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3.01 AVERAGE
3.01 AVERAGE
I'm wanting to reread this as I was really distracted at the time I read this book, but also I wasn't really in the mood for a full blown fantasy type book. So I will be revisited this in the future. Which is why I have decided to not rate the book until then.
I had high hopes for this book. I really did. I’m constantly looking for new, fresh ideas in my fantasy novels and I felt like she had such an interesting take on the genre.
It just fell flat. With the grand, sweeping plot and the promise that this world had (in conception), the book could have easily been twice as long. And I think it would’ve been better longer, as the entire thing felt a little rushed. The pace made it difficult to really connect with any characters or their relationships with each other, so any loss or trials just didn’t resonate with me as a reader. So... boo.
I do think that the author’s writing style held a lot of promise, I think that once she has a couple more books under her belt and finds her sweet spot in terms of length and voice, she could put out something really excellent.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t it. But it was oooookay.
It just fell flat. With the grand, sweeping plot and the promise that this world had (in conception), the book could have easily been twice as long. And I think it would’ve been better longer, as the entire thing felt a little rushed. The pace made it difficult to really connect with any characters or their relationships with each other, so any loss or trials just didn’t resonate with me as a reader. So... boo.
I do think that the author’s writing style held a lot of promise, I think that once she has a couple more books under her belt and finds her sweet spot in terms of length and voice, she could put out something really excellent.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t it. But it was oooookay.
To me, this was conceptually entertaining, but the execution wasn’t my favorite. If you’re into a little bit of magic and a light quick read, this may be perfect for you tho!
The introduction of new information and characters was disorganized. Although the circumstances the protagonist was in were objectively sad, there was no space for me as a reader to connect or sympathize with the character. I thought the concept was really cool, but I couldn't get past the writing style. It didn't feel like it was worth finishing.
I was granted an ARC from Netgalley so thank you!!
This book hits between a 3 and 4 star review for me again.
Some of the things I liked about it was that it was easy and quick to read (I read the entire thing on a long drive back home) and the main character wasn’t too annoying or anything bad, but I did like the premise of the story being about giving and taking memories. It’s an interesting concept and thoroughly explored in this novel, both the pros and cons of being able to do so. You can give bad memories away, you can learn new talents as if you’ve studied for years, you can see places you’ll never get to go, but your memories can be stolen, horrible memories forced upon you, until nothing of yourself remains. I really enjoyed reading about a world like that. It also ended on a happier note which is something I prefer.
However a lot of things fell into place a little too easily at times, and one of the major conflicts was resolved instantaneously, which I thought was just too easy. I liked the characters but didn’t feel too strongly about any of them.
This book hits between a 3 and 4 star review for me again.
Some of the things I liked about it was that it was easy and quick to read (I read the entire thing on a long drive back home) and the main character wasn’t too annoying or anything bad, but I did like the premise of the story being about giving and taking memories. It’s an interesting concept and thoroughly explored in this novel, both the pros and cons of being able to do so. You can give bad memories away, you can learn new talents as if you’ve studied for years, you can see places you’ll never get to go, but your memories can be stolen, horrible memories forced upon you, until nothing of yourself remains. I really enjoyed reading about a world like that. It also ended on a happier note which is something I prefer.
However a lot of things fell into place a little too easily at times, and one of the major conflicts was resolved instantaneously, which I thought was just too easy. I liked the characters but didn’t feel too strongly about any of them.
My thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a beautiful cover! All the golden swirls set against the black really stick with the viewer as a visual representation of how memories can intertwine and color everything with light or darkness.
One positive for The Memory Thief is that for the characters remembering something is like reliving it. Each memory has an intrusive quality which makes perfect sense given the memory powers people have.
The plot line itself was good and entertaining but overall this book had a ton of issues.
The relationship between Etta and Reid was insta-love and insta-trust. It went from “I can’t trust this guy at all” to “I trust him with my life” in the space of two pages. At one point Etta literally thinks “three days ago this guy was nothing to me, but now he means everything.” Three days. If that’s not insta-love then nothing qualifies.
All emotions are rushed. Love. Trust. Grief. **potential spoiler** Etta’s mom basically shrugs when someone dies and says well at least I got to talk to them one last time. Like really? **end of potential spoiler**
Mansy cuts out character development for a “he was evil and now he’s not” solution that doesn’t fit. And the reason why he is suddenly not evil isn’t even a good or well-developed reason. And even worse it completely cuts the climax out. Imagine that characters are traveling to inevitable doom that they must fight against and defeat the bad guy to get through the terrible maze and … oh wait the bad guy is not that bad and the maze is pretty easy with a built-in guide. Awkward. But wait remember that big bad from the beginning of the book let’s go back to fighting that person. Flawless.
for the full review please visit https://www.literarydragonreviews.website/2019/09/06/the-memory-thief-by-lauren-mansy/
What a beautiful cover! All the golden swirls set against the black really stick with the viewer as a visual representation of how memories can intertwine and color everything with light or darkness.
One positive for The Memory Thief is that for the characters remembering something is like reliving it. Each memory has an intrusive quality which makes perfect sense given the memory powers people have.
The plot line itself was good and entertaining but overall this book had a ton of issues.
The relationship between Etta and Reid was insta-love and insta-trust. It went from “I can’t trust this guy at all” to “I trust him with my life” in the space of two pages. At one point Etta literally thinks “three days ago this guy was nothing to me, but now he means everything.” Three days. If that’s not insta-love then nothing qualifies.
All emotions are rushed. Love. Trust. Grief. **potential spoiler** Etta’s mom basically shrugs when someone dies and says well at least I got to talk to them one last time. Like really? **end of potential spoiler**
Mansy cuts out character development for a “he was evil and now he’s not” solution that doesn’t fit. And the reason why he is suddenly not evil isn’t even a good or well-developed reason. And even worse it completely cuts the climax out. Imagine that characters are traveling to inevitable doom that they must fight against and defeat the bad guy to get through the terrible maze and … oh wait the bad guy is not that bad and the maze is pretty easy with a built-in guide. Awkward. But wait remember that big bad from the beginning of the book let’s go back to fighting that person. Flawless.
for the full review please visit https://www.literarydragonreviews.website/2019/09/06/the-memory-thief-by-lauren-mansy/
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.
I read the first few chapters of this book and I can tell that this book is very straight forward. There’s a lot of things already revealed in the first chapter and it doesn’t create room for suspense. It felt extremely rushed. There’s a lot of telling the story and not showing what is happening. The concept of the book is really cool and has a lot of potential if put in the right hands but I’m not going to waste my time reading the rest of it if I know for a fact I will not like it. I was so excited to read this and was not expecting it to be a middle-schooler’s level.
medium-paced
NetGalley Review
I absolutely loved the concept of this book. The thought of buying or stealing memories is so unique and frightening at the same time! I was hooked from the first page but something shifted near the middle of the book. I'm not sure if it was me or the book, but I suddenly wasn't quite as hyped for it as I was when I first began reading. I think the biggest issue for me and possibly the reason why I fell out of it was due to the pacing. I was immediately hooked from the start, but shortly afterward, I kept trying to find reasons to keep me reading.
But do not let this deter you from reading. The Memory Theif has so many great aspects to it. For the most part, the character's interactions with each other felt genuine. However, at some points, it did sound as if they were all one character rather than their own unique selves. I enjoyed Etta's character, but I felt like something was missing in the end. Though there was some growth to her character, I wish there had been more. There is a lot of action within this book, which I absolutely loved. The characters have their own abilities, which are and aren't explained at the end of the book. For some, I needed a little bit of a stronger definition and explanation.
Overall, I enjoyed The Memory Thief. Though I most likely won't pick this book up again, I do recommend if you enjoy action, instant connections, and the concept of the novel.
I absolutely loved the concept of this book. The thought of buying or stealing memories is so unique and frightening at the same time! I was hooked from the first page but something shifted near the middle of the book. I'm not sure if it was me or the book, but I suddenly wasn't quite as hyped for it as I was when I first began reading. I think the biggest issue for me and possibly the reason why I fell out of it was due to the pacing. I was immediately hooked from the start, but shortly afterward, I kept trying to find reasons to keep me reading.
But do not let this deter you from reading. The Memory Theif has so many great aspects to it. For the most part, the character's interactions with each other felt genuine. However, at some points, it did sound as if they were all one character rather than their own unique selves. I enjoyed Etta's character, but I felt like something was missing in the end. Though there was some growth to her character, I wish there had been more. There is a lot of action within this book, which I absolutely loved. The characters have their own abilities, which are and aren't explained at the end of the book. For some, I needed a little bit of a stronger definition and explanation.
Overall, I enjoyed The Memory Thief. Though I most likely won't pick this book up again, I do recommend if you enjoy action, instant connections, and the concept of the novel.