I found this novel to be very engaging and different enough to stand out in the busy science fiction genre.

The traditional family feud here is accompanied by many other beings. The range of characters involved are described in good detail and are easy to relate to.

Ultimately the race to find a cure for a mental disorder affecting lots of 8-12 year olds across many planets is both captivating and tense. I enjoyed racing through it and really didn't expect such an ending, so was pleased to find many issues neatly tied up.

This is definitely a 4.5* book for me and I look forward to reading the next book in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy.

5/5 stars.

A Corruption of Memory takes place in a galaxy in which humans suffered a mass affliction of dementia and other memory diseases. Dubbed the Steel Trap Maneuver (STM), renowned scientist Benjamin Steel created a cure via a breakthrough in gene editing, saving the human race and kickstarting a new era of scientific discovery across the universe.

The story follows siblings Tess and Marius Steel as they simultaneously come to grips with a mysterious disease plaguing children and linked to their father’s miraculous STM. With the disease affecting Marius’s son, the twins race against the clock to get access to their father’s hidden research, get to the bottom of the STM edit, and find a cure.

The novel features several POVs from a robust cast of characters—most with endearing backgrounds—that I found myself rooting for. Both main characters are flawed but in a way that still makes them likable and, in the end, face consequences that seem fair.

I especially appreciated Marius and Dak’s relationship. He respects his wife, actually sees her as a partner and seeks out her opinion before making potentially life altering decisions regarding their son.

Additionally, the novel explores what it means to be human. Whether it’s our minds, our bodies, our memories or a combination of all three that make us who we are, and the ethics around creating a path for humans to live forever. While the specifics of gene-editing and double consciousness are beyond my realm of understanding, I still felt like I could easily follow along with the scientific concepts and was excited by the theories raised throughout.

Overall, A Corruption of Memory is an exciting exploration into a not so distant future where despite a wealth of scientific advancements, we still search for the answer to two evergreen questions—what makes us human and what is intelligence?