Review: Memoria is a story to remember
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 3, 2013
This book has a lot going for it - right off the bat you've got 237 pages for 2.99, a very reasonable price point for a big book packed full of story. It's very low-risk, there's very little reason not to give it a shot!On to the story itself, it moves VERY quickly. No skimming these pages because there's no padding here. There's one exception in the middle, where I encountered a rather awkward few chapters of exposition, but the story hopped right back on track after that, and then picked up speed even more. So, it may be 237 pages, but it'll blow by like a hundred and feel like you've read a thousand.The plot is highly engaging, nowhere did I find myself disinterested in what would happen next. Where Memoria really shines, however, is the world it's set in - this isn't New York as we know it, the rules have changed. However, instead of just throwing a big scary super-corp in, there's a real dynamic between factions, emphasized by the Migrants (of whom I'm afraid we just don't get enough, but more on that in a bit.) Memoria is a living, breathing world, where subtle pushes and pulls can be felt across the plot. Despite the overarching sci-fi, it feels real enough - even if some of the more impressive action sequences stretch suspension of disbelief a tad.(I'm now going to pick apart a few flaws, but I want to remind the review reader that my score is still 4-star. I'm just a bit critique-heavy.)However, the exciting and engaging world does the characters a disservice, because against its impressive backdrop, they fall rather flat. We've got an action hero-esque main character, a few "too old for this" veterans, and a damsel (who does an excellent job at not being in distress, though she doesn't often accomplish much on her own.) The background ensemble, regrettably, was rarely touched on. The Migrant leader, for example, I would have liked to get to know better over the course of the story. I think my bigger issue was with the main character when **FIRST/SECOND CHAPTER SPOILER WARNING** he returns home to find the girl he was going to propose to dead in his bed - and we barely see a moment of grief. **END SPOILER WARNING** This lack of relatability plagued much of the story.Despite these flaws, I am very interested in where the tale goes from here - the ending does suggest a sequel, and I'm certainly hoping for one.OVERALL: Good plot, great world, weak characters, solid bang for your buck. Recommended.Contact me at: SeanOnAmazon@gmail.com