Reviews

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

meera01's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

spannalou's review against another edition

adventurous emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Brilliantly written space opera. Love the world building and language and culture. Complex politics and fast paced adventure. 

forestfeline's review against another edition

5.0

This book took me just over two months to read, but not because it wasn't good! A friend recommended this to me and I'm so glad he did- it's really something special.

The writing style is absolutely gorgeous. Every word feels like it was selected for a specific reason and it has a weight to it that I find myself struggling to accurately describe. The characters are interesting and you can't help but feel for them, and by the end of the book I found myself longing for the same things Mahit does.

I just want to tell everyone I know to read this book. Once you get through the prologue and the descriptions of how their tech and political structures work, you just get sucked into the culture of the Empire and the real human connections between Mahit and her allies.

yivyiv's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

helenmelonn's review against another edition

5.0

Think Star Wars TV series Andor's subplot with Mon Mothma for linguistics nerds, but with more queer yearning.

meta_grrrl's review

2.0

Some interesting ideas and an interesting world that the book takes place in. BUT there are some serious holes an illogical actions in the main character, considering that she’s meant to be an Ambassador. The writer didn’t do good research for this and it hurt my ability to enjoy the book.

deussaxmachina's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

jasmineting's review against another edition

4.25

took a second to get used to the world building but tbh i thought it was done well. i ate this up plot-wise, it was exactly what i was hoping for & more. immediately going to read the 2nd book

chucklebuck's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

aspring's review against another edition

3.5

i wanted so deeply to adore this story and it sounded like everything i’d love, with so many glowing reviews

objectively, this is a fantastic story. but book ratings depend on my overall enjoyment and i just couldn’t find myself falling into this world at all, throughout the entire novel there remained a disconnect and i continuously spaced out because it didn’t engage me, the plot was boring, the characters slightly more interesting but not enough. i’m really sad this book didn’t work for me, i know this book has worked for so many so it’s probably a wrong time kinda thing

it wasn’t a bad book by any means and i truly think i could have loved this in a different time and different headspace </3