The Memory Thief
Ratings4
Average rating3.4
A 2020 YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) Teens’ Top Ten Book! In this immersive and original YA fantasy novel where memories are currency taken and used by the elite, Etta has worked for years to keep her ability to steal memories a secret, hoping to leave her past as a rebel operative against the system behind. But when her mother’s memories are placed for auction, Etta must face her past and become a memory thief once more. “Will delight fantasy readers who revel in fully developed settings and unusual powers.” –Booklist “A suspenseful page-turner, delightfully chock full of unexpected twists and turns.” –Shelf Awareness The Memory Thief: Is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Victoria Aveyard Is a clean coming of age young adult fantasy, with unexpected love story suitable for readers thirteen and up Is a great gift for teens’ and YA readers’ birthdays, Christmas, or any gift-giving event Being able to take someone’s memories with a simple touch should place Etta Lark in the higher realms of Craewick’s society, but it is a society she wants nothing to do with. The power-obsessed ruler, Madame, has created a corrupt culture where the poor are sold and used to further prosper the rich, and any attempts to fight the system are often met with despair. Like when Etta’s mistake while part of the protesting Shadows organization left her mother bedridden and in an asylum controlled by Madame herself. But everything changes when Etta gets word Madame wishes to place her “criminal” mother’s memories on the auction block to be sold to the highest bidder. Etta will do anything to keep her mother’s mind intact, even if it means coming out of hiding and rejoining the Shadows, who need her powers to complete a dangerous memory heist that could overturn the social structure. As she faces startling attacks, an unexpected romance, and a conspiracy that changes everything she knew about herself and her world, Etta is left with one question: In a place where nothing is what is seems, can she ever become more than a gifted thief?
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I wasn't a big fan of this book overall. I thought that the plot moved too fast, especially for a fantasy book, so some of the plot twist and magical elements were rushed or not explained all the way. Like the whole romance was so rushed and I didn't like it at all, and I feel like the relationship between Etta, Pen, Joss, and Caden could have been explored a lot more.
Overall, the relationships were kind of iffy. Etta instantly trust and loved Porter and Felix after her arrival in Araivd even though he has been her enemy for as long as she has known, and I thought Ryder was going to be a bigger element but they just kind of sent her off to Blare but still treated her like a major character making her officially Etta's sister at the end, which didn't really feel right to me.
I think this book would have worked better if it had slowed down and been two books. Book one could have been everything up to them getting to Aravid, and then book two could be Etta and Reid further developing their relationship and then taking down Madame and getting to know Felix and Porter better, and going to the maze and the battle. I think this could have been a better use of the characters and their development. Also, the plot twist wasn't really twisting because they happen all of the time. Greer was her dad and then she was the one who had killed Pen who was Reid's brother, and then Porter was Etta's grandfather and then Madame was the one who killed her own father and then Greer sacrificed himself to save Etta and her mom. It was just not as exciting because everything came in quick succession, so you didn't have time to be shocked before the next thing came.
It's a 3.5 for me. It has so much potential and I really loved the concepts around the gifts, the world building and the relationships in the book.
But the pace really prevented me from enjoying it. I caught myself many times thinking “wait, how did she get there?”, “how long has passed?” Or “how far were they?”.
Do note that I listened to the audiobook, and this pace issue might be due to that specific production.
However, I think a bit more time to rest on new scenes, characters and environments, or to let the relationships blossom more organically would have made this book a stunner!
