2020-11-23
Dabos pushes full steam ahead with new arks, new spirits, and new treachery.
Over two years have passed since Ophelia was forced to part from Thorn and return to Anima, where she has spent every moment planning to find him and deciphering the truth she has learned about God. With a lead, a new identity, and the help of exiled friends, Ophelia journeys to the ark of Babel, ruled by twin family spirits but tightly controlled by the unyielding Lords of LUX. Here the Memorial, an enormous archive, is said to hold “the ultimate truth,” which Ophelia wagers includes the knowledge of how to thwart a perfidious deity. As she competes, awkward as ever, to gain access as one of the Memorial’s information virtuosos, Babel is beset by mysterious attacks; the LUX authorities insist that they are accidents, but Ophelia is certain that the victims came close to the secret she is pursuing. This narrative feels tighter, with a more determined protagonist and crystallized connections between the family spirits and God’s insidious plan—even alternating perspectives between Babel and the Pole don’t slow the pace. Ophelia’s inexplicit asexual representation continues, though the blooms of long-sown romance shift her toward demisexuality. But it’s not all immersive worldbuilding and thoughtful character development. The overall lack of non-White characters makes an unfortunate swerve into exoticization of Babel’s dark-skinned population. The use of the term “crippled” to describe a character with a disability is an unfortunate choice.
Murder, power grabs, and world-rupturing revelations fly by in this penultimate volume. (map) (Fantasy. 14-adult)
Praise for Christelle Dabos and the Mirror Visitor Quartet
“As mesmerizing as a waking dream.”—Margaret Rogerson, New York Times Bestselling author of An Enchantment of Ravens
“A strange, stalwart protagonist, court intrigue and a lushly visual, imaginative setting are only part of what makes this an excellent winter read.”—The Toronto Star
★ “Readers will be dazzled!”—Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
“A hallucinatory marriage of Pride and Prejudice and Game of Thrones.”—Matthew Sketon, author of the Endymion Spring books
“Imagine the poisonous politics of Versailles in a glittering, steampunk world of quill pens, airships, masks, illusions and murderous courtiers.”—The Wall Street Journal
“Pulse-pounding suspense, memorable characters, rival clans and elaborate political arrangements rooted in myth.”—Jean Westmoore, The Buffalo News
“Spectacular settings, exquisitely rendered characters.”—Publishers Weekly
Praise for The Memory of Babel
“A complex, imaginative, somewhat steampunk version of the Baudelaire orphans’ adventures, as written for teens and adults.”—Booklist
“This is a first-class fantasy series, enjoyable for the complexity and richness of the landscape and the unique nature of the characters. Imaginative, filled with suspense and with a satisfying sense of place, it is not to be missed. Highly recommended.”—Eric Boss, MPIBA
“The Memory of Babel is rich with memorable inventions: spells, transfigurations, prophecies, metamorphoses, dreams, arks, Citaceleste, ciphered manuscripts, enchanted mirrors. Ophelia is the Alice of the 21st century.”—Il borghese
“The world building of this series is unparalleled. It’s both incredibly ominous and brimming with endless wonder. The way the reader is allowed to feel moments of ah ha! While the characters you’ve been following still have tricks up their sleeve you didn’t see from an ark away—is genius. I love this series with everything within me.”—Claire Phelan, Third Place Books
“The writing is phenomenal! The characters are complex, and their emotions are felt with every word. I love this series deeply and wait with bated breath to read the next addition to the story.”—Anna Rose Carleton, The Well-Read Moose
“This book is an amazing continuation to a series that is nothing like any YA book series on the shelves today. Ophelia is the type of character I love to read about: great at some things, terrible at others, brave at times, cowardly at times, brilliant at times, and frustrating at other times. I could read about her all day. And her relationship with Thorn is just so real it’s beautiful.”—Michelle Guider, Barnes & Noble
“The third book in the Mirror Visitor series is wonderful. We see Ophelia struggle with her new life and the secrets that she has discovered. Plus there is still danger from unknown persons. In this book we get to see Ophelia and Thorns relationship develop and it was painful and wonderful to read. I can’t wait to read the next book.”—Blair Bayless, Copperfield’s Books
“Thus far with this series, I’ve tended to care more about the world-building and characters than any of the mysteries presented, but with the particular mystery in this installment I’ve got to say that Dabos did a masterful job. It is so satisfying, and such an enjoyable ride.”—Melissa O, Lynbrook Public Library
