Rachel Emma Shaw

Pausing the book at 31%.

I don't know if I'll get back to this book (I might in part because I did buy a copy ^_^'), but I also must be honest with myself when a book is just not connecting with me and it can't be possible I have left this one going on for 6 weeks and trying to find any excuse to do anything else, even tasks that are annoying such as cleaning my backpack and purse. Try to lug the book even further and I am going to start obsessively clean bathrooms in order to do something else.

And it isn't because the book is bad per se. There are a few grammatical quips here and there but more of a case of being unable to feel much for the main characters. I can agree Sarilla's reluctance to being dragged out of her comfy life as the king's pet lurking for traitors entices a great beginning.

And then poof! Her brother Rysen who was very interesting ends up captured by the king (his fate unknown). It seems like Sarilla's mind is a bit weary from memory fog where the more foreign memories she steals, the more often they lure her attention and she stares blankly during inopportune times. Therefore, her POV chapters might not be fully accurate.

I kind of have a hard time determing if she is a gullible preteenager who would love to continue living her previous life as long as she was no longer forced to steal memories and assist in the deaths of her victims. She now loves freedom but 99% of the time she has spent on the lam has been suffering in the miserable rain without having anything to eat or dragged around by her kidnappers. Huh? While sometimes she is quite clueless about the world, other times she is both conniving and vicarious especially towards Favion and his group. I would have definitely continued the story if she had remained likeable. And maybe explain to us what happened to the bunch of apples she stole that magically vanished from the story without a trace.

The memory storage society of the memoria people is fascinating and I think this world has something really cool going on. Just wished it would focus on a group of characters I'd like to read over a very ambivalent one. Hopefully there is a very good explanation behind Sarilla and Favion's cold indifference, but I feel like I may lack the patience to slog another 6 weeks of dillydallying because I keep on looking for anything else to do over continuing the book when I am so far behind my reading goals this year.

If book 2 is really awesome, I would like to just get the spoilers of book 1 and fast forward to where all the fun stuff happens.… (plus d'informations)

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Scars of Cereba

Falon’s mind has been broken by the memories implanted in it. And while they may be remnants of his own past, he is a different man than when he first attained them. At war with himself, his two halves are in a constant battle for control. Memories twist his mind and force him to bounce between the old and the new Falon. To make matters worse, the memories of the memoria who caused the fracture resides in his mind as well. Time is running out for him and he must force his three selves to work together to escape execution.

Imagine being split asunder in your own body, unable to control when someone else takes it over. Rachel Emma Shaw brings Falon’s history into the story with such a clever plot device. To have three different people warring for control over one body, forcing it to change direction and purpose when each mind takes hold. It’s no wonder Falon is in such rough shape when the reader is reintroduced to him. The mental anguish Falon endures as the story progresses is so heart-rending, and yet you’ll also feel conflicted because of the various minds. Readers may side with the choices of one, yet disagree with the choices of another, but it is all the same person. Then again it begs to ask the question, who are we without our memories? Are we completely different people?

Scars of Cereba does explore who someone can become without their memories. Stripped of the past, Sari was Sarilla’s last chance at freedom and innocence. But when you can no longer remember your past mistakes, it is easy to make them once again. Lacking both the training and the wisdom of the past, Sari embraces her memoria powers in a way that would horrify Sarilla. And while Sari may be free of her past mistakes, it leaves plenty of room for her to make new ones.

This was a dark and disruptive story. With the switch in perspectives on almost every page, I had to pay careful attention to who was currently controlling Falon’s actions. But this added another layer to the story as the characters interacting with Falon had to do the exact same thing with less information at hand than the reader. I loved every minute of it! Scars of Cereba is a fantastic sequel to Last Memoria.… (plus d'informations)

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Last Memoria

Being part memoria allows Sarilla to steal memories with a single touch. But it also means she is a tool for the king to use against accused traitors. Forced to steal memories from the King’s enemies, Sarilla's mind is full of memories that do not belong to her. And it's becoming harder to grasp reality. When she runs away with her brother, she is forced to choose between the habits she’s fallen into and a life of freedom. But freedom is daunting and not easily won.

Last Memoria did not turn out to be anything like I expected. Sarilla’s character threw me because she isn’t the strong female lead I have grown used to. Was it frustrating at times? Yes, I wanted to yell at Sarilla’s choices, but Rachel Emma Shaw did a fantastic job portraying a girl emotionally attached to her abuser. Sarilla was filled with so much self-loathing that she was drowning throughout this book. Many choices she made because she believed they were her only option. Sarilla’s predicament fed the darker fantasy tones I was hoping to see, even if her character was not the most likable.

But Sarilla isn’t the only character point of view we experience. Halfway through the novel, perspectives switch to Falon. In the first half of the book, readers see through Sarilla’s eyes what the people think of memoria. In the second half of the book, you are allowed to experience firsthand how memoria are viewed. Though it doesn’t sound like it should be all too different, the resentment and prejudice against the memoria are so severe. And you’ll see the misconceptions and general lack of understanding surrounding what they can and cannot do. You begin to understand Sarilla’s self-hatred and how she has become accustomed to calling herself a monster.

I do wish more time had been spent with Sarilla’s family. Whether by her having flashbacks or more time spent with her brother. Given the large impact her family and their history have on the overall story, they should have had more page time to connect with readers. But where the family relationships fell short, Rachel Emma Shaw made sure the tension between Sarilla and Falon was on point. Toss in a six-month memory gap where Falon has no idea how he should feel and you have a wonderful mix of confusion and desire.

Last Memoria deals with heavy-hitting themes in a dark fantasy world. This is no light-hearted beach read. While it does not tip into grimdark, it certainly treads the line with the extent of cruelty shown against the memoria. A definite pick if you are searching for an interesting magic system and conflicted characters.… (plus d'informations)

Sarilla has the power to take memories, and is branded a monster because of it even though she is the king’s caged pet. Falon wants nothing more than to reclaim the 6 months worth of memories that were stolen from him. When fate throws them back together one night on a lake, they end up on a journey across the kingdom, one seeking to destroy and one seeking answers.

The Characters: So Much Fun
Oh my goodness, I loved the characters and the ways they interacted! And I really felt for Sarilla. Reading her hurt my heart. I understood why people painted her as a monster and why she wore that mantle, but it still hurt my heart. She was born to be used and had a twisted sense of self, and I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for her throughout the entire book. Everything always seemed to go from bad to worse for her and she could never catch a break.

My favorite part of the characters was the way Sarilla and the three men she encountered and ended up traveling with interacted. Falon and his two friends Cedral and Havric believe Sarilla and those like her to be monsters, especially as they have the power to take memories and they created the blackvines that wander the world stealing memories and lives. The loathing they have for her colored the way they interacted with and treated her. Some of it broke my heart, but some of it was really fun, especially since Sarilla also has a sharp tongue and a great deal of wit. As much as I just wanted the guys to accept her, I also wanted the antagonistic behaviors to continue because they really added tension and levity.

The characters were so unique and consistent, and it really helped make their interactions feel natural and fun. I loved getting to see them all from different perspectives through the way they treated each other and in different memories of them. It was interesting to see them both desperate to regain memories and to keep them hidden.

The Setting: Different, Yet Familiar
I liked the world. It was different enough to be interesting, but standard enough to be familiar and comforting. I adored that the city of Arvendon was built up and loved that the buildings were connected by bridges. I wish more of the story had been centered there, but there were other, equally interesting places to visit. Like the Deadwood where blackvines would emerge and twist their way around hapless travelers, stealing their memories and leaving them as shells.

The most interesting part of this world was the memori. A unique race of people, they are incredibly gifted in the way of memory. Not only are they able to commit to memory just about their entire lives, but they can take and give them with just a touch. Their society was fascinating and showcased how interconnected a people can be and how reliant they are on each generation to keep their memories and traditions alive. It also feeds into the fear of being forgotten, which is painful and scary.

The Plot: A Thought-Provoking Story About the Power of Memories
This was quite an interesting and thought-provoking story. It really highlighted how important memories are and how they shape a person. They’re fragile; easily lost and easily twisted. I can’t imagine what it must be like to suddenly lose memories, so can certainly understand why the memori are feared.

The only thing that bothered me about the way the story was presented was that it was separated into two parts and each part was narrated by a different character. I understood why it was done that way, but I was a little annoyed that I spent about half of Part 2 confused about who the narrator was. I got so used to one character telling the story and then suddenly had to switch to another and I guess it was a little hard for my brain to catch up and maintain the switch. But, honestly, I don’t think it could have been done any other way.

I must say that I enjoyed Part 1 much more than Part 2, mostly because it tugged at my heartstrings and I really felt for Sarilla. She was painted as both a victim and a monster, as something worthy of pity and someone to be feared. I think the first half really evoked some strong emotions in me while the second half felt more like an adventure. I was left wanting for more from Sarilla, but, as it was told from a different character’s perspective, it was fascinating to read about how memories change a person and how they not only view the world but themselves.

This story moved at such a good pace. I felt like it stalled in just the right places and didn’t provide any unnecessary information or fillers. I wasn’t entirely sure of where the story was going the entire time, but it all unfolded so naturally that I didn’t even realize I wasn’t sure what this book was supposed to be about. It was just so much fun to be swept along with the characters into a story that felt like it was being told by real people.

I love that there’s so much depth to this story. It’s more than just the effects of true memory loss and how it affects a person’s life. It’s also how memories can affect other people and the lengths people will go to protect each other and give them second chances. I think it also, in an odd way, highlights the importance of accurate communication. Each person sees events in their own ways, colored by their own emotions and knowledge. To see that play out in how memories that were passed around helped each of them understand each other better was utterly fascinating.

Overall: A Very Intriguing Read
This was such a fascinating novel. I loved the idea of how memories impact a person’s life and found the memori to be quite interesting. The characters were interesting separately, but so much more fun when thrown together. It was hard to tell whether this was more plot-driven or character-driven as the characters were strong with equally strong motivations, but there were places where it felt like things were done or decided to make the story move a certain way. Then again, it also felt entirely in character. So, a great balance between the two. Coupled with an interesting world, Last Memoria becomes an intriguing and thought-provoking novel that I think will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you to the author, Rachel Emma Shaw, for a free e-copy. All opinions expressed are my own.… (plus d'informations)