captain_cell 's review for:

Children of Memory by Adrian Tchaikovsky

4.25

challenging mysterious sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This is a novel that requires patience and trust on the part of the reader. It has a significantly more convoluted structure than the earlier two entries in the series, and it takes quite a long time for you to see how everything fits together (or at least it took me quite a long time, but I believe the structure is intended to disorient). Once you finally do find out exactly WTF has been going on, it does make sense and it is beautiful in a melancholy sort of way. I just wasn't expecting the mind-fuckery here because that wasn't a feature of the other two, but if you're willing to be confused and disoriented for a while, and just sort of roll with the punches, there is ultimately a point to all of it - the final act will reward your investment.