I liked the book but the edition I read had typos every single chapter. The first half of the book I was confused what was going on. The stories would change without any indication that is was a different perspective. Very confusing. ( )

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! ( )