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3.01 AVERAGE
3.01 AVERAGE
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
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Sifters. Minders. Ghosts. Shadows. Hunters. Hollows. I really enjoyed this book. I LOVED the idea behind it. Memories being used as currency, bribery, ammunition and more... what a scary thought. I like that for the most part it has a good flow and it was easy to follow. I hit a few plot twists and couldnβt put it down! The twists were well done and didnβt leave me confused or over saturate the story with useless filler.
The only thing I didnβt like was the anti climactic ending. I liked HOW it ended but I felt the way we got there was rushed.
I received this book from @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
I can honestly say that I canβt even begin to imagine having to use my memories and experiences as currency. Or have someone use a bad memory to hurt me mentally or emotionally. This to me is worse than physical pain.
Itβs always hardest to review books that were only soso. You didnβt love them but you didnβt hate them either. Youβre just apathetic about them. This was one such book for me. I would put it down and promptly forget about it but I didnβt have to reread parts to pick up the story again.
The idea of memories as currency or even just the ability for them to be transferred between people was great. However, I didnβt really buy it; I kept questioning how the magic worked as it seemed that the rules changed with whatever part of the story we were in. Etta is the morally superior martyr and Madame is the big bad evil villain.
2.5 stars
ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
The idea of memories as currency or even just the ability for them to be transferred between people was great. However, I didnβt really buy it; I kept questioning how the magic worked as it seemed that the rules changed with whatever part of the story we were in. Etta is the morally superior martyr and Madame is the big bad evil villain.
2.5 stars
ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
3.5 stars
The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy is a good freshman YA fantasy novel. It is based in a fairly well described society which is ruled by four Sifter leaders, of which Madame is the strongest. She rules viciously in a land where memories are currency to be bought, sold, and stolen.
Etta has made a deal with Madame that was meant to keep her mother safe. But Madame, it seems, is not going to keep her word. Upon notice that her mother is to be "auctioned" in a few days' time, Etta sets out to rejoin the Shadows and rescue her mother from the evil Sifter.
Mansy has some clear writing talent and the premise for this novel was interesting and fairly well constructed. The characters overall fell slightly flatter than I would have liked, but there was a decent development in Etta and maybe a hint beginning in Reid. Though no sequel is currently indicated, the writing for these characters did feel a bit like the typical "setup" novel for a fantasy trilogy.
The world building in this novel is decent and there is the creation of some atmospheric setting. The construction is coherent and mostly simple, while still staying unique and interesting. However, there is some info dumping in the beginning that creates a bit of confusion. The different "occupations" and sectors of the public got a little muddled for me and I had to slowly weed out the details of who was who and what powers were given to what factions.
I enjoy the fact that there is a fantastic setup for an unreliable narrator in this plot. When your memories can be taken, altered, or replaced/erased, how do you know what is real? This fact wasn't used to it's fullest, but it was definitely exploited to a degree...which I appreciated.
The ending was a bit of a whirlwind. The battle felt a little short compared to all the buildup. It wasn't bad, but somehow felt underwhelming. There also exists an epilogue, which does close up a few important matters, but still felt different from the writing in the rest of the book.
Overall, this was a good read and I liked the world that it was set in. It would make good sense for there to be a sequel to this book, but as a standalone it still lines up pretty okay. A stronger ending would have really helped it out, but I was still mostly content with what took place in the pages.
3.5 stars
The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy is a good freshman YA fantasy novel. It is based in a fairly well described society which is ruled by four Sifter leaders, of which Madame is the strongest. She rules viciously in a land where memories are currency to be bought, sold, and stolen.
Etta has made a deal with Madame that was meant to keep her mother safe. But Madame, it seems, is not going to keep her word. Upon notice that her mother is to be "auctioned" in a few days' time, Etta sets out to rejoin the Shadows and rescue her mother from the evil Sifter.
Mansy has some clear writing talent and the premise for this novel was interesting and fairly well constructed. The characters overall fell slightly flatter than I would have liked, but there was a decent development in Etta and maybe a hint beginning in Reid. Though no sequel is currently indicated, the writing for these characters did feel a bit like the typical "setup" novel for a fantasy trilogy.
The world building in this novel is decent and there is the creation of some atmospheric setting. The construction is coherent and mostly simple, while still staying unique and interesting. However, there is some info dumping in the beginning that creates a bit of confusion. The different "occupations" and sectors of the public got a little muddled for me and I had to slowly weed out the details of who was who and what powers were given to what factions.
I enjoy the fact that there is a fantastic setup for an unreliable narrator in this plot. When your memories can be taken, altered, or replaced/erased, how do you know what is real? This fact wasn't used to it's fullest, but it was definitely exploited to a degree...which I appreciated.
The ending was a bit of a whirlwind. The battle felt a little short compared to all the buildup. It wasn't bad, but somehow felt underwhelming. There also exists an epilogue, which does close up a few important matters, but still felt different from the writing in the rest of the book.
Overall, this was a good read and I liked the world that it was set in. It would make good sense for there to be a sequel to this book, but as a standalone it still lines up pretty okay. A stronger ending would have really helped it out, but I was still mostly content with what took place in the pages.
Thank you to Harper Collins Canada, hccfrenzy, for sending me this ARC for an honest review.
Like so many other releases this year, can we take a moment to appreciate this absolutely gorgeous cover?! Even the cover of my ARC was lovely, and I cannot wait to see the finished copy.
And also similar to other releases this year, the mixed reviews were not going to stop me from reading a book that I was excited about! I really enjoyed this book, and I am ecstatic that I did. My actual rating of this book is 4.5 stars.
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I knew that I would be in for an adventure with some kind of villain, magical abilities that involved memories, a maze, and just all around awesomeness. And honestly, this book didn't disappoint for me! I loved the characters, and appreciated Etta's character so much. Her love for her family and the grief at her losses and past things that had happened felt so true and honourable. And her strive to make things right is something I think almost anyone can relate to.
There were a few twists that were so fantastically done in my opinion, things that I did not see coming. And while there was some romance - which I thoroughly enjoyed and was rooting for throughout the novel - I was glad that it didn't take away from the main messages of the book: family, survival, believing in and forgiving yourself.
I loved the magical concept of being able to transfer memories, and the idea that it could be corrupted into something far more sinister and transactional. However, I think the part where it lost me a bit was some of the minute details of how that would work. In the novel, people transfer memories through touch, sometimes without meaning to when their walls/guards in their minds are down. It led me to SOOOOO many questions - with the main one being how on earth are these people having sex to have kids without memories just flying and swapping around!? HAHA. One other point I will say, nothing I would EVER hold against the author, is that this book could have used another round or two of editing. I hope it will be given that before release date, because that is something this book so deserves. To me, someone with an English degree who hates spelling and grammatical mistakes, it was distracting... BUT I am aware that this was an ARC and so as I mentioned, that was not included in my rating. Just a side point.
I really enjoyed this novel, and I think if you are a fan of books like Everless, The Last Namsara, or Romanov (all others that I love) you might want to give this one a try!
Also, I would say that this book is mostly clean YA. There is violence, and honestly not much else that I can remember!
Like so many other releases this year, can we take a moment to appreciate this absolutely gorgeous cover?! Even the cover of my ARC was lovely, and I cannot wait to see the finished copy.
And also similar to other releases this year, the mixed reviews were not going to stop me from reading a book that I was excited about! I really enjoyed this book, and I am ecstatic that I did. My actual rating of this book is 4.5 stars.
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, but I knew that I would be in for an adventure with some kind of villain, magical abilities that involved memories, a maze, and just all around awesomeness. And honestly, this book didn't disappoint for me! I loved the characters, and appreciated Etta's character so much. Her love for her family and the grief at her losses and past things that had happened felt so true and honourable. And her strive to make things right is something I think almost anyone can relate to.
There were a few twists that were so fantastically done in my opinion, things that I did not see coming. And while there was some romance - which I thoroughly enjoyed and was rooting for throughout the novel - I was glad that it didn't take away from the main messages of the book: family, survival, believing in and forgiving yourself.
I loved the magical concept of being able to transfer memories, and the idea that it could be corrupted into something far more sinister and transactional. However, I think the part where it lost me a bit was some of the minute details of how that would work. In the novel, people transfer memories through touch, sometimes without meaning to when their walls/guards in their minds are down. It led me to SOOOOO many questions - with the main one being how on earth are these people having sex to have kids without memories just flying and swapping around!? HAHA. One other point I will say, nothing I would EVER hold against the author, is that this book could have used another round or two of editing. I hope it will be given that before release date, because that is something this book so deserves. To me, someone with an English degree who hates spelling and grammatical mistakes, it was distracting... BUT I am aware that this was an ARC and so as I mentioned, that was not included in my rating. Just a side point.
I really enjoyed this novel, and I think if you are a fan of books like Everless, The Last Namsara, or Romanov (all others that I love) you might want to give this one a try!
Also, I would say that this book is mostly clean YA. There is violence, and honestly not much else that I can remember!
3.5/5 Stars for this YA Fantasy!
This is a really unique story, which was great! I didn't have a great connection to any of the characters, leading to the 3.5 star rating. I did enjoy the story quite a bit, and the adventures throughout. The book is action packed! What I loved most was the author's note at the end, where she shares a personal story about where the idea of the book came from. That was really special! If you're looking for a unique YA Fantasy story, I definitely recommend it! And isn't this cover fantastic?!
This is a really unique story, which was great! I didn't have a great connection to any of the characters, leading to the 3.5 star rating. I did enjoy the story quite a bit, and the adventures throughout. The book is action packed! What I loved most was the author's note at the end, where she shares a personal story about where the idea of the book came from. That was really special! If you're looking for a unique YA Fantasy story, I definitely recommend it! And isn't this cover fantastic?!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy sounded like it had a cool premise, but unfortunately it never quite worked out for me. I stuck with it through to the end, but in the end it just wasn't for me. The characters and the world were too underdeveloped for my tastes. Plus, it wasn't all that memorable either.
The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy sounded like it had a cool premise, but unfortunately it never quite worked out for me. I stuck with it through to the end, but in the end it just wasn't for me. The characters and the world were too underdeveloped for my tastes. Plus, it wasn't all that memorable either.
I love standalones books for a very good reason, some stories don't need to be continued on and on. We don't always need a continuation to them, sometimes it's a lot more emotional to have a journey been shorter then having one of big epic propositions that strand for another book or even two for that matter. A good book with a fine ending always get to me especially with Lauren Mansy first debut novel, The Memory Thief. I received it from my book box, Book Hooked Box which I highly recommend checking out ;)
Etta is trapped in a world that is too rough so she had to be roughed too. She used to work with the shadows, the group that fight for those who can't help themselves but alas she had to make a tough choice for the sake of her mother and she betrayed them. People got killed, you know how that goes and now she's closed off from everyone. Things get a turn for the worse when her mother, who in the last couple of years have been in an asylum due to her condition, is going to be kicked on and now she has no one else to turn to for help. Now she has to earn back that group trust and help in their plot to overturn the tyrant of their city in favor of preventing her mother auction which will also means her early unfairly demise.
"You were right about me, you know. The only thing I'm good at is stealing what people love the most. I'm the perfect thief."
I love Etta character alot! She is such a fascinating study of morally gray character who simply became what the world and her society wanted her to be. She didn't meant to betrayed her group nor cause their cruel fate and jeopardize everything they work for, but you can't but feel her anguish alongside it. She's just a girl who's trying to do right for her mother and trying to amend for her past sins. Etta grows throughout the book but she is flawed because who can blame her really.
Sadly Etta is probably the only character I can talk about that I remember I'm afraid. The book pace is very fast pace, we going through Etta's journey and her memories of the past all masquerading between the pages and yet everyone else feels like an extra in this big production of a show. The only one who I can vividly remember is Etta's mother who her relationship on its own and whats going on with her recovering from her coma is heartbreaking since it reminds me a lot of my poor grandmother (god bless her soul) and her fight against Alzheimer. I feel that despite how good the writing is the author should have focus more on making the characters more memorable.
"Having similar goals doesn't make people friends. After this job, I won't move foreword if-"
"If you don't break ties with your past? But I'm not in your past."
"You will be."
"We'll see."
Which brings me to the romance in the book which is sorta sweet. It feels like cotton candy, fun to eat but nothing to take home for. Feels exactly what you need for a story like this but Etta and Reid, the boy in question relationship is interesting. They learn to trust in each other and confine in one another and it doesn't feel too rushed. I just wished it didn't feel too much Insta- love, you know?
Lauren created such a unique concept I haven't seen before in a fantasy book. Memories are such a interesting thing to talk about in a book. Like just reading from the summary above you immediately thrown into a unique world that capitalize on people waging their memories in auctions as type of wage to survive the end of the day. Some people seek to buy talents like drawing, playing musical instruments, martial arts, etc from the memory of other people and then there's others who simply want to experience the adrenaline thrill of the excitement of a athletic jumping off a mountain, or a soldier fighting in a war or perhaps they want to erase themselves and become someone new entirely or worse. You feel how both mystifying and scary this world can be and you can't but understand our Protagonist, Etta plight.
Would I recommend this book? Sure, why not if you want a fun fast read with unique world and intriguing main character. I think that in the end of the day what matter is that we make new memories all the time but it doesn't mean we should forget the old ones either. I definitely won't forget this book for a very long time and I can't wait for another work from Lauren Mansy.
Etta is trapped in a world that is too rough so she had to be roughed too. She used to work with the shadows, the group that fight for those who can't help themselves but alas she had to make a tough choice for the sake of her mother and she betrayed them. People got killed, you know how that goes and now she's closed off from everyone. Things get a turn for the worse when her mother, who in the last couple of years have been in an asylum due to her condition, is going to be kicked on and now she has no one else to turn to for help. Now she has to earn back that group trust and help in their plot to overturn the tyrant of their city in favor of preventing her mother auction which will also means her early unfairly demise.
"You were right about me, you know. The only thing I'm good at is stealing what people love the most. I'm the perfect thief."
I love Etta character alot! She is such a fascinating study of morally gray character who simply became what the world and her society wanted her to be. She didn't meant to betrayed her group nor cause their cruel fate and jeopardize everything they work for, but you can't but feel her anguish alongside it. She's just a girl who's trying to do right for her mother and trying to amend for her past sins. Etta grows throughout the book but she is flawed because who can blame her really.
Sadly Etta is probably the only character I can talk about that I remember I'm afraid. The book pace is very fast pace, we going through Etta's journey and her memories of the past all masquerading between the pages and yet everyone else feels like an extra in this big production of a show. The only one who I can vividly remember is Etta's mother who her relationship on its own and whats going on with her recovering from her coma is heartbreaking since it reminds me a lot of my poor grandmother (god bless her soul) and her fight against Alzheimer. I feel that despite how good the writing is the author should have focus more on making the characters more memorable.
"Having similar goals doesn't make people friends. After this job, I won't move foreword if-"
"If you don't break ties with your past? But I'm not in your past."
"You will be."
"We'll see."
Which brings me to the romance in the book which is sorta sweet. It feels like cotton candy, fun to eat but nothing to take home for. Feels exactly what you need for a story like this but Etta and Reid, the boy in question relationship is interesting. They learn to trust in each other and confine in one another and it doesn't feel too rushed. I just wished it didn't feel too much Insta- love, you know?
Lauren created such a unique concept I haven't seen before in a fantasy book. Memories are such a interesting thing to talk about in a book. Like just reading from the summary above you immediately thrown into a unique world that capitalize on people waging their memories in auctions as type of wage to survive the end of the day. Some people seek to buy talents like drawing, playing musical instruments, martial arts, etc from the memory of other people and then there's others who simply want to experience the adrenaline thrill of the excitement of a athletic jumping off a mountain, or a soldier fighting in a war or perhaps they want to erase themselves and become someone new entirely or worse. You feel how both mystifying and scary this world can be and you can't but understand our Protagonist, Etta plight.
Would I recommend this book? Sure, why not if you want a fun fast read with unique world and intriguing main character. I think that in the end of the day what matter is that we make new memories all the time but it doesn't mean we should forget the old ones either. I definitely won't forget this book for a very long time and I can't wait for another work from Lauren Mansy.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
DNF at 29%
Couldn't get into this one. While the premise is interesting -- people having gifts, including taking someone's memories and having gifts that you can hide in a world that categorizes people as Gifted and Ungifted -- it just fell flat. It felt too easy, too simplistic. I don't quite know how to describe it, but I think it came down to the writing. The writing was so easy and the pacing was off. That and the characterization because of stilted/odd dialogue.
Really, just couldn't do it. I thought about finishing it, but I knew that I couldn't force myself because it might put me in a slump.
DNF at 29%
Couldn't get into this one. While the premise is interesting -- people having gifts, including taking someone's memories and having gifts that you can hide in a world that categorizes people as Gifted and Ungifted -- it just fell flat. It felt too easy, too simplistic. I don't quite know how to describe it, but I think it came down to the writing. The writing was so easy and the pacing was off. That and the characterization because of stilted/odd dialogue.
Really, just couldn't do it. I thought about finishing it, but I knew that I couldn't force myself because it might put me in a slump.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley, BLINK and Fantastic Flying Book Club for this free copy.
Something about memories, man. I donβt know what I was really expecting when I saw the premise of this novel, and read the synopsis, but I donβt think I was expecting what I got. This book was definitely interesting, and the execution of the plot was okay, not terrible and not something completely novel. Well, maybe since I donβt recall reading a book that deals with memories are used as currency. Itβs interesting though. What use would someone have with someone elseβs memories, especially when that person is probably not alive anymore?
It looks like the most valuable memory β at least the memory that is βdeemedβ the most valuable by Madame, the reigning authority in this world β seems to be the one that causes the person the most pain. At least that was the vibe I got from the very beginning, and maybe that makes sense somehow to her. Having the power to allow these people she deems βcriminalsβ to have to relive their worst memories before they are executed seems like a great punishment if I was pure evil, but then, why would that be valuable to someone else? A learning lesson? Something to get off on? I donβt really know.
Maybe itβs a good thing that I donβt live in this world. Who knows what memory I would have to relive.
Itβs hard to have strong opinions about novels where the inspiration for it comes from a very personal and vulnerable moment in the authorβs life. Sure, it could be easy to try to compartmentalize fact from fiction, the authorβs life from the authorβs imagined world, but I feel like thereβs elements of this story that are so rooted in Mansyβs situation with her own mother that I feel almost unwilling to come at it from an objective perspective. I donβt even know if that makes sense. I feel like I have put myself in her shoes in the best way that I can, and seeing what Ettaβs mom had to go through β even just a brief glimpse of it β and not knowing just how much of that stems from truth, really makes me feel emotional. Hurt almost, that this world could be so cruel to these people that arenβt and shouldnβt be deemed as criminals, but are labeled as such because of whoβs in charge. That these people canβt even be helped in the proper way because of whatever reasons Madame wants to give.
I donβt even know if this makes sense, anymore. But I had a lot of feelings while I was reading this book, and a part of me knows that while it wasnβt perfect, I donβt know if it really was meant to be. It was an interesting take on the ideas of memories and their value, it was another story that deals with corruption, and the choices that Etta makes throughout this entire story just makes me sit in silence and wonder what exactly I would have done if I were in her shoes.
Honestly, I donβt know what I would do.
Something about memories, man. I donβt know what I was really expecting when I saw the premise of this novel, and read the synopsis, but I donβt think I was expecting what I got. This book was definitely interesting, and the execution of the plot was okay, not terrible and not something completely novel. Well, maybe since I donβt recall reading a book that deals with memories are used as currency. Itβs interesting though. What use would someone have with someone elseβs memories, especially when that person is probably not alive anymore?
It looks like the most valuable memory β at least the memory that is βdeemedβ the most valuable by Madame, the reigning authority in this world β seems to be the one that causes the person the most pain. At least that was the vibe I got from the very beginning, and maybe that makes sense somehow to her. Having the power to allow these people she deems βcriminalsβ to have to relive their worst memories before they are executed seems like a great punishment if I was pure evil, but then, why would that be valuable to someone else? A learning lesson? Something to get off on? I donβt really know.
Maybe itβs a good thing that I donβt live in this world. Who knows what memory I would have to relive.
Itβs hard to have strong opinions about novels where the inspiration for it comes from a very personal and vulnerable moment in the authorβs life. Sure, it could be easy to try to compartmentalize fact from fiction, the authorβs life from the authorβs imagined world, but I feel like thereβs elements of this story that are so rooted in Mansyβs situation with her own mother that I feel almost unwilling to come at it from an objective perspective. I donβt even know if that makes sense. I feel like I have put myself in her shoes in the best way that I can, and seeing what Ettaβs mom had to go through β even just a brief glimpse of it β and not knowing just how much of that stems from truth, really makes me feel emotional. Hurt almost, that this world could be so cruel to these people that arenβt and shouldnβt be deemed as criminals, but are labeled as such because of whoβs in charge. That these people canβt even be helped in the proper way because of whatever reasons Madame wants to give.
I donβt even know if this makes sense, anymore. But I had a lot of feelings while I was reading this book, and a part of me knows that while it wasnβt perfect, I donβt know if it really was meant to be. It was an interesting take on the ideas of memories and their value, it was another story that deals with corruption, and the choices that Etta makes throughout this entire story just makes me sit in silence and wonder what exactly I would have done if I were in her shoes.
Honestly, I donβt know what I would do.