Book Reviews / Favorite Books I've Read: Memory's Wake by Selina Fenech

YA Fantasy

Date Published: 6/7/11

Book Description:

Lost in a world full of monstrous fairies, a troubled sixteen year old has to find out who she is and why her memories were stolen before she is found by those who want her dead.

She takes the name "Memory" and knows she has just one goal - to find her way home, wherever that is. But this land is strange. No technology to be seen, and iron is banned, thanks to a pact the humans have with the magical creatures who share their pre-industrial era world. In her t-shirt and torn jeans, Memory knows she's different, even before she performs impossible magic.

Haunted by her past, chased by a dragon, wanted by the king and stalked by the strange, handsome savage that seems to know her, everyone is after Memory, and she suspects it's not just for her eye-catching outfit. Her forgotten past holds dangerous secrets that will challenge everything she believes and risk the lives of everyone she loves.

Memory's Wake contains 44 black and white illustrations by the author and artist. Approx. 80,000 words or 320 pages in paperback.

My Review:

Memory's Wake (Memory's Wake Trilogy #1) by Selina Fenech

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I really want to say the drawings in this book are fantastic; it really helped visualize the story and the character while reading Memory’s Wake. When I finished I went back and took another look as they are fantastic, not only is Selina a great artist she is a great author.

Memory’s Wake reminds me of the world that fairy tales are made out of and like I mentioned above the drawings only added to this fantastic story.

This story is a fantasy novel full of adventure and even some romance, right in the beginning we meet a young girl who somehow has appeared in this mystical land of Avall, Eloryn who is standing there when she appears has no idea how this young girl even got there. Eloryn who is on the run from the hunters because she used magic without authorization knows she must help the young girl or she could be hurt or killed. So they adventure begins. Eloryn name her new friend Memory, Eloryn and Memory have to work together to survive. During their adventure we meet Roen and Will who are some interesting character also.

Memory’s Wake is full of adventure, dragon’s, magic, wizards a mystical world awaits anyone who enjoys the fantasy genre.

I have rated Memory’s Wake a 3.5 star rating, and would recommend anyone who enjoys this genre to pick up a copy for yourself.

Excerpt:

Memory wiped her hands on her jeans, but gave up when it only made them dirtier. Resigned to eating even more dirt than she had already, she unwrapped the gum and popped it in her mouth.

The candy cherry flavor rushed across her tongue, unfamiliar. She turned to Eloryn. “So,Princess, what was that all about?” Memory realized that she hadn’t even known Avall was a monarchy.

Then again, she only knew the name of the place because Eloryn told her.

“It meant nothing.” Eloryn kept her eyes averted.

“It didn’t look like nothing.” The way Roen had grabbed Eloryn, moving her against her will, left Memory with a strange, ill feeling inside. She discarded it, filed away with all her other confusing emotions, and tried to judge Roen anew. She hated how handsome she found him, how she just wanted to touch that soft caramel hair, and how when he smiled, she couldn’t help but like him. It made it hard to say no to him, and left her wondering if she’d made the choice to go with him for the right reasons. Why was everyone she’d met so far so damn pretty! Amnesia or not, Memory knew pretty people lied too. Everyone lies, her heart told her.

Wow, learned something new about myself. Turns out I’m a cynic. Surprise.

Author Bio:

Selina Fenech

Born in 1981 to Australian and Maltese parents, Selina lives in Australia with her husband, daughter, and an unnamed cat. During her life Selina has found ancient Roman treasure, survived cancer, had knights joust at her wedding, been mugged for doughnuts, made a living as a visual artist, and shared her imaginary worlds in paintings and now in her novels.