A Memory Called Empire

 A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine

Winner of the 2020 Hugo Award

Ambitious young diplomat, Mahit Dzmare lands in her new post in Teixcalaan, prepared to negotiate with the empire which is threatening to devour her home station Lsel, only to find her enigmatic predecessor, Yskandr dead.
Cut off from home, and without true allies, Mahit finds herself desperately investigating who caused Yskandr’s death, and why, all the while trying to keep Lsel’s secrets.
In the backdrop, revolution looms across Teixcalaan, and alien dangers fly ever closer and closer to home.
In the end, what will Mahit choose? Her homeland, or the glittering, monstrous empire which has captured her heart?

I am, admittedly, a little late to the soirée. But considering the fact that this space opera has much less popularity than it deserves, I am plowing ahead anyway.

Though shelved as science fiction, I would say it could be much better described as a political thriller. The main character Mahit is a diplomat, and is a very sympathetic, though not an overtly friendly character.
She navigates the treacherous political landscape cautiously, yet spurred by desperation. She tries to hoard the little power and influence she has and tries to avoid bending into the orbits of magnetic politicians. I would say Martine does an especially commendable job here, and she has successfully steered her political figures away from either the tragic-benevolent-leader or the conniving-greedy-manipulator traps. Sorting through the tangle of characters and their varying motives can be a bit much work for a light read, but it is well worth it, for the dramatic saga-worthy ending.

The novel doesn’t really have much sci-fi. There is no backstory to where humanity is now, and no detailed explanation to the science of the rocketry. There is, however, a generous share of implants and a slick sheen of AI.
The cultural world building is much better.
Martine crafts a social divide between Teixcalaanli and Lsel, bringing out differences in emotional expression, beauty standards, ethics, and names.
(Here we will magnanimously forgive Martine’s penchant for using names with far too many letters. Teixcalaan? Really?)
The invading, dominant empire sees those outside its purview as either barbarians or exotics, a source of much frustration to Mahit. Mahit is dazzled by Teixcalaanli culture, and its love of sagas and epics, poetry and recitation. The conflict between Mahit’s obsession with Teixcalaan and her loyalty to her home feels like the soul of the novel.

The author flexes her impressive vocabulary a bit too much but the style is seamless, sleek and cool.

Overall this is a sure 4 or perhaps even a 4.5 out of 5. A must read on a grey, stark day with a cup of strong coffee and some tasteful whisperpop.