Thief was inspired by Lauren Mansy's own journey when her mother was diagnosed with a heart condition and it was uncertain that she would survive surgery or would have many of her memories when she woke up. My own mother was diagnosed with a heart condition the summer I graduated high school and has been through countless tests and surgeries. Each time I had the same worries, was she going to survive? Was she going to forget the life she had? Having read this about Laruen Mansy and where her inspiration came from gave me an even bigger appreciation for a story I had already loved.
Overall I really enjoyed The Memory Thief and I can't wait to see what Lauren Mansy has in store for her readers next. This book is perfect for people who are looking for a quick unique fantasy novel that is also a stand alone!
Thank you Blink for sending me a copy of THE MEMORY THIEF in the mail in exchange for an honest review!
Hi. Hello. I am a sucker for pretty covers. The cover The Memory Thief isn't just pretty, it's stunning. Now imagine my excitement when I learned that it was a stand-alone fantasy and saw that it finally had a summary. Needless to say that I was pretty excited when I received The Memory Thief to review.
Etta lives in a corrupt society where memories and talents can be bought or sold. The Memory Thief opens in the auction where "criminal's" memories are sold by Madame before they are killed. After a tragic accident to landed Etta's mother in the asylum and left Etta struggling with guilt, Madame threatens to send her mother to auction and Etta knows she will do anything to save her. Etta re-joins the Shadows, a rebel group that cost Etta everything four years earlier, but it's the only way to save her mother from her impending doom. To swear her loyalty to the Shadows Etta must memorize a map of the maze created by the cruel neighboring realm's leader. Only Etta isn't a lone, she is joined by Reid who is a desperate search for his brother who is trapped in the very maze that Etta has to break into.
The Memory Thief is fast paced and didn't stop for one second. From page one you are transported to a gritty and corrupt society and through the realms on Etta's journey. I ended up finishing The Memory Thief in only a few hours (I was suppose to go to bed but I kept saying, "One more chapter" and then I was suddenly done with the book. #noregrets) The plot was unique and intriguing and kept me with the nagging feeling of wanting to know what was going to happen next. By last one hundred pages I was flying through the pages because I was desperate to know how Etta's story was going to end and if evil was going to be put to rest.
I really enjoyed the both Etta's and Reid's characters. Especially together. Their banter and arguments made me laugh and go back to reread the things they said. Though I did find their relationship to develop rather quickly I did enjoy the romance aspect. I enjoyed it because it showed how both characters are flawed and that they both have things they need to heal from and that they are going to help each other through it. Love isn't always rainbows and unicorns and both Etta and Reid have things that they are going to spend time needing to recover from.
The Memory Thief was inspired by Lauren Mansy's own journey when her mother was diagnosed with a heart condition and it was uncertain that she would survive surgery or would have many of her memories when she woke up. My own mother was diagnosed with a heart condition the summer I graduated high school and has been through countless tests and surgeries. Each time I had the same worries, was she going to survive? Was she going to forget the life she had? Having read this about Laruen Mansy and where her inspiration came from gave me an even bigger appreciation for a story I had already loved.
Overall I really enjoyed The Memory Thief and I can't wait to see what Lauren Mansy has in store for her readers next. This book is perfect for people who are looking for a quick unique fantasy novel that is also a stand alone!
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
The Memory Thief is a young adult fantasy with an interesting premise, but it just didn't work for me.
This book has a great concept. In this world, memories are currency. The Gifted can take and give memories, and this talent is often abused. The idea of someone invading your memories, stealing them, and even profiting from them is creepy and fascinating. The Gifted can gain a talent or skill by stealing a memory. For example, the heroine, Etta, is a skilled fighter because of memories she's stolen. This is all very cool, but the rest of the book didn't hold up.
My biggest issue is that the pacing of the book felt off. There are a bunch of plot twists that come in quick succession in the middle of the book. Although they were cool twists, they didn't have much impact because they happened so quickly and with characters that had just been introduced or hadn't been well developed. The pacing is also an issue in the romance that develops between Etta and another character. It happens so quickly and then there's a plot twist that might drive them apart, but since they had barely been together, it felt contrived.
I also had trouble keeping track of the various groups. There are the Gifted and ungifted, but also multiple other groups and they weren't well defined. There were two groups introduced briefly with no information, and it wasn't until I found a glossary at the end of the book that I was able to figure out who and what they were. I wonder if this book was originally much longer or intended to be more than one book, because there is so much compressed into 300 pages. It could have benefited from being a bit longer.
2.5 stars.
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
This book has a great concept. In this world, memories are currency. The Gifted can take and give memories, and this talent is often abused. The idea of someone invading your memories, stealing them, and even profiting from them is creepy and fascinating. The Gifted can gain a talent or skill by stealing a memory. For example, the heroine, Etta, is a skilled fighter because of memories she's stolen. This is all very cool, but the rest of the book didn't hold up.
My biggest issue is that the pacing of the book felt off. There are a bunch of plot twists that come in quick succession in the middle of the book. Although they were cool twists, they didn't have much impact because they happened so quickly and with characters that had just been introduced or hadn't been well developed. The pacing is also an issue in the romance that develops between Etta and another character. It happens so quickly and then there's a plot twist that might drive them apart, but since they had barely been together, it felt contrived.
I also had trouble keeping track of the various groups. There are the Gifted and ungifted, but also multiple other groups and they weren't well defined. There were two groups introduced briefly with no information, and it wasn't until I found a glossary at the end of the book that I was able to figure out who and what they were. I wonder if this book was originally much longer or intended to be more than one book, because there is so much compressed into 300 pages. It could have benefited from being a bit longer.
2.5 stars.
I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
slow-paced
I found this book a bit choppy in transition to thoughts to conversation. Sometimes it was easy to follow the storyline and the sometimes I had no idea what was going on. The concept of the storyline has great potential.
I stopped writing my response to further ponder my feelings on this book to see if I could find better words to describe the rollercoaster this book sent me on.
I will say first and foremost, and I wasn't expecting the twist this book gave me. As someone who often has caught wind of the twist long before it is revealed, this was refreshing.
But what I honestly loved with this book was the "Found Family" vibes I left this book with. While it isn't what I'd typically expect of a found family where it's the friends you make along the way. It more played into childhood whimsy where a mysterious person shows up and sweeps you away, informing you your life so far has been incorrect.
I also found the "magic" system incredibly interesting overall. While definitely a concept that has been explored before to some extent. It was an interesting take nonetheless.
I felt that the ending was incredibly lackluster and didn't meet the buildup level there was for it.
I will say first and foremost, and I wasn't expecting the twist this book gave me. As someone who often has caught wind of the twist long before it is revealed, this was refreshing.
But what I honestly loved with this book was the "Found Family" vibes I left this book with. While it isn't what I'd typically expect of a found family where it's the friends you make along the way. It more played into childhood whimsy where a mysterious person shows up and sweeps you away, informing you your life so far has been incorrect.
I also found the "magic" system incredibly interesting overall. While definitely a concept that has been explored before to some extent. It was an interesting take nonetheless.
I felt that the ending was incredibly lackluster and didn't meet the buildup level there was for it.
I felt like I had already read this book a million times after the Hunger Games came out
I just can't get myself to relate to Etta at all. Her choices and personality bother me and I find her to be very immature, I can't get through a whole book from her perspective.
The story starts out with lots of information about the world it takes place in, which I typically would enjoy but I found it very hard to follow. The idea of this world is amazing, but I think it could be executed through a more robust character personality.
The story starts out with lots of information about the world it takes place in, which I typically would enjoy but I found it very hard to follow. The idea of this world is amazing, but I think it could be executed through a more robust character personality.
fast-paced
What the actual freak. like ok the idea behind it was so cool and amazing but BRO WHAT??? tell me why the main character is like a badass and then is like “he’s the most important guy in my life” and it’s some dude she met a day ago. bffr. love reid but cmon. also like it’s all built up to be good and scary and i’m hype for them to go to aravid and then it’s just her stupid long lost grandpa. WHAT??? and the battle was so built up and lasted not even two pages. way too fast paced and it was like a fun read. idk man. rip my guy Penn tho.🫶