Seventeen year old Sarah Wilson is on the verge of attaining her dream, the top graduate position in the Civilian Safety Response’s Tactical Skills Program and posting to an elite team, when the bottom drops out of her world. Drugged, kidnapped and thrust into a clandestine world of military genetic experiments, everything she’s ever known about her past is thrown into doubt, along with her very identity.

This fast paced, military science fiction novel jumps head first into the question of what makes us who we are, and what happens when our every memory and action may not actually be ours. All the tried and tested memes of military science fiction are here – hardened soldiers, struggle of good vs evil, an outsider trying to win their way into a tight knit group – to keep fans of the genre satisfied, with enough variations to broaden its appeal to a wider audience.

The characters are believable and well-rounded, and there’s a consistency to their actions that lends credibility. I would have liked to see more depth to them in the novel, but at 90,000 words space is limited.

Memories is written in a straightforward, direct manner to let the reader engage with the story and characters without stumbling over the prose. I found the use of first person perspective refreshing; in a novel where half the action happens inside the main character’s mind, it is a superior, although technically more challenging, approach; and Yates has executed it well.

It’s not hard to lose yourself in Memories, and I found it an enjoyable read over a few evenings. Although definitely one for the military science fiction fans, Memories is also one for young adult science fiction readers and, potentially, for young adult readers new to the genre.

My thanks to Black Hare press, who supplied a copy of Memories Don’t Lie for this review.

Recommended.

Rating 3.5 out of 5

Available 11^th March 2023 in eBook, Paperback

Purchase via Amazon, Black Hare Press