The Memory of Babel: Book Three of The Mirror Visitor Quartet (The Mirror Visitor Quartet, 3) Hardcover – September 8, 2020

This book, unfortunately, was a challenge for me to get through. From characters to setting and plot, The Memory of Babel was a slightly let down from the precedence set by the first two books.Ophelia was the same Ophelia from the previous two books that we know and love. While I found comfort in her character, I also believe that her development stagnated with the last book. Thorn, on the other hand, is a character I have never hated more nor loved more. I felt hopeful when he showed up in the story, but quickly became annoyed and exasperated with him. His stiff and cold persona masks his emotions (especially his love!). I really wish the author had included a dual perspective so that we can know what’s going on in his head. Instead we get brief moments of Ophelia interpreting his care and affection from his actions, but sometimes it seemed a little far-fetched. The ending may have resolved their relationship to a certain degree, but I did not personally feel that emotional/mental shift and it seemed abrupt.I did not care for the setting of this book as much as the previous two. Starting in Anima, Ophelia is quickly whisked away to Babel, a more dystopian like setting. I enjoyed the comfort of Anima and reveled in the ruthless Pole, but found Babel to be uninteresting. As a whole, I also did not enjoy the plot line as much as the previous two books. It’s strange, as a person of faith, to read a plot where the main characters are trying to take down a figure/being labeled as God. It was challenging because we got less time of interaction between humans and more time of Ophelia and her thoughts. The ending was a little confusing so I’m hoping the next book will resolve somethings and answer some of my questions.The previous two books had sections that were called fragments and it was clearly labeled and broke up the book. While these were sometimes confusing, I think they overall added to the story and definitely contributed to building up the tension. However the interludes in this book were not clearly labeled and caused confusion. Unlike the previous (somewhat nonsensical) fragments, these interludes were a complete side story that we only got brief glimpses of. It was a little disjointed and cause the flow to be disrupted. Each fragment got increasingly more confusing and I did not enjoy that story line by the end.I recognize the entire review was negative, but I do want to stress that I still love this series very much. I look forward to the next book’s translation being released and am hopeful for greater resolution. I think Ophelia is wonderful and am seriously impressed by the amazing world building created by the author. I ended up loving a few of the secondary characters too.

This piece in the series does not start as the others and took a bit longer to get into, but once I had I finished it in about three days and couldn’t put it down.

This series is so fricking good!!!! The story and characters are beautifully developed and so unique! This has become one of my favorite fantasy series of all time!!

Ophelia and Thorn are everything. I don’t know what else to say. I’m so happy I found these books. Terrified for the final one.

Love this series. If first book was not my cup of tea due to the settings, this 3rd one is brilliant, fresh, and more captivating than ever. If you've ever had a feeling when you can't wait to turn the page - this is the one...

My favorite parts are when Throne comes into the story! I think they work well as a couple and I look forward to seeing them defeating Gonde together!

Apart from excellent character development, Dabos has created a work and world of mysteries and a suspense that never lets up. Through the mirror, darkly, we glimpse our own times refracted by a vivid imagination and a clear purpose: to make us look beyond the surfaces into what makes us all tick. Brillantly done!

The slow burn of this series is so worth the wait! In the 3rd installment, more adventures are had, more plot unraveled, more mysteries revealed—and of course, new puzzles arise. Amidst it all, Ophelia and Thorn’s relationship reaches an improbable pinnacle. Unbelievably good.

This series is fantastic (quite literally) and utterly addictive. Picking it up again with this third volume after an interval of a few months, I was first struck by how whimsical and visual the world building is. Because it’s so unreflective of reality, for the first few chapters it’s easy to forget how absorbed you become in the characters and story once it gets going. One of the things I love about all these books is that you never quite know what’s going to happen next. It’s a thrilling adventure and packs a bit of an emotional punch too, particularly the wonderfully restrained scenes between Ophelia and Thorn.This book sees Ophelia searching for Thorn in Babel, a cosmopolitan yet highly controlled society where a giant library containing all the documented history of the Arks has been built on the ruins of a fragment from the old world. There are plenty of twists, intrigue and mystery to keep the story propelling forward. By halfway through I couldn’t put it down and was gutted when I finished it as I’d hoped to savour it a bit longer. Ophelia is such a great character. Not a cliche in sight - she’s no damsel in distress needing to be rescued but she’s not the typical strong, beautiful feisty heroine beloved of so much fantasy fiction either. She grows and develops and she’s unique, just like these books.

I don't know what happened. How did it become so cheesy and shallow? The feelings make no sense, characters appear and disappear within few pages bringing nothing to the story which in turns become less likely and farfetched.. i'm so disappointed. I was the greatest fan of the first two books, did Christine hit her head and lost her memory too... did she forget how to write??? So so so disappointed, who would have ever imagined... not by this saga... i never learn! :(

I love this series, it's quirky and just wonderfully written. I've read a couple of YA novels recently and these books are so different and a refreshing change. I can't wait for the English version of book 4. I'm half considering attempting the french version to avoid the wait but I'm afraid my moderate level of french might ruin the read.

Great book- it was even better than previous two

I love this saga, what can I say. The growth of the characters, the smooth and elegant way of writing of the author and how she dived you in the universe.