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crybabybea 's review for:
The Memory Hunters
by Mia Tsai
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Waiter waiter! More magic mushroom-induced sapphic Inception, please!
This is a standout romantic sci-fi that feels fresh while still remaining grounded and accessible. It was trippy, exciting, and full of delicious sapphic yearning.
The Memory Hunters feels reminiscent of some fan-favorites; themes and critiques akin to Babel and Blood Over Bright Haven, exploration of identity and subversive bodyguard/princess intimacy like Gideon the Ninth, and the quick pacing focused on morality and character interiority similar to something like Shadow and Bone. Lots of interesting ideas pulled together to create a mysterious and evocative sci-fi with a slowburn romantic subplot that doesn't overtake the main story.
One of the best bits of the whole book was Vale and her story as a poor, rural girl who moves to the city to support her family by any means necessary. Through her perspective, we explore the feeling of diasporic disconnection; of longing for a homeland ravaged by climate disaster and colonization, and the feeling of immense loneliness and isolation in trying to make a name for yourself in a land that isn't yours. She also canonically has learning disabilities that affect her during the story, but don't take away from her intelligence, independence, and strength, something that I so appreciated. Also, she's entirely adorable while refusing to let any of it show. She's 5'0 and collects ribbons. C'mon.
Vale's character acts as the perfect foil to Key, our princess-like character, which plays into the bodyguard/princess trope so well. Key's princess image is fresh, being a sort of religious icon who performs blessings for the public and has to keep her thoughts and emotions in check at all times. Key is privileged, and sometimes naive to how her choices affect others. While this can be frustrating for some readers, it creates a tension grounded in realistic depictions of identity and privilege, while still playing into the romantic trope that readers might go into the book expecting.
Their slowburn is no joke. The romance finds tension in even the smallest gestures of eye contact and fingers brushing. I loved seeing them together and rooting for them to just shut up and kiss already, damn it!
Luckily, the plot doesn't get turned into "uhh I think some war is happening while the two main characters think about banging each other". Their romance doesn't feel gratuitous, but develops naturally alongside the plot. Tsai creates a gripping tension between the museum, Key's religion, and those who believe in neither. There was a feeling of not knowing who to trust or who to align with which pulled me to keep reading even when I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. The world was just mysterious enough to beg me to keep discovering and learning.
While I enjoyed the world for what it was, it was flatter than I would have liked. This was one of the rare times where I felt like a book could benefit from being slightly longer. The world often relied on vibes where it could have made biting commentary. For example, I would have loved to experience how the museum and religion played into the politics and class dynamics of the world, especially since the central theme of the book has to do with those who appropriate and benefit from culture, and critiques those who get to rewrite history.
Because the world feels a bit flat, Key's character arc suffers a bit and it makes the plot feel less like a crescendo and more like it slams out of nowhere. Though I still found the narrative intriguing, I didn't feel a sense of gradual discovery and self-reflection via Key's perspective. There was a chance for Key and Vale's rose-colored glasses to be slowly removed, and it would have helped the climax and resolution feel more natural and less rushed.
To add onto that, this book is definitely not for those who favor Sanderson-style, scientific, in-depth magic systems; there is an overwhelming sense of mystery that almost feels mythical. Tsai cleverly writes a world in which history is difficult to access, and there are gaps missing that must be filled via Key and Vale's exploration.
What worked really well for me personally was Tsai's exploration of themes such as identity, memory, and heredity. Tsai's writing really sings when she leans into the abstract rather than the typical romantasy-style voice. At times, Tsai seemed to fall back into over-explanation or heavyhandedness, when the strength of her writing was enough to stand on its own. Her depiction of memory was evocative and inventive and the beauty lied in what was left unsaid.
Overall, I think Tsai is a breakout author with an insane amount of potential. Her ideas are fresh and add to the genre in a meaningful way. As she continues to write confidently and fit into her own unique voice, her works after this one have potential to be massive. I'm excited to see the series continue and where Tsai goes next. I just hope we get more surreal fungal Inception goodness.
This is a standout romantic sci-fi that feels fresh while still remaining grounded and accessible. It was trippy, exciting, and full of delicious sapphic yearning.
The Memory Hunters feels reminiscent of some fan-favorites; themes and critiques akin to Babel and Blood Over Bright Haven, exploration of identity and subversive bodyguard/princess intimacy like Gideon the Ninth, and the quick pacing focused on morality and character interiority similar to something like Shadow and Bone. Lots of interesting ideas pulled together to create a mysterious and evocative sci-fi with a slowburn romantic subplot that doesn't overtake the main story.
One of the best bits of the whole book was Vale and her story as a poor, rural girl who moves to the city to support her family by any means necessary. Through her perspective, we explore the feeling of diasporic disconnection; of longing for a homeland ravaged by climate disaster and colonization, and the feeling of immense loneliness and isolation in trying to make a name for yourself in a land that isn't yours. She also canonically has learning disabilities that affect her during the story, but don't take away from her intelligence, independence, and strength, something that I so appreciated. Also, she's entirely adorable while refusing to let any of it show. She's 5'0 and collects ribbons. C'mon.
Vale's character acts as the perfect foil to Key, our princess-like character, which plays into the bodyguard/princess trope so well. Key's princess image is fresh, being a sort of religious icon who performs blessings for the public and has to keep her thoughts and emotions in check at all times. Key is privileged, and sometimes naive to how her choices affect others. While this can be frustrating for some readers, it creates a tension grounded in realistic depictions of identity and privilege, while still playing into the romantic trope that readers might go into the book expecting.
Their slowburn is no joke. The romance finds tension in even the smallest gestures of eye contact and fingers brushing. I loved seeing them together and rooting for them to just shut up and kiss already, damn it!
Luckily, the plot doesn't get turned into "uhh I think some war is happening while the two main characters think about banging each other". Their romance doesn't feel gratuitous, but develops naturally alongside the plot. Tsai creates a gripping tension between the museum, Key's religion, and those who believe in neither. There was a feeling of not knowing who to trust or who to align with which pulled me to keep reading even when I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. The world was just mysterious enough to beg me to keep discovering and learning.
While I enjoyed the world for what it was, it was flatter than I would have liked. This was one of the rare times where I felt like a book could benefit from being slightly longer. The world often relied on vibes where it could have made biting commentary. For example, I would have loved to experience how the museum and religion played into the politics and class dynamics of the world, especially since the central theme of the book has to do with those who appropriate and benefit from culture, and critiques those who get to rewrite history.
Because the world feels a bit flat, Key's character arc suffers a bit and it makes the plot feel less like a crescendo and more like it slams out of nowhere. Though I still found the narrative intriguing, I didn't feel a sense of gradual discovery and self-reflection via Key's perspective. There was a chance for Key and Vale's rose-colored glasses to be slowly removed, and it would have helped the climax and resolution feel more natural and less rushed.
To add onto that, this book is definitely not for those who favor Sanderson-style, scientific, in-depth magic systems; there is an overwhelming sense of mystery that almost feels mythical. Tsai cleverly writes a world in which history is difficult to access, and there are gaps missing that must be filled via Key and Vale's exploration.
What worked really well for me personally was Tsai's exploration of themes such as identity, memory, and heredity. Tsai's writing really sings when she leans into the abstract rather than the typical romantasy-style voice. At times, Tsai seemed to fall back into over-explanation or heavyhandedness, when the strength of her writing was enough to stand on its own. Her depiction of memory was evocative and inventive and the beauty lied in what was left unsaid.
Overall, I think Tsai is a breakout author with an insane amount of potential. Her ideas are fresh and add to the genre in a meaningful way. As she continues to write confidently and fit into her own unique voice, her works after this one have potential to be massive. I'm excited to see the series continue and where Tsai goes next. I just hope we get more surreal fungal Inception goodness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Cannibalism