Aside from continuing to ensure Lsel’s independence, Mahit must also find out what happened to her predecessor, Yskandr Agahvn.

Mahit is an ambassador from Lsel Station, which is the hub of a collection of mining stations that has, so far, managed to remain independent from Teixcalaan – a trend they would definitely like to continue. The main character of A Memory Called Empire, Mahit Dzmare, thinks a similar thought as she arrives in the City, the heart of the Teixcalaan Empire. But my eighteen-year-old self had said: “I want to see the world let me go to Europe on my own.” So why the equivalency? Why did I think of the hub of Empire when I thought of “the world”? I’ve traveled internationally, and Hong Kong and the United States are both part of the world (though the latter does seem to exist in a world of its own, sometimes). Now, in the wake of reading Arkady Martine’s A Memory Called Empire ( Tor Books, 2019), I’ve begun to ask myself a question: why was it that when I said I wanted to see “the world”, I had equated that phrase to Europe and the UK? The world, after all, is more than just Europe I’ve traveled locally, and my country is part of the world.

But I don’t think they were expecting me to suggest a third choice: a European tour, on my own, so I could “see the world.” And since I wasn’t particularly interested in such large parties, and was an introvert, to boot, I think my parents knew I wouldn’t opt for the debut, hence the offer of a car. I’d already been involved in the debuts of my two elder female cousins, so I was entirely aware of how hectic and draining such events could be, even if one was on the periphery. I think it says a lot about how well my parents knew me, that they’d offered me this choice. I could have the debut, if I chose, or they could get me a car. My parents were not so traditional as that, so decided to give me a choice.

Tradition in my country dictates that my family throw me an elaborate debut, as one of my maternal aunts had done for her eldest and second eldest daughters. When I was sixteen, my parents asked me what I wanted for my eighteenth birthday. Please note that the page may contain spoilers. Trigger warnings for this novel can be found here, c/o.

A memory called empire series