The Memory Thief Book Review
The Memory Thief
Julietta Lark is desperate. Desperate to escape her past. Desperate to protect Rhen, an orphan who's become closer than a sister. And desperate to save her mother from a cruel death. When an ...
Content Review:
Warning: I read the majority of this book on a bumpy bus ride so that my sleep-deprived brain may have missed something! 🙂
Language:
– None!
Sexual:
– None! (Although there may have been some flirtatious remarks, etc. that slipped my mind.)
Violence:
– There is a fair amount of violence and blood, but nothing overly graphic or that would be inappropriate for a Teen/YA book.
Spiritual:
– One of the more prominent themes is the discussion of what determines a person’s value and if they are really themselves if they haven’t actually experienced their own memories. (That probably sounds a little strange, but it makes sense when you read the book ;). )
Other:
– Older characters occasionally drink.
– Someone is said to repeatedly jump off cliffs to sell the memory of the rush of adrenaline.
Personal Thoughts:Â
This standalone is a fun, fast-paced, fall read. The world-building is immersive and leaves the reader invested in the story. That said, at times the foreign terms and kingdoms can be a tad confusing. The glossary at the front, however, quickly dispels misconceptions.
The relationships throughout the novel are touching. Etta’s sisterly devotion to Rhen and her deep friendships are realistic and genuine. While there is some slight attraction between two characters, their friendship comes first and I appreciated the absence of the “enemies to lovers” trope. The main characters have faults, but they aren’t annoyingly angsty.
The concept of the story is intriguing and captivating. What makes a person a person? Who are you if your memories are stripped away? Additionally, the execution of Etta’s past and secrets being untangled is done skillfully. The writing and descriptions are engaging. And a plot twist towards the end completely caught me off guard!
I remember feeling like there are a couple of plot holes, but I don’t remember what they are so they clearly didn’t hinder my enjoyment. I also wasn’t completely sure of the villain’s motivation. She is truly despicable and manipulative, but I was never clear on why.
Unrelated to the quality of the book, it was extra sweet to read a book about the memories and importance of cherishing relationships and experiences while driving to and from a competition with my drama club.
Overall, this is a (mostly) clean read that left me both satisfied and pining for a sequel to revisit these memorable characters.
Themes:Â forgiveness, identity, family, redemption, hope, betrayal
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