Memories of Empire

by Django Wexler

Veil thought her life had ended the day her father sold her to a passing slaver. When the slaver's caravan is butchered by a lone attacker, her only chance for survival is to forge an unlikely friendship with the mercenary, Corvus. Beset on all sides by pursuing demons, she wonders if death wouldn't have been easier. Unbeknownst to Veil, Corvus, an apparently invincible swordsman, searches for the fragments of his past. Cutting a bloody swath across the Empire, now humbled by the Khaev invasion, he seeks only to know who he is. On the other side of the continent, Kei and her partner reluctantly join a mission to hunt down a rogue sorcerer. The expedition is led by an eccentric noble with a penchant for getting everyone around her killed. Kei's misgivings only increase when she's introduced to their erstwhile ally, the shadow spirit Jyo-raku. However, she is duty bound to obey her commander. Different lives; different paths. Each seeking destiny. Unaware they are merely the pawns of ancient spirits, players in a deadly game that will ultimately bring them together for the greatest prize of all.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Epic, Science Fiction Fantasy

561 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

Django Wexler graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh with degrees in creative writing and computer science, and worked for the university in artificial intelligence research. Eventually he migrated to Microsoft in Seattle, where he now lives with two cats and a teetering mountain of books. When not planning Shadow Campaigns, he wrangles computers, paints tiny soldiers, and plays games of all sorts.

Reviews

[Mogsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's the thing, whenever I finish a book I love, I tend to make it a mission to check out more of the author's work. This might mean pre-ordering their next book if the author is new, or if they have other books already out those will immediately go on my to-read list. Anyway, ever since I discovered Django Wexler's The Thousand Names he's become one of my favorite authors, so of course I went through the same process of tracking down his other stuff. Thing is though, his two previously published books are out of print and are extremely hard to track down, but as luck would have it I was able to get copies without having to break the bank.

I am glad I started with Memories of Empire. If you've read The Thousand Names, this one actually feels almost like its spiritual predecessor. There are shared elements in the story and setting that made me feel right at home, those that are common in epic fantasy like faraway lands, exotic cultures, multiple plot threads featuring many different characters and warring nations. We have Veil, a young girl sold to slavery only to be accidentally rescued by Corvus, a passing swordsman who seeks answers to his past. We have the Khaev draek riders Kit and her Wing Leader Kei, tasked on an expedition to hunt down a rogue sorcerer. Then there are the other factions carrying on behind the scenes, not least of all the demons and spirits of this world who pull the strings and play mortals as their pawns in order to suit their own ends.

After reading this I can see how the author's writing has evolved and gotten better over the years. It's true there are some parts of this book that could have been streamlined, some characters that felt underused or whose motivations could be better explained, plot points that could have been made more clear. Still, for someone who really enjoys Wexler's smooth, flowing style and pacing I was not disappointed, and his talents for world building and character development were apparent even back then.

For one, I adored Veil and ate up every page she was featured in, and still couldn't get enough. Her relationship with Corvus is something I followed with enthusiasm; there was something very sweet and endearing about the nature of it, a mixture of admiration, respect and awkward school-girl crush. That's just one example of the author's knack for conveying the complex emotions and dynamics between characters, and another is the friendship between Kit and Kei. Some of the flashbacks and memory sequences into their pasts didn't add much to the story, but they made the two women better characters even if I still didn't connect to them as much as I did Veil, who was my absolute favorite.

I can also see how Wexler's love for wargaming came through in this one. I wonder how much of it was involved in the descriptions of the fighting, but no doubt what went in made the battles in the book better because of that. The final one near the ending almost reads like a narrative for a campaign, and it's a real treat to read a book with battles in it written by someone experienced in a command role in historical wargames. If that sounds like something that interests you, definitely check out Django Wexler. The Thousand Names has all that goodness too, and unlike this book it is easy to get your hands on!

[Hthayer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A diverting enough fantasy, but with plot holes big enough to drive a truck through and rather confusing plot jumps and loose ends. If this was a movie I would think that someone had left important scenes on the cutting room floor. That said, I've read worse and it was generally enjoyable. I read it all the way through to the end.

[Joel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this and hope this is the start of a series.

The book starts out and you are in the dark and there are a lot of people and events that aren't fully explained, but that kept me reading and wanting to find out what that meant or the history behind a person. I liked the world that was set up with a diverse group of settings and cultures that kept things interesting.

I think this is a book that would be worth rereading at some point because you will pick up things you missed the first time.

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Wexler's "Thousand Names" so much I went digging for other work and was happy to find a copy of this at the local library. A solid read, and a standalone novel rather than the first in a series. Fairly action-packed. I enjoyed it well enough while reading but uktimately didnt find it particularly memorable, maybe because there were so many characters it ultimately became difficult to keep track of or get attached to any? It was fun for me to see how much Wexler has grown as a writer, but I would start with "A Thousand Names" rather than this one if you havent read Wexler before. Between 2.5-3 stars for me.

[William Whalen · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I was tempted to give this 5 stars, it fell just a little short. The interplay between demons and humans was nicely done. It had some fascinating characters and exciting fight sequences. As another reader noted, the editing was sloppy with numerous dumb typos. Also as is often the problem with a story on this grand a scale, the ending didn't match up to the rest of the book. Do not let these faults deter you from what was a very entertaining read.

[Niyou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Veil and Corvus as characters. I read this years for the first time about 10 years ago. The two characters were so memorable to me that I keep coming re-reading their chapters.

I don’t remember the plot too much and haven’t given it a proper reread since.

I’m looking at some of the other works from this author and i’m hoping i’ll be able to connect with some of his other books.

[Kyri Freeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wexler's writing skills have improved immeasurably since this book, which I found to be a slog (and will authors PLEASE stop referring to young women characters as 'girls').

[Justice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm glad I read Thousand Names (which was excellent) first, or I would not have come back for more. Wexler is a fine writer of prose, and I enjoyed most of the characters in this book (the ones he didn't introduce in depth then kill off a few chapters later). But there are dozens of characters, and none has any clear motivation for doing anything, which means you don't have any reason to want any of them to succeed, other than they are interesting. In fact, you don't even know what it would mean for them to succeed, as none of them seems to know what they are doing or why. When you reach the end, you find out why everything happened, but by that time, it is just a big shrug. "All this for that?"
A list of characters and which side they were on would have helped a little, as would NOT naming two main characters Kit and Kat (not really, but close enough). I had to backtrack continually to figure out who was talking to whom.
Happily, Wexler's plot development improved dramatically for Thousand Names, though I can still see a tendency to throw "major" enemies in the path of the heroes, only to kill them off easily and move on to the next one.

I almost forgot, either the proofreaders of this book were among the worst in the business, or there was a secret code being used in the book based on words with spaces in the middle of them.
Don't laugh. Years ago, I noticed that the liner notes for the lyrics of the CD "Ghost of a Dog" by Eddie Brickel had letters missing from words in every song. When I noted which letters were missing, they spelled "Ghost of a Dog."

[Free Fall · Rating 5 out of 5]

The multiple storylines and the concepts in this fantasy world can be hard to grasp at first, but it was worth it.

I cared about Corvus and Veil, though I'll admit that both of them are described as being unbeatable in their personal fields: Corvus at fighting and Veil at strategy games. I felt as though their relationship was quirky and touching with just the faintest hints of romance, for people who are sick of romantic themes ruining good books.

There was also an undertone of dry humor that enlivened Memories of Empire; one person says that he can take all of the Two Hundred with one hand tied behind his back and is promptly killed in personal combat with number one-hundred-something the next day.

The pace is quick, the characters are compelling, and the description of imperial conflict is wonderful. While there are complex hierarchies of spirits and gods, along with sprawling political and social structures, it never takes over the story. Veil is also a young girl with incredible (occasionally unbelievable) toughness who still manages to come across as innocent and awkward, but necessary, as well.

[Chris Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not much a big fantasy reader, but do like an occasional solid read, one that is not part 1of 6 (or 7 or 8....)

This book appealed to me from the get-go, an easy to read style, interesting if somewhat cliche characters (innocent waif teamed up with gruff and deadly mercenary, for example). Three is just enough newness to the setting to keep me on my toes.

Love the name, Ebon Death, be it myth, boogeyman, scourge, whatever, and in fact liked all of the names of characters, be they demons, Demi-gods, imperials or Khaevs, and all the flavors in between - a sampling of three pairs of characters often found together: Kit and Kei (Khaev draekeres) Isobel and Zhin (partners? Kind of) and of course the afore mentioned Veil and Corvus (waif and mercenary).

A fun read and by all accounts not the authors best (according to other reviewers) so there is much to look forward to.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually I would be closer to 3-1/2 stars for this. The only reason it was not 4, was that in the beginning, the multiple story lines was a little hard to grasp, w/o any backround. It was like you were thrust into each sub-plot with no warning.
BUT, they did all come together nicely and became apparent how each was intertwined with the other.
Overall, a little hard at first, but once you get into the flow (storm water choppy as it is) then you start to pick up on the details easier. The plot overall was a great story as well.

[Donald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up at the library after reading the Shadow Campaigns. Entertaining enough, though clearly an early effort from Wexler. There were some editing issues in the edition I read as well, though that is hardly a comment on the writing/story. If you enjoy his later work, this is worth a read as well.

[Mir]

Probably won't finish unless the interest picks up soon... it is quite long and so far I don't care about the characters or what happens to them. But at least the author makes some effort at correct grammar.

[wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

very captivating & smooth read. Wexler jumps from scene to scene and brings all the characters together in a solid fashion. and Corvus?.... Drizzt might beat him on a good day, but not when he's all out Ebon Death.

[colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

read 02.11.06

[Stoli · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF....Would like to reread at some point.

[John Gregory Wynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was not too bad. Enjoyed a couple of the characters Corvus and Veil. Would of liked to had a little more back story.