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3.01 AVERAGE
3.01 AVERAGE
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.
First, I was "okay, this is a cool concept", and slowly I became very invested. I love a story that keeps me on my toes and The Memory Thief didn't disappoint. I never saw a twist coming.
While the pacing was a bit uneven and the relationship needed more flushing out for me, the storytelling made up for it.
While the pacing was a bit uneven and the relationship needed more flushing out for me, the storytelling made up for it.
Disclaimer: I was given a temporary eARC of this book via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of memories as currency is an interesting concept, I had actually seen it before in an episode of Doctor Who. The concept was intriguing but I found the execution lacking. I was actually not able to finish this book because it just couldn't keep my attention. I hate not finishing a book, but I just couldn't do it in this case.
The premise of memories as currency is an interesting concept, I had actually seen it before in an episode of Doctor Who. The concept was intriguing but I found the execution lacking. I was actually not able to finish this book because it just couldn't keep my attention. I hate not finishing a book, but I just couldn't do it in this case.
3.5 Stars.
In Craewick memories are currency. Those who are gifted can take the memories of other through nothing but a touch, those without gifts will use their memories to get further in life. Madame who rules the city has created created a city divided making it hard for anyone to get further ahead, particularly those who are ungifted. Etta wants nothing more to live unnoticed, but when she gets a notice that her mom is going to be put up for auction, a practice where 'criminals' memories are auctioned off the highest bidder before they are killed. She decides she will do anything to save her mom. Even if that means going back to the Shadows, something she swore she would never do. Now she must memorize the map of the 'maze' a prison that is suppose to be impenetrable created by the cruel leader from the neighbouring city. She will do anything to prove her loyalty to the Shadows and save her mom.
Lauren Mansy's world was large. I will admit to being a little confused at times. While Etta was very well developed and those closely linked to her were also fairly close to her were well developed I felt that the story could have benefitted from a few less characters or a little more development for those that they were mentioning. I was often confused by the names they were saying because I wasn't quite sure who they were. This got better as the story went on as things became a little clearer. The world was well developed though and I loved how it all came together. I think these problems could have been solved by a little bit of a longer book. The idea as memories as currency is one I have seen before but not done this way and I liked it quite a bit. I enjoyed the different ways the gifts could work. It was interesting to see the physical attributes coming out in some, and how others had variants. I would even be interested in reading a sequel where you learned more about different gifts. Etta was my favourite character by far and this was likely because she was so well developed, if other characters had that much development they likely could have been up there as well.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys young adult fantasy.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the eArc all opinions and reviews are my own.
In Craewick memories are currency. Those who are gifted can take the memories of other through nothing but a touch, those without gifts will use their memories to get further in life. Madame who rules the city has created created a city divided making it hard for anyone to get further ahead, particularly those who are ungifted. Etta wants nothing more to live unnoticed, but when she gets a notice that her mom is going to be put up for auction, a practice where 'criminals' memories are auctioned off the highest bidder before they are killed. She decides she will do anything to save her mom. Even if that means going back to the Shadows, something she swore she would never do. Now she must memorize the map of the 'maze' a prison that is suppose to be impenetrable created by the cruel leader from the neighbouring city. She will do anything to prove her loyalty to the Shadows and save her mom.
Lauren Mansy's world was large. I will admit to being a little confused at times. While Etta was very well developed and those closely linked to her were also fairly close to her were well developed I felt that the story could have benefitted from a few less characters or a little more development for those that they were mentioning. I was often confused by the names they were saying because I wasn't quite sure who they were. This got better as the story went on as things became a little clearer. The world was well developed though and I loved how it all came together. I think these problems could have been solved by a little bit of a longer book. The idea as memories as currency is one I have seen before but not done this way and I liked it quite a bit. I enjoyed the different ways the gifts could work. It was interesting to see the physical attributes coming out in some, and how others had variants. I would even be interested in reading a sequel where you learned more about different gifts. Etta was my favourite character by far and this was likely because she was so well developed, if other characters had that much development they likely could have been up there as well.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys young adult fantasy.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the eArc all opinions and reviews are my own.
C.A.W.P.I.L.E. rating: 8.86
well first of all, i loved this book and i wanted it to be longer. wild, i know, but trust me, this book could have benefited from a bigger word count. some things seemed kinda rushed and i was like "wait, no!! i need more! slow down! explain things in greater detail!! i don't want to leave this scene just yet!!!" you know?
this is a great story, with a great world, a great plot, and great characters. i enjoyed the way this story was told, definitely different and it left room to crave more. i hate this book for making me want to crave more and then not giving it to me, how rude.
well first of all, i loved this book and i wanted it to be longer. wild, i know, but trust me, this book could have benefited from a bigger word count. some things seemed kinda rushed and i was like "wait, no!! i need more! slow down! explain things in greater detail!! i don't want to leave this scene just yet!!!" you know?
this is a great story, with a great world, a great plot, and great characters. i enjoyed the way this story was told, definitely different and it left room to crave more. i hate this book for making me want to crave more and then not giving it to me, how rude.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
I would recommend this to anyone who likes to dive into others memories, interesting dystopian worlds, a not completely reliable narrator, blackmail and deceit, rebels and power hungry villains, and a story where not everything is as it seems.
It had been a while since I read a good-old dystopian YA fiction. Books like The Hunger Games series and Kiera Cass’s The Selection series are some of my favourite examples of stories that I will keep coming back to, even as I continue into my 30s. I’ve mentioned before that YA doesn’t really only apply to those young readers and that I often find the stories much more compelling. This is why I was so excited to read The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy (in stores now!). The synopsis had me sucked in, and I was so ready to go into the world and join Etta on her adventure.
The premise of this book is something I had never seen before, and the concept was really well developed by Mansy. Right from the first chapter, I understood the dynamics of the world-building and how the characters interacted with their gifts. I felt I could picture in my head, which is always cool.
I really enjoyed the premise and the adventure part of the story, especially in the beginning, but, without giving too much away, I did think everything came to Etta and Reid (her travel companion) much easier than it should have. At every stop, they ended up getting a lot of help, and it felt a little bit too…convenient…for me. Now, all that to say that these conveniences really did add to the world and how everyone was connected in the story, but I wish Etta had to do more of the adventure on her own, if you know what I mean. And sometimes I wasn’t sure where the characters were. It jumped around maybe too much? I’m not sure what the issue was there, though it could have just been me missing something.
My only other criticism was with the main antagonist, Madame. Not only is that not a great name for a villain (everyone else had an actual first name, so she could have had some really cool made-up name) and it really makes me think of more of a person who runs a brothel than a leader. I also didn’t really get a good sense of her character. I understood her motivations and we got bits and pieces of what made her the way she was, but I still didn’t understand who she was.
Despite those criticisms, I did really enjoy the book and think Mansy did a great job as a first-time author. I’m looking forward to seeing how she builds other worlds for future novels, as that is truly one of her strengths.
3.5 STARS
Thank you to NetGalley and Blink YA Books for the advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of this book is something I had never seen before, and the concept was really well developed by Mansy. Right from the first chapter, I understood the dynamics of the world-building and how the characters interacted with their gifts. I felt I could picture in my head, which is always cool.
I really enjoyed the premise and the adventure part of the story, especially in the beginning, but, without giving too much away, I did think everything came to Etta and Reid (her travel companion) much easier than it should have. At every stop, they ended up getting a lot of help, and it felt a little bit too…convenient…for me. Now, all that to say that these conveniences really did add to the world and how everyone was connected in the story, but I wish Etta had to do more of the adventure on her own, if you know what I mean. And sometimes I wasn’t sure where the characters were. It jumped around maybe too much? I’m not sure what the issue was there, though it could have just been me missing something.
My only other criticism was with the main antagonist, Madame. Not only is that not a great name for a villain (everyone else had an actual first name, so she could have had some really cool made-up name) and it really makes me think of more of a person who runs a brothel than a leader. I also didn’t really get a good sense of her character. I understood her motivations and we got bits and pieces of what made her the way she was, but I still didn’t understand who she was.
Despite those criticisms, I did really enjoy the book and think Mansy did a great job as a first-time author. I’m looking forward to seeing how she builds other worlds for future novels, as that is truly one of her strengths.
3.5 STARS
Thank you to NetGalley and Blink YA Books for the advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.
Mediocre YA fantasy. I like YA fantasy--I read all the Hunger Games & Harry Potter books. They can be a delightful break from the more grim/serious adult fantasy. However, this one was irritating. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator's childish, cartoon-like voice was distracting. The plot conceit is cool (a world where people can steal each other's memories), but there was WAY too much exposition, as if this were Book 2 in a series (so, so much backstory). The characters are two-dimensional and cliche. The bad guys are very very bad, the good guys very very good. All of it was just too predictable and boring. On the bright side, it was a short book. I put it on in the background while I was doing other things, and often lost track of the story. I didn't bother rewinding.
Your typical YA trope, a headstrong girl who isn’t your average girl. Strong, powerful, doesn’t need to rely on anyone else. It’ll be empowering for the demographic. I appreciate that it didn’t glorify sex and drugs, but teamwork and forgiveness.