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3.01 AVERAGE
3.01 AVERAGE
I felt behind from the start of this book. I don't really love when I feel like I have to catch up to a storyline, and this one started with a massive info dump + like 80 characters. Then as the book progressed I found myself getting lost. It felt like we were skipping through time and I had a really hard time keeping up with where we were and who was involved. I'm so bummed because the premise is SO INCREDIBLE but I really just did not like this book at all.
I only made it through a few chapters. A world of buying and selling memories has some extreme high fantasy world-building potential. But this is just a YA dystopian novel.
I had trouble understanding Etta's devotion towards her mother, who seems to be the driving force behind all of her choices (the whole plot, in fact, which is why I quit). Etta visits her in the hospital every day, sells out people to the government to get her cared for, commits to treasonous plots in order to save her... it all felt too extreme, especially when Etta more or less raised herself. It might make sense if Etta is trying to save her mother out of guilt, as a type of morbid redemption, but it didn't really come across that way. Maybe it's revealed later on, but I didn't end up caring enough to continue reading.
I had trouble understanding Etta's devotion towards her mother, who seems to be the driving force behind all of her choices (the whole plot, in fact, which is why I quit). Etta visits her in the hospital every day, sells out people to the government to get her cared for, commits to treasonous plots in order to save her... it all felt too extreme, especially when Etta more or less raised herself. It might make sense if Etta is trying to save her mother out of guilt, as a type of morbid redemption, but it didn't really come across that way. Maybe it's revealed later on, but I didn't end up caring enough to continue reading.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I read this for the second time. I really enjoyed it the first time. I dont think it was as good the second time. However, I still enjoyed it.
I really love the characters abilities to forgive. The grandfather who realized his mistakes and was willing to change instead of continuing down the same path was great to read about. Then, a girl who would do all she could to save her mother. Also, the maze was rather interesting.
I didn’t like the Madam, but I wasn’t meant too. I didn’t find much I didn’t like about this story.
In a perfect world, this book would have been one of my favorites. It has everything I like. An intriguing concept, an interesting world, captivating characters. But for some reason, it fell short for me. I found myself confused for a good part of the story trying to figure out what was a memory and what was supposed to be happening in real-time. Granted the book is called The Memory Thief, but I just had a hard time following along. I want to rate it as a 3.5 star read because I really liked the concept, but I am sad to not rate it higher because it is a great idea for a storyline. 3.5 stars. Thank you, NetGalley for the eARC.
The premise of this book is very interesting. There are those called the Gifted that can take your memories from you and claim them for their own. There is a lot that can happen there and there was a lot that did happen. I went back and forth as I was reading this between liking the bones of the story to having problems with the actual writing. It started well and then somewhere in the middle it felt like it was coming together and I was enjoying the development but it sort of fell apart at the end and felt rushed and was all quickly tied up in a neat package. I can’t say I would necessarily recommend it, but I also didn’t mind reading it.
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A saccharine tale about love and family with the backdrop of memory as commodity.
It was fine; some things seemed too easy and convenient. I also didn't like that they said "memory as currency" -- when it was clearly commodity. It didn't acknowledge that memories can be corrupted, and that they aren't as well-defined as the book makes it out to seem.
Eh, it was fine to pass the time.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
boring, bad world building, too many underdeveloped characters being introduced too quickly. felt like reading a book in the middle of the series
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
fast-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
DNF - Honestly got terribly bored with the book.. I wasn't interested in continuing to see how it ended.
Felt like it was a buildup to nothing and while the premise was interesting and could have had a lot of potential but fell flat
Felt like it was a buildup to nothing and while the premise was interesting and could have had a lot of potential but fell flat