The Memory Thief
Published on 23. June 2022
Book
Paperback/Softback
320 pages
978-0-310-76756-5 (ISBN)
Description
This thrilling YA fantasy debut follows seventeen-year-old Etta Lark as she navigates the underworld of Craewick to pull off the heist of a lifetime. A YALSA (The Young Adult Library Services Association) Teens' Top Ten Book for 2020, Mansy crafts a grim reality where memories are worth their weight in gold.
In the city of Craewick, memories reign.
The power-obsessed ruler of the city, Madame, has cultivated a society in which memories are currency, citizens are divided by ability, and Gifted individuals can take memories from others through touch as they please.
Seventeen-year-old Etta Lark is desperate to live outside of the corrupt culture, but she grapples with the guilt of an accident that has left her mother bedridden in the city's asylum. When Madame threatens to put her mother up for auction, a Craewick practice in which a "criminal's" memories are sold to the highest bidder before being killed, Etta will do whatever it takes to save her. Even if it means rejoining the Shadows, the rebel group she swore off in the wake of the accident years earlier.
To rescue her mother, Etta must prove her allegiance to the Shadows by stealing a memorized map of the Maze, a formidable prison created by the bloodthirsty ruler of a neighboring Realm. Etta faces startling attacks, unexpected romance, and, above all, her own past as she uncovers a conspiracy that challenges everything she knew about herself and the world around her.
In a place where nothing is what it seems, can Etta ever become more than a memory thief?
Perfect for fans of high-stakemagical heists such as:
Leigh Bardugo (Six of Crows)
Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen)
Roshani Chokshi (The Gilded Wolves)
"Mansy's debut will delight fantasy readers who revel in fully developed settings and unusual powers."- Booklist
"A welcome addition to the YA fantasy canon, The Memory Thief is a suspenseful page-turner, delightfully chock full of unexpected twists and turns."- Shelf Awareness
In the city of Craewick, memories reign.
The power-obsessed ruler of the city, Madame, has cultivated a society in which memories are currency, citizens are divided by ability, and Gifted individuals can take memories from others through touch as they please.
Seventeen-year-old Etta Lark is desperate to live outside of the corrupt culture, but she grapples with the guilt of an accident that has left her mother bedridden in the city's asylum. When Madame threatens to put her mother up for auction, a Craewick practice in which a "criminal's" memories are sold to the highest bidder before being killed, Etta will do whatever it takes to save her. Even if it means rejoining the Shadows, the rebel group she swore off in the wake of the accident years earlier.
To rescue her mother, Etta must prove her allegiance to the Shadows by stealing a memorized map of the Maze, a formidable prison created by the bloodthirsty ruler of a neighboring Realm. Etta faces startling attacks, unexpected romance, and, above all, her own past as she uncovers a conspiracy that challenges everything she knew about herself and the world around her.
In a place where nothing is what it seems, can Etta ever become more than a memory thief?
Perfect for fans of high-stakemagical heists such as:
Leigh Bardugo (Six of Crows)
Victoria Aveyard (Red Queen)
Roshani Chokshi (The Gilded Wolves)
"Mansy's debut will delight fantasy readers who revel in fully developed settings and unusual powers."- Booklist
"A welcome addition to the YA fantasy canon, The Memory Thief is a suspenseful page-turner, delightfully chock full of unexpected twists and turns."- Shelf Awareness
Reviews / Votes
The Memory Thief is a thought-provoking debut full of unique magic and complex characters. Lauren Mansy is definitely an author to watch! * Evelyn Skye, New York Times Bestselling author of The Crown's Game series and Circle of Shadow * The Memory Thief is a vivid story full of surprising twists and turns. An exciting, riveting debut! * Rebecca Ross, author of The Queen's Rising and The Queen's Resistance * The Memory Thief is fast paced and didn't stop for one second...This book is perfect for people who are looking for a quick unique fantasy novel that is also a stand alone! * The Book Bratz * A compelling, darkly fantastic tale ... Though Mansy builds an expansive fantasy world all her own, her tale uses dystopian motifs to great success, such as the corrosive effects of an overabundance of power falling into the wrong hands and her stern commentary on the divide between the haves and have-nots. Readers, like Etta and her fellow citizens, will be challenged to contemplate the nature of truth, considering the unique role that memories play in the Realms. Mansy also delivers a fine romance, made all the more gratifying by the difficulties sustained along the way. A welcome addition to the YA fantasy canon, The Memory Thief is a suspenseful page-turner, delightfully chock full of unexpected twists and turns. * Shelf Awareness * A thought-provoking and unique YA fantasy, THE MEMORY THIEF is a engrossing and lovely story. Twists and turns keep the reader guessing as they follow Etta on her physical and mental journey. * YA and Kids Books Central * An entrancing story-world of memory heists, hidden maze-prisons, and unexplored magic. The Memory Thief kept me second-guessing with every shocking revelation and daring to believe that the journey to healing is worth the trials of heartache to get there. * Nadine Brandes, author of Romanov * As evidenced by 'The Memory Thief', author Lauren Mansy has a genuine talent for narrative storytelling and an authentic flair for originality. A riveting great read with more plot twists and turns than a Disney Land roller coaster, 'The Memory Thief' will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to school and community library YA Fiction and amp; Fantasy Fiction collections. * Midwest Book Review * Mansy's debut will delight fantasy readers who revel in fully developed settings and unusual powers. * Booklist *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
HarperCollins Focus
Target group
Young adult
Interest Age: From 13 to 99 years
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 213 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
450 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-310-76756-5 (9780310767565)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Lauren Mansy grew up in the Chicago area, where she spent years working with youth of all ages, from young children to high schoolers. When she's not writing, Lauren loves to travel, spend time with her family, and explore the city to find the best deep dish pizza. The Memory Thief, which was inspired by Lauren's own journey with her mother, is her first novel. You can visit her online at laurenmansy.com.