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A review by toggle_fow
The Mountain of Kept Memory by Rachel Neumeier
4.0
Overall, very interesting and super cute.
This story follows Gulien and Oressa Madelin, prince and princess of Carastind. Their nation is under threat from an invading force led by Prince Gajdosik and the Keiba, a mysterious semi-divine being who usually watches over Carastind, has withdrawn her protection. Gulien goes on a pilgrimage to make amends to the Kieba, while Oressa stays back to weather the siege and occupation.
This setup is simple enough, but becomes a kaleidoscope of moving parts very quickly.
Gulien's pilgrimage to the Kieba's mountain quickly shows us that there's a lot more going on than we understand. Is the Kieba divine, or is she not? What is the kephalos, and why is it like some kind of sentient AI? What are these plagues that scour the earth, that aren't like any plagues we know of in the real world? What part is Gulien being made to play in this bigger picture?
Gajdosik, the original enemy, becomes an ally of necessity when a greater enemy shows up. He's a good character, almost from the beginning. Hard to hold any of his minor misdeeds against him, and his and Oressa's sojourn in the Kieba's mountain is almost entirely enjoyable and endearing. Oressa has a little bit of "upbeat, sassy young lady who talks too much sometimes, but is smarter than she seems" disease and can come off as younger than she is. However, she walks this fine line pretty well and never tipped over into becoming annoying.
The worldbuilding mystery commanded a large percentage of my investment. I devoured every new piece of the lore behind the Keiba as it was doled out and, while not everything was explained in detail, the end was satisfying. Oressa and Gajdosik are cute. Gulien really got the most difficult ending, but it still felt appropriate.
This story follows Gulien and Oressa Madelin, prince and princess of Carastind. Their nation is under threat from an invading force led by Prince Gajdosik and the Keiba, a mysterious semi-divine being who usually watches over Carastind, has withdrawn her protection. Gulien goes on a pilgrimage to make amends to the Kieba, while Oressa stays back to weather the siege and occupation.
This setup is simple enough, but becomes a kaleidoscope of moving parts very quickly.
Gulien's pilgrimage to the Kieba's mountain quickly shows us that there's a lot more going on than we understand. Is the Kieba divine, or is she not? What is the kephalos, and why is it like some kind of sentient AI? What are these plagues that scour the earth, that aren't like any plagues we know of in the real world? What part is Gulien being made to play in this bigger picture?
Gajdosik, the original enemy, becomes an ally of necessity when a greater enemy shows up. He's a good character, almost from the beginning. Hard to hold any of his minor misdeeds against him, and his and Oressa's sojourn in the Kieba's mountain is almost entirely enjoyable and endearing. Oressa has a little bit of "upbeat, sassy young lady who talks too much sometimes, but is smarter than she seems" disease and can come off as younger than she is. However, she walks this fine line pretty well and never tipped over into becoming annoying.
The worldbuilding mystery commanded a large percentage of my investment. I devoured every new piece of the lore behind the Keiba as it was doled out and, while not everything was explained in detail, the end was satisfying. Oressa and Gajdosik are cute. Gulien really got the most difficult ending, but it still felt appropriate.