Reviews tagging 'Medical trauma'

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

25 reviews

allegrahistory's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Racism, Blood, Medical trauma, Body horror, and Xenophobia

kate_arts's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I really enjoyed the exploration of colonialism throughout this book and how it affects everything it touches. Not sure that I loved the ending. I wish we got to see more of Yskandr and Mahit and saw the effects of the imago machine rather then just being  told about it. Super queer and loved how it wasn’t a big deal who you loved. I liked the exploration of an outsider in a new foreign culture and the isolation that entails. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Xenophobia and Colonisation

Moderate: Medical trauma, Suicide, War, Violence, and Murder

thisbookisbananas's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

 4.75 Stars--I have been hearing about A Memory Called Empire for the last three years and just now on a whim decided to give it a go. Everyone on the Bookternet has been comping this as a space opera with political intrigue.The blurb that said "space opera intrigue yadda-yadda-yadda/blah-di-blah-di-blah" made my brain go to humanoid races fighting octopi-like aliens to save the world from impending doom.For anyone who hasn't yet read this, A Memory Called Empire is not a space opera(whatever the heck that is). It's political spy thriller set in space, and it was a fantastic time! 
What I loved:
* The introduction of alien races and cultures that seem fresh and interesting. . 
* The conspiracy plots that are woven throughout 
* The question of humanity(one race of humanity deems themselves a higher-order than another. The more superior race calls the others barbarians, yet they are the more brutal of the two.)
* The technology created around how many people's memories could live on with the next generation.
*The author's ability to put humor in at just the right time. I highly appreciate a good comedic moment after a very intense one. 
Things that could make a reader put the book down:
*The story is only told from Mahit's POV. Around the middle of the book she gets a little repetitive and whiny. Thankfully the third act fully makes up for the less then stellar second act. 
*Change your expectations about what alien means... there are no octopi/squid people in this book. Again, I have to reiterate this... A Memory Called Empire is a spy thriller set in space... not a space story with spies. 
If you keep this in mind and like sci-fi, this would be a great book to pick up! I look forward to finishing this duology. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical trauma and Suicide

bloodbrooxv's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, Blood, Death, Grief, Suicide, Chronic illness, Confinement, Cursing, and Violence

Moderate: Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, and Medical content

Minor: Medical trauma, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Vomit

jiji_'s review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A HIDDEN GEM! I was completely taken with this  unique and fast-paced adventure, part political murder mystery, part sci-fi drama, set against the backdrop of themes such as culture clash, xenophobia, colonialism, and tech ethics. 

Funny, charming, and totally unique with fascinating and effortless world building. It help me captive and delivered twists, joys, and sorrows. 

It's a bit of a challenge, because it won't hold your hand. If you can let go of the need to know everything and have things spelled out for you and just immerse yourself, then you're in for a huge treat. Can't wait for the sequel. What a journey. 

For fans of The Locked Tomb series, Master of Djinn (Dead Djinn Universe), Light From Uncommon Stars, and the Wayfarer series. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Medical trauma, Violence, War, Stalking, and Xenophobia

Minor: Blood, Confinement, Murder, Grief, Medical content, Colonisation, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma

ktkeps's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Murder, Colonisation, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Death, and Medical trauma

jjjreads's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Colonisation, Medical trauma, Cultural appropriation, Classism, Police brutality, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Grief, Medical content, War, Xenophobia, Murder, Racism, and Suicide

Moderate: Self harm, Alcohol, Blood, Cannibalism, Child abuse, and Cursing

indeedithappens's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Sexual content, Death, War, Murder, Xenophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Mental illness, Blood, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcohol, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, and Classism

ticktock's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, War, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical trauma

maddiebusick's review

challenging tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence, Medical content, Grief, Colonisation, Xenophobia, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Police brutality, Alcohol, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Classism