A review by sofipitch
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I have conflicting opinions on this book. I thought it was painfully slow in the beginning. Mahit has what seems like a narratively convenient anxiety disorder, she goes over information and situations often. She is also an intellectual character, both of these are ways the author is able to directly tell the readers the themes or what is going on. Sometimes I found it fine other times I wondered if the author thought I had the intelligence of a hamster. There were other parts I really enjoyed, the imego machine and everything it stood for was interesting. I also thought that it presented an interesting and complex view of empires and colonialism. I think a lot of portrayals of the invaded countries as morally pure and perfect, so I thought it presented Lsel with some genuine complexity, even with the little you actually learn of it. And the flip side Mahit finding actual attractive qualities to the empirical culture. She wants to be a part of them not in a subservient way but as equals, which Texcilaan will never see her as. The same is found in Three Seagrass, I loved her so much she was so charming as a romantic interest while also incapable of not committing microagressions on the reg. So this book is willing to accept complexity, but again, painful slow for the first 50%. I will likely read the sequel
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