Welcome to this week’s post. Since I retired from work because my health collapsed, I have taken great comfort from my reading habits. I decided to track all of the books on the Goodreads website and also on this blog. This is just as well because I had a stroke back in 2019 which has affected my memory. I now struggle to remember what I have already read, which is quite devastating for a former librarian!

I am not a book reviewer. Writing long insightful responses to books is not one of my skills. I tend to read for escapism and look for great plots that will help me immerse myself in another world, away from my worries and stress. So, what I write after finishing a book is usually a quick first impression before my poor short term memory erases large chunks from my brain. What visitors will get here is my reaction to a fairly wide range of books: fantasy, science fiction, thrillers, crime, historical etc. You definitely won’t find grand literature!

So, with all of that in mind, let’s look at last week’s book…

The book was A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine, #01 Teixcalaan. This was another of my random choices from a very low price offer. Here is the blurb:

“In a war of lies she seeks the truth . . .

Ambassador Mahit Dzmare travels to the Teixcalaanli Empire’s interstellar capital, eager to take up her new post. Yet when she arrives, she discovers her predecessor was murdered. But no one will admit his death wasn’t accidental – and she might be next.

Now Mahit must navigate the capital’s enticing yet deadly halls of power, to discover dangerous truths. And while she hunts for the killer, Mahit must somehow prevent the rapacious Empire from annexing her home: a small, fiercely independent mining station.

As she sinks deeper into an alien culture that is all too seductive, Mahit engages in intrigues of her own. For she’s hiding an extraordinary technological secret, one which might destroy her station and its way of life. Or it might save them from annihilation.”

This proved to be an incredibly accomplished first novel and I am so pleased that I stumbled across it. This is my response on Goodreads:

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fascinating and complex book. It’s quite amazing for a first book. The world building was excellent, although the complicated social system was difficult to grasp at first. There were interesting and very intriguing elements, such as the implanted brain machines. The main character comes across as highly intelligent and very likeable.

I will admit that it took me a while to become immersed in the book, due to the complexity, but it was well worth any effort. The plot gathers pace throughout and led nicely to a second book, which I am now also enjoying!

I hope Martine continues to develop her ideas and her writing skills – can’t wait to read what she comes up with next!

View all my reviews

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Yes, I gave it the full five stars and bought the sequel straight away! I am now really enjoying that and will tell you about it next week, all being well.

Happy Reading to you all!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

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