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local-librarian · 3 years ago

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so now that my essay is out of the way, i just want to share this gem I found in my early reading notes about this book

Hello I’m once again being insane about Memory Called Empire. It’s just so good and I wanted to share a thought I hadn’t seen yet. Before I say anything I need to specify that while I understand that romance isn’t the main point of the book, I wanted to share my thoughts on a later book relationship, or hints of one.

Spoilers ahead, of course.

This is a great book. It’s insane. A sapphic romance mashed with murder mystery, political space opera and existential musings about wanting to fit in and meeting your idols. Oh also critique of colonialism and exploration of capitalism and corruptness and a beautiful dystopian culture obsessed with poetry and metaphor. And there’s brain surgery and rebellion and beautiful imagery.

Also has literally my favorite polyamorous relationship I’ve seen in a book. Which isn’t saying that much as they are rarer. And that’s what I wanted to touch on.

For all of the mystery and drama Yskandr left behind, the relationship between him, the Emperor and Nineteen Adze left me in shambles emotionally. It’s secret and quiet but so real and raw, three beings stuck between tense emotional and political moments but still manage to find comfort in each other. You could argue that Yskandr seduces them both, but it’s more complicated that that. There is clear emotion involved.

The flashbacks we see through the imago are so raw and just stick in my mind, these little memories are the only thing left behind. But when Yskandr finally talks to Nineteen Adze, that scene. Oh it broke me. Just bittersweet old fucks finally meeting again.

And Mahit, who by all technical functions is like Yskandr’s little sister by lineage, is protected and of interest to them. Nineteen Adze protects her, takes her under her care in her own way and the Emperor trusts her and speaks to her in the personal way someone who knows about the imago and knows about Yskandr could.

It’s by no means a functioning relationship or one spawned from a healthy environment, but the clear emotion and care they have for each other. Shakes fist.

#them <3 #memory called empire

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local-librarian · 3 years ago

Text

Hello I’m once again being insane about Memory Called Empire. It’s just so good and I wanted to share a thought I hadn’t seen yet. Before I say anything I need to specify that while I understand that romance isn’t the main point of the book, I wanted to share my thoughts on a later book relationship, or hints of one.

Spoilers ahead, of course.

This is a great book. It's insane. A sapphic romance mashed with murder mystery, political space opera and existential musings about wanting to fit in and meeting your idols. Oh also critique of colonialism and exploration of capitalism and corruptness and a beautiful dystopian culture obsessed with poetry and metaphor. And there's brain surgery and rebellion and beautiful imagery.

Also has literally my favorite polyamorous relationship I've seen in a book. Which isn’t saying that much as they are rarer. And that’s what I wanted to touch on.

For all of the mystery and drama Yskandr left behind, the relationship between him, the Emperor and Nineteen Adze left me in shambles emotionally. It’s secret and quiet but so real and raw, three beings stuck between tense emotional and political moments but still manage to find comfort in each other. You could argue that Yskandr seduces them both, but it’s more complicated that that. There is clear emotion involved.

The flashbacks we see through the imago are so raw and just stick in my mind, these little memories are the only thing left behind. But when Yskandr finally talks to Nineteen Adze, that scene. Oh it broke me. Just bittersweet old fucks finally meeting again.

And Mahit, who by all technical functions is like Yskandr’s little sister by lineage, is protected and of interest to them. Nineteen Adze protects her, takes her under her care in her own way and the Emperor trusts her and speaks to her in the personal way someone who knows about the imago and knows about Yskandr could.

It’s by no means a functioning relationship or one spawned from a healthy environment, but the clear emotion and care they have for each other. Shakes fist.

#can you tell i forgot the emperors name #god this book means so much to me #i might write a few more essays #b: memory called empire #memory called empire #emily.txt

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local-librarian · 3 years ago

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