Memory of Stone (Memory of Stone #1) by Chio Zoe

Memory of Stone is a fast-paced tale of magic, lore, and passionate characters that’ll leave readers keen to proceed to the next book.

Review copy received from author in exchange for honest review.

Memory of Stone is a fast-paced tale of magic, lore, and passionate characters that’ll leave readers keen to proceed to the next book.

Synopsis

Nyx, an accomplished criminal in the Bottoms, tries to rescue her friend Felix from prison, setting off a trend of events that pits her against forces bigger and more malevolent than she ever imagined.

Her flight to safety leads her into the realm of the fey, where she makes discoveries that shed light on her history and life’s purpose.

For Egan, a commander in the king of Gelsheim’s forces, new to court, a strange discovery leads him down a path where he has to choose between right and wrong, caught between the king’s stance on magic and its users, as he is.

Characters

For various reasons, despite his limited POVs compared to those of Nyx, the main character, Egan, was the one I enjoyed reading about the most. He seemed cool, composed, and had a strong sense of right and wrong that I admired.

His chivalry was expected, even if the reveal of his true identity wasn’t something I saw coming.

Nyx, on the other hand, was pretty annoying. Petulant, immature, inconsistent, you name it. In many ways, she’s the typical YA fantasy female lead, only this time, I do hope she gets some character development in the next book.

Gannon reads like your regular YA fantasy support character, and while I found his character not-so-remarkable, I think there’s plenty enough there to build on as the story progresses.

Storytelling

Given how Western fantasy authors and publishers barely spare African readers a glance, it’s quite impressive and telling that a Nigerian author, Chio Zoe, can write pure fantasy reminiscent of the works of Cassandra Clare, Holly Black, and Sarah J. Maas.

While my tastes have gravitated over the years from young adult to Grimdark fantasy, it was still satisfying to read a less complex, more streamlined story. Experienced readers of the genre would find many of the events slightly predictable, but a handful of extras add some intrigue to the mix.

Worldbuilding and writing style

This was genuinely the only aspect of the book I genuinely found disappointing. Perhaps it stems from my nearly two decades of reading magic-system-heavy fantasy with complex worlds and maps with vivid detailing. But I’d have liked to see a little more worldbuilding here.

It does seem that the author’s writing style is character- and dialogue-focused, which makes for an easy read. However, I absolutely don’t mind spending more time away from the actual story to delve deeply into the world.

Still, this is a personal preference. If you’re a reader who finds complex worlds cumbersome to read, then you have no problem.

Verdict

Memory of Stone elicits mixed feelings from me, to be honest. On one hand, I’m intrigued by the storytelling and impressed by the characters.

On the other hand, the final few chapters felt rather rushed, and I didn’t end up getting a feeling as satisfying as I’d hoped at some point, even if the way it ended means I’m curious as to how the story continues in Verity of Old.