Memoria by J.J. Fischer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Absolutely incredible. I was captivated by Calor. I was entranced by Lumen. But it is in Memoria that I found myself the most profoundly moved. Not because it was an excellent story, expertly told. Not because I had fallen in love with the characters and was so deeply invested in their stories. While all of those things were true, and all of them contributed to making this trilogy as wonderful as it is, those components were merely the foundation, the setting of the stage for the Truth that Fischer so brilliantly displayed through this work of fiction.

Allow me to backtrack for a moment and talk about some of the other elements of the series in general and Memoria in particular that worked so well. First, the prose is this enticing blend of polish and warmth, a sweet spot that is easy to read but deceptively difficult to write. In my review of Calor, I compared the craftsmanship to that of Brandon Sanderson, and I stand by that. The worldbuilding is also fantastic, and I would rank it along those same lines. One way in which I actually think Fischer actually surpasses Sanderson is with her pacing, which manages to be both propulsive and more even across the board.

The stakes are incredibly high in this last installment. As is the tension on multiple fronts. There is tension between the main cast of characters, be it romantic or dramatic or suspicious in nature. There is tension held within the souls of the characters, tension between their desires and their duty, or their courage and their fear. There’s also larger scale tension between warring kingdoms. But all of those shrink in comparison to the overarching tension between good and evil that most of this world is still completely unaware of.

I grew to love Sephone and Dorian, Cass and Jewel, Spartan and so many others in this cast. But everything they went through, every element of the plot was all building toward showcasing the love of the Triune God in the presentation of the Three and their role in the drama unfolding. This is the best portrayal of the Trinity that I’ve encountered in fantasy, and one of the best I’ve come across in any work of fiction. The way Fischer showcased the Holy Spirit was inspired, and something I’ve rarely seen so lovingly and purposefully presented outside of actual Scripture. Then there is the Son aspect of the Three (who shall remain nameless in this review) and the almost allegorical conveyance of the Gospel. We have here all of the elements of The Greatest Story Ever Told, presented in a new way that reminded me of Lewis’s crafting of Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia. I think that works such as this series and Narnia are such a powerful experience for those who are already Christians because they work as a prism, refracting the Light in a new way that brings us to a refreshed awareness of the true Gospel of Jesus. And those same works of fiction can be a life changing tool for those who don’t yet know Jesus, as it can plant in them a thirst of the ultimate Source of truth.

Everything about Memoria, especially the final quarter, moved me profoundly. Not only did Fischer nail the landing in terms of plot, her Nightingale trilogy is now ensconced with Narnia and Ted Dekker’s Circle series as some of the most spiritually rich and impactful works of fantasy I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Not only will I be rereading these for years and decades to come, I can’t wait to press this into as many hands as I can. So, if you’re reading this review, please consider embarking on your own journey with Sephone and Dorian and Cass. You won’t regret it.

A couple of parting thoughts. I would be sad to leave this world behind except, it’s not over yet! Fischer recently published a standalone sequel, Caligo, which follows a fan favorite side character. I’m starting on it as soon as I finish this review. I’ll leave you with a (very small) selection of my favorite quotes from Memoria, of which there are many. Enjoy!

“He is my true father…My brother. My general in a time of war, my king in a time of peace. But more than that, he has become my friend.”

“Some chains are visible; others are not…Oftentimes, one may consider himself a master, only to find he is the slave. From all that, my brother, I have freed you. You need never be a slave again—to your past or to your future. You are free.”

“But this gift of yours was not given so that you would shoulder another’s troubles alone. It was given so that you would realize there is only one who can. The moon only gives light because of the sun, Sephone. Let the sun lend you its strength, and you will shine with its radiance, its satisfying warmth, even in the densest darkness. First things first, and second things second, and all the gifts will work as they were intended.”

“Drink this water every day, and like the oak tree, you will flourish. The more deeply you drink of it, the more deeply you will know me, and the more you will be changed. I n time, it alone will satisfy your soul.”

“In this altered world, the real has imperfections. It is merely a memory of what once was, a glimpse of what will be. All things are an echo, a test, of the future. Now, you see but a glimpse. Thereafter, you will have everything in full, and neither it nor anything it contains will ever be taken away from you. The pain of the past, in that place, will be nothing more than a distant memory.”

“Lean on me each day, and I will lend you the strength you need to go on. And you will never be alone. I promise.”

“I would ask you to be my ambassadors. To this land, bring peace, truth, courage, remembrance, and healing. To this people, show the love that I showed you, and the truth that set you free from a deadly curse.”

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