# A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

There is a lot to like in this book, primarily a protagonist who is capable, but self-deprecating. Despite being, at times, out of her depth, she doesn't luck into solutions, or rely on deus ex machina to save her. I really like how she picks her spots and rises to the occasion.

Her friends do her credit as well, both with their loyalty and their personalities.

I feel like maybe the ending is a bit rushed, but only because it feels like, to that point, everything has to be earned. It didn't tarnish my enjoyment of the book, and I'm looking forward to more from the author.

I'd recommend this book to you if you like politics mixed in with your sci-fi, or sci-fi mixed in with your murder mysteries, or if you like stories about strong LGBT female protagonists doing strong female protagonist things.

# Spoiler bits that are notes for me

• Imago Yskander mucks up when she sees his corpse.
• Mahit gets an imago transplant out-province.
• Original Yskander and new Yskander imago are both present in her head
• Six Direction kills himself as a sacrifice to their battle against the new threat
• Twelve Azalea - RIP
• Three Seagrass is awesome
• Nineteen Adze is also awesome for other reasons
• The threat of those aliens is how Mahit diverts the empire's attention from Lsel