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Synopsis (from Goodreads):
In the city of Craewick, memories reign. The power-obsessed ruler of the city, Madame, has cultivated a society in which memories are currency, citizens are divided by ability, and Gifted individuals can take memories from others through touch as they please.
Seventeen-year-old Etta Lark is desperate to live outside of the corrupt culture, but grapples with the guilt of an accident that has left her mother bedridden in the city’s asylum. When Madame threatens to put her mother up for auction, a Craewick practice in which a “criminal's" memories are sold to the highest bidder before being killed, Etta will do whatever it takes to save her. Even if it means rejoining the Shadows, the rebel group she swore off in the wake of the accident years earlier.
To prove her allegiance to the Shadows and rescue her mother, Etta must steal a memorized map of the Maze, a formidable prison created by the bloodthirsty ruler of a neighboring Realm. So she sets out on a journey in which she faces startling attacks, unexpected romance, and, above all, her own past in order to set things right in her world.
Review:
I was so excited to read this book, based on the premise. A society where memories can be traded (and stolen). What would people do? Could this be used for good or evil? There was so much potential for an awesome book. Unfortunately, all that potential was wasted. The world of this novel needed too much explanation, slowing down the action. The characters were cartoonish, and the plot was full of tasks that were completely unnecessary to the story's resolution.
It gives me no pleasure to give a negative review. I think the author worked very hard on this story. I will give this book one and a half stars, based on the creative premise. But the execution of the novel was so flawed, I couldn't bring myself to rate it higher.
What I Liked:
Premise:I did really like the book's premise. A society where memories can be transferred between people sounds awesome. The author was smart to pick up on the probability that this gift could be used to terrorize and control a society.
What I didn't like:
Characters:There were many archetypes such as the evil leader, in this case known as Madame, the Hero, Reid, and the Chosen one, Etta.
Madame was a two-dimensional character. We never find out her motivation or background that might explain her behavior. I found Reid particularly annoying. How many times can a character exclaim, "I will protect you" to the allegedly kick-ass female main character?
The main character, Etta, was very grating. The entire time she walked around acting guilty entirely out of proportion to the things she did. She was also far too trusting of characters who were presented as villains but then emerged as amazingly nice people (again with no explanation). For the Chosen One, she wasn't at all empowered.
Plot:
While I don't want to tell the entire story, there were several major plot points that went nowhere. For instance, a huge part of the story was building up to the climactic moment when they would enter The Maze, where Etta and Reid would rescue an important character. Will they be clever enough to survive all the traps and puzzles? Will the person they are saving be sane enough to help rescue Etta's mother?
Pro Tip: Authors, you need to deliver on your promises. If you build up an event in your book, there needs to by a payoff. If not, the reader will feel cheated. The whole Maze scene lasted about three pages! The characters were never in any real danger. They did not need to be clever, or strong. It was such a let down, I cannot begin to describe how lame this was.
Rating:
Release Date: October 1st, 2019
Author: Lauren Mansy
Publisher: Blink
Genre: YA Fantasy
Page Length: 368 Pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation:
A wasted opportunity. If you must read this, get it for free at the library. Otherwise, save your money.
Ah it's a shame it didn't go well for you. The cover looks great too!
ReplyDeleteLotte | www.lottelauv.blogspot.co.uk