I loved the description of this book. But sadly, it took me weeks to get through. It was not for me, every time I started reading it I caught myself skimming it so I would stop until I felt like I could give it full attention. It was just so slow for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to read this title. I was initially very interested in this story and plot line. However, it is written in a very casual style, with lots of swearing and often repeating descriptions and sentences. I found the storyline extraordinarily disjointed and the characters flat. I am afraid this isn't the book for me. A younger audience may enjoy it.

It took me a while to finish the book, nothing to do with the writing or anything just life was in the way. When I was away from it though, I kept thinking about it and the characters. I was a bit worried in the beginning when their was a Twilight mention (an albeit funny sort of head nod) I didn’t know if it would be an omen of what was to come.
Thankfully, I was proven wrong.
I loved the pace and plot development. Without giving too much away, I thought everything was rolled out perfectly.
It’s monsoon season here so this was the perfect read to cuddle with on a comfy seat, wrapped in a blanket.
It gave Harry Potter Vibes, Supernatural vibes, all the best of paranormal media you’d ever want.

The beginning hooked me and the concept is very interesting, but unfortunately it lost me about halfway through and I found I no longer wanted to continue.

What I liked:
- The concept of a corporation dedicated to all things magical is great -- I loved all the references in the first few chapters to corporate life
- The main character's immortality and how it has affected her personally and professionally to be alive for almost three centuries
- The writing is accessible. If you don't normally read fantasy, this book could be a good way to ease into it

What I didn't like:
- A lot of the characters struck me as one-note
- The plot itself had very few layers; there were no discernable subplots, romantic or otherwise
- The pacing felt off to me. Things moved fast and slow at odd times
- I wish we had spent more time at the institute before branching off so we felt the weight of these plot points versus just being told how important they were
- The villain's behavior right after the big reveal of their identity felt a little cartoonish, and their motivations felt shallow

I think this could be a fun and interesting read for the right person, but it just wasn't for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Received from NetGalley… thank you!
I really enjoyed this one. A fresh urban fantasy with an academic feel. Wittier and grittier than A Discovery of Witches, fast paced and exciting like Kristi Charish’s Voodoo and Owl series. Hard to get a new angle and fresh take on anything paranormal these days but Foraker pulls it off by using cool urban settings in New York and Washington and by twisting some of the typical paranormal tropes. The main character is 260 years old and doesn’t know how or why so she works for and with an organization trying to figure it out. But this organization, RIDER, is of course more than she thought they were, with different, more nefarious aims than she thought. Which then sets up a tantalizing need for several more books to come in this series. Should be good, can’t wait to keep reading!

Cute!
We follow immortal historian heroine Zoey who works for the Research Institute of Demonic Entities and Rarities on the quest to hunt down a serial witch killer with the help of her colleagues. I found this to be a fun premise with dark academia vibes galore, an intriguing cast of developed characters and supernatural beings that were fun to learn about, and an immersive world.

Katy Foraker’s debut novel MEMORIES, LIES, AND OTHER BINDS was described as a cross between The Vampire Diaries and The DaVinci Code. I’ve never watched Vampire Diaries, so can’t comment on that, but it definitely did not have DaVinci Code vibes.

I had a hard time with this book. It felt too YA to me at times - the main character is immortal, but acts like a teenager - yet other times, it felt like a regular suspense/fantasy novel. Some parts were exciting, yet other parts were slow and unnecessary. Overall, the story just fell flat and didn’t hold my attention the way I’d hoped.

Thank you Katy Foraker and NetGalley for an eARC to review.

3.5/5
As a debut author, Katy Foraker did a great job creating a fun, fast paced, urban fantasy that's the perfect read for fall. This book has characters who are vampires, werewolves, and witches, so if you're into the supernatural this is the book for you!

If your looking for a book similar to Vampire Diaries, this is less love triangle/romance and more Bonnie Bennett witchy vibes. This book is also promoted as being dark academia and I have to disagree. Although the main character Zoey is a researcher for a secret supernatural agency, she enters a field mission pretty early on, so there isn't much "academics" going on.

I liked that there were two plots going on simultaneously; find her vampire brother Theo who was suspected of being a witch murderer, and an interesting plot twist that comes into play about halfway through the book. I do think that the overall story could use some fleshing out. Certain events seemed to fall into place a little too easily and things I thought were monumental to the plot were either brushed off or just accepted and moved on. This made important events seem anticlimactic and dulled the story for me.

Speaking on Zoey, she really annoyed me in the beginning (and middle) because despite being over two hundred years old she still acts like a teenager? It seems like maturity does not come with immortal life. So much of the book was spent with her longing after Augustine, her 20+ year old crush who is happily married with kids her own age. I feel like this book would've benefited from her being assertive and strong, especially towards her authority figures. By the last chapter she finally has some self realization, which I think is a set up for the next book, but it came a little too late for me.

Overall it was an enjoyable, quick read that is a good starting point for the rest of Foraker's writing career, and I'm looking forward to seeing a certain someone in future books!

Thank you to Netgalley and Katy Foraker for access to the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a solid debut and I was very excited to read something pitched as The Vampire Diaries x The Da Vinci Code, hence why I requested it. However, i'm always a little hesitant when books are described in elevator pitches, and personally this didn't really hit those marks for me.

On its own, Memories, Lies, and Other Binds is a thrilling contemporary fantasy filled with stakes (primarily the vampire slaying kind), entertaining characters and humor. The author certainly knows how to describe a scene and transport her readers into the environment, and their ability to craft lore within the world we're familiar with is astounding, but I didn't feel the thrill of the chase or mystery as I'd expect with it being compared to The Da Vinci Code.

Overall, I would recommend to those wanting a quick, light supernatural read, and although I didn't love this, I am looking forward to see what else the author has in store for us.

Memories, Lies, and Other Binds is a debut fantasy book by Katy Foraker which I read as a “read now” on @netgalley. Thanks, @netgalley! As far as debuts go this was a pretty good book. The description likens the story to the Vampire Diaries and I would say that is an accurate comparison in terms of vampire and werewolf behavior and characteristics. However, that is where the comparison ends. Where the Vampire Diaries is all angst, violence, and romance, Memories, Lies, and Other Binds lacked violence, romance, and excitement.

There was a lot I enjoyed about the book. Right from the start, I was intrigued by the memories of Zoey, the main character, and the mystery behind her immortality. I liked the prison scene in the very beginning and had big hopes for the plotline of the book. I also liked the relationships between many of the characters and how they developed.

As I proceeded further into the story, I kept waiting for a hook that was going to grab me. Whether it be a dark mystery that needed to be solved, a romance, or anything that would excite me. In the end, this book was mostly a character-driven story about Zoey and the adversity she faces while finding freedom and a renewed relationship with someone close to her (this is vague, but don’t want to give spoilers). By the end of the book, I just felt the author left a lot on the table that could have made the book genuinely more exciting and interesting.

Thanks to Katy Foraker and NetGalley for the ARC!

In an alternate world where monsters and magic exist and the mysterious RIDER institute is behind keeping our normal world safe. Our main character Zoe is a 200-something human who was granted immortal life through a spell gone wrong. She had been living at the RIDER institute in New York cut-off from the outside world and helping in the Demonic Diseases Department. When witches are being murdered under mysterious circumstances and it looks like number 7 on the worlds most wanted vampire is responsible, Zoe finally has the opportunity to work in the field.

I liked this book, but it was a little predictable. From the second chapter I could tell what at least one of the twists would be. However, even though the plot was easy to determine I did still enjoy the read. Zoe was a little one dimensional. Like over 200 years old and you never tried to leave or experience the outside world? Also you didn't keep like a record of your life? She just seemed kind of boring. Otherwise it was a quick easy read.

Memories, Lies, and Other Binds follows Zoey, a human researcher at RIDER an organization that studies and regulates the supernatural world. She also happens to be immortal. When Zoey’s vampire brother, who is on RIDER’s top ten most wanted list, reappears after being quiet for about a century, Zoey knows she has to be on the team to bring him in.

This book was fun and fast paced and I found the plot engaging. Zoey’s character was a bit inconsistent at at times. She supposedly has lived for hundreds of years, but that never really came across in her thoughts and behaviors. The book was marketed dark academia meets urban fantasy, but in my opinion, the dark academia elements were lacking.

Overall, I did find the book entertaining and an enjoyable. I’d recommend for urban fantasy fans.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for a honest review!

I can honestly say I loved this book so much! The concept gripped me in the beginning and just when I was getting a little bored of it everything totally shifted and grabbed me again. The premise is that Zoey (our main character) works for an organisation called RIDER who specialise in the supernatural. It’s very high tech and Zoey works in research because she’s locked away in her apartment. Why is she locked away in her apartment? Because she’s immortal of course. When reading the premise extremely condensed it seems like a lot but Foraker doesn’t totally overload you and I didn’t struggle to get to grips with the world. In fact she does an amazing job at combining many book and television tropes in the most perfect way- if you ever enjoyed teen dramas (especially the vampire diaries or anything on the CW) you should definitely pick up a copy of this. I was so hooked and the part of me which obsessively watched Riverdale as a 13 year old was satiated. There’s a lot of vampire stuff going on along with family drama and a very complicated relationship… sort of right person wrong time? The writing style is rather casual and makes for an easy read- for my track record with reading slumps I sped through it. The characters were all very likeable and I found myself caring for people who I assumed were simply small side characters immensely. Zoey as a character is complex and brilliant and over the course of the book it’s wonderful to watch her strength in herself grow. It wasn’t the most incredible book in the world and I don’t think it was trying to be. I did think however it was charming and sweet and the ending wrapped it all up very nicely and left me very happy. I also liked that the romance is only a small sub plot and that Zoey learns to rely on herself as opposed to a man like so many other YA novels. One of the only criticisms I have is the over use of acronyms- I mean just about anything had one a glossary or something would’ve saved me. Overall though I’m so glad I got to read this as an arc and I cannot wait for Foraker’s next work.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review! This book was really really good, but it just didn’t hit the fifth star for this ranking. I loved the basis of the plot revolving around Zoey, an immortal demonologist at the Research Institute of Demonic Entities and Rarities (RIDER), and her life both past and present. When witches start being killed and the assumed killer is her older brother (a vampire) she finally leaves the confines of RIDER. The story unfolds here and without any spoilers, it gets very interesting very quickly.

I think my main “issue” with the book was that the pacing felt very off. One second I was reading some action that flew by in a few short pages and the next I was reading something that felt very insignificant for at least 20 minutes. The book was still great and I highly recommend it, but just be prepared to get a little bored in between the important scenes. Also, the author did an amazing job developing her characters and gave them a purpose to be in the book and I didn’t feel like any of them were there just to fill space.

I would rate this read a 3.25 out of 5 stars. What initially drew me to this book was it’s description of being “The Vampire Diaries meets The Da Vinci Code”. As a lover of The Vampire Diaries in general I was excited to give this dark academia urban fantasy book a go since I love all things Sci Fi/Fantasy in general. The book fell flat for me since it’s a short book (approx 328 pages) and it took me 4 days to read since I just couldn’t get into it…usually I would have finished a book like this quicker. It felt slow/boring for me until the END of chapter 10 and FINALLY I was on board and really enjoyed the story. It’s a good book, just not great. It’s a nice YA read if you like all things vampire/witches/demons etc. I liked seeing her character development come into place during the middle/close to the end of the book, how she finds her brother and they get a second chance to be siblings again…and the ending was a nice wrap up and hopeful for Zoey’s future. I liked the main character Zoey since I could relate to her being the shy, meek person who doesn’t want to stand out and does what she’s told so it’s even better when she really gets a chance to break out of her daily normal life and find herself and start really living the way she wants. This book was a good/fun adventure and if you like a strong female main character and all things fantasy you’ll probably enjoy this book!

𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐋𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬
𝟒 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬


𝐓𝐋𝐃𝐑: This was a fantastical tale, and I devoured it. There is something about a polished ambiance and fully grown and built characters that is soooo enticing.
The story's language was another highlight for me. The writing was witty and easy to read.



𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: The fact that Zoey Prescott, a bookworm and demonologist at the Research Institute of Demonic Entities and Rarities, never grows older allows her to devote more time to her research (RIDER). Although the mind-bending hypnotherapy treatments meant to assist her remember, they seem to do more harm than good, she is also there to figure out why she stopped ageing at the age of twenty-two.

In the wake of a serial killer's rise to power, Zoey goes against the advise of her coworkers and searches for the homicidal vampire responsible... who happens to be her brother. RIDER won't stand by and watch while Zoey skewers her evil sibling. She now stands in the company of her ex, who left her for a mortal (and no, she is not over it), and a young witch who may be the next target of the killer.



𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝: The characters. They were all so richly written and fully developed. I also loved the suspense and mystery surrounding the plot. It kept me guessing until the very end. I LOVED the ending. Won't share more to avoid spoilers.

This novel is different from most fantasy novels I've read (not a lot) in that it establishes a very strong environment that feels real, you end up forgetting the fantasy at times. The world is truly beautifully imagined. In a never-ending chain of shocking revelations, the author guides the reader through an universe that is both wholly original and rife with familiar concepts like dark academia.



𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞: The book starts off amazing and ends on a bang. There is a part in the middle that feels almost ...useless... It really brings you off the flow of wanting to stay at the edge of your seat.



𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭? Yes, I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good dark academia and fantasy novel. It has the perfect mix of both genres.

Goodreads review link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4938500666?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Thank you NetGalley for lending me the ARC to read for an honest review.

I like the premise of the book, the character zoey was interesting but I felt like the pace of the book wasn’t paced well enough. Too fast in the beginning, too slow in the middle .. etc. I enjoyed the style of writing and may try this author in the future again.

Arc from netgalley

This book was a good debut. The plot was interesting and I was invested the whole way. Zoe the FMC was solid and fleshed out. I would continue this series.

I loved the premise of the book. The beginning and end of the book both were really interesting and captured me.

However there were a lot of other things in between that I felt were lacking. For example, there was a lack of world building- I wish there was more information about the inner workings of Rider. There were too many flowery descriptive words, which contradicts the fact that there was no suspense, the twists and turns just seem to happen. The characters, which there were plenty of, were okay, and I never connected with any of them. The story seems to drag in the middle which makes it hard to power through and want to finish, even though the ending of the book was great.
This did not feel like dark academia to me which it is said it is supposed to be.

I loved the premise of this book, but not the execution. The story did not hold my attention and I had a hard time finishing it. The writing style was flowery but not in a way I typically like and the plot didn’t hold my interest. However, I think there are lots of people who will enjoy this book and writing style.

Thank you NetGalley for an early eARC of Memories, Lies, and Other Binds.