Memory of Water Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the official blog tour for Memory of Water! Today I'll be sharing my review of the book with you - and don't forget to enter the giveaway!! To follow the rest of the tour, click on the banner above.

Memory of Water

Author: Emmi Itaranta

Release Date: June 10, 2014

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Description:

An amazing, award-winning speculative fiction debut novel by a major new talent, in the vein of Ursula K. Le Guin 

Global warming has changed the world's geography and its politics. Wars are waged over water, and China rules Europe, including the Scandinavian Union, which is occupied by the power state of New Qian. In this far north place, seventeen-year-old Noria Kaitio is learning to become a tea master like her father, a position that holds great responsibility and great secrets. Tea masters alone know the location of hidden water sources, including the natural spring that Noria's father tends, which once provided water for her whole village. 

But secrets do not stay hidden forever, and after her father's death the army starts watching their town-and Noria. And as water becomes even scarcer, Noria must choose between safety and striking out, between knowledge and kinship. 

Imaginative and engaging, lyrical and poignant, Memory of Water is an indelible novel that portrays a future that is all too possible. 

Memory of Water is a captivating dystopian novel that portrays what life would be like if water became incredibly scarce and countries were more than willing to go to war over it. Noria is our teenage main character and the story follows her as she trains to follow in her father's footsteps as a tea master - a very powerful position full of responsibilities and secrets. Due to global warming, the world as we know it is long gone. Water is one of the most sought after resources - and politics and governments have changed because of it. Noria leads a quiet life in a small town, training with her father to become a tea master like him. After her father dies, the army begins to watch her town as well as herself. Tension continues to rise as water becomes more scarce, forcing Noria to make a tough decision - should she keep her commitment to her village and keep training to be a tea master, or should she go off on her own to evade the army and the government that's spying on her? 

Most dystopian novels seem to have really similar plots and concepts, which basically lumps them all together without any standing out from the rest. I believe that this book is finally one that stands apart from others in the genre - simply because of the various aspects of the story and the mixture of genres that the author mixes together to create an intriguing novel. Noria is a great main character - she's smart, talented, a devoted daughter, devoted to her village and its people, and determined to do what she believes is right. I loved watching her character mature and grow throughout the book as she faces difficult decisions and obstacles. The dystopian setting of the novel is incredibly detailed with lots of descriptions and vivid imagery that allows the reader to lose themselves in this future world. The secrets that are revealed in the book really keep the reader on their toes and engaged in the story. I loved uncovering the truth behind everything one piece at a time. It was incredibly hard to believe that this was the author's debut novel. With the thought-provoking plot and issues discussed along with the fluid writing style, this is definitely an author to keep your eye on. I'll definitely be watching for her next book. I highly recommend this novel to fans of fantasies and dystopian fiction, as well as those readers who are looking for something different and fresh.

Emmi Itaränta leads a double life, working mornings in an office at the University of Kent in the UK, and spending her with fictional characters in imaginary worlds. 

Web: www.emmiitaranta.com/ 
Twitter: @emmi_elina

Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble 

Giveaway: (1) Winner will get a copy of MEMORY OF WATER + a $25.00 Gift Card to the eTailer of their choice! 

Ships in US/Canada Only Must be 13+ To Enter 

 

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