Hmmm, I don't know how I feel about this book.
I loved Bitter Medicine, and was excited to read more romantic fantasy by this author.
This book unfortunately did not quite work for me. The pace was even, things either happened in a rush or they dragged aimlessly around.
Set in a dystopian world, the whole magic/mystic element was confusing - tripping on mushrooms (for gifted ones only) in order to uncover old memories and preserve them in a museum was just weird. And then there was the religious aspect of people treating these memories as some special blessings ...
I could have overlooked that if the personal relationship were better developed, or just felt more authentic.
The friendship was not quite friendship, the guradian-guarded was not quite clear, the love relationship only came through in the end.
I don't know, I kept wanting more and the book never fully delivered it.
It reads like the first in a series, but I don't know for sure and right now I don't know if I want to invest more time and energy in this world.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this eARC.

I am giving this a very nearly 4 star rating, a 3.75 for several reasons.

This book has a unique premise and is very different to others I’ve read before. I loved how the author blended science and magic through the fungal memory recall system, basically tripping on past memories with the help of specific mushrooms. The city setting of this book gave me Arcane vibes which I enjoyed. The discursive writing style the author uses helped with the reader’s immersion into the memory dive scenes and really brought it to life with detailed sensual language.

This book raises important ethical questions regarding museums and curation practices, particularly from an anthropological perspective. The message from this book is clear right to the end: who has the right to tell a story that isn’t their own, and who has the right to dictate how ancestors from the past are depicted to the present.

I also really enjoyed that the romance was not the sole driving force of the plot but still played a significant role, and was so so much deeper and more intimate than simple chemistry and attraction, a beautiful sapphic relationship.

The only reason I’m notching down the rating is that I was a little confused at some parts throughout this book and I would have loved some more world building, particularly some more explanation on the whole fungal memory system and how that played into the religious aspect of the book. It almost felt like this could have been complete as two books but ended up as one with lots of plot and character building crammed in, but a bit of world building might have got cut.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, the characters, the plot, and the magic/science system. Just wish I got a bit more of it.

I was hooked in this story like a fish. It was a slow start but it was worth it. I found myself entertained in this adventure of memories. It was well written in a way that i felt the created world slipping in my mind as i read, a fantasy that kept me reading.

The storm-ravaged world, the tensions between public and restricted history, between preservation and the theft of cultural artifacts and memories are all very well done. Amongst it, privileged city-born Key and shore-born scrapper Vale are caught between conflicting loyalties and betrayals, and Key is trying to follow her saints-given vocation – to reveal the memories of how their faith began. Lots of angst, and trigger-warnings for non-consensual medical treatment. Will definitely pick up book 2.

The Memory Hunters by Mia Tsai is an interesting blend of sci-fi, fantasy and romance. While the concept is fascinating, the execution falls a bit short. The pacing is uneven—some sections drag with heavy exposition, while others rush through key emotional moments. The protagonist sometimes feels more like a vehicle for the plot than a fully realized character and I wasn't feeling the chemistry between her and her love interest. Though it doesn’t fully deliver on its potential, The Memory Hunters is still an interesting read for fans of cerebral sci-fi.

The author has potential, but the book often feels murky about the diving system and sequence of events— maybe on purpose, maybe not. A couple twists seemed predictable. I actually didn’t think the romance between the two main characters was super necessary. In terms of the rhetoric about memory and museums, as a social sciences major nothing huge was made and I’m not sure that Tsai got super in deep with the ethical murkiness of it— the characters are almost a little *too* good, like how in Star Trek nobody really questions the colonizing mission. Overall, this is a flawed but respectable debut that fans of Babel will enjoy.

The Memory Hunters centers around a society in which scientists extract memories via a complex process involving mushrooms and blood. The main character, Kiana Strade, comes from a family who lead the local religion’s temples, but she wants to escape that fate and work at the museum where memories are housed. Because of her family history, she can “dive” deeper into memories than anyone else, an ability which has both benefits and dangers.

As a diver and a member of high society, Kiana warrants a bodyguard, a feisty petite woman named Valerian IV, Vale for short, who is from a distant place, but was brought to the city to be trained as a guardian. There is a slow-burn sapphic romance between Kiana and Vale.

I like the idea of this fungi-associated religion and feel that it is fairly well elucidated and is interesting. Kiana on a “dive” discovers the origins of this religion, and that origin is somewhat less well elucidated and which to mind (at least in this physician) prion-associated brain illnesses like Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and mad cow disease.

The climax is a tour-de-force with rapidly changing allegiances.

I was mostly interested in the museum aspects of the diving. Rather than return the memories to the descendants of those who had the memories, the recollections are housed in a museum. I felt this was somewhat like not returning the Benin bronzes to Nigeria. So there are some ethical considerations here as well.

I hate reading an entire novel and then having an abrupt ending signaling the work has been set up for a sequel.

Mia Tsai’s The Memory Hunters is a gripping dive into a dystopian future where history isn’t just remembered—it’s excavated from the blood. The story follows Kiana Strade, or Key, an archaeologist with the rare ability to unlock genetic memories, and her fiercely protective bodyguard, Valerian IV (Vale). Together, they navigate a world where the past holds dangerous secrets, and those in power will do anything to control them.

What really struck me was how effortlessly Tsai weaves together world-building and cultural nuance. The setting feels both futuristic and deeply rooted in real history, making the stakes feel all the more urgent. There’s an underlying tension throughout—between progress and preservation, between truth and power—that gives the book an emotional weight beyond just its action-packed plot.

The relationship between Key and Vale adds another layer of depth. Their dynamic is more than just bodyguard and charge; it’s built on mutual respect, quiet moments of understanding, and an unspoken connection that grows as the story unfolds.

This book isn’t just a sci-fi thriller; it’s a thought-provoking exploration of identity, memory, and who gets to control the narrative of history. Tsai’s writing is vivid and evocative, making The Memory Hunters an absolute must-read for anyone who loves speculative fiction with heart and intelligence.

The Memory Hunters by Mia Tsai, a good premise that simply didnt work for me, I do think others will enjoy it and thank you for giving me a chance with this book!

Review: The Memory Hunters by Mia Tsai

I had the chance to read an early version of The Memory Hunters, and while it has a fascinating premise, it didn’t fully live up to my expectations. Mia Tsai’s world-building is intricate, with a unique concept centered around memory archaeology, but the execution felt uneven at times.

The story follows Kiana Strade, an archaeologist who can dive into ancestral memories, and her bodyguard, Valerian IV, as they uncover a secret that threatens their society. The premise is strong, and there are moments of brilliance—especially in the exploration of history, identity, and the power of memory. However, the pacing dragged in places, particularly in the first half, where the world-building sometimes overshadowed the plot.

Kiana is an interesting protagonist, but I struggled to connect with her on an emotional level. Valerian had a strong presence, and their dynamic had potential, but their relationship felt underdeveloped. The romantic tension that Tsai is known for didn’t fully land for me, making their connection feel more like an afterthought than an integral part of the story.

That said, Tsai’s writing is solid, and fans of speculative fiction with detailed world-building will likely enjoy this. While The Memory Hunters didn’t completely hook me, I can see it appealing to readers who love slower-paced, concept-driven sci-fi with a touch of adventure.

Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to like this book, the premise was amazing but unfortunately I couldn't get over the MC. She was just so stubborn and selfish. I could not connect to her at all and it caused me to dislike how she interacted with everyone.
I also found that the story and world building went around and around in circles.
Then the religious system was also confusing.

I will not be reading anymore of this world. Sorry.

The flow of the book seems of to me. It's so slow in the beginning and then it's off. I would like it to be more even because it felt rushed in comparison the the draggy start. The magic setup is a bit underexplained. The author definitely got some talent and I would still consider reading her next book.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book!!!!!
Wow weeeee!
It completely pulled me in and hasn’t left me since I finished it. The whole idea of memories being hunted and preserved like museum artifacts was so original, and the way the world was created, I felt as though I was right there.
It tackles some big questions ~ Who controls history?
What gets remembered?
What is lost? ~ all wrapped up in a beautifully written, atmospheric story.

I was obsessed with Key and Vale’s dynamic. Key is reckless, privileged, and a little infuriating at times, but she’s also ambitious and layered. Vale, her guardian, is her total opposite…. grounded, fiercely loyal, and struggling to find where she belongs. Their slow-burn tension was so good, and I loved watching their relationship evolve. The pacing slows a bit in the middle, but I didn’t mind because it gave me time to really sink into the world, the politics, and the magic system.

The way this book explores lost histories, power, and the ethics of memory diving was really well done. By the end, I was desperate for more. If you love immersive fantasy with layered characters, moral dilemmas, and some slow-burn sapphic yearning, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing!

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for a free ARC of 'The Memory Hunters' for my review.
3.25 rounded down to 3 stars.

Key has been blessed by her ancestors by being able to dive deeper into blood memories compared to anyone else alive. All she wants to do is make a breakthrough contribution to the museum of memories. Vale is her protector from those with murderous intent and her own ambitions.

The concept of mushrooms holding memories was really interesting to me. As memory hunters consume blood chalices (a type of mushroom) to relieve the past memories of someone's elses life. They need an anchor typically the guardian who can sing them out of the memory otherwise hunters they can lose parts of themselves and find themselves slipping into the memories.

I also found the concept of the museum of memories unique with it storing memories or the mushrooms(?) To preserve the past.

The storyline was rather slow for the first 100 pages and the world could have been a little bit better fleashed out as it took me a while to understand the magic system and world.

Personally I struggled to connect to Key, she felt too spoiled and pushy and straight up annoyed me.

However I absolutely adored Vale's journey, especially the banter between Vale and her mentor. The sapphic slow burn was nice.

The book is definitely set up ready for a sequel and I would recommend it for those wanting to get into a dystopian sci-fi with queer representation.

Billed as Inception meets Indiana Jones, TMH follows a headstrong academic Kiana who can dive deeper into blood memories than anyone alive and does research for the Museum of Human Memory. Her bodyguard Valerian IV is there to keep her safe and to make sure she doesn't get too sucked into the memories, but when they stumble upon a massive secret, everything changes.

This is the first of a duology so the ending is as you'd expect with many questions answered and far more to follow up on, but I had a great time and I can't wait for more folks to read it because Tsai is really grappling with trauma, memories, who gets to tell history, and generally mushrooms are wild and kinda gross. For the nerds in the room there's even a reference list!

The characters are also very messy and complicated in ways that felt real and at times frustrating but the writing itself is solid so it never feels too overwrought. I particularly loved Valerian IV and thought the "privileged but wants to do good" lead with "poor and tired" bodyguard were done very well, especially because the majority of the cast is nonwhite.

I'm very curious how folks will respond to a certain pairing and what seemed to me as hints towards where another pairing is going in the second book.

My only real critique and something I look forward to changing in the second is that sometimes the writing feels a bit too abstract, and instead of it being atmospheric or situating the reader in the book, it detracts from the experience. I want to know more about the world, but it feels hazy, if that makes sense. I'm very excited for the second one nonetheless!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the arc before the publication date.

This book was really interesting. In good and bad ways. The book was definitely interesting, but a little chaotic. The world building felt too abstract in my opinion, and I wish things had been more fleshed out because a lot of times I was confused.

If you read the book summary and feel like it 100% resonates with you, I would say read it. If you're iffy after reading the summary, I would honestly say maybe pass on this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing to read this book in advance with a digital copy.
I wanted to like this way more than I did in the end. The premise is fascinating: after what can be interpreted (not much is said about it) as a climate catastrophe, coastal cities are plagued by storms while the Spine and its cities thrive and rely on the Museum of Human Memory and its hunters to retrieve and store memories from the past to reconstruct what got lost. Unfortunately, much about the worldbuilding is left to speculation by the reader, which made the setting look a bit weak - as if the author had not put every detail in place before writing this story. Mushrooms, tabs, laboratories - it’s all cool in theory but, in the end, leaves too much room for interpretation, a constant guessing game that starts to get tiring at about half of the book.
The plot itself unravels at a very slow pace, the revelation that the MC is looking for gets pushed aside too many times - sure, we get flashbacks that pinpoints other characters’ motivations and all, but some of it feels unnecessary.
The characters themselves, especially the two female MCs, try to stand out amongst the crowd with a lot of internal reflection - too bad it gets repetitive and dull, especially the fourth time we’re reminded the girl is proud and hurt and struggles to get help and self respect.
Overall, this is a book I didn’t like for its structure and writing, and because the initial premise to me was betrayed by a couple of predictable turns of events and a lack of explaining.

The concept of this was too abstract for me - taking hallucinogenic mushrooms to travel back in time, to retrieve and catalog ancient memories, to preserve in part of a cultural museum and religious rite. I didn't love being immediately thrown into the heart of the story - the whole concept of memory diving, Key's lineage and her importance in it, and their whole society's religion were very confusing to me, and I still don't understand after finishing the book. Maybe some readers learn through immersion; I don't.

The relationships between the main characters seemed artificial, then forced, and the "twist" towards the end was predictable. I thought this was better than ACOTAR, but to me, that's not saying much. I HATE giving bad reviews, but I would probably recommend passing on this one.

I give this a 2/5.
This ARC was provided by the publisher via @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the arc!

Honestly, I nothing this book. It was fine, but I never felt connected to the characters. As such, I also never felt connected to the story. Also key just pissed me off. -3 stars

I think that parts of this book were really interesting. Namely, I liked the idea of the mushrooms that basically let you trip into memories and a museum dedicated to archiving and preserving them--the memories, not really so the mushrooms (I think). The problem is that this was just... really bloated with plot and not all of it got resolved in a way that felt satisfying. There were actually a few instances, in my opinion, that you could cut out entirely and have zero changes to the story. I won't delve into any spoilers, but I will detail a few of the things that really didn't work for me.

For starters, I think the religious aspect of the book was... a little confusing and, honestly, didn't seem to really end up mattering in the end. It had a consequence, certainly, but the resolution just didn't work and seemed almost tossed aside. I really think the book should have just focused on the memory museum and the way that certain institutions gatekeep memories and memorabilia from the people that deserve access to them.

Then, there's the main relationship between Key and Vale. I think it probably could have worked if: 1. their friendship had been more firmly established; there was a lot of telling that they were friends and that they had a crush on one another, but there were a lot more instances that seemed to run counter to that; and 2. the story didn't continually reiterate how much the two of them didn't trust one another. Both of these things made a lot of the deeper emotional moments ring false. I just couldn't buy or care about the romance. Doubly so because Key was a level of selfish that, given Vale's established character, seemed to be something that she'd actively dislike. I almost wish they'd have started as enemies or antagonistic to one another before moving on to something more.

This just seemed like a case of too much plot, not enough space for it all to go. I don't know if it will bother anyone else, but I definitely struggled with this one. It's definitely creative, though.