Oh wow, this book. When I first read the synopsis, I honestly wasn't sure what to expect. I knew that it sounded intriguing and certainly like something that I would like, but of course, every book I pick up is going to sound like that at first. 

The moment I started this book, however, it had me hooked. The worldbuilding is amazing. I don't think I've fallen in love like this with the concept of a world in a very long time! Even though it was complex, it wasn't difficult to catch on to, and the author made sure to include a glossary in the back of the book that explains the different terms (which I didn't discover until I finished the book, but still, super helpful! Always check the back of the book, kids!). 

When it comes to the characters, I loved them so much! Etta was such an amazing, complex character and it was wonderful watching her grow throughout this book and learn to forgive and love herself again. Ryder was such an absolute sweetheart! I loved her from the moment she showed up, and the way her story ends just might be one of my favorite things about this book. Reid was so sweet, and his story was such a great one. I loved the way he and Etta's relationship developed; they were such an important part of each other's healing. The rest of the characters were just as amazing - Greer, Etta's mother, Penn, other characters whom I will not mention because of spoilers... As for the villain and the... morally grey characters, they were those characters you love to hate. They made me so mad and I loved it! 

Plot-wise, I thought I knew where this book was going. Let me tell you, I did not. There is a major plot twist that threw me off so bad for a good chapter or two because I had no idea what to believe anymore. And usually I can guess plot twists, so this was a definite plus! 

All-in-all, this book exceeded my expectations and I am so happy that I was allowed to read a review copy! I highly recommend this book!

The Memory thief was gifted to me in exchange for a review via netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

A brand new fantasy novel where memories are your currency by a debut author. Ummm yes please! I truly loved this story! We meet Etta a strong, tormented, young girl who is doing everything she can to bring her mother back into this world even if that means going back to the people she once betrayed. 

I read this story in two sittings and I cannot wait to reread this story and read more from this wonderful and talented author. 

Full of twists, turns and action I was on the edge of my seat begging for more and more. I had no idea what was going to happen next and what did truly inspired me! 

This is an amazing read that you need to get your hands on.

This one was even better than I thought it would be. Interesting plot with well crafted characters. I enjoyed the story.

Yikes. So I managed to finally sit down and read a book, debating on reading one of the author requests that I'm slowly getting through, especially since all my plans got ruined due to the snow (thanks Colorado for having this snow storm for Halloween and canceling plans entirely this week).

I couldn't really care less about this book. Literally, when I first started writing this I debated on giving this book 3 stars, but that isn't me. This book fell flat in many aspects and there was no way I would have been able to give this book three stars.

I couldn't really care about the characters. Call me heartless, but I really didn't like them. They were so flat, and boring that it made reading this book a disaster. Even at the end, the only thing I gathered from one character was Etta and she cared about her mother that was it. She had little to no personality, barely any backstory-yet we were expected to care for anyone (maybe it's because of my frustrations with my life that causes me to be bitter). 

I did like the writing. I could tell that the author was trying her best in the novel, and it did make the book particularly memorable-in terms of dealing with memories. I found that it was such a cool concept, but it wasn't explored well as much as I hope it would be.  There were things that would have made this book a lot better, but the writing was something I did like even if the book had a small problem with telling instead of showing. 

The plot probably could have been a bit better. I did like that Etta loved her mother, and that she wanted to protect her family and that she was willing to join the Shadows just to get her back. Unfortunately, anything past that part was non-existent and there was basically no urgency to get her mother back. And plus there was a slow-pace which did not help one bit.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review courtesy of Netgalley.

The story for The Memory Thief is unlike many of the books I have read. The story was unique, the characters were interesting, and the world was built very well and in an interesting way. I never felt info dumped, which in a fantasy book is a HUGE plus.

I believe that Mansy did a good job build up Madame as the villain. Madame wasn’t really “present” through out the story, but the fear of her and what she can do followed the characters around in their thoughts, and in their memories.

Which transitions me into what I am going to say next! Memories. The way you get to learn more about the characters through their memories was very cool. Some characters who had died long before this story even begins, you get to have a sense of who they were, and how they shaped the MC, Etta, into who she is today.
Plus, the “abilities” they have in this world, are really neat. Being able to take memories, and apply them to yourself, thats really freaking cool. 

Let’s say you meet someone that says they have been doing Archery their whole life (and they’re really good at it) you COULD take it and boom. You have 20 years of archery experience and your muscles have learned the memory as well. On the flip side of that though, you just took 20 years of a person life, they are not going to remember ANY of the archery stuff. What if Archery shaped them as a person? That person is not the same now. So, don’t do that to anyone. . . . . . Unless they’re bad person.

Alright, swiftly moving on.
The character development was great, and the characters in general were interesting to read. Reid was by far the most amusing. (Just saying) and the banter between Etta and Reid was fun to read. 
I do feel like there relationship progressed a little fast. It seemed like she didn’t trust him, didn’t trust him, didn’t trust him, until she just did. Which now that I am thinking about it, MIGHT have been for a reason. But that’s a spoiler. Just go read the book!

I am not sure if this book is a stand alone or part of a series. It ended with all loose ends tied up, so it FEELS like it will be a stand alone, but hey. Ya never know.

Overall, this book was engaging and a definite page turner filled with VERY unexpected twists and turns! I would recommend this book to people who love fantasy, slow burn romances, and reading about people with rare abilities. 
My rating for this book is 4.5 stars

I will be posting this review on my blog, on 10/30/19. I will also be posting it on Amazon effective immediately, but it does take a few days for Amazon to upload the review. And finally I will be posting the review on Goodreads, effective immediately.

AUTHOR Lauren Mansy brings a book of memories... to keep you guessing. Imagine people stealing the memory of the first time to tasted ice cream... Of snuggling kitty, playing catch with a dog... Of the birth of your child... You either chose to sell them to the highest bidder to get some money or it has been decided that these memories will be stolen from you and sold off at auction (but don't worry, you will be dead at the end of it so who cares?)... 

In a story that wraps up betrayal with redemption, brings families together when they are not quite what they seem... Many found a way to tell an interesting story, weave in a downplayed romance and keep us interested in the plot.

Thank you #Netgalley for the ARC and I look forward to seeing more from this author.

The Memory Thief
By Lauren Mansy

4/5 🦄 
Etta lives in Craewick, a place that values memory above all things. Traded, stolen, and sold, memories form the basis for the economy with dire consequences. Too few and you’ll lose your mind, too many and you’ll break just the same. Etta has a rare talent of unreadability—no one can steal her memories, but she is gifted enough to steal theirs, making her the perfect thief. When the leader of Craewick, Madame, threatens to auction off Etta’s sick mother’s memories and toss her out of the asylum where she has laid comatose for four years, Etta must return to those she has betrayed and hope they will help her save her mother from certain death. 


This book was a very good and fast read! It has the grittiness of post apocalyptic ya without the urban fantasy elements placing it within a post modern America-a common trend. I enjoyed it immensely because it was quick and fast paced but had a lot of quality character development and an interesting plot. However, I found certain scenes almost too fast—major scenes (particularly at the end) seemed rushed and the overall effect was confusion, which could be useful in some respect it it felt more like it was deliberate and not more a sign of laziness on the part of the writing. Overall, it has everything you could want from a YA standalone novel, but it just doesn’t execute it quite right. Still, a very enjoyable read especially for someone with a short attention span—did I mention it’s a quick read?!?

The memory thief got a lot fanfare during BookCon, so I requested a copy to see what the hype was all about. This book took me 4 months to finish. It was a tedious read that I often put down to move on to something else. The writing was a middle of the road MG style, and it was not the kind I would rave about. I was really disappointed in this novel. The plot was slow paced and disorganized, at times leaving holes that were very obvious. For me, this novel landed at a 2/5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.  While I did enjoy the story, it didn’t grab me, for fantasy the world building isn't as developed and so the “the four realms” were a bit forgettable, there was no real shift between environments.  The development of characters was decent, plot was decent.  Good if you’re looking for a light, quick read.

I’ll be honest, the first thing that drew me to this book was the cover. I know I can’t be the only one who judges a book by its cover. Oh well. The synopsis also pulled me in because I found the idea of buying and selling memories absolutely fascinating.

Etta lives in a society where corruption and political unrest is just another day. In this society, memories are bought and sold on the open market. The book opens with the auctioning off of a criminal’s memories by the cruel Madam prior to his execution. Unfortunately for Etta, a tragic accident has left her mother committed to the asylum. The catch is, when the asylum is too full, beds are opened up by selling off a patient’s memories before they are ultimately disposed of. Madame informs Etta that her mother is about to face that fate.

Etta is desperate to do whatever it takes to save her mom. She decides to rejoin a rebel force of Memory Thieves called the Shadows even after it cost her everything four years prior. To swear loyalty to the Shadows, she must memorize the map of the maze that was created by the neighboring realm’s vicious leader. On this mission, she’s joined by Reid who is desperately trying to save his brother who is trapped in the maze.

Lauren Mansy is able to carefully craft a deliciously dark fantasy that shows us things that we are capable of in times of desperation and grief. Etta is so incredibly broken and will do anything to save her mom. Reid is at his breaking point after the disappearance of his brother. I loved the fast paced adventure once Etta officially re-joined the Shadows and the twists and turns along the way. We do get a little brief romance between Etta and Reid which was a breath of fresh air amongst all of the violence, darkness, and grief.

Overall, this is great fantasy debut that tackles the tough themes of grief and despair and how to overcome them when faced with the most dire of situations.

Thank you to Blink and NetGalley for providing an eARC. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I loved the concept of this so much, but struggled with it.  While the world's concept was fascinating, I didn't really feel immersed in the world or connect to the characters as much as I was hoping to, so the overall execution ended up falling a bit flat for me, especially considering the intriguing concept!

Ouch! I kind of can’t believe I finished this book and I never say that. It is so hard for me to finish a book that makes me just feel “eh” about it. This book wanted so bad to become a classic just like The Giver and it just fell so flat that it hurt. The character development was weak and the characters just seemed to inter-fight, having secrets from everyone around them, and it got tiring. I just could not continue to enjoy the characters at that point. They had nothing to give me the reader and they had nothing to give to each other which is always sad when the plot seems so, so good when you read it. 

The only thing that was good or wholeheartedly great in this book was the romance for Etta—but even so I don’t need to write about it much here because we really didn’t get that much from it.

"The Shadows can help her.
I brush the memory of Ryder’s plan away as another replaces it.
They help people who can’t help themselves."

In a world where memories are transferred as money, we follow Etta, a 17-year-old girl living in the shadows and trying to keep her secret safe from those around her: she is a “Gifted” labeled as an “Ungifted”, but the catch is that people only see blankness when they look into her mind. Under a corrupt government, the “Gifted” have all of the power. Four years ago, Etta made a deal with Madame (her enemy at the time) and betrayed her allies in order to have a place for her mother to stay in the asylum. Now, with the Auction day upon her, she realizes that her mother is up for auction and all deals between herself and Madame are off. When a person is put up for auction, the memories are put up for sale until the person has nothing left of value and dies. In order to save her mother once again, Etta is forced to confront the people she betrayed to ask for her. But the only way to save her mother is to embark on a mission to save the “Shadows'” leader.

“Gifteds” can transfer memories between people by touch.
“Ungifteds” have no special powers.
“Sifters” can transfer memories without touch.
“Shadows” are the “protectors” of the realm, but are thieves and contribute to a black market of memories.
“Ghosts” give unpleasant memories in order to make people suffer.
“Hunters” take the memories of animals.

The idea of memories being a form of currency is a unique and intriguing idea. It slightly reminds me of the pensieve from Harry Potter. Ryder, Etta’s sidekick reminds me of Rue from The Hunger Games. She is comical, brave, and loyal to a fault. She looks up to Etta as an older sister. I wish we learned a little more about the backstory of the other people in Etta’s life, specifically the ones she has the leather bracelets of.

The one thing I had a hard time with was the instance romance. I thought I missed reading 100 pages all of a sudden. Also, I wish Etta wasn’t as gullible as she is made out to be. She wasn’t exactly the easiest to relate to. With a few tweaks to the story and the pacing, I think this novel has a real chance to be a star since the concept is so gripping.

The Memory Thief was a concept unlike anything else: memories being used as currency in a corrupt government, where the removal of memories can truly change someone’s life. The Memory Thief is a story of loss, grief, lies, deceit, and the ability to forgive oneself for mistakes.

The world that Lauren Mansy has created is unique and exciting. I was swept right into the world of Craewick with the gifted, ungifted, collectors, and theives. I love when I have the opportunity to read an indie author's debut novel because I am always so impressed by their talent and creativity. 

Etta is our main character and I loved her right away. Like most of the MC we know and love she is constantly trying to protect the ones she loves. The main difference with Etta is that she is real and never claims to be anywhere near perfect. She knows she has made mistakes in her past that will haunt her forever and she isn't always making the best choices. I loved going on the journey of self-discovery with her and uncovering truths about her past. Character development is usually lacking in a shorter book, but Mansy managed to allow Etta some serious growth in less than 400 pages. 

The love interest was realistic, lovable, and I was rooting for him the entire time! I love a classic friends to lovers trope and this one was done well! I also really appreciated that things weren't always perfect between the two of them and they had to make a choice to look beyond their mistakes in order for things to workout. Normally I love when the romance is prevalent in the story, but in this case I am glad it was more subtle because the world building and story development was much more interesting and important!

Overall I really enjoyed this book, my favorite part had to be that I was constantly trying to discern if something was reality vs planted memories. The fact that memories are a currency and anyone could be living a lie and be unaware was so intriguing to me. It had me constantly second guessing everyone and their motives. Great debut, looking forward to more from this local author!

I was so looking forward to reading The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy but sadly, it fell a little flat. The synopsis really pulled me in and had me ready for a roaring good time. I mean the concept sounded great!! 
  Although the pacing was good, the actual events in the story were a bit too unbelievable at times. I know this Is fantasy, but things were too convenient even so. I really struggled with this one if I am being honest. I did manage to finish although it took me a lot longer than usual.  And let’s not talk about the romance aspect, smh. Again, the concept of this book was great but the delivery, unfortunately, left a lot to be desired.

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Apparently I’m a masive sucker for anything to do with weird currency or transactions, because as soon as I heard about The Memory Thief I was comparing to Everless and I was getting really excited. The concept of memories being sold, traded, and stolen is a fantastic idea, and also mildly terrifying.


I think some people have complained about the world building in this one, as it’s very rich and, yes, slightly info-dumpy. The reader is thrown into it in the beginning of the book, and to be honest the pacing of this information being thrown at you doesn’t really let up. That said, I did get used to it, and eventually I learnt the terminology that the author was using and figured out what she was talking about when it came to the history and politics of the world.

I thought that overall the world building was very well developed, and the author clearly put a lot of thought into it. I think turning this into a longer fantasy book would have worked better, because I feel like The Memory Thief suffered due to its short length.

That said, the length did make for a very past read. I flew through this one in just a couple of sittings, which is unusual for me when it comes to fantasy. I just wish that the plot had been more developed, as it felt very crammed in and rushed. I would have liked to have had more time taken with it to properly develop the plot, the world, and the characters.

I really liked the twists that were thrown in there. I didn’t care enough for the characters to become emotionally invested in them, but I did really enjoy the plot twists that came out of their interactions and relationships. They were a lot of fun and made me smile.

I think what the book was really missing was a lack of emotional connection. I enjoyed the ride and the world building, but more of a connection to the characters would have made me enjoy the whole book a lot more, particularly the ending.

Overall The Memory Thief is a really fun fantasy book, and the concept was definitely intriguing. I think it’s probably more suited to slightly younger teenagers, and I think lots of people would enjoy the fast paced plot!

The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy is an intriguing, suspenseful, and unique fantasy story that had me flipping through the pages and gripping the edge of my seat.

The world building is my favorite thing about this novel and I found myself mesmerized by everything. The idea that memories can be shared, taken, or used as a form of punishiment and torture is interesting, but incredibly terrifying. I would never want to lose or give away any of my most treasured memories… actually all my memories. Just imagining myself living in that kind of world gives me the chills and has my heartbeat racing. Mansy has created such a disturbing, but unforgettable and exciting fantasy world. It’s unique, intricate, dark, and utterly fascinating.

I really like Mansy’s writing style and the overall storyline never falls flat. There’s always something happening and Mansy knows just how to keep you on your toes and surprise you in the most amazing ways. However, (and this is just something minor) the pacing is too fast at times and the story is a bit rushed towards the end. For a story as elaborate as this, I wouldn’t mind if it’s longer with a slower (but not too slow) pace, so I can fully explore this world and digest every single thing in this novel. There are just so many delightful and intriguing aspects in the storyline that I think this would have been even better if it’s longer, or a series.

Having said that, the plot is still engaging, really surprising, and so entertaining. There’s plenty of awesome and exciting parts that had me on edge. There’s even a few moments that made my heart ache and scenes that made me teary. I enjoyed the suspense, the action, and all the unexpected twist and turns. The romance is okay… I’m not super into it, but I still enjoyed having a little love story. The ending is alright. It could have been more epic, but it does wrap up the story well enough that even though I want to change a few things, I’m quite satisfied with it.

The characters are complex and interesting. I admire Etta in a lot of ways even though I couldn’t completely connect with her. She’s betrayed her friends, made mistakes, and hurt people who trusted her. She’s far from perfect, but she’s has her own strengths and acknowledges the wrongs she’s done. I enjoyed seeing her change, learn from her past, and forgive herself. I also like that she’s fierce and protective of Ryder. I adore Reid. He’s selfless, brave, caring and sweet. He fights for what he believes in and is dedicated to doing what is good. I also really like Ryder. I think she’s fearless, determined, and a wonderful person.  Porter, Felix, and Greer are all pretty amazing and I wish there’s more scenes with them. I love the bond some of the characters have with each other and their willingness to do whatever it takes to save the people they love.

Undeniably unique and thrilling, The Memory Thief  by Lauren Mansy is a wonderful debut novel that will keep you glued to the pages. The world building is superb, the characters are interesting, the romance is quite adorable, and the action, suspense, and twists are awesome. I also love how Mansy emphasizes the importance of family, loyalty, courage, sacrifice, forgiveness, love, hope, and staying true to who you are. All in all, I had a really great time reading this book. Mansy is definitely an author to watch out for and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

I received a finished copy of this book the publisher, Blink, in exchange for a fair and honest review and for participating in a blog tour hosted by The Fantastic Flying Book Club. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It had been a while since I read a good-old dystopian YA fiction. Books like The Hunger Games series and Kiera Cass’s The Selection series are some of my favourite examples of stories that I will keep coming back to, even as I continue into my 30s. I’ve mentioned before that YA doesn’t really only apply to those young readers and that I often find the stories much more compelling. This is why I was so excited to read The Memory Thief by Lauren Mansy (in stores now!). The synopsis had me sucked in, and I was so ready to go into the world and join Etta on her adventure.

The premise of this book is something I had never seen before, and the concept was really well developed by Mansy. Right from the first chapter, I understood the dynamics of the world-building and how the characters interacted with their gifts. I felt I could picture in my head, which is always cool.

I really enjoyed the premise and the adventure part of the story, especially in the beginning, but, without giving too much away, I did think everything came to Etta and Reid (her travel companion) much easier than it should have. At every stop, they ended up getting a lot of help, and it felt a little bit too…convenient…for me. Now, all that to say that these conveniences really did add to the world and how everyone was connected in the story, but I wish Etta had to do more of the adventure on her own, if you know what I mean. And sometimes I wasn’t sure where the characters were. It jumped around maybe too much? I’m not sure what the issue was there, though it could have just been me missing something.

My only other criticism was with the main antagonist, Madame. Not only is that not a great name for a villain (everyone else had an actual first name, so she could have had some really cool made-up name) and it really makes me think of more of a person who runs a brothel than a leader. I also didn’t really get a good sense of her character. I understood her motivations and we got bits and pieces of what made her the way she was, but I still didn’t understand who she was.

Despite those criticisms, I did really enjoy the book and think Mansy did a great job as a first-time author. I’m looking forward to seeing how she builds other worlds for future novels, as that is truly one of her strengths.

3.5 STARS

Thank you to NetGalley and Blink YA Books for the advanced copy, in exchange for an honest review.

The Memory Thief is a standalone fantasy novel that revolves around a society based on memory transfer, where Gifted individuals have the ability to steal memories by touch or by sight. The titular memory thief is the Gifted Etta Lark, who has a tumultuous past filled with guilt and a determination to wake her mother from her coma. Her mother rests in the city asylum, kept as a bargaining chip by the power-crazed ruler of the city, Madame. When Madame plots to kill her mother, Etta must warn back the trust of old allies, the rebel group the Shadows, to help save her.

The highlight of this book was definitely the plot twists that just kept hitting me, over and over. Whenever I thought I had everything figured out or all the characters had nothing left to hide, the author hit me with something else. It was such good fun seeing how everything came together, and to be constantly on my toes was a great feeling. I would expect this kind of twisty plotting from a several-book series, so the fact that it was incorporated into a standalone without feeling ridiculous was impressive.

The idea of a society revolving around memories is interesting; using memories not only as a supernatural ability but also as currency and a means of political sabotage fleshed out the world and I really felt like the author thought a lot about the real-life consequences of such an incredible power. It was done in an original way and there was a lot of world-building packed into a small space. There were a few downsides to this: the constant revolving door of memory removal and transfer led to flashback after flashback after flashback, which often felt sudden or shoehorned in. They're important parts of the novel, but the continuous delving into the past when the adventure is in the present was frustrating. With the society so centered on memory-based power, there were also a million titles relating to various positions and powers that gifted people could have, often with only slight variation. In a relatively short standalone novel, this kind of extravagant naming system felt cluttered and confusing.

Sometimes the language was a little underdeveloped or simple; it felt in places that I was reading a middle grade book or a children's chapter book rather than a YA book for teenagers. Madame, the villain, is relatively one-dimensional, as is Etta's love interest. On the other hand, Etta herself was so layered and a great narrator, and an ally of hers plays a touching, paternal role that felt so real and moving. The author does seem to have the skill to create complex characters, but just didn't apply them to half of the important characters. I look forward to what else the author has in store in the future, when perhaps she is able to more effectively combine her great ideas with a writing style that has evolved and developed beyond her debut.

Much thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a digital ARC of this book.

Fantasy city with a despotic ruler where memories are exchanged, stolen, used to torture and used as currency? Yes please.

A young girl suffering because of a mistake that she made, caught between a rebel group and forced loyalty, all to save someone else? Excellent.

Road trip with someone frustratingly good, wholesome and deadly, who only wants to look out for the MC as she quests to find a map, to find a maze, to find the one person who can overthrow the mad ruler, who the MC may or may not have betrayed years ago? Sounds like a story with the potential for a solid YA adventure.

Unfortunately, despite promising a lot of excellent themes, this book just couldn't deliver for me. The memory exchanging/thieving was a lot of fun, and presented a lot of interesting ideas and ways of developing the story, which gave the bones for an excellent and exciting world.

But it was the characters that I found the hardest to understand. One moment they had their hands at each others' throats, and for good reason, but within a few sentences they had apparently 'forgiven' these terrible past actions. 

So I suppose it shouldn't have come as a surprise that the MC and the main boy were already imagining kissing each other within 24 hours of knowing each other - this was so much more toned down that my criticisms of books like Shatter Me, but it still made me cringe.

The pacing of the second half became a little absurd too - in the first half the story was there, everything was set up and it was clear what the challenges would be. You knew what was coming and the question was how the protagonists would overcome those challenges.

The author then tipped those upside and POWERED THROUGH the final third, as though it had been too complicated to actually commit to everything else that had been set up, including adding closeness between characters that could never have existed without some major personality changes, or erasing of the past. I like a good twist, but not when it feels limp.

This also meant that that final third of the story really suffered from telling, rather than showing. I would have gladly read a longer book if that would have enabled Mansy to tell the story that this book had promised.

This is a book with a great cover and a great story to tell, but it didn't quite manage to hit the mark for me. There was so much that I wanted to like, but also a fair amount that I couldn't.