To guide her in her new role she has an imago of the previous ambassador, Yskandr Aghavn, implanted in her skull. She’s young and not a little in love with Teixcalaanli culture (particularly its plentiful supply of literature and poetry). Let’s talk about a couple of the Thoughts first and maybe I’ll come to some understanding of what’s bothering me as we go:įor those who don’t already know, the story starts something like this: Mahit Dzmare of the small, independent Lsel Station, is hurriedly chosen to be the new ambassador for the Station and sent into the heart of the Teixcalaan empire. I don’t know whether to be disappointed in myself, or the book. I feel that I have unpacked everything that I am going to find in A Memory called Empire. But I also know that I don’t plan to read it again.

I was invested in the characters and events, I laughed out loud at some of the snarkier dialogue, and I had Thoughts as a result of Martine’s exploration of language, colonization and what makes a person an inviolate individual.

I should be squeee-ing all over the place. It had some great characters, an incredible world for them to play in and a political shenanigans plot that bounced along at a steady pace without ever being so indecorous as to break into an all-out run. This was a good solid reading experience. Artwork by Tithi Luadthong from quote from Seven Devils by Elizabeth May & Laura Lam.

A memory called empire ending